The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-02
CHANGE OF cLIMArEIl

1t is often asked, whether the climate of
the United States is not undergoing certain
revo!utions-whether our winters are be-
coming more or less intense.-It is a well
known fact, that under similar degrees of
latitude, the climate of Europe is much
warmer than that of the United States but
it is not so generally known, that the climate
of Europe itself, is much warmer siogy, than
1t was several centuries past. IHia fact is
clearly established by the following extract
from the LIST vol. of Gibbons decline and
Fall of the Roman Empire"
1t we may judge therefore by analogy, we
may certainly pronounce that the climate of
the United States has become considerably
warmer, and that at some future dav, when
our woods shall have been more completely
cut down and our morasscs drained, its tenn
perature will be Immensely changed
these revolutions too, will evidently be bro't
about in shorter period than those of Eu-
| rope-becausef liquidation here advances with
a boldcr step, and civilization has no7v as
sumed hrmer foothold. How far these
conclusions from analogy ought TO be modified
by the physical peculiarities of our country
! -particuiarly the chains OF elevated noun
tains extending from the north to the south.
siid the large volume OF water in the lakes
on our northern frontier,-it is for naturalists
( to determined!
Some ingenious writer's Ca have suspected
that Europe was much colder formerly than at
present {; and the most ancient descriptions
of the climate of Germany tend exceedingly
| 10 confirm their theory. The general complaints
OF intense frost, and eternal winter, are perhaps
little to be regarded, since we have no method
OF reducing to the accurate standard ofthe Their
nometer, the feelings, or the expressions of an
orator, born IN the happier regions of Greece or
Asia. But shall select two remarkable cir
cumstances OF a less equivocal nature l. The
ISreat rivers which covered the Roman proyin-
ces, the Kline and the Danube, were frequently
frozen over, and capable of supporting the mos.
enormous weights. The barbarians who. often
chose that severe season for their inroads trans
ported without apprehension or danger. their mn.
merous armies, their cavalry, and their heavy
Wagons, over vast and solid bridge of ice. N J
Modern ages have not presented an instance of
Ike phenomenon. 9. The reindeer that use
fui animal, from whom the savage ofthe North
derives the best comforts Of his dreary life, is of
| constitution that supports, and even requires
the most intense cold. He is found on the rsck
OF SpItzberg, within ten degrees of the Pole :;
ne seems to delight in the SHOWS of Laplsnd and
siberia; but at present he cannot subsist, much
less multiply, IN any country to the south of the
| Baltic. 90 In the time of Cesar, the rein
deer as well as the elk, and the wild bull, was
naive OF the Hercynian forest, which then over
shadowed great part of Germany and Poland
II aC-lhe modern improvements sufficiently e..
pam the CAUSES Of the elimination ofcoM
lheSe immense woods have been gradually
cleared, which intercepted from the earth the
| rays OF the sun. (e) The morasses have been
drained, and IN proportion as the soil has been
cultivated, the air has become more temperate
Sahada at TINS day, is exact picture of ancient
Germany Although situated in the same par
aiiei with the finest provinces of France and En-
gland, that country experiences the most riro.
rohs cold The reindeer are very numerous.
the ground is covered with deep and LASTING
snow, and the great river of St. Lawrence is re-
quarry froZen IN season when the waters of the
oelne & the Thames are invariably free from ice
Cd) In particular Mr.. Rur,rs, the 15be ii, RI,
| and ny Pcilontier, Hist. des Celtes tom. 1
| ~ Diodorns Siculus, is. b. $40. Ed;t. NEE.
| ser. Herodian, I. 6. p: 221. 9ornanokes. g 55
oH me 6dnks Of the Danube, the tuine. qvbeu b,o,,
to fa"He '9as Frequently frozen into ryeat Iu1nb,
irusta VIM. Cpid. Ebist eae Ponto. l. d. 7 o 10
gDsH GeorgH l. 8. >. 355. TIE Eaet i, cam
Frniea 6g s0fdfer Gnd bhiiosebiey, q,he had es-
Per'eHeea the intense cold IF IArace. See Xen,-
Phon' And6dsis,k S. p. $50 Edit. Hutchinson,
l., ~ BEtsn HiStoiye NafUelie, tom. 10. b. 70
(d) Cesar de Bell Gallo. vi. %. &c Jz.
n''n iHquisifive Of tie Germans we're ign0yanf If
ffS It,aosf limits, although some Citizen hadf,G-
Veflsd u more than go days joRyney.
- CfRVeyins ( GerDraHia Antigpa, l. &c. III. J
| inysShgateS the small and scatterea remain. of,6,
HetcyHidn zcooa y Wv
~ Ghdrfeviox Historic da Canada.