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oil dropt on the windward fide of a pond proceeds 
gradually to leeward, as mavbefeen by the fmooth- 
nefs it carries with it, quite to the oppofite fide. 
For the wind being thus prevented from raifing the 
firft wrinkles that I call the elements of waves, cannot 
produce waves, which are to be made by continual- 
ly adting upon and enlarging tbofe elements, and thus 
the whole pond is calmed. 
Totally therefore we might fupprefs the waves in 
any required place, if we could come at the wind- 
ward place where they take their rife. This in the 
ocean can feldom if ever be done. But perhaps 
fomething may be done on particular occafions, to 
moderate the violence of the waves, when we are 
in the midit of them, and prevent their breaking, 
where that would be inconvenient. 
For when the wind blows frelh, there are con- 
tinually riling on the back of every great wave, a 
number of lmall ones, which roughen its furface, 
and give the wind hold, as it were, to pufh it with 
greater force. This hold is diminifhed by prevent- 
ing the generation of thofe final l ones. And pof- 
fibly too, when a wave’s furface is oiled, the wind, 
in palling over it, may rather in fome degree prefs 
it down, and contribute to prevent its riling again, 
inftead of promoting it. 
This as mere conjecture would have little weight, 
if the apparent effects of pouring oil into the midft 
of waves were not confiderable, and as yet not 
otherwife accounted for. 
When the wind blows fo frefh, as that the waves 
are not fufficiently quick in obeying its impulfe, their 
-tops being thinner and lighter are pufhed forward, 
broken, 
