S. If M A T II A. 
center being mteiiic, a violeat currcat of may be perceived to force 
its way in, through doors or crevices, on oppofite fides of the houfc* 
As the general winds arc caufed by the dir^il influence of the fun*s 
rays upon the atmofpherc, that particular deviation of the current, dif* 
tinguiihed by the name of land and fea breezes, is caufed by the influ* 
ence of his r^^^ed rays, returned from the earth or fea on which 
they ftrike. The furface of the earth is more fuddenly heated by the 
rays of the fun, than that of the fea, from its greater denfity and ftate of 
reft ; confequently it reflects thofe rays fooner and with more power ; 
but owing alio to its denfity, the heat is more fuperficial than that im- 
bibed by the fea, which gets more intimately warmed, by its tranfpa- 
tency, and by its motion, continually prefendng a freih furface to the 
fun. I fliall now endeavour to apply thefe principles* By the time the 
rifing fun has afcended to the heiehf f^f thirty ^ i^ny degrees above 
the horizon, the earth has acquired, and refledted on the body of air 
fituatcd over it, a degree of heat fufBcient to rarefy it and deftroy its 
equilibrium i in conlequence of which, the body of air above the fea, 
not being equally, or fcarce at all rarefied, ruHies towards the laud ; and 
the fame caules operating fo long as the fun continues above the horizon,, 
a conftanc fea breeze, or current of air from fea to land, prevails during 
that time. From about an hour before fun let^ the furface of the earth 
begins to lofe faft the beat it has acquired from the more perpendicular 
rays. That influence of courfe ceafes, and a calm fucceeds. The warmth 
imparted to the fea, not fo violent as that of the land, but more deeply 
imbibed, and confequently more |>ermanent- haw in turn, and by 
the rarefaction it caufcs, draws towards its region, the land air, grown 
cooler, more denfe and heavy, which continues thus to flow back, till 
the earth, by a renovation of its heat in the morning, once more obtains 
the afccndancy. Such is the general rule, con! ormablc with experience, 
and founded, as itfeems to me, in the laws of motion, and the nature of 
things,. The following obfervations will ferve to corroborate what I 
have advanced, and to throw additional light on the fubje£t, for the iur 
formation and guidance of any future inveftigator, ^ 
Th* 
