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XVIII. On the Heat of the Water in the Gulf-Jlream. By : 
Charles Blagden, M. ZX. Phyfcian to the Army y F. R. S._ 
Reach April 2 6, 1781.. 
O NE of the ffioft remarkable facts obferved in navigating' 
the ocean, is that con ft ant and rapid current which fits 
along the ooaft of North America to the northward and eaft- 
ward, and is commonly known to feamen by the name of the 
Gulf-ftream. It feems juftly attributed to the effeft of the: 
trade- winds* which blowing from the eaftern quarter into the.- 
great Gulf of Mexico, caufe there an accumulation of the 
water above the. common level of the fea ; in confequence off 
which, it is conftantly running out by the channel where it 
finds leaft refiftance, that is* through the Gulf of Florida, 
with fuch force asto continue a diftindt ft ream to a very great 
diftance,. Since all I hips going from Europe to any of the- 
fouthern provinces of North America muft crofs this current,, 
and are materially affected by it in their eourfe, every circum- 
ftance of, its motion becomes an objedt highly interefting to the 
feaman, as well as of great curiofity to the philofopher. An 
obfervation which occurred to me on the fpot fuggefts a new 
method of inveftigating a matter that appears lo worthy of 
attention. 
During a voyage to America in thefpring of the year 1776 , 1 
ufied frequently to examine the heat of fea- water newly drawn,, 
in- order to compare it with that of, the air, W e made our pafffage 
% . far.. 
