62 



same time how, at a period when the art of na- 

 vigation was yet in it's infancy, the motion of 

 the waters of the ocean would contribute to dis- 

 seminate the different races of men over the face 

 of the globe. 



The small portion of knowledge, which we hi- 

 therto possess with respect to the absolute po- 

 sition and breadth of the Gulf -stream,, as well as 

 it's prolongation towards the coasts of Europe 

 and Africa, has been accidentally observed by a 

 small number of enlightened men, who have 

 crossed the Atlantic in different directions. As 

 the knowledge of the currents is of the highest 

 importance to shorten navigations, it would be 

 no less useful to the pilot than the naturalist, 

 that vessels, furnished with excellent chronome- 

 ters, should cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, and in 

 the Northern Ocean between the 30th and 54th 

 degrees of latitude, in order to determine at 

 what distance the Gulf-stream is found in dif- 

 ferent seasons, and under the influence of differ- 

 ent winds, to the south of the mouth of the 

 Missisippi, and to the east of Capes Hatteras 

 and Cod. The same navigators might have in- 

 structions to examine whether the great current 

 of Florida constantly skirts the southern bank 

 of Newfoundland; and on what parallel, be- 

 tween 32 and 40 degrees of west longitude, the 

 waters, which run from east to west are nearest 

 those which follow an opposite direction. 



