188 M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 
The general character which Cesar gives of the climate of Britain, holds good to 
this day. He describes it as being more temperate than that of Gaul, the cold being 
less severe—— 
“ Loca sunt temperatiora quam in Gallia remissioribus frigoribus.” 
Cesar de Bello Gal. Lib. y. 
The cold in the north of-France in the winter, is much more severe than in Eng- 
land. Persons from England, who reside during the winter at Paris, are surprised at 
the cold of the weather. 
Tacitus describes the British climate as foul, with frequent showers and clouds. 
“Colum erebris imbribus ac nebulis foedum, asperitas frigorum abest.” 
Vita Agricole. 
This passage in Tacitus, is a difficulty not to be surmounted by those who maintain, 
that the great humidity of England is of recent origin. 
The account which Tacitus gives us of the vegetation of Britain, answers perfectly 
at the present day. 
“ Solum preter oleam vitemque et cetera, calidioribus terris oriri sueta patiens frugum fecundum.” 
Vita Agricole. 
If it should be maintained, that the climate of England at one period was well fitted 
for the cultivation of the vine, and for the production of wine ; the supporters of 
this doctrine, to get rid of the quotation from Tacitus, ought to be able to prove that 
the climate ameliorated to the time of William of Malmesbury, and that subsequently 
it again grew cold. 
It was probably a succession of favourable seasons that led the Romans to encourage 
attempts at cultivating the vine in Britain. Nothing was more likely to be fostered 
than the vine by religious establishments, after the introduction of Christianity. 
Bede speaks of the vine growing in some places in England— 
“Vineas quibusdam in locis.” 
The same may be said now. 
Camden, speaking of Gloucestershire, says: ‘‘ The west part beyond the Severn, 
is covered with woods. But .I need not spend much time on this head, William of 
Malmesbury, will save me this trouble, who is lavish of his praises and description of 
this country ; take, therefore, his words: ‘’The country is called from its principal 
city, the vale of Gloucester, productive throughout of corn and fruits, either by the 
sole bounty of nature or the industry of art, so that it invites the most indolent per- 
sons to labour, when the product will return a hundred fold ; you may see the high roads 
bedecked with fruit trees not planted by art, but natives of the soil. The ground 
