DURATION or HUMAN LIFE. gt 
paribus, is annexed toa more delicate frame ;---yet it will 
not admit of a doubt, that a great portion of vital energy 
and ftrength muft neceflarily exift, where the probabilities 
of life are high throughout all its periods---from the birth, 
until the ufual term of its duration be compleated. > 
The climate of much the greater portion of the United 
States furnithes great degrees of * heat and cold, in their 
refpeCtive feafons; but neither of the extremes is of long 
continuance. Our climate is alfo very ¢ variable, the tem- 
perature of the atmofphere being liable to great and fud- 
den viciffitudes. Neverthelefs, taking the whole rontine 
of the feafons; we enjoy a larze proportion of fine and 
moderate weather; with more days of{ fun-fhine and 
ferene {ky, than, perhaps, any part of Europe exhibits, 
A very confiderable part of * France experiences greater 
Gre extremes 
* Dr. Rufh has noticed—in his account of the climate of Pennfylvania---that ‘the greateft 
degree of heat upon record, in Philadelphia, is 95°: but the obfervations made at Spring- 
mill (13 miles from Philadelphia, in lat. 40°. 9’,) fhew---thatithe Mercury rofe to 96°, at 
that place, on the 34 of July, 1787; yet the mean degree of heat, during that day, was only 
$5° 6-10.----See Columbian Mag. for Auguft 1787. . 
+, Dr. Ruth.--in his account of the climate of Pennfylvania---has cited the authority of Dr. 
Hiuxam, to thew---that the healthieft feafons in Great-Britain have often been accompanied by 
the moft variable weather. And Dr. T, Bond---in his oration before the Philofophical fociety, 
in 1782---remarks, that ‘‘ we live in a healthy, though the moft variable and adtive climate, 
‘in the univerfe’’---‘* Hiftery (he obferves, further) and the firft fettlers of this country agree, 
that the native Indians of North-America were found, by the Europeans, to bea ftout, hardy, 
brave, virtuous, héalthy, and remarkably long-lived people.” After other obfervations on 
this fubje@t, the Doctor continues thus---‘¢ I am fenfible this opinion, of the advantages re- 
dulting from a changeable atmofphere, is counter to the common notions of mankind :---it is 
neverthelefs true, and adopted by the beft writers ;---and not only confirmed by meteorological 
and morbid regifters, and the general laws of creation; but will further fand the teft of hif- 
torical enquiry.” 
¢ ‘* The month of May, 1786, willlong beremembered, for having furnifhed a very un- 
soramon inftance of the abfence of the fun for fourteen days, and of conftant damp or rainy 
weather.’’---Dr. Rufh’s account of, &c. 
* Mr, Jefferfon (in his notes on Virginia) makesmention, that, ‘at Williamfburg, in 
Auguft 1766, the mercury in Fahrenheit’s thermometer was at 98° correfponding with 294 
of Reaumur---At the fame place, in January 1780, it was at 6° correfponding with 114 be- 
low 0, of Reaumur. At Paris, in 1753, the mercury in Reaumur’s thermometer was at 304 
above 03 and, in 1776, it was at 16 below o:---the extremitics of heat and cold, therefore, 
at Paris, are greater than at Williamfburgywhich is the hotteft part of Virginia.”’---Captain 
Romans fays---that, in Eaft-Florida, on fome fultry-hot days in July and Auguft, he has 
known the mercury rife to 94° of Fahrenheit’s feale : but that, during the fummer, the gene- 
ral height of theymercury wasbetween 84°, and 88°, when the thermometer was placed in the 
fhade, acceflible to a free circulation of the air.---At the Norriton obfervatory (in lat. 40°, 
g/. 31”, and about twenty miles Weftward from Philadelphia,) the mercury in Fahrenheit’s 
thermometer---not expofed to the fun fhine, but open to the air---was at 94%, on the sth ot 
July, 1769; which was the greateit height it had ever been obfervedto rife to, at that ph 
(trons 
