subjects are exceedingly rare, instances of longevity, from ninety to one hundred years, are common. In the southern and western parts of Nova Scotia, the climate assimilates to that of New Brunswick, but is rather milder.

THE CLIMATE OF NEW BRUNSWICK is salubrious; the epidemic fevers of the southern states are unknown; and colds, and their consequent diseases, can only be considered as common in this province. Consumption, although not apparently so common as in New England, is the principal cause of death among the young, or those between twenty and thirty. Fevers, generally in the form of mild typhus, occur frequently in the beginning of winter: most probably from want of proper attention in fortifying the body, in time, with additional clothing against the sudden change from warm to cold weather.

In a country like New Brunswick, where the inhabitants expose themselves to all the varieties of climate, and to the waters of the sea and rivers, rheumatism often afflicts the working classes, especially the lumberers, who are often, during fall and spring, drenched in the remarkably cold waters of the rivers. The diseases, however, that are most fatal to life, such as fevers, small-pox, and measles, are brought to the province from other countries, principally by passengers' ships. Generally speaking, the climate may be considered at least equally healthy with that of England.

The temperature of the climate of the southern parts is much milder than that of those parts which border on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Bay de Chaleur, and Lower Canada. Sea fogs frequently envelope the shores of the Bay of Fundy, and render the culture of wheat near the coast uncertain, but do not appear to cause any unhealthy consequences.

With the difference of more humidity on the southern coast and a few miles inland, and that the harbours within the Bay of Fundy, at least from St. John to the state of Maine, are seldom obstructed with ice, and the frosts in the northern parts being somewhat more severe, what we have observed, in treating of the climate of America generally, will apply equally to this province. The Bay and harbours of Passamaquody are much less affected by frost than the port of New York. The great tides of the Bay of Fundy, which carry inwards a portion of the waters and vapours of the gulf stream, have a great influence in moderating the temperature of the sea-coasts of the north-eastern parts of Maine, and of both sides of this bay: while winter seldom passes, without the Hudson being frozen over, down nearly to New York. In 1840-1, at a distance of 100 miles above New York, the Hudson was frozen over, from the latter part of December to the end of March.

CLIMATE OF THE ATLANTIC COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.-The climate of Maine and the New England states, and of New York, assimilates with graduating mildness, southward, to the general system of the climate of America which we have described. The navigation of Philadelphia and Baltimore is often impeded by ice. Delaware in the latitude of Naples is generally frozen over for

about five weeks. The Potomac is also frozen over for some weeks.* Warmth increases as we proceed south of the Potomac ; but during winter, slight frosts occur, even in Florida and Louisiana; the climates of which, in other respects, as well as the productions, may be considered tropical, although some of the grains, and many of the trees of the temperate latitudes, grow in both these states. The thermometer, which in the shade stands at 84 deg. Far. in East Florida, will often sink at night to 45 deg.†

CLIMATE OF THE BASINS OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI.-We may class four distinct climates, between the sources and the mouths of the Mississippi. The first, commencing at its sources, and terminating at Prairie du Chien, corresponds pretty accurately to the climate of the countries between Montreal and Boston; with this difference, that the quantity of snow falling in the former is much less than in the latter region. The mean temperature of the year would be something higher on the Upper Mississippi. The vegetation, the time of planting, and ripening, may be considered nearly the same. Potatoes are raised in this climate in the utmost perfection. Wheat, clover, and the usual grasses succeed well. The apple and the pear tree require fostering, and southern exposure, to bring fruit to perfection. The peach-tree requires a sheltered declivity, with a southern exposure, to succeed at all. Five months in the year may be considered winter: during which cattle require shelter in severe weather, and the still waters remain frozen.

"The second climate," says Mr. Flint," includes the opposite states of Missouri and Illinois, in their whole extent, or the country, between 41 and 37 deg. N. Lat. Cattle, though much benefited by sheltering, and often needing it, seldom receive it. It is not so favourable for cultivated grasses, as the preceding region. Gourd-seed corn (maize) is the only kind extensively planted. The winter commences with January, and ends with the second week in February. The ice, in the still waters, after that time thaws. Wheat, the inhabitant of a variety of climates, is at home, as a native, in this. The persimon and the papaw are found in its whole extent. It is the favoured region of the apple, the pear, and the peach-tree. Snows neither fall deep nor lie long. The Irish potato succeeds to a certain extent, but not so well as in a higher climate; and this disadvantage is supplied by the sweet potato, which, though not at home in this climate, with a little care in the cultivation flourishes. The grandeur of vegetation, and the temperature of March and April, indicate an approach towards a southern climate.

