[ 54 ° ] 
From hence it appears, that the Two great Rulers 
of the Weather with us are the North-eaft and South- 
weft Winds. Like Two neighbouring potent Mo- 
narchs, they are engaged in eternal Wars: Sometimes 
the one pufhes his Conqueft with great Rapidity ; 
and fometimes the vanquifhed Power not only 
recovers its loft Dominions, but carries on the War 
into his Enemy’s Territories with great Succefs. As 
we happen to lie near their Frontiers, we feel, by 
turns, the different Effects of their fierce Conten- 
tion : Some Years we have a Run of North-eaft 
Winds, frofty Winters, and dry Summers j and fome 
Years the Reverfe of all this. 
But if I have hit upon the true Caufes of thefe 
Winds, yet theQueftion will be. On which Side lies 
the Redundancy, or Failure, that makes all this irre- 
gular Variation? For, between Two Antagonifts, the 
Advantage will be the fame to the Conqueror, 
whether his Superiority be owing to his own Strength, 
or the Weaknefs of his Adverfary. I would be glad 
to find this out, but I doubt that all my little Search 
will not be able to do it. I will proceed as far as I 
can. 
Let us fuppofe, in the firft Place, the North to be 
intirely paflivc, and that all the Variation of Cold 
and Heat is owing wholly to a Dcfed, or Excefs, in 
the South- weft Wind : So that, when the South-weft 
blows, it fhall be always warm ; and, when it ceafes 
to blow, it fhall be ever cold. If this be Fadf, then 
it will follow, that whilft the South-weft blows with 
the fame fteady Gale, the Weather fhall be of the 
fame Degree of Heat : But we find it otherwife j for 
the Nights, in a mild Winter, arc colder than the 
Days, 
