[ '^si 3 



alTures us, ' the cold was much lefs in the moft northern part, 

 than any other land lying in the fame height or latitude, yea than 

 many countries of a much more foutherly climate.' This equality 

 of temperature ftill continues, as has been proved by late obferva- 

 tions ; from which it appears, that no difference of confcquence 

 takes place throughout the whole ifland ; the total variation of heat 

 being only 3-^^ degrees, which is at the rate of no more than 

 about one degree of temperature for each degree of latitude; a 

 conclufion drawn from experiments on the water of deep wells, for 

 determining the heat of the earth, with which, fucceeding obferva- 

 tions fhew, that the annual medium heat of the atmofphere nearly 

 correfponds. 



One obfervation more from Dr. Boate, I cannot refrain citing, 

 becaufe it relates to the falubrity of the air of this ifland, which, 

 if it were as exempt from wet as it is from cold, he protefts, 

 * would be one of the fweeteft and pleafanteft in the whole world, 

 and very few countries could be named, that might be compared 

 with Ireland for agreeable temperatenefs.' To demonftrate the 

 falubrity of the climate, and to fhew that the healthinefs of the in- 

 habitants is not owing to * any peculiar quality of their bodies, 

 ibut proceedeth from fome hidden property of the land and the air 

 litfelf;' he adduces two fads: ' Firft, in that flrangcrs coming to 

 ureland do partake of the fame exemption ; and, as long as they 



continue 



