which they may therefore converge; and when one of those receiving bodies is more than saturated, they may again diverge from it, towards other surrounding masses of such humid atmosphere, and thus form the crowns, as they are called, and other figures, mentioned in the histories of this meteor?

If it be true, that the clouds which go to the polar regions carry thither the vapours of the equatorial and temperate regions, which vapours are condensed by the extreme cold of the polar regions, and fall in snow or hail; the winds which come from those regions ought to be generally dry, unless they gain some humidity by sweeping the ocean in their way; and, if I mistake not, the winds between the northwest and northeast are for the most part dry, when they have continued some time.1

[In the Philosophical Transactions for 1774, p. 128, is a letter from Mr. J. S. Winn, to Dr. Franklin, stating that, since he had first made the observation concerning the south or southwest winds succeeding an aurora, he had found it invariably obtaining in twenty-three instances; and he adds. in a note a fresh confirming instance. In reply, Dr. Franklin makes the following conjecture.]

The aurora borealis, though visible almost every night of clear weather in the more northern regions, and very high in the atmosphere, can scarce be visible in England but when the atmosphere is pretty clear of clouds for the whole space between us and those regions; and therefore are sel

1 Here ends the copy written by Ingenhousz.-ED. In one of the copies of this paper there is a line drawn across this last article. — W. T. F.

This paragraph is not contained in Mr. Vaughan's edition and was probably not communicated to him by the author.- S.

The Arrows represent the general Currents of the Air. AB.C. the great Cake of Ice & Snow in the Polar Regions. D.D.D.D. the Medium Height of the Atmosphere.

The Representation is made only for one Quarter and one Meridian of the Globe: but is to be understood the same for all the rest.

Rays of the Aurora

dom visible there. This extensive clearness may have been produced by a long continuance of northerly winds. When the winds have long continued in one quarter, the return is often violent. Allowing the fact so repeatedly observed by Mr. Winn, perhaps this may account for the violence of the southerly winds, that soon follow the appearance of the aurora on our coasts.

941. TO ARTHUR LEE

(P. H. S.)

Passy, Jan. 3. 1779

SIR,

I am certain that I have not the Papers you mention, having never since seen them, as I should have done in sorting and looking over my Papers occasionally; if they had been among them.

You know the Gentleman better than I do, and can therefore better judge whether a Meeting with him for the propos'd purpose of making Peace may not be like some of the former, intended merely to give Countenance at this time to Change Ally-Reports, help the Stocks, and assist the Government in making their new Loans, or their Friends in retailing their Subscriptions. When I have the honour of seeing you, we can talk more fully on the Subject. Perhaps it would be well, in case you write to-day, to desire to know if he is or will be authoriz'd to make any Propositions. I am, with great Esteem,

Sir

Your most obedient

humble Servant

B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

942. TO RALPH IZARD1

(A. P. S.)

Passy, Jan 4. 1779

Your Intimation that you expect more Money from us, obliges us to expose to you our Circumstances. Upon the Supposition that Congress had borrowed in America but five millions of Dollars, or 25 millions of Livres, & relying on the Remittances intended to be sent us, for answering other Demands, we gave Expectations that we should be able to pay here the Interest of that Sum, as a Means of supporting the Credit of the Currency. The Congress have borrowed near twice that Sum, and are now actually drawing on us for the Interest, the Bills appearing here daily for Acceptance: Their Distress for Money in America has been so great from the enormous Expence of the War, that they have also been induc'd to draw on us for very large Sums, to stop other pressing Demands: And they have not been able to purchase Remittances for us to the Extent they propos'd; and, of what they have sent, much has been taken or treacherously carried into England; only two small Cargo's of Tobacco having arrived, and they are long since mortgag'd to the Farmers General, so that they produce us nothing, but leave us Expences to pay.

The Continental Vessels of War, which come to France, have likewise required great Sums of us, to furnish or refit

1 This letter was written by Dr. Franklin, but intended to be signed by the Commissioners jointly. On the back of the manuscript is the following endorsement: "Rough draft of a proposed letter in answer to one from Mr. Izard to the Commissioners, dated January 2d." As it is here called the draft of a proposed letter, it may possibly never have been sent. — S.