of the Terrestrial Globe, 239 



add. But we iniist not attach more importance to this circum- 

 stance than it merits. The quality of a wine depends too much 

 on the nature of the plant, and the care of the husbandman, to 

 furnish satisfactory arguments on the question of the changes in 

 climate.* 



We find in an old charter quoted by M* Capefigue, that 

 Philippe-Auguste (about the commencement of the thirteenth 

 century), wishing to choose amongst all the wines of Europe the 

 one which he would habitually drink, the vine-dressers (TEtampes 

 and of Beauvais presented themselves among the general con- 

 course. It is true, the document adds, that they were rejected ; 

 but can we conceive they would have had the impudence to come 

 forward, if their wines had been as little potable then as all those 

 of the department fi?tf VOise now-a-days are ? This department 

 at present gives, in France, the northern limit for the cultivation 

 of the vine. In the pubhc accounts given in of the administra- 

 tion of indirect taxes for 1830, it is, in effect, stated, that the 

 vine is not cultivated in the department de la Somme, Now, it 

 is not in a region where the culture is scarcely possible that we 

 seek for products of the best quality. 



When the Emperor Probus (obit. A.D. 282,) permitted the 

 Spaniards and the French to plant the vine, he conferred the 

 same favour on the inhabitants of England. The favour would 

 have been derision if, in these times, the vine did not thrive on 

 the other side of the channel, (La Manche.) 



Old chronicles also inform us, that, at a remote period, 

 the vine was cultivated in the open fields in a great part of 

 England, and that the wine was regularly manufactured. But 

 now, the most assiduous attention, with a southern exposure, and 

 complete defence from cold winds, are scarcely sufficient to bring 

 very small grapes to complete maturity. 



Here, then, it would appear, that there is evidence sufficient 

 to convince the most incredulous, that, in the course of a<yes 

 the summers have lost, both in France and England, an appre- 

 ciable part of their temperature. 



It remains for us to inquire what is the cause of this unpleas- 

 ant phenomenon. 



• The quality oi a wine, and this must not be overlooked, depends very 

 much on taste '^^^good wine of 1560 might be reckoned very bad in 1834. 



r2 



