98 ACRE. 
CHAP, generally speaking, all the shores of the Medi- 
< /- — ' terranean, of the ylrchipehigo, of the Sea of 
Marmora, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azof 
have their periodical vapours of pestilence and 
death. Many of them are never free from 
bad air ; and numberless are the victims who, 
unconscious of the danger, have been exposed 
to its effects. Some attention should be paid 
to proper caution in visiting countries so circum- 
stanced ; especially since it has been affirmed 
by our great Moralist', that " the grand object 
of travelhng is to see the shores of the Mediter- 
ranean. On those shores," said he, " were the 
four great empires of the world ; the Assyrian, 
the Persian, Greek, and Roman. All our religion, 
almost all our laws, almost all our arts, almost 
all that sets us above savages, has come to 
us from the shores of the Mediterranean.'' Yet, 
in exploring countries so situate, among 
the ruins of antient cities, and in the very 
midst of objects to which a literary traveller 
would most eagerly direct his attention, the 
danger to be apprehended from bad air is 
particularly imminent. Stagnant water, owing 
to ruined aqueducts, to neglected wells, and 
grounds ; {vol. II. p. '227.) thereby differing from the statement made 
by the author, who is not, however, disposed to alter the account 
given above ; owing to the proofs by which the opinion is maintaiaed. 
(l) See BoaivcU's Life oi Johnson, vol, II. p. 61. Loud. 1791. 
