luid, and in perpetual agitation, its parts are
constantly mixed together; so that instead of its heat being all
accumulated in its surface, as in the case of a solid, opaque body,
it is diffused through its whole mass. Its surface, therefore, is
comparatively cool, for these reasons; to which may be added that of
evaporation. The small degree of reflection which might otherwise take
place, is generally prevented by the rippled state of its surface. The
air resting on the sea, then, like that resting on a forest, receives
little or no heat by reflection or contact; and is therefore colder than
that which lies over a cultivated country.

To apply these observations to the phenomena under consideration. The
first settlements of Virginia were made along the sea coast, bearing
from the south, towards the north, a little eastwardly. These
settlements formed a zone, in which, though every point was not cleared
of its forest, yet a good proportion was cleared and cultivated. The
cultivated earth, as the sun advances above the horizon in the morning,
acquires from it an intense heat, which is retained and increased
through the warm parts of the day. The air resting on it becomes warm
in proportion, and rises. On one side is a country still covered with
forest: on the other is the ocean. The colder air from both of these,
then rushes towards the heated zone, to supply the place left vacant
there by the ascent of its warm air. The breeze from the west is light
and feeble; because it traverses a country covered with mountains and
forests, which retard its current. That from the east is strong; as
passing over the ocean, wherein there is no obstacle to its motion.
It is probable, therefore, that this easterly breeze forces itself far
into, or perhaps beyond, the zone which produces it. This zone is,
by the increase of population, continually widening into the interior
country. The line of equilibrium between the easterly and westerly
breezes is, therefore, progressive.

Did no foreign causes intervene, the sea breezes would be a little
southwardly of the east, that direction being perpendicular to our
coast. But within the tropics, there are winds which blow continually
and strongly from the east. This current affects the course of the air,
even without the tropics. The same cause, too, which produces a strong
motion of the air, from east to west, between the tropics, to wit, the
sun, exercises its influence without those limits,