Page:Notes on the State of Virginia (1802).djvu/119

Rh By this it may be ſeen that the ſouth-weſt wind prevails equally at both places; that the north-eaſt is, next to this, the principal wind towards the ſea-coaſt, and the north-weſt is the predominant wind at the mountains. The difference between theſe two winds to ſenſation, and in fact, is very great. The north-eaſt is loaded with vapor, inſomuch, that the ſalt-makers have found that their cryſtals would not ſhoot while that blows; it brings a diſtreſſing chill, and is heavy and oppreſſive to the ſpirits: the north-weſt is dry, cooling, elaſtic and animating. The eaſtern and ſouth-eaſtern breezes come on generally in the afternoon. They have advanced into the country very ſenſibly within the memory of people now living. They formerly did not penetrate far above Williamſburgh. They are now frequent at Richmond, and every now and then reach the mountains. They depoſit moſt of their moiſture however before they get that far. As the lands become more cleared, it is probable they will extend ſtill further weſtward.

Going out into the open air, in the temperate, and warm months of the year, we often meet with bodies of warm air, which paſſing by us in two or three ſeconds, do not afford time to the moſt ſenſible thermometer to ſeize their temperature. Judging from my feelings only, I think they approach the ordinary heat of the human body. Some of them perhaps go a little beyond it. They are of about 20 or 30 feet diameter horizontally. Of their height we have no experience, but probably they are globular volumes wafted or rolled along with the wind. But whence taken, where found, or how generated? They are not to be aſcribed