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lands of Scotland, conceived to be in Virgil’s time 
almoft the ultima Thule. 
I do not pretend however to aflert from this, that 
fnow does not lye upon the Alps and Apennines, 
which arifes from their very confiderable height, nor 
that fome waters on the tops of fuch mountains, or 
perhaps nearly under them, may not be frozen, 
efpecially when they are at a great diftance from the 
fea. 
We fhall find however that the climate hath like— 
. wife, upon thefe very fummits, become proportionably 
mild with that of the more level countries. 
This receives a very clear and fatisfadory proof, 
from the difficulties which thofe formerly encountered 
who pa fied the Alps. 
Every line, almoft, of both Livy’s and Polybius’s 
delcription of Annibal’s pafiage, makes mention of 
froft and ice : we know that thefe mountains have 
been eafily crofted fince by armies, from the time of 
Francis the firft, to the war of 1743. They are 
likewife palled fometimes even by confumptive tra- 
vellers during the winter. 
It is now time, perhaps, to releafe you from this 
very long dilTertation ; on a point, however, which 
feems to be of fomecuriofity and importance. I am, 
Dear Sir, 
Your moft faithful, 
humble fervant, 
Daines Barrington. 
K 2 
1 
X. An 
