12

that it has a larger distribution of water (enclosed by the Che-
sapeake bay and its tributaries,) than any other State or
Territory, and a study of the oceanic currents, the Gulf stream
and the the return current passing from the north
along our cost, will show how these modify each other, and
tend to give us a good climate. The influence of large bodies
of water in moderating and lessening the severity of climate,
and preventing sudden and excessive changes is shown by a
few philosophical facts, which I shall briefly mention. Per-
sons knowing these facts and knowing our Geography, will
at once see the truth of my statements; the powerful agency
which water has in controlling climate is due to its great
specific heat, which is four times greater than that of air;
that is, a pound of water in cooling one degree would warm
four pounds of air one degree. But as water is 770 times
heavier than air, it is obvious that a cubic foot of water in
cooling one degree would warm four times 770 or 3,080 cubic
feet of air one degree; hence the vast amount of heat stored
up in oceans and bays during summer, being gradually im-
parted to the air during winter, modifies the severity of the
cold and explains the fact that Island winters are more mod-
erate than those of Continents or inland places.

The pleasantness of a sea side residence in the heats of sum-
mer is a fact attested by universal experience. It will be seen
on the map that a large part of Maryland, that offering the
greatest inducement to capitalists and men seeking homes,
must possess almost an insular climate divided as it is
by the Chesapeake and permeated every where by numerous
creeks, small bays and inlets.