I 334 1 
XVIII. On the Heat of the Water m the Gulf f ream,. By 
Charles Blagden, M, D. Phyfician to, the Army, F. R. S\, 
NE of the moil remarkable facts obferved in navigating 
the ocean, is that condant and rapid current which fits- 
along the coad of North America to the northward and east- 
ward, and is commonly known to feamen by the name of the 
Gulf- dream. It deems judly attributed to the effect of the 
trade-winds, which blowing from the eadern quarter into the 
great Gulf of Mexico, caufe there an accumulation of the 
water above the common level of tile fea in eonfequence of 
which, it is condantly running out by the channel where it 
finds lead: refidance, that is, through the Gulf of Florida,, 
with fuch force as to continue a, didincl dream to a very great 
didance. Since all. drips going from Europe to any of the 
fouthern provinces of North America mud erofs this current,, 
and are materially affedted by it in their courfe, every circum- 
dance of itsunotion becomes an objedl highly intending to the 
feaman, as well as of great curiofity to the philofopher. An, 
©bfervation which occurred to me on the fpot fuggeds a new 
method of invedigating a matter that, appears lb, worthy of 
attention. 
During a voyage to America in the fpring of the year i 776 , 1 
ufed frequently to examine the heat of fea- water newly drawn, 
in order to compare it with that of the air. We made our paflage 
Read April 26 , 17 8 1 
far. 
