The rains of every month, (as of January, for instance) through the whole period of years, were added separately, and an average drawn from them. The coolest and warmest point of the same day in each year of the period, were added separately, and an average of the greatest cold and greatest heat of that day, was formed. From the averages of every day in the month, a general average for the whole month was formed. The point from which the wind blew, was observed two or three times in every day. These observations, in the month of January, for instance, through the whole period, amounted to 357. At 73 of these, the wind was from the North; 47 from the North-east, &c. So that it will be easy to see in what proportion each wind usually prevails in each month: or, taking the whole year, the total of observations through the whole period having been 3698, it will be observed that 611 of them were from the North, 558 from the North-east, &c.

Though by this table it appears we have on an average 47 inches of rain annually, which is considerably more than usually falls in Europe, yet from the information I have collected, I suppose we have a much greater proportion of sunshine here than there. Perhaps it will be found, there are twice as many cloudy days in the middle parts of Europe, as in the United States of America. I mention the middle parts of Europe, because my information does not extend to its Northern or Southern parts.

In an extensive country, it will of course be expected that the climate is not the same in all

its parts. It is remarkable, that, proceeding on the same parallel of latitude westwardly, the climate becomes colder in like manner as when you proceed northwardly. This continues to be the case till you attain the summit of the Alleghaney, which is the highest land between the ocean and the Missisippi. From thence,

descending in the same latitude to the Mississippi, the change reverses; and, if we may be. lieve travellers, it becomes warmer there than it is in the same latitude on the sea side.

Their testimony is strengthed by the vegetables and animals which subsist and multiply there naturally, and do not on our sea-coast. Thus Catalpas grow spontaneously on the Mississippi, as far as the latitude of 87°, and reeds as far as 38°. Perroquets even winter on the Scioto, in the 39th degree of latitude. In the summer of 1779, when the thermometer was at 90° at Monticello, and 96 at Williamsburgh, it was 110° at Kaskaskia. Perhaps the mountain, which overhangs this village on the north side, may, by its reflection, have contributed somewhat to produce this heat. The difference of temperature of the air at the sea-coast, or on the Chesapeake bay, and at the Alleghaney, has not been ascertained; but contemporary observations, made at Williamsburgh, or in its neighbourhood, and at Monticello, which is on the most eastern ridge of the mountains, called the South-west, where they are intersected by the Rivanna, haye furnished a ratio by which that difference may in some degree be conjectured. These observations make the difference between Williamsburgh and the

nearest mountains, at the position before mentioned, to be on an average 6°1-8 of Farenheit's thermometer. Some allowance, however, is to be made for the difference of latitude between these two places, the latter being 38° 8' 17' which is 52' 22 north of the former. By cotemporary observations of be. tween five and six weeks, the averaged and almost unvaried difference of the height of mercury in the barometer, at those two places, was .784 of an inch, the atmosphere at Monticello being so much the lightest, that is to say, about one-thirty-seventh of its whole weight. It should be observed, however, that the hill of Monticello is of 500 feet perpendicular height above the river which washes its base. position being nearly central between our northern and southern boundaries, and between 'the bay and Alleghany, may be considered as furnishing the best average of the temperature of our climate. Williamsburgh is much too near the south-eastern corner to give a fair idea of our general temperature.

10.

This

But a more remarkable difference is in the winds which prevail in the different parts of the "Country. The following table exhibits a comparative view of the winds prevailing at Williamsburgh, and at Monticello. It is formed by reducing nine months observations at Monticello to four principal points, to wit, the north-east, south-east, south-west, and northwest; these points being perpendicular to, or parallel with our coast, mountains, and rivers: and by reducing in like manner, an equal number of observations, to wit, 421 from the pre

K 2

ceding table of winds at Williamsburgh, taking them proportionably from every point.

By this it may be seen that the south-west wind prevails equally at both places; that thei 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 dif! ference between these two winds to sensation, and in fact, is very great. The north-east is loaded with vapour, insomuch, that the salt.i 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 noth-west is dry, cooling, elastic and ani mating. 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