in the Temperature of TFinter. 19 



so severe. These seasons are recorded as rare occur - 

 rrences^ and this was the fact in the fourth century, as 

 well as in the 17th. Historians have taken no notice of 

 ordinary seasons, either in ancient or modern times; 

 but we are not to estimate the temperature of climates 

 by a few cold winters. 



Winters of severe^cold still occur in Greece, fully an- 

 swering to the descriptions of the winters of antiquity. 

 Wheeler, in his travels, says, he was prevented from 

 visiting mount Hymettus, two miles from Athens, by 

 the snovv's in February; and found M^oollen garments 

 hardly sufficient to defend him from the cold of the val- 

 leys. The rivers of Thrace also Avere covered with ice. 



Another proof of the decrease of cold, mentioned by 

 Dr. Williams, is that in ancient times, the Alps were 

 almost impassable in winter, on account of the snow and 

 ice ; whereas in modern days, they are crossed without 

 uncommon sufferings. This statement is a most unfor- 

 tunate, one for tlie argument. It is but three years since 

 t4ie French troops suffered incredible hardships in cros- 

 sing mount Cenis into Italy, from most violent storms of 

 snow; and the commander boasted in hisrdispatches to 

 the government, tliat the republican troops had sur- 

 mounted obstacles that appeared too great for human 

 efforts. The Alps are now, a-s in Hannibal's time, sub- 

 ject amuially to severe cold, and violent snow storms ; 

 altho the roads are doubtless better, and render a pas- 

 sage less difficult. 



fl am however surprized that the difficulties which 

 Hannibal experienced from snow in crossing the Alps, 

 should be mentioned in proof of the severity of the an- 

 cient winters ; when it is expressly related by Livy, that 

 no sooner had the army reached the foot of the moun- 

 tains on the Italian side, than the horses and mules were 

 turned out to graze, in a fiiie country and mild weather.^" 

 " Inferiora valles. et,apricos quosdam coiles habent, ri- 

 vosque prope silvas et jam humano cultu digniora loca. 

 Ibi Jumentain pabulum missa."....Zzi;. JJb. xxi. xxxvii. 



* The mountains were covered with snow, but the rivers of Italy- 

 were not covered with ice. The Po, the Ticino and the Trebia _wcte 

 crossed by bridges. 



