IN THE ECONOMY OF NATURE. 181 



in warmer climates, poisonous gases are developed from 

 the swamps, as in those of Panama and in the Pontine 

 marshes of Italy. It is thus that mischief done to the 

 woods on mountains, is a bequest of destruction to coming 

 generations. 



No country in the world was formerly more healthy or 

 more richly cultivated than Italy, once the "garden of 

 Europe," now only an extensive morass. Where at one 

 time the richest life prevailed, gloomy Death threatens to 

 extinguish its fresh torch. He is aided hy malaria, a 

 disease whose existence is to he attributed wholly to the 

 unhealthy decomposition of animal and vegetable matter 

 in the stagnant marshes so abundant in the country. The 

 poisonous effluvia spreads slowly among the few inhabi- 

 tants whom iron necessity alone compels to remain. Ague, 

 liver and hypochondriacal affections, are in its train. Pale 

 and yellow complexions, with weak eyes, a swollen abdo- 

 men, and a wearisome gait, the accompaniments of these 

 diseases, are everywhere to be seen among the poor inhabi- 

 tants. Behind them lurks a malignant fever, which carries 

 off the greater portion of them prematurely. What has 

 made this once prosperous, healthy, and populous country, 

 so poor, diseased, and deserted? The woods have been 

 removed from its mountains ! Look at the map, and you. 

 will see that these run through the central and northwestern 

 portions of the Italian peninsula. The Apennines are at 

 present almost entirely denuded of the noble forests which 

 once flanked and protected their sides, and all travellers 

 agree that there is now no country so sorrowful as that 

 which is included in what is called the States of the Church, 

 and which lies along the Apennine chain, between Genoa 

 and Naples. Unhappy Italy, thy serene and sunny skies 

 are now darkened by storms, but free nations are with thee 

 in their sympathies, and a free press whose influences are 

 already visible in all the movements of thy enemies ! For 

 why that concealed and stealthy step ? Is it not because 

 despotism fears this fearful weapon, and would avoid its 

 effects, well knowing that it is quite as sure in its aim as 



