48 
mur’s scale and being the minimum temperatures during the 
entire day are much lower than any observed by myself. 
I have the returns for this country for the same month in 
the neighbourhood of London, where on the 24 th, 25th, and 
26th of January, at 10 p.m. the temperatures of 33°4, 30°6, 
and 34°3 were registered ; and on the 28th, 29th, and 30th 
the temperatures at the same hour were 36°8, 44°0, and 49°4. 
I have not the returns for this city at the same dates, nor 
is it necessary for me to adduce them, as the difference 
between the temperatures of the two places cannot be great. 
What is, however, ofsome importance in regard to this country, 
is the knowledge, that notwithstanding the complaints of, and 
drawbacks resulting from the changes of temperature and the 
variable state of our atmosphere, there is probably no other 
country, where the inhabitants enjoy more solid comfort from 
climate or suffer less obstruction in the necessary out-door 
duties of life. 
In Italy, France, and Spain the extremes of heat and cold 
are much greater ; and during my Stay in Milan, it was repre- 
sented to me by some friends engaged in scientific pursuits, 
that there, the present winter has been the most trying one for 
the last twenty-eight years, and that the intensity of cold and 
want of fuel and warm clothing have pressed hard upon the poor 
and caused great suffering amongst them. They, however, 
anticipate beneficial results from the severe cold, in the vine- 
yards, which have suffered greatly from the disease which 
seized the plants some years since, and which has caused great 
loss and misery throughout the country. It is sincerely to be 
wished that these hopes may be realised not only in the Italian 
states, but wherever the disease has been prevalent. 
