appeared in the Neighbourhood of Syracufe. 243 
‘(the ancient Pachynum), the fouth-weftern extremity of the 
ifland of Sicily. 
The climate of Sicily, in general, is reprefented as favour- 
able to health*; and, notwithftanding its infular fituation, 
more analogous, in the qualities of temperature and humi- 
dity, to the hilly, than to the Atlantic divifions of South- 
Carolina and Georgia. The winter is remarkably mild: 
with the exception of a few days, it equals the fineft {pring 
weather in the North of Europe+, and the Eaftern States of 
America; and the fhade is found pleafant, in the middle of 
the day, even in the month of January t. At Syracufe, in 
particular, the feafon is fo little affected by the feverities of 
cold and tempe(t, that, during its whole courfe, and in its 
moft boifterous ftate, the fky is never totally obfcured for a 
fingle day §. Yet in this climate did Verres, the voluptuous 
pretor of Sicily, that monfter of atrocity and lafcivioufnefs, 
fo entirely feclude himfelf from all impaé and influence of 
the atmofphere, as only to learn the approach of fpring by 
obferving the dew gliften on the verdure which furrounded 
his palace |]. As the feafon advances, the heat rapidly in- 
creafes, till, in the funamer, it is no longer to be endured by 
ftrangers, and exertion, as well as enjoyment, is temporarily 
fufpended. In autumn, the frequent rains, which are com-. 
mon throughout this feafon, and the heats of the middle of 
the day, contrafted with the extreme chillinefs of the even- 
ings, render it lefs pleafant and falubrious than any other 
part of the year]. It is to the exceffive fultrinefs of the fum- 
mers that a late fenfible writer ** afcribes the imperfection of 
many, 
* Benige Berichten, &c. 7. ¢. Some account of the Proffian, Auftrian, 
and Sicilian monarchies, &c. See Monthly Review Enlarged, Vol. XIV. 
P- 491. 
4 Swinburne’s Travels in the Two Sicilies, Vol. TI. § 49. Dubl. edit, 
+ Keyfler’s Travels, Vol. II. p. 33.—Tranflation. 
§ Cicero in Ver, Aét, IL. Lib. v. § 26. 
|| Cicero in Ver. A&t. 11, Lib. v. § 12. 
q Travels in Sicily and Malta, by M. De Non, p. 307, 333, and 383.— 
Tranflation. 
** Eenige Berichten, &c.—‘* The foi! is exceedingly fertile; but, fro 
the great heat of the climate, many of our moft neurishing and refrefhj 
liz vegeta 