*Dr. Forry says, the region of Pennsylvania, as though it were the battle-ground on which Boreas and Auster struggle for mastery, experiences, indeed, the extremes of heat and cold.

The foregoing view of the theory of the climate of North America, was chiefly written in 1832, and the greater part incorporated in my work on " BRITISH AMERICA." The remaining observations on the climate of America are chiefly on the authority of a most instructive work on the climate by Dr. Forry, New York, 1842. We have also had recourse to Humboldt, and to an article on climate in the "Book of the United States," written by Mr. Flint; and to various statements which we collected on the climate of the British Provinces, in America.

"The third climate extends from 37 to 31 deg. N. Below 35 deg. N., in the rich alluvial soils, the apple-tree begins to fail in bringing its fruit to perfection. We have never tasted apples worth eating, raised much below New Madrid. Cotton, between this point and 33 deg., is raised, in favourable positions, for home consumption, but is seldom to be depended upon for a crop. Below 33 deg. commences the proper climate for cotton, and it is the staple article of cultivation. Festoons of long moss hang upon the trees, and darken the forests. The palmetto gives to the low alluvial grounds a grand and striking verdure. The muscadine grape, strongly designating climate, is first found here. Laurels have become common in the forest, retaining their foliage and their verdure through the winter. Wheat is no longer seen as an article of cultivation. The fig-tree brings its fruit to full maturity. Below this climate, to the gulf, is the region of the sugar-cane and the sweet orange-tree. It would be, if it were cultivated, the region of the olive. Snow is no longer seen to fall, except in a few flakes, in the coldest storms. The streams are never frozen. Winter is only marked by nights of white frost, and days of north-west winds, which seldom last longer than three days in succession, and are followed by south winds and warm days. The trees are generally in leaf by the middle of February, and always by the first of March. Bats are hovering in the air during the night. Fire-flies are seen in the middle of February. Early in March the forests are in blossom. The margins of the creeks and streams are perfumed with meadow pink, or honeysuckle, yellow jessamine, and other fragrant flowers. During almost every night a thunder-storm occurs. Cotton and corn are planted from March to July. In these regions the summers are uniformly hot, although there are days when the mercury rises as high in New England as in Louisiana. The heat, however, is more uniform and sustained, commences much earlier, and continues much later. From February to September thunder-storms are common, often accompanied with severe thunder, and sometimes with gales or tornadoes, in which the trees of the forests are prostrated in every direction, and the tract of country, which is covered with the fallen trees, is called a "hurricane." The depressing influence of the summer heat results from its long continuance, and equable and unremitting tenour, rather than from the intensity of its ardour at any given time. It must, however, be admitted, that at all times the unclouded radiance of the vertical sun of this climate is extremely oppressive such are the summers and autumns of the southern divisions of this valley.

"The winters, in the whole extent of the country, are variable, passing rapidly from warm to cold, and the reverse near the Mississippi, and where there is little to vary the general direction of the winds, they ordinarily blow three or four days from the north. In the northern and middle regions, the consequence is cold weather, frost more or less severe, and, perhaps, storm, with snow and sleet. During these days the rivers are covered with ice. The opposite breeze

alternates. There is immediately a bland and relaxing feeling in the atmosphere. It becomes warm; and the red birds sing on those days, in January and February, as far north as Prairie du Chien. These abrupt and frequent transitions can hardly fail to have an unfavourable influence upon health. From forty to thirtysix degrees the rivers almost invariably freeze, for a longer or shorter period, through the winter. At St. Louis, on the Mississippi, and at Cincinnati, on the Ohio, in nearly the same parallels, between thirty-eight and thirty-nine degrees, the two rivers are sometimes capable of being crossed on the ice for eight weeks together.

"Although the summers over all this valley must be admitted to be hot, yet the exemption of the country from mountains and impediments to the free course of the winds, and the circumstances, that the greater proportion of the country has a surface bare of forests, and probably, other unexplained atmospheric agents, concur to create, during the sultry months almost a constant breeze. It hence happens, that the air on these wide prairies is rendered fresh, and the heats are tempered, in the same manner as is felt on the ocean.

