COMPARING- GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCES. 
135 
the fact that from the Danube to the Balkans is about 70 miles. It will 
also be observed that these five measurements which I have just given 
form a diamond of two equilateral triangles. From the Adriatic to the 
Bay of Biscay (the mouth of the Adour) is 750 miles. Here it will be seen 
that about 450 miles of this distance (roughly) passes through French 
territory, and that the north of Italy is about 300 miles across. If one 
looks at the shape of the north of Italy, which represents in fact the battle¬ 
fields of Italy, one will see that its breadth is rather more than a third 
of its length, that is to say, rather over 100 miles, and therefore that 
from the Alps to the Po is, roughly, 60 to 70 miles. From the Straits 
of Dover to Cape Finisterre is 750 miles—this will be remembered 
principally by those who, like myself, have the misfortune to be bad 
sailors. The length of the Baltic from Memel, where the previous 
measurement was taken, to Tornea is 750 miles, and from the Shetlands 
to the north of Iceland, not absolutely the northern point, is the 
same. The Mediterranean divides itself into three units: — 
(1.) From the coast of Syria to Cape Matapan—this is the portion 
of the Mediterranean which is principally identified 
with ancient history, namely, with the Dynasties of the 
Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Persians and the ancient 
Greeks. Towards the fall of the supremacy of classical 
Greece we find the Greeks gradually extending into the 
next unit, their operations in Sicily being the cause, in 
fact, of the fall of Athens as a power. 
(2.) The next Mediterranean unit is from Cape Matapan to Cape 
Spartivento, the southern point of Sardinia. This is 
identified with the general rise of the Roman Republic 
up to the second Punic war, when the existence of the 
Roman Republic was so seriously threatened and when 
the third unit in the Mediterranean came into play, 
namely— 
(3.) From Cape Spartivento to Gibraltar—this third unit is also 
750 miles. 
During the time of the Roman Empire the Mediterranean was, of 
course, a Roman lake. 
Countries. 
Taking the length of various countries in Europe, the length of Spain 
and Portugal from Cape Creux to Cape St. Yincent is 750 miles. It 
will be observed that the northern frontier of Spain is rather less, ap¬ 
proximately 600 miles, and also that the coast line is about 350 miles, 
and the length of the Pyrenees about 250 miles, also that Portugal 
may be roughly taken as 400 miles long and 100 miles across. Madrid, 
it will be seen, stands opposite the centre of the unit, and is from 200 to 
300 miles from the coast and from the Pyrenees. 
The length of France and Switzerland is 750 miles, hence you will 
observe that any measurements inFrauce must necessarily be less than 750 
miles. You will see that the southern coast of France, as the crow 
flies, is very much the same length as the Pyrenees, that is to^ say 
