On the evening of the 6th of February, the shock of an earthquake was sensibly perceived in some parts of the town, more particularly on the side of the Turin gate; and on the 8th, the wind suddenly rose to a violent gale, which lasted three or four hours; at the commencement of which, Reaumur’s thermometer suddenly rose from 3° to 10°. An American vessel which had left the port the day before, for Marseilles, was upset during this gale, off Cannes, but the crew were fortunately saved.
The coldest day experienced during the season, was on the 20th of February, but even then, the lowest point at which Reaumur’s thermometer was noticed, was 1° above freezing point, or equal to 34¼° of Fahrenheit.
The following is a register of the temperature of the atmosphere, noted by Dr. S⸺, three times each day, during the first week of January.
| January, 1820. | 8 a.m. | 2 p.m. | 8 p.m. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reaum. | Fahrt. | Reaum. | Fahrt. | Reaum. | Fahrt. | |
| 1st | 3° | 38¾° | 7° | 47¾° | 2° | 36½° |
| 2nd | 2° | 36½° | 6½° | 46⅝° | 5° | 43½° |
| 3rd | 5½° | 44¾° | 7° | 47¾° | 9° | 52½° |
| 4th | 7° | 47¾° | 9° | 52½° | 7½° | 48⅞° |
| 5th | 7° | 47¾° | 8½° | 51⅛° | 9° | 52½° |
| 6th | 8° | 50° | 1½° | 35¾° | 6° | 45½° |
| 7th | 5° | 43½° | 9° | 52½° | 7½° | 48⅞° |
With respect to the climate of Nice, if I might be allowed, after five months’ residence, to hazard an opinion, I conceive it the most delightful one in Europe, and, indeed, preferable to any I have yet experienced, unless the Bermuda islands are excepted. Some object to the heat during summer, but it is possible to avoid the inconvenience, by retiring for this season, amongst the mountains. At a small town, named Rochabiliare, twenty-five miles inland, are mineral springs, containing nitre and sulphur, and of different temperatures, the highest being 100° Fahrenheit. I endeavoured, but in vain, to procure a correct analysis of these waters.
My friends at Nice, with the exception of Dr. S⸺, thought me insane, when, on the approach of spring, I declared my intention of proceeding southward, to make the tour of Italy, as the whole of the country was in an agitated state, in consequence of the advance of the Austrians upon Naples, hostilities having actually commenced on the frontiers. In addition, the Milanese and Piedmont were supposed to be highly discontented, and an insurrection was anticipated throughout the whole of Italy; but when my resolution is fixed, I do not allow myself to be deterred by the anticipation, or dread of difficulties; in the event of the fears of my friends being realized, I was disposed to think I should have an equal, or better chance of getting safely away from Florence, than from Nice; for instance, I could, in a few hours reach Leghorn, at which place there would be every probability of my being able to embark on board an English vessel, or of getting to the neighbouring island where Lord Byron desires Bonaparte to hasten, concluding his verse with a just compliment to his own country.
“Then haste thee to thy sullen isle,
And gaze upon the sea;
That element may meet thy smile,