*

The annual and mean quantity of rain that falls in the United States is much greater than in most countries of Europe, certain mountainous regions and heads of gulfs excepted. This has been ascertained by numerous and accurate observations made on different parts of the Atlantic coast.

It is said, on the authority of tabular views, that on a medium, one-third less rain falls in Europe than in the United States; yet Dr. Holyoke in his "Memoir on the Climate of the United States," observes, "twenty cities in Europe, which at a mean of twenty years, have had one hundred and twenty days of rain; while Cambridge has had but eighty-eight days. Salem ninety-five days of rain, and Philadelphia seventy-six days, at a medium of twenty years. The mean annual quantity of rain at Philadelphia, is very little more than the mean annual quantity at Glasgow, for a term of thirty years preceding 1790. The above greater quantity of rain in fewer days, in America, indicates the rain to be much heavier there than in Europe. On the other hand, it is equally well ascertained, that the evaporation of these rains proceeds much quicker in America than in Europe; and that, consequently, the air is habitually drier, and less calm, unless Charleston be taken as an exception. It has been found that the mean annual quantity of evaporation at Cambridge, near Boston, was fifty-six inches for a term of seven years; while in seven German and Italian cities, on a mean of twenty years, the annual evaporation was forty-nine inches, or seven of difference; although the Italian cities are in a much more favourable situation for evaporation than the vicinity of Boston, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. The same fact of greater evaporation was also observed to take place in Upper Louisiana, and along the higher Missouri, as far as the Rocky Mountains, by Captain Lewis.

* Flint on the climate of the Mississippian regions.

"The dryness of the American climate increases as we advance west and north-west from the Missouri, where there frequently is not a drop of rain for six months. This is owing to the great distance from any sea, the superior elevation and comparative want of timber, combined with the greater intensity and longer duration of the north-west wind, which sweeps with unobstructed force over the naked plains. It appears then, that more rain falls in fewer days, in America than in Europe; and that there are fewer cloudy days, more fair days, and quicker evaporation. It is to this last circumstance we must ascribe those immense dews, unknown in European climates, which occur in America, and which are so copious in summer, as to resemble heavy showers of rain. But it must also be observed, that dews are comparatively unknown in the tract watered by the Upper Missouri; and which, in all probability, is owing to the want of timber: wood being limited to the banks of the rivers, which are commonly bordered with trees."*

Dr. Forry's work on the climate of the United States, and its endemic influences is based chiefly, as he tells us, on the "Army Meteorological Register," and the "Statistical Report on the Sickness and Mortality in the Army of the United States, during the years 1819 to 1839, inclusive." He classifies the principal phenomena, physically considered, of the climate, and then traces the medical relation of those laws, in order to establish a classification of climates, based upon actual observations. His work is the most curious and interesting that has appeared: not even excepting Volney's celebrated work, on the "Soil and Climate of the United States;" and although scientific, and especially theoretic, men may not always arrive at the same conclusions as Dr. Forry, we consider it, as a whole, a most valuable production. In general principles he follows Humboldt, Arago, and Daniell.

He illustrates the results of his labours by Isotheral (or, equal summer temperature), Isothermal (or, equal annual temperature), and Isocheimal (or, equal winter temperature) lines. These are all based upon the meteorological observations kept at the different military posts, or as they are called forts, in the United States: for instance, he traces from one point, Fort Vancouver, on the River Columbia, in latitude 45 deg. 50 min. N., and longitude 43 deg. W. from Washington, three lines, viz., an isotheral line of 65 deg., an isothermal line of 51 deg. 75 min., and an isocheimal line of 41 deg. The first of these linear temperatures followed irregular curves, ascending as high as 48 deg. 40 min. N. latitude, winding eastward, through Green Bay, in latitude 45 deg. ; then through Lake Michigan, in latitude 44 deg. 30 min.; Lake Huron, in about 43 deg. 30 min.; Lake Ontario, in about 43 deg. 40 min.; then curving north, to 44 deg. 40 min.; and then south, until it strikes the Atlantic in about latitude 43 deg. 25 min. The second line, starting from the same point as the first, curves to the south, passing through Fort Armstrong, on the Mississippi, in latitude 41 deg. 40 min.,