Nothing can exceed the natural scenery of Italy, in all the ingredients which compose the sublime or the beautiful. Its mountains present every %ariety of shape and magni tude, of rugged precipices, woody declivities, snowy sum mits, winding bases, and all the possible materials of pic turesque beauty. Even the plains are varied by gentle swells and bolder elevations ; while the extraordinary purity of the atmosphere, and consequent brightness of the light, gives a distinctness to every object, which cannot be con ceived by those who are accustomed to the dimness of a vapoury sky. Its views, in short, we are assured by the concurring testimony of the most intelligent observers, ne ver disappoint the traveller, or fall short of his expectations. The highest picturing of imagination, and brightest des cription of poetry, du not surpass the effect produced by viewing the vale of Clitumnus, the falls of the Auio, the banks of the Nar, the waters of Tibur, the groves of Alba no, the plains, hills, coasts, and bays of Campania Felix.* Sonic of the more celebrated Italian landscapes, besides those already mentioned, are, the bay of Naples ; the adja cent promontory of Posilippo ; the Val d'Arno near Flo rence, which is the Arcadia of Italy ; the road by La Cava to Calabria; the prospect from the Palombiera of Vietri ; the eastern shore of Mare Piccolo, Exc.
In this place may be mentioned also a few of those natu ral curiosities with which the country abounds, and which usually attract the notice of travellers, but which our limits will not allow us to describe ; namely, the Grotto of Puz zuolano, an excavation or tunnel nearly a quarter of a mile in length, leading to the Lago d'Agnano near Naples ; the Grotto del Cane in the same vicinity, called by Pliny, Spira cula Ditis, 11:Walkable for a deadly vapour arising from its bottom, and for the repeated experiments of its efficacy by letting dogs down into it ; the vapour baths adjoining to the grotto ; the Solfatara, a plain of sulphureous marl at PUZZLI010, which is so hot on the surface as to scorch the feet of those who walk over it, and is continually emitting sulphureous vapours, which, in some places, appear by night as a pale blue flame, anciently called Forum Vulcani, described by Petronius Arbiter, and alluded to by Milton in his Picture of the infernal regions; the Pietra Mala, a mountain 40 miles from Florence, on the road to Bologna, where a flame spreads over a portion of the sur face, without any of the effects of a volcanic eruption ; the intermittent fountains on the promontory of 'Porto, near Lago di Como ; the wells at Casalnuovo, mentioned by Pliny in the second book of his natural history, where the water never rises or falls beyond a certain mark ; Pulo di Mal fetto, a curious cavern, where mineral saltpetre is found ; the Claudian Emissario, a canal cut through the mountain Salvianus by the emperor Claudius, to carry off the super fluous water from Lake Celan° ; the echo near Pic de Lu co, on the way to Caduta, on the banks of the Velino ; and the falls of the same river at the same place.
Climate.
In regard to climate, Italy has been counted the garden of Europe, and the most delightful region on the face of the globe. Extending between the 38th and 46th degrees of north latitude, it would be exposed, by its situation, to a considerable degree of heat in summer, and of cold in win ter ; but by the influence of the seas, by which it. is inclosed
on so many sides, and of the mountains, by which it is in tersected, its temperature is greatly moderated, and pre served from all extremes. Its climate, therefore, may be pronounced in general to be genial and temperate; but varies considerably even in districts not far distant from each other. It has been divided into four regions, each of which pos sesses a climate somewhat peculiar to itself. First, the Vale of the Po, or Lombardy, about 260 miles in length, and 150 at its greatest breadth, bounded by the Alps on the north west and south, and open to the Adriatic on the east. This is accounted one of the most delicious climates in the world, its sunshine unilormly bright, its atmosphere clear and unclouded, and its sultry season cooled by the gales from the surrounding mountains. The second extends over the Roman and Tuscan territories, and being inclosed by the Appenines, so as to be well protected from the north, is more incommoded by the heats of summer than the cold of winter. Frost and snow are occasionally experienced ; but the temperature is sufficiently high, and continued, to ripen completely the orange and the grape. The third is that of Campania Felix, and its immediate dependencies, where nature appears to pour out all its treasures, where the air is almost invariably genial, and the sky continually serene, and where the most delicate vegetable productions flourish in perfection. The fourth, lying beyond the Ap- penines, and opening to the east, is still warmer than the last ; and abounds more in the productions of a southern latitude, such as the aloes and the palm. This extends over the southern extremity of Italy, including L'Abruzzo, Apulia, and Calabria. The mountainous regions vary in climate according to their elevation ; and such is the influ ence of these local causes, that in their smaller vallies a cool temperature may be experienced in the south, and a sultry atmosphere in the north. The climate over the whole country may be considered in general as inclining to heat, the rays of the sun being powerful even in winter ; and in summer, especially when the Sirocco blows, parti cularly sultry and oppressive. At the same time, the beat is never intolerable, but is cooled by breezes from the mountains or the sea. The sea breeze rises about eight in the morning, and continues without interruption till four in the afternoon ; while, in the mountainous tracts, many retreats may be found, such as the baths of Lucca and the valley of Vallombrosa, where the mildest temperature may be enjoyed, even during the raging heat of the dog-days. Rain is not frequent during the spring and summer months; but occasional showers sufficiently refresh the air, and re vive vegetation. These arc not unfrequently accompanied by thunder storms, which in harvest are sometimes very destructive to the crops. In the end of autumn, rains are regular, and extremely heavy ; and in winter, inundations to a wide extent often take place. But all these are only temporary interruptions of the prevailing serenity which constitutes the chief advantage of the Italian climate.