20 On the supposed Change 



This was in November. Let us see then whether the 

 climate of the Alps is mitigated. 



In 1789, Arthur Young met with a snow storm and 

 freezing weather in the plains of Sardinia on the 13th of 

 December. The next day, the frost was severe, the 

 snow deep, and ice five inches thick, near Alexandria. 

 On the 21st he crossed mount Cenis, on snow ten feet 

 deep. On the 25th he reached Chamberry, and there 

 was a thaw.. ..See his Tour in France, vol. i. 516, 527, 

 530, 537. There is not a shadow of reason to suppose 

 the least melioration of that climate within 2000 years. 



The next series of facts to prove a great mitigation of 

 the cold in winter, consists of what authors have record- 

 ed of ancient Gaul and Germany. 



Diodorus Siculus, lib. 4, relates that " Gaul is infest- 

 ed with cold to an extreme degree. In cloudy weather, 

 instead of rain, great snows fall ; and in clear weather, 

 it freezes so excessively, that the rivers are covered with 

 bridges of their own substance, over which large armies 

 pass with their baggage and loaded waggons. And 

 there being many rivers in Gaul, the Khone, the Rhine, 

 &c. almost all of them are frozen over ; and it is usual, 

 in order to prevent falling, to cover the ice with chaff 

 and straw." 



" North of the Cevennes," says Strabo, " Gaul pro- 

 duces not figs and olives ; and vines which have been 

 planted, bear not grapes that will ripen".... Z/z3. 4. 



" Colder than a Gallic winter," was used by Petro- 

 nius as a proverbial expression, says Hume..../^o/. i. 459. 

 Essays. 



" The Rhine and the Danube," saj^s Gibbon, " were 

 frequently frozen, and capable of sustaining the most 

 enormous weights. The barbarians often chose the win- 

 ter to transport their armies and cavalry over a vast and 

 solid bridge of ice. Modern ages have not presented an 

 instance of a like phenomenon''' ....Vol. i. ch. 9. 



The last assertion of Gibbon is contrary to all histori- 

 cal evidence, and even to facts which took place during 

 that author's life. 



In opposition to Gibbon's assertion, I affirm then, that 

 both the Rhine and the Danube have, within three cen- 



