The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-08-01

XIV was nfpirs all ranks with thar emulation.
without which every thing languihes."
CLIMATE OF VIRCIsiA.-No phvfical fac
is more completely eftabliihed, than that the
climate ofcvery country is undergoing impor-
tant changes.
Theft do not 70 much proceed from any vi
ciiiiiode in the earth, the air, or the elements
as from the tranfcendant influence of man. II
is the triumph of moral over phvfcal caufes
AS thefe caufrs bee ONE powerful in their ope-
ration; or in other words, as man becomes en-.
| 'ightened, civilized and enterprzng The face
| and the climate of a country hecom- gradually
improved. In proportion rs he returns to his
primeval tate of barbsrifi,,, the country or the
continent which he inhabits, partakes Of the
fame gloomy revolution. Is it therefore too
hazardous an al1erton, that a2 the prcgrefs of
man towards civilization feems to be fully con-
| hrmed by the laws of his nature the climate Of
the whole earth itfelf will experience n gra,u-
al and perhaps an important Improvement (.
Is 1t even too bold TO affert ,ha. the rapidi.v of
th's progreis will he in Considerable degree,
proportioned to the determination of repubii-
can governments. which are e. peculiarly IA
| vorabe to the multiplication of the human fDe-
cies; 70 the increafe of agricultural improve
ments and consequently, TO the clearing of the
| Woods C crhning ofthe morales, that 10 conf
derably modify the climates of the earth .
II we wo;:'d fee this great vcfiitucle of eli
mate ftrikingly exampliied, we mutt not re-
tort to our own continent, which is too lately
and little known to furninh points OF com
PARTON, hut to Europe, where the effects of
the climate have been regifered AT dRant in.
tervals. II is there, that the gradual ameliora-
ton of climate is demonstrated, bevond donht
The htorian Giobon in his " Decline and
Fall of the Roman Empire" adduces two me-
morahle facts to demontrate the truth of this
pohtion, LIT. The Rhine and the Danube were
frequently frozen over, and capable of fupport-
ling the mott enormous weights. fucb as hume.
rous armies of Barbarians, their cavalry and
their heavy Wagons. But the like nhenon,e-
non has not occurred in modern ages Q. The
Reindeer which is found on the rock of Spifz.
bergen, within ten degrees of the ooIe and a.
midi the fnows of LapIand and Siberia, was, in
Cr'ar's time,a native of the Hercynian Foref.
tut at preient he cannot fuhfif, much lefs null
ItiPlyin any country 70 the fouth ofthe Baltic.
50 great ms heen the vicif1iude of climate, ex-
perienced by Germany, ard the other cultiyat
ed parts ~ Europe
" Mo'ern improvements (favs this ingenious
author,) efficiently explain the caures of the
ldininuton of the cold. Thief. inmen(e 4uoodt
have been gradually cleared. which intercepted
from the earth the rays of the fun. The nm
RATES have heen drained, aud in proportion as
the Toll has been cultivated, the air has become
more temperate. Canada, at this dav, is an
exact picture of ancient GERMANY. AIthougt
htuated in the fame parallel with the 6neft
provinces ofFrance and England, that conntrv
experiences the mott rigorous cold. The rein
deer are very numerous, the ground is covered
with deep and laffing fnow, and the ereat-riyer
OF st. Laurence is regularly frozen in fsaE,n
when the waters of the Seine and the Thames
are ufuaIly free from ice"
Our own continent however has exhibited fone
changes. though not 70 ftrking as tfofe Of En-
rope. A'moft every man will confefs that if
IS not the lame as 1t was in the DAYS of
his youth. He will admit that our climate h.e
gradually fofened and improved !. thai nmr
feafons are changed the autumn HAVING now
encroaehed upon the winter, and the winter W,
on the fprng; that rhe feafon of ice and fnow is
lateri in coming and quicker in paffing awav.
The whole h'itory of the country, indeed. an
nounces an ameiioration of our climate. 6milar
to that which has viited Europe.
This gradual and nrver-ceafing change how
ever may elude our fenfss. But there are Others
of more traniient nature, which force us into
obiervation. One of theft vicifitudes has
occurred within the lat few months one of
them is at this moment before us, with IFS con.
iequenceS too deeply portrayed upon the face
or the neighbouring country, to efcape our no.
tice.
When our LAT winter appeared, it was mild
almo't beyond the memory of man. This fine
weather was fucceeded in March bv few
days of equity intenfe cold. The farmers were
much alarmed about their crops of wheat ::
but their fears proved to be exaggerated.
Then fucc eeded the hoft of caterpillars, of in
iects OF various kinds, and among the ref. the
poor Iombardy poplar worm innumerable
eggs Of 'hete animals having been no doubt pre-
tervcd by the midnefs Of the preceding winter.
Meanwhile the harvefts proved afonilbinplv
hne; the heads of wheat not uncommonlv
numerous. hut uncommonly full. III ksngtb. a
DROUGHT has fncceeded, not IeCs re-
markable and much more alarming than tbe
! phenomena, which had preceded it. II has
now extended to every part of Virginia from
which we have had any accounts. There has
been no rainin iris city for many DAYS; the
mowers which we ba0e enjoyed, have been
rare and penurious. But let the degree of the
drought be told by its effects (!
Many Of the fprngs and wells Of wa
ter, have been dried up Several who have
! depended upon their own fprings for A f1o-
ply, have been compelled to refort to other
! firearms; and fome who poTefs wells, that
have never failed before, are now OBLIGED
| to Ink them feveral inches or feet lower, in
tearch OF more abundant vein of water.
mutt OF the running firearms of water, which
| fuDDlV orr Cora NIilIo I,,,o.