The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

NATURAL HISTORY OF WINDS. 451
be so much more vehement than the other, as a rising of the dogstar, are held to come from the
dilatation of a drop of water turned into air ex- frozen ocean, and those parts about the arctic circeeds any dilatation of air already made: which cle, where the dissolutions of snow and ice come
it doth by many degrees, as we showed before. late when the summer is far spent.
14. The efficient cause of vapoury winds (which 25. Those masses or mountains of ice which
are they that commonly blow) is the sun, and its are carried towards Canada and Greenland do
proportionate heat; the matter is vapours and rather breed cold gales than movable winds.
exhalations which are turned and resolved into 26. Winds which arise from chalky and sandy
air. I say air, (and not any thing but air,) yet grounds, are few and dry, and in hotter countries
at the first not very pure. they are sultry, smoky, and scorching.
15. A small heat of the sun doth not raise 27. Winds made of sea vapours do easilier
vapours, and consequently causes no wind. turn back into rain, the water redemanding and
16. A mean and middle heat of the sun raiseth claiming its rights; and if this be not granted
and excites vapours, but doth not presently dissi- them, they presently mix with air, and so are
pate them. Therefore, if there be any great store quiet. But terrestrial, smoky, and unctuous vaof them, they gather together into rain, either pours are both hardlier dissolved and ascend
simply of itself, or joined with wind: if there be higher, and are more provoked in their motion,
but small store of them, they turn only to wind. and oftentimes penetrate the middle region of
17. T'he sun's heat in its increase, inclines the air, and some of them are matter of fiery
more to the generation of winds, in its decrease meteors.
to rains. 28. It is reported here in England, that in
18. The great and continued heat of the sun those days that Gascoine was under our jurisdicattenuates and disperses vapours and sublimes tion, there was a petition offered to the king by
them, and withal equally mixes and incorporates his subjects of Bordeaux, and the confines therethem with the air, whereby the air becomes calm of, desiring him to forbid the burning of heath in
and serene. the counties of Sussex and Southampton, which
19. The more equal and continuate heat of the bred a wind towards the end of April which
sun is less apt for the generation of winds; that killed their vines.
which is more unequal and intermitted is more 29. The meeting of winds, if they be strong,
apt. Wherefore in sailing into Russia they are bring forth vehement and whirling winds; if
less troubled with winds than in the British sea, they be soft and moist, they produce rain, and lay
because of the length of the days; but in Peru the wind.
under the equinoctial are frequent winds, by reason 30. Winds are allayed and restrained five ways.
of the great inequality of heat, taking turns night When the air, overburdened and troubled, is
and day. freed by the vapours contracting themselves into
20. In vapours is to be considered both the rain; or when vapours are dispersed and subtilquantity and quality. A small quantity engen- ized, whereby they are mixed with the air, and
ders weak winds, a mean or middle store stronger; agree fairly with it, and they live quietly; or
great store engenders rain, either calm or accom- when vapours or fogs are exalted and carried
panied with wind. up on high, so that they cause no disturbance until
21. Vapours out of the sea and rivers, and they be thrown down from the middle region of
overflown marshes, engender far greater quantity the air, or do penetrate it; or when vapours,
of winds than the exhalations of the earth. But gathered into clouds, are carried away into other
those winds which are engendered on the land countries, by other winds blowing on high, so
and dry places, are more obstinate, and last longer, that for them there is peace in those countries
and are, for the most part, such as are cast down which they fly beyond; or, lastly, when the winds,
from above. So that the opinion of the ancients blowing from their nurseries, languish through a
in this, is not altogether unprofitable; but only long voyage, finding no new matter to feed on,
that it pleased them, as in a manner dividing the and so their vehemency forsakes them, and they
inheritance, to assign rain to vapours, and to do as it were expire and die.
winds exhalations only, which things sound 31. Rain, for the most part, allayeth winds,
handsomely, but are vain in effect and substance. especially those which are stormy; as winds,
22. W'iinds brought forth out of the resolutions contrariwise, oftentimes keep off rain.
of snow lying upon hills, are of a mean condi- 32. Winds do contract themselves into rain,
tion between water and land winds; but they (which is the first of the five, and the chiefest
incline more to water, yet they are more sharp means of allaying them,) either being burdened
and movable. by the burden itself, when the vapours are copi23. The dissolution of snow on snowy hills (as ous, or by the contrary motions of winds, so they
we observed before) always brings constant winds be calm and mild; or by the opposition of mounrom that part. tains and promontories, which stop the violence
24. Also, yearly northern winds about the of the winds, and, by little and little, turn thenm