[f] One Thing more I believe some of my Friends will expect from me is, that I shew the Result of comparing my own Observations of the Winds, with others they know I have from Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, France, New-England, and some of our Parts of England. But the Observations being some of them but of one Year, and most of the rest of but a few Years, I have not been able to determine any great Matters. The chief of what I have observed is, that the Winds in all these Places seldom agree, but when they most certainly do so, it is commonly when the Winds are strong, and of long continuance in the same Quarter: And more I think in the Northerly and Easterly, than other Points. Also a strong Wind in one Place, is oftentimes a weak one in another Place, or moderate, according as Places have been nearer or farther distant. Vid. Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 297, and 321. But to give a good and tolerable Account of this or any other of the Weather, it is necessary to have good Histories thereof from all Parts; which, as yet we have but few of, and they imperfect, for want of longer and sufficient Observations.
CHAP. III.
Of the Clouds and Rain.
The Clouds and Rain[a] we shall find to be no less useful Meteors than the last mentioned; as is manifest in the refreshing pleasant Shades which the Clouds afford, and the fertile Dews and Showers which they pour down on the Trees and Plants, which would languish and die with perpetual Drought, but are hereby made Verdant and Flourishing, Gay and Ornamental; so that (as the Psalmist saith, Psal. lxv. 12, 13.) The little Hills rejoice on every side, and the Valleys shout for Joy, they also sing.
And, if to these Uses, we should add the Origine of Fountains and Rivers, to Vapours and the Rains, as some of the most eminent modern Philosophers[] have done, we should have another Instance of the great Use and Benefit of that Meteor.
And now, if we reflect upon this necessary Appendage of the Terraqueous Globe, the Atmosphere; and consider the absolute Necessity thereof to many Uses of our Globe, and its great Convenience to the whole: And in a Word, that it answereth all the Ends and Purposes that we can suppose there can be for such an Appendage: Who can but own this to be the Contrivance, the Work of the great Creator? Who would ever say or imagine such a Body, so different from the Globe it serves, could be made by Chance, or be adapted so exactly to all those forementioned grand Ends, by any other Efficient than by the Power and Wisdom of the infinite God! Who would not rather, from so noble a Work, readily acknowledge the Workman[c] and as easily conclude the Atmosphere to be made by God, as an Instrument wrought by its Power, any Pneumatick Engine, to be contrived and made by Man!
FOOTNOTES:
[a] Clouds and Rain are made of Vapours raised from Water, or Moisture only. So that I utterly exclude the Notion of Dry, Terrene Exhalations, or Fumes, talked much of by most Philosophers; Fumes being really no other than the humid Parts of Bodies respectively Dry.