302 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



from the fands of Zara, on it's way to melt the ices 

 of the North, comes to pafs over that Ifle, the air 

 is as hot as the breath of an oven. I recolleifV, at 

 that feafon, a figure of Neptune in bronze, on the 

 fea-fhore, the metal of which was heated to fuch 

 a degree, that you could fcarcely apply your hand 

 to it. They, however, imported into the illand 

 fnow from Mount Etna, which is fixty leagues 

 diftant ; they kept it for months together, laid on 

 ftraw in vaults, and it was to be bought for a far- 

 thing a pound weight, even when farmed out. 

 Since, then, it is poffible to have ice in Malta, 

 during the Dog-Days, I think it might be pro- 

 cured in every country of the Globe. Nature, 

 befides, as we have feen, multiplies icy mountains 

 in the vicinity of hot countries. I may, perhaps, 

 be here reproached with indicating the means of 

 promoting the increafe of luxury ; but as the com- 

 monalty now live only on the luxury of the rich, 

 my fuggeftion may tend to promote, at leaft, the 

 extenfion of the fcience of Nature. 



So far is cold from being the enemy of all 

 plants, that it is in the North we find forefts of the 

 lalleft growth, and of the greateft extent in the 

 World. It is only at the foot of the eternal fnows 

 of Mount Lebanon, that the cedar, the king of 

 vegetables, rifes in all his majefty. The fir, which 

 is, next to him, the greateft tree of our forefts, ar- 

 rives 



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