It is in fact sufficiently obvious, that wherever the aerial currents have a free and unobstructed circulation those injurious mixtures, in the form of vapour known under the name of miasmata, cannot disseminate their baneful seeds, the whole ingredients of the atmosphere being thereby continually amalgamated together.

The greater portion indeed of central France, it may justly be said, has as strong and palpable claims to a genial and equable climate, as the province of Touraine, with all its acknowledged local advantages. The winters are of very short duration, and a powerful sun during the greater part of the year dispenses heat and life through a cloudless and lucid atmosphere.

The present winter (1842), like its immediate predecessor has been somewhat remarkable for an unusual though partial severity. This was only experienced at Tours during the month of January, when a keen but dry atmosphere prevailed. The cold about this period however, seems to have been severely felt in the south of Europe generally, and in countries where the temperature is usually very mild. At Rome on the ninth January 1842, there was a fall of snow which remained on the ground several hours, and on the thirteenth the hills of Albano and Tusculum were still covered with snow. The cold was twenty two degrees below freezing point, which is a very rare circumstance in the Roman states. At Carthagena, where severe cold is seldom known, the thermometer fell for the first time to a degree and a half below zero. The hills for the first time for many years were covered with snow. At Madrid, the great basin of the Buen-Retiro was covered with ice several inches thick, and two sentinels of the queen's palace were frozen to death at their posts. At Valencia the thermometer fell seven degrees below freezing point. At Burgois, Barcelona, and Cordova, the weather was equally severe. Even the shores of Africa experienced a similar visitation;—at Algiers the thermometer stood at three degrees below zero. So low a temperature had not been experienced for twenty years. At Trieste on the third of January, the roads were blocked up with snow, and the Mails from France and Italy were two days in arrears.

During the same month at Tours, but a few very slight falls of snow were experienced, and which throughout the whole winter, with the exception of one or two days, did not cover the ground for more than a few hours duration.

On the third, the thermometer here, stood at thirty-six degrees of Farenhenit in the shade, on the ninth at 24°, the thirteenth at 31°, the fifteenth at 39°, the twentieth at 34°, and on the twenty-fifth at forty-six degrees; the latter being the highest point the mercury attained during the month, and seventeen at nine o'clock in the morning of the tenth, the lowest, and which at midday rose to twenty-five degrees. There were thirteen clear, sunny days, and but six in which rain or snow fell. The north east winds prevailed until the tenth, when west and south west winds set in, and continued until the end of the month. The average daily range of temperature was four and a half.

The weather of the succeeding month rapidly became still more propitious, and the many days which a genial sun shone forth in uninterrupted splendour, produced a very sensible effect upon vegetation, the swelling buds of many of the deciduous trees, appeared on the eve of expanding into full form and beauty, while the green mantle of the plain assumed a lively and luxurious appearance.

During the month of march the thermometer continues generally to range between forty and fifty degrees; the vegetable world now resumes its wonted vigour and activity with astonishing rapidity, and the whole face of nature begins to wear a smiling and cheerful aspect. The warm glowing sunshine of April completes the lovely picture, the tender plant is no longer held in bondage by the opposing elements, a thousand pretty odoriferous harbingers on every side remind us that the season of universal florescence is at hand, regenerated, benificent nature, rejoices beneath a serene and cloudless sky, and whilst a magical brilliancy illumines the new born verdure, the embryo bud, the expanded blossom, and the vigorous plant of spring, silently but eloquently give joyful promise of the abundant fruits of Autumn.

This is a pleasing but not overwrought picture of the forwardness and redundant beauty of the springs of central France:—

DIRECTIONS FOR INVALID TRAVELLERS.

It being a matter of the first importance to the valetudinarian to adopt every precaution against the atmospheric effects to which he is necessarily exposed in his transit from place to place, and also of great consequence to be provided with such comforts and necessaries as are probably not to be obtained in his route through the country; a few observations on this point may here with propriety be introduced, and which we think cannot be more judiciously stated than in the words, of a popular writer, who has spent many years in travelling on the continent. «It will add materially to the comforts and advantage of invalids who travel en poste, to have a courier who rides before, to avoid the delays at the post-stations, at frontiers, etc., and to have apartments at the hotels ready prepared on the arrival of his employers, as these circumstances often occasion a good deal of discomfort and annoyance to persons in bad health. An easy English-built carriage from a maker's on whom reliance can be placed, fitted up with conveniences, and springs and wheels suited to the continental roads, is requisite for those who wish to travel in comfort. Many of the roads are paved, which sometimes occasions considerable fatigue. For elderly and delicate persons who are liable to be affected by the transitions of temperature, a post-chariot is the best: for others a light travelling britscka, or chaise de poste will best answer the purpose.

It is very advisable for invalids, as well as persons in health, not to sit too long at a time in the carriage, but to get out now and then to walk up the hills, or at the post-stations, as by so doing the fatigue consequent upon the muscles being kept long in the same position will be avoided.

Those persons who labour under affections of the air passages should be provided with a Jeffrey's respirator, though its too frequent use is not to be recommended, as tending to render the respiratory organs more susceptible. A pair of leather sheets may be placed beneath the