Southern Coast of England, 89 



calculated to excite pleasing and cheerful impressions, is of so much 

 importance to the acquirement of health. In this point of view, 

 however, the Hastings' coast is generally appreciated ; its surround- 

 ing neighbourhood, consisting chiefly of fine pasture, interspersed 

 with much woodland scenery, and affording on its numerous acces- 

 sible elevations, the most extensive and interesting landscapes. 

 These are at the same time intersected by fertile dells and romantic 

 rocky vallies, whose shelter and peculiarity of situation afford, by 

 the many rare species of plants they contain, a rich harvest to those 

 who are interested in the vegetable productions of our island.'* 



Dr. H. has here subjoined a register of the temperature of 

 Hastings, during the four last winter months, November, De- 

 cember, January, and February ; and from this register it will 

 be seen, to use the author's own words, 



** That the coldest month we have experienced was February, 

 which notwithstanding, I find, gives us a mean temperature of 

 about 44° ; a striking example of the mildness of the late winter. 

 A register of the same month in the year 1826, taken at Hastings, 

 gives as the mean 43°. 5; but even this is perhaps rather higher 

 than the coldest month generally. Baron Humboldt makes the mean 

 of the coldest month in Edinburgh 38°. 3; Paris 35°. 1; and 

 Rome 42°. 1. If, therefore, either of the former could be con- 

 sidered as a fair average, our winter mean temperature on the 

 southern coast would prove higher than even that of Rome." 



The work now assumes a more general character. Dr. H, 

 proceeds to point out the more particular effects of various 

 qualities of climate on the constitution of invalids, and he ar- 

 rives at the conclusion that a climate which " is least liable to 

 variation, and which unites a moderate degree of warmth, with 

 a certain proportion of moisture, the usual properties of a sea 

 atmosphere, is, in the generality of our afflictions, as conducive 

 to improvement and health, as any to which we are exposed." 

 This doctrine is satisfactorily supported in the elucidation 

 which is given of the more obvious effects of other qualities in 

 the air. The advantages which a sea atmosphere thus pos- 

 sesses, is attributed to the little irritation it occasions to the 

 lungs, and to its healthful influence on the exhalents of the 

 external surface of the body, on which it tends constantly to 

 keep up a gentle action, while it does not too rapidly deprive 

 them of their fluids, or the body of its heat. 



In the chapter on the effects of climate, the author ob- 

 serves, 



" This influence of climate, not only on disease already existing, 

 but in its production or removal, as also in establishing its peculiar 

 type, has been particularly noticed at all periods ; but by few has it 



