b climate, and the power of changing it from summer to winter at
any moment, by ascending the mountains. The earth furnishes wine, oil,
figs, oranges, and every production of the garden, in every season. The
sea yields lobsters, crabs, oysters, tunny, sardines, anchovies, &c.
Ortolans sell, at this time, at thirty sous, equal to one shilling
sterling, the dozen. At this season, they must be fattened. Through the
whole of my route from Marseilles, I observe they plant a great deal
of cane or reed, which is convenient while growing, as a cover from
the cold and boisterous winds, and when cut, it serves for espaliers to
vines, pease, &c. Through Piedmont, Lombardy, the Milanese, and Genoese,
the garden bean is a great article of culture; almost as much so as
corn. At Albenga, is a rich plain opening from between two ridges of
mountains, triangularly, to the sea, and of several miles extent. Its
growth is olives, figs, mulberries, vines, corn, and beans. There is
some pasture. A bishop resides here, whose revenue is forty thousand
livres. This place is said to be rendered unhealthy in summer, by the
river which passes through the valley.

April 30. _Oneglia_. The wind continuing contrary, I took mules at
Albenga for Oneglia. Along this tract are many of the tree called
_caroubier_, being a species of locust. It is the _ceratonia siliqua_
of Linnaeus. Its pods furnish food for horses, and also for the poor,
in time of scarcity. It abounds in Naples and Spain. Oneglia and Port
Maurice, which are within a mile of each other, are considerable places,
and in a rich country. At St. Remo, are abundance of oranges and lemons,
and some palm trees.

May 1. _Ventimiglia. Mentone. Monaco. Nice_. At Bordighera, between
Ventimiglia and Mentone, are extensive plantations of palms, on the
hill as well as in the plain. They bring fruit, but it does not ripen.
Something is made of the midrib which is in great demand at Rome, on the
Palm Sunday, and which renders this tree profitable here. From Mentone
to Monaco, there is more good land, and extensive groves of oranges and
lemons. Orange water sells here at forty sous, equal to sixteen pence
sterling, the American quart. The distances on this coast are, from
La Spezia, at the eastern end of the territories of Genoa, to Genoa,
fifty-five miles, geometrical; to Savona, thirty; Albenga, thirty;
Oneglia, twenty; Ventimiglia, twenty-five; Monaco, ten; Nice, ten; in
the whole, one hundred and eigh