aubich take, plage i in di ifferent Climates. 19 
‘the diftri@s of England between the latitude of 50 and 56. 
Tt is well known that the people of America are more Ba 
more extirpating the forefts, draining the marfhes, and cul- 
‘tivating the land; and that the etaate there is found to be- 
come perceptibly milder. Fora thoufand or two thoufand 
years paft the people in all the northern parts of Eutope 
haye been in the fame manner employed in the improve- 
ment of the foil. Thefe caufes, however accidental they 
may be, and however much dependant on human indutry, 
muft certainly have contributed their part to render the cli- 
mate milder, not only in the countries where they took place, 
but even in the neighbouring countries, expofed to the ef- 
feéts of their atmofphere. 
It is almoft needlefs to obferve, that the great riumber of 
Jakes and moraffes, which, according to the accounts of an- 
cient authors, exifted in ier time in the fouthern parts of 
Europe, muft have rendered the air of, thefe countries ex- 
ceedingly cold and moift as well as unhealthful, fince it Jef= 
fened its elaflicity, and filled it with thick vapours ; which 
correfponds with the defcription they have given us of them. 
The countries of Europe have not for a long time been feen 
coyered in that manner with lakes and morafles, if we ex- 
cept Sweden and Norway; though the places where fuch 
marthes formerly exifted, both in “England and on the Con-< 
tinent; in Gaul, Germany, and the European Sarmatia, 
may be ftill clearly obferved. It is certain that human in- 
duftry, i in the courfe of ages, has in part contributed to pro- 
duce this change, as a great many epochs are known when 
the draining of lakes and moraffes was undertaken ; but I 
have no souht that gradual finking of. the furface of the fea, 
which occafions a Ate and pradual efflux, that could be 
produced only by thefe means, may have contributed its 
part alfo. But, from whatever caufe thefe changes may have 
proceeded, it is certain that. they have contributed to leffen 
the moifture and cold of all the countries of Europe. 
_ We know that in the time of Julius Cfar, and even 
long after, almoft all Germany and Sarmatia were covered 
with immenfe foretts. The Hercynean foreft was fixty days 
journey in length, It began in Belgie Gaul near the fey 
D2 and 
