SOUTH AMERICA, 



103 



We steered from the capes on an east half south 

 course with a leading wind, the weather cold and un- 

 pleasant. The entrance into the gulf stream, is easi- 

 ly ascertained by the difference of temperature be- 

 tween the air and water. On soundings about fifty- 

 five miles east of Cape Henry the air was forty de-, 

 grees, while the water was fifty-nine degrees. The 

 air soon afterwards rose to forty-three, and the water 

 suddenly to sixty-eight. The air then continued to 

 vary from forty to forty-five, and the water from se- 

 venty-two to seventy-five, until we had run upon 

 the same course, the wind at north west, eighty- 

 seven miles; when the water fell to seventy-one and 

 continued between that and sixty-eight, until the air 

 rose to the same temperature. ^^Thus/^ says commo- 

 dore Sinclair, ^^I computed the distance of the gulf 

 stream east from Cape Henry, to be about one hundred 

 and twenty miles, and the body of it in the same direc- 

 tion about ninety miles across, but in steering east there 

 is no doubt that the influence of the stream is felt for 

 several hundred miles; as from Cape Hatteras, where 

 the gulf alters its north east to an easterly direction, 

 to the latitude of Cape Henry, it inclines as mnch off 

 as east north east, and expands its width as it loses 

 its strength.'^ During winter there are continual va- 

 pors, arising from the troubled waters of the gulf 

 stream; the atmosphere appears dark and heavy, and 

 the sea looks wild and frightful. The effect of this 

 immense river of warm water flowing directly in front 

 of our con tinent, must necessarily be very great on the 

 American climate; and is probably one of the causes of 

 those sudden changes in the temperature of which we 

 hear so many complaints — the air rushing from the 



