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My Conje&ure is, that our South-weft Wind is 
no other than an Eddy of the Trade-wind, refle&ed 
from America to us. Though we cannot fee the 
Eddy of Air, as we do that of Water } yet we muft 
be otherwife very fenfible, that it makes a ftrong 
Recoil, when it meets with lofty Buildings, Woods, 
Hills, &c. The more elaftic any Body is, it rebounds 
with the more Agility ; and the Experiments that 
have frequently been made, fufficiently (hew the vaft 
Elafticity of the Air. There can, I think, be no 
Difficulty in conceiving, that there may be an Eddy 
of Wind from that Part of America which lies 
under the Equino&ial Line, even to us, provided there 
be a fufficient impelling Force, and due Refiftance, 
and a proper Dire&ion. 
The impelling Force is a fteady brisk Stream of 
Air, flowing perpetually from Africa to America : 
The Strength of this Wind may be in fome meafure 
judged of, from what Sailors obfetve, and exprefs in 
their Language, thus : It commonly blows a good 
Top-fail Gale, as we fail large ; and if we were to 
fail on a Wind, our lower Sails would be enough. 
I am fenfible of what every Map fhews us now, that 
the Trade- wind does not blow exa&ly from Eaft to 
Weft: But though the Arrows are placed as if fhot 
obliquely towards the Equino&ial, or rather towards 
a Line parallel to it, and diftant from it between 4 
and 12 Degrees North Latitude, yet they are all 
pointed Weftward; and that, I prefume, will be as 
much to the Purpofe I am upon, as if the whole 
Stream went due Weft. 
In order to guefs at the Momentum of this re- 
pelling Force, wc fhould confider the Breadth and 
Height 
