An Observation of Dr. Franklin's deserves a Place here; especially as it is not generally attended to. The common opinion is indeed against it. The Banks of Rivers which have a quick motion & run on a clean sandy bottom, are very agreeable & healthy situations: but the sides of rivers which have ouzy bottoms, or marshy banks, or which are in the neighbourhood of extensive marshes, are to be avoided. When necessity or any particular advantage obliges people to build near such bad neighbours, the South side, says the Doctor, is the most eligible; because the warm southerly winds, which promote a tendency to putrefaction, & are the most frequent, blow the noxious vapours from the buildings, whereas the northerly winds, which blow but seldom, compared with the former, & which generally blow strongly, check Putrefaction, & speedily carry off the noxious vapours.