198 M‘Sweeny, on the Climate of Ireland. 
Much confidence is not to be placed in poetic description, with regard to a matter 
of philosophical inquiry. 
We find Claudian also giving Ireland the title of ‘* Glacialis lerne”— 
* Scotorum cumulos flevit Glacialis Ierne.” 
It has been shown that Ireland never could have been remarkable for cold, in com- 
parison with other countries. 
Tacitus described the climate of Britain as being foul, with frequent showers and 
clouds, and stated the absence of severe cold; and he described the climate of Ire- 
land as not differing much from it— 
“ Solumque ccelum et ingenia cultusque hominum haud, multum a Britannia differunt.” 
Cesar previously had described the cold of Britain as less than that of Gaul. 
Professor Schow has proved that there is no evidence to establish a material change in 
the climate of France ; we here connect Ireland with the chain of his reasoning. 
The comparison which Doctor Rutty made between the climate of Dublin, and the 
climate of London, shows, that in the grand leading features, there is a similarity in 
the climate of both places: thus his statement corroborates that of Tacitus. 
In a work supposed to be written by Athicus, the climate is described as superior 
to that of Britain. Orosius repeats this statement— Hee propior Britannia, spatio 
terrarum angustior, sed cali, solisque temperie magis utilis.”— Orosius, Lib. 1, Hist. 
cap. 2. 
Isidorus says that Ireland is more fertile than Britain. 
The venerable Bede gives a decided preference to the climate of Ireland. ‘“ Hiber- 
nia autem salubritate ac serenitate aerum multum Britannie prestat.” 
The observations of Doctor Rutty show that the winters in Ireland are milder than 
in England.”—Rutty’s Natural Hist. of the County of Dublin, Vol, I. p. 466. 
The description of the island by Donatus, has been often given : 
“Insula dives opum, gemmarum, vestis et auri 
Commoda corporibus, aere, sole, solo 
Melle fluit pulchris et lacteis Scotia campis 
Vestibus atque armis, frugibus, arte, viris 
Ursorum rabies nulla est ibi seva leonum 
Semina nee unquam Scotica terra tulit 
Nulla venena nocent nec serpens serpit in herba 
Nec conquesta, canit, garrula rana lacu.” 
The picture which Cambrensis has drawn of the climate of Ireland, bears with it 
the marks of having been highly coloured ; in the first place the style is poetical— 
“Terra autem terrarum temperatissima nec Cancri calor exeestuans compellit ad um- 
