Remarks on the Climate of Naples and its Vicinity. ^63 



Art. X. — Remarks on the Climate of Naples and its Vicinity ;' 

 with an Account of a Visit to the Hot Springs of I, a Pisa- 

 vella. Nerd's Baths. By a Coriiespo:ndent. 



From what I have heard and seen, I am, inclined to believe 

 that the climate of Italy, if extensively and accurately investi- 

 gated, would do more towards giving an insight into the general 

 meteorological principles of nature than perhaps most other 

 countries. There appear to be more certain consequences pro- 

 duced here by natural means than in Britain at leasts and 

 they are such as I have for some time thought the best founda- 

 tion for a general theory of the weather. I therefore think 

 that it may not be altogether without advantage to state some 

 hints on the climate of Naples, which I have either experienced 

 or learned during a residence there in November and Decem- 

 ber 1826. ' The following is an account I had of the weather 

 of the present year : January and February particularly fine ; 

 March stormy ; April and May cold and rainy ; June cold to 

 the 15th, when quite suddenly great heats commenced. (The 

 great heats in Scotland began almost at this time). The re- 

 mainder of the season rather colder than the mean. The 

 winds have a very uncommon influence at Naples. My obser- 

 vations have strongly confirmed the following facts, which I 

 obtained from another source : wind north, healthy and cool. 

 It blows off the interior of the country, and is the best winter 

 wind, prevailing, as I understand, in December and January. 

 When the wind is east it is very strong and in hurricanes ; it then 

 blows from Vesuvius, the side of the bay next Sorrento, and the 

 southern parts of Italy. Till it reaches the south or south-west 

 point it is good ; but on coming into these quarters it blows in di- 

 rect from the bay, and produces that scourge of Italy and many 

 other southern climes, called the Sirocco. This extraordinary air 

 has the most debilitating and unwholesome effect on man, and 

 of which the east wind and fogs affecting the neighbourhood 

 of the Firth of Forth seem slightly to partake. A most power- 

 ful sirocco occurred with a south wind, on the 26th of No- 

 vember. The day was dull, damp, and showery, the sun ob- 

 scured by clouds. At only ten in the morning the thermo- 



