CLIMATE. 



elusions of these theorising philosophers ; for whilst 

 one condemns the air of woodland as destructive to 

 life and health, another celebrates it as containing 

 nutritive particles, and asserts that men who live 

 in the woods consume less food than those who dwell 

 in open countries.* 



But notwithstanding the dreams of European phi- 

 losophers, or the interested views of European po- 

 liticians, America can best be described by those 

 who have for a long time resided in it. Those who 

 have not seen it at all, and those who have passed 

 through it with the rapidity of a traveller, can be 

 very inadequate judges ; yet unhappily there are 

 many of both these classes of writers, whose accounts 

 have gained more credit than they deserve, f 



From the frightful picture drawn by Mr. Volney, 

 of the climate of North America, and of the United 

 States in particular; a foreigner relying on his facts, 

 would readily be prevented from taking up his resi- 

 dence in any part of the continent ; but it is fortu- 

 nate, as well for those whose lot is cast in the coun- 

 try, as for others who wish to remove to it, that 

 there are many circumstances which tend to diminish 

 the supposed bad consequences of the climate he 

 depicts, and that neither health nor longevity are 

 affected thereby. 



The variable nature of the climate of Pennsylva- 

 nia and of the United States, says Dr. Rush, does 

 not render it necessarily unhealthy. Doctor Hux- 

 ham has taught us, that the healthiest seasons in 



* Abbe Raynalj Hist. Ind. vol, iii, p. 278. 

 *f* Belknap^s Hist. New Hampshire^ vol, iii. 



I 



