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ME
MERICA (from Americus Vefputius, falfely faid
to be the first discoverer of the continent); one
of the four quarters of the world, probably the largest
of the whole, and from its late difcovery frequently de-
nominated the New World.

Boundaries. This vaft country extends from the 80th degree of
north, to the 56th degree of fouth latitude; and,
where its breadth is known, from the 35th to the 136th
degree weft longitude from London; ftretching be-
tween 8000 and 9000 miles in length, and in its great-
eft breadth 3690. It fees both hemifpheres, has two
fummers and a double winter, and enjoys all the variety
of climates which the earth affords. It is washed by the
two great oceans.
To the eastward it has the Atlan-
tic, which divides it from Europe and Africa; to the
weft it has the Pacific or Great South fea, by which it
is feparated from Afia. By thefe feas it may, and does,
carry on a direct commerce with the other three parts
of the world.

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North and

tinent.

America is not of equal breadth throughout its whole South con- extent; but is divided into two great continents, called North and South America, by an ifthmus 1500 miles long, and which at Darien, about Lat. 9° N. is only 60 miles over. This ifthmus forms with the northern and fouthern continents, a vaft gulf, in which lie a great number of islands, called the West Indies, in contradistinction to the eastern parts of Afia, which are called the Eaft Indies.

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Remark

cold.

Between the New World and the Old, there are feable pre- veral very ftriking differences; but the most remarkable Cole of is the general predominance of cold throughout the whole extent of America. Though we cannot, in any country, determine the precife degree of heat merely by the diftance of the equator, becaufe the elevation above the fea, the nature of the foil, &c. affect the climate; yet, in the ancient continent, the heat is much more in proportion to the vicinity to the equator than in any part of America. Here the rigour of the frigid zone extends over half that which fhould be temperate by its pofition. Even in those latitudes where the winter is fcarcely felt on the old continent, it reigns with great feverity in America, though during a short period. Nor does this cold, prevalent in the new world, confine itself to the temperate zones; but extends its influence to the torrid zone alfo, confiderably mitigating the excefs of its heat. Along the eastern coaft, the VOL. II. Part. I.

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climate, though more fimilar to that of the torrid zone America.
in other parts of the earth, is neverthelefs confiderably
milder than in those countries of Afia and Africa which
lie in the fame latitude. From the fouthern tropic to
the extremity of the American continent, the cold is faid
to be much greater than in parallel northern latitudes
even of America itself.

CO

Dr Robert

America,

For this fo remarkable difference between the climate
of the new continent and the old, various caufes have
been affigned by different authors. The following is
the opinion of the learned Dr Robertfon on this fub-
ject. Though the utmost extent of America to- 4
wards the north be not yet difcovered, we know that fon's rea-
it advances nearer to the pole than either Europe or fons for this
Alia. The latter have large feas to the north, which fuperior de
are open during part of the year; and, even when gree of cold.
vered with ice, the wind that blows over them is lefsory of
intenfely cold than that which blows over land in the vol. i. p.
fame latitude. But, in America, the land ftretches 253.
from the river St Lawrence towards the pole, and
fpreads out immenfely to the weft. A chain of enor-
mous mountains, covered with fnow and ice, runs
through all this dreary region. The wind paffing over
fuch an extent of high and frozen land, becomes fo im-
pregnated with cold, that it acquires a piercing keen-
nefs, which it retains in its progrefs through warmer
climates; and is not entirely mitigated until it reach
the gulf of Mexico. Over all the continent of North
America, a north-westerly wind and exceffive cold are
fynonymous terms. Even in the most fultry weather,
the moment that the wind veers to that quarter, its pe-
netrating influence is felt in a tranfition from heat to
cold no lefs violent than fudden. To this powerful
caufe we may afcribe the extraordinary dominion of
cold, and its violent inroads into the fouthern provinces
in that part of the globe.

por

"Other caufes, no lefs remarkable, diminish the ac-
tive power of heat in thofe parts of the American con-
tinent which lie between the tropics. In all that
tion of the globe, the wind blows in an invariable di-
rection from east to west. As this wind holds its course
across the ancient continent, it arrives at the countries
which ftretch along the weftern shore of Africa, inflam-
ed with all the fiery particles which it hath collected
from the fultry plains of Afia, and the burning fands
in the African deferts. The coaft of Africa is accord-
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ingly