286 TRAVELS THROUGH 



fome foundation in Natural Ph'ilofoph'y, and to 

 be worth your attention. The Scirocco^ a wind' 

 which blows from the fea, occasioned laft winter 

 at Rome conftantly rain and cloudy weather ; but 

 the Tramcntana, which blows from the hills, 

 brought fair weather. In fummer, after the month 

 of April, it is exactly the reverfe. The caufe 

 feems to be, that the fea, being in winter warmer 

 than the air, evaporates in that feafon more than 

 in fummer. Moreover, the hills are covered in 

 winter with fnow , accordingly they cannot eva- 

 porate , but in fpring and furhmer, as foon as the 

 fnow thaws, and in many rapid brooks rulhes" 

 down in the plains, they are fiibject to ftrong 

 evaporation. When I went from Rome by Siena 

 to Florence, I had rain and Tramontana ; but on 

 the other fide of the Alps they had the fame wind 

 and fair weather. Nearly the fame time there was 

 fair weather at Ancona, and fome rain at Bologna, 

 probably becaufe that place is fomewhat nearer 

 to the Alps'. There never is in fummer any rain 

 at Florence, except after 'Tramontana^ or North- 

 wind in the morning. 



But no more of Florence. I am refolved to go 

 hence to Pifa, Leghorn, and Genoa. This de- 

 prives' me of the opportunity to fee Lucca, Parma^ 

 and Modena. Of thefe places therefore 1 ffiall 

 only tell you what I have* been told myfelf. 



6 There 



