HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



161 



New World, in order to prefent his readers with an af- 

 femblage of fi&ions that is monftrous and horrid, with- 

 out coniidering, that if we were to follow his fleps, and 

 undertook to make a fimilar reprefentation of the differ- 

 ent countries of which the old continent is compofed, 

 ( which would not be difficult) we would make a defcrip- 

 tion ftill more hideous than his ; but as it would be fo- 

 reign to our purpofe we will confine ourfelves to treat of 

 the climate of Mexico. 



This country, as it is extremely extenflve, and divid- 

 ed into fo many provinces, different in their fituation, is 

 neceffarily fubje&ed to a variety of climes. Some of its 

 lands, fuch as the maritime, are hot, and in general 

 moift and unhealthy ; others are like all inland places, 

 temperate, dry, and healthy. The latter are extreme- 

 ly high, the former very low. In fome the fouth wind, 

 in others' the eail, and in others the north wind prevails. 

 The greateft cold of any of the inhabited places, does 

 not equal that of France or even Caftile ; nor can the 

 greateft heat be compared to that of Africa, or the dog- 

 days in many countries of Europe. The difference be- 

 tween winter and fummer is fo little in any part, that the 

 mod delicate perfons wear the fame clothes in Auguft 

 and January. This and a good deal more which wc 

 have already faid, refpe&ing the mildnefs and fweetnefs 

 of that climate is fo notorious, that there is no need of 

 arguments to fupport it. 



M. de Paw in order to demonftrate the malignity of 

 the American climate, adduces firft the fmallnefs and ir- 

 regularity of the animals of America. Secondly, the 

 fize and enormous multiplication of the infects, and other 

 little animals. Thirdly, the difeafes of the Americans, 

 and particularly the venereal diforder. Fourthly, the 



Vol. III. Y defers 



