on the Climate and Agriculture of the British Isles. 43 
have constructed from the log:-books of Cunard's steam-sliips, 
-how that this wind sweeps over the warm water of the Atlantic 
ocean for a distance of 1500 miles before it reaches our shores ; 
and that by niglit and by day the water has an almost unvarying 
icmperature ; which is higher than any portion of the sea around 
the British Isles. These charts are too cumbersome to be ap- 
jiended to this paper, but the following Table, deduced from 
hem, gives a condensed view of the mean monthly temperature 
1 :he surface water of the Atlantic on the course of Cunard's ships. 
Table TI. — Showing the Temperature of the Surface-water of the Atlantic 
Ocean, at every 5° of Lonrjitudo, from the South of Ireland to the Banks 
of Newfoundland, on the course of Cunard's Steam-ships.* 
On the 
Loncritude V 
'est. 
Iilunths. 
Banks. 
40° 
35° 
30° 
25° 
20° 
15° 
10° 
January 
30 
57 
53 
54 
55 
54 
52 
51 
Febriiarj' 
31 
54 
53 
52 
53 
52 
52 
50 
32 
54 
54 
55 
54 
54 
52 
51 
April 
34 
57 
55 
55 
52 
54 
53 
52 
May 
34 
55 
54 
55 
56 
55 
53 
53 
40 
60 
59 
58 
56 
58 
58 
57 
July 
45 
60 
59 
58 
59 
60 
58 
59 
50 
61 
59 
GO 
59 
60 
60 
59 
52 
59 
59 
60 
59 
60 
59 
58 
47 
59 
59 
56 
56 
57 
57 
55 
44 
5S 
57 
58 
59 
57 
54 
53 
32 
55 
54 
54 
54 
54 
53 
52 ■'■ 
Mean of the Year 
39-2 
57-2 
56-2 
56-2 
56-0 
5y2 
55 ■ 1 
54-2 
This Table shows the extreme coldness of the water on the 
banks of Newfoundland for half the year, from December to 
May inclusive, when it is but little above the freezing point 
(32^). The Arctic current, owing to its greater velocity at 
this season, and the icebergs with which it is then loaded, 
impinges with great force on the upper limit of the Gulf Stream, 
and presses it down full 200 miles to the southward ; but this 
powerful current cannot thus be subdued ; it first bends east- 
ward, and then its northern edge curves up in a mighty eddy, 
like river-water below the piers of a bridge, along the eastern 
edge of the cold current, and folds it in its warm embrace.l This 
remarkable eddy stands like a wall of fire on the eastern side of 
the cold current through which the icebergs cannot pass to chill 
our summers, or depress the genial warmth of our winter months. 
* The course of Cunard's steam-ships from Cape Clear, is about due west on 
the 51st parallel of latitude, to longitude 35'-^ W., from thence along the south of 
Newfoundland to Boston and New York. 
t It is noteworthy, that the warmest water between Newfouudland and Ireland 
is'fouud in close proximity to the ice-bearing stream from the northern regions. 
