TO THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS. (53 
We were now approaching countries con- chap. 
nected with the earliest history of Greece, and ' — ‘ 
the most splendid periods of the Roman Empire. 
Occasions to illustrate their interesting annals, 
by reference to antient monuments, might 
indeed be few ; but we resolved to note every 
occurring observation, and did not anticipate 
with indifference the gratification we should 
experience in traversing regions once the 
emporium of Athens ; whence she derived the 
principle of her existence, as a maritime power, 
until the commerce of the Euxine passed, with 
the liberties of Greece , into the hands of the 
Romans. Her trade in the Euxine not only 
supported, but enriched her inhabitants. It 
became the nursery for her seamen, and was 
of the utmost importance in the demand it 
occasioned for her own manufactures. A very 
whom we lodged were stung by a few, which came with us in the 
carriage. England is, for the most part, free from this terrible scourge, 
as well as from the locust ; but it is very uncertain how long it may 
continue so, as the progress of both one and the other, towards lati- 
tudes where they were formerly unknown, has been sensibly felt in 
many countries within the present century. Perhaps in no part of the 
globe do they abound more than in Lapland. When Accrbi published his 
Travels in those regions, it was objected that he had too often mentioned 
the mosquitoes ; yet there is no circumstance which gives to his writings 
more internal evidence of truth, than the cause of this objection. The 
fact is, the real nature of their afflicting visitation, rendering even life 
burdensome, cannot be conceived but by persons who have had the 
misfortune to experience its effects. 
