1772.] T0 JOHN BAR TRAM. 451 



particularly near Mola de Gaeta and Terracina, perfuming the 

 air, after sunset, with their excessive fragrance. On the quays. 

 at Marseilles, we met with a very singular and most excellent 

 species of China orange, brought from the Isles of Hieres, just 

 by, the pulp of which is of the deepest crimson possible ; and 

 which we met with nowhere else. But, for magnificence of size, 

 surely the limons of Naples exceed everything ; which the com- 

 mon people devour at a vast rate, sour as they are, and with as 

 high a gout as ours here do the China orange. This operating 

 with the salubrity of the sea and mountain air, I think, is a great 

 means of preservation to this filthy generation, and secures them 

 from the eifects of their own excessive nastiness. 



I am well assured that the Alps, and even Apennines, in point of 

 elevation, much exceed any of the mountains of North America : 

 though, at the same time, they fall greatly short of the tremendous 

 region of the Andes, or Cordilleras ; and the lakes of Italy, though 

 far surpassing any here, in this island, are yet but as the drop of 

 the bucket, in comparison with your amazing inland oceans, Erie. 

 Huron, &c, &c. The largest in Italy, are Lake Garda, and Lake 

 Maggiore, the banks of which abound with the common eating 

 Spanish Chestnut, and a few Italian and English Oak. That of 

 Garda is about thirty-five miles long, and ten and fifteen broad, 

 and abounds with tench and perch. Maggiore, near Milan, is 

 near fifty miles in length, and about seven, four, and three broad. 



I am, my dear sir, very respectfully, and very affectionately 

 yours, 



Michael Collinsox. 



Manchester Buildings, March the 6th, 1772. 



My dear Sir : 



Your two most acceptable favours of the 12th of October, and 

 17th of December, came safe to hand ; and I wish you to believe, 

 that no person whatever can receive greater satisfaction than I 

 feel, from the very pleasing picture you have drawn, in the former, 

 of the domestic felicity of your family ; which I hope will be as 

 permanent as I am sure the cordiality of my wishes are truly 

 sincere for its long, very long continuance. 



Condamine is a very instructing little book ; but I have never 

 yet met with any work that is fully satisfactory, respecting the 



