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with damask； striped silk； painted cloths； tapestry； or printed linnen。 All the doors； as well as the windows； consist of folding leaves。 As there is no wainscot in the rooms； which are divided by stone partitions and the floors and cieling are covered with brick and stucco； fires are of much less dreadful consequence here than in our country。 Wainscot would afford harbour for bugs： besides； white walls have a better effect in this hot climate。 The beds commonly used in this place； and all over Italy； consist of a paillasse； with one or two mattrasses； laid upon planks； supported by two wooden benches。 Instead of curtains there is a couziniere or mosquito net； made of a kind of gauze； that opens and contracts occasionally； and incloses the place where you lie： persons of condition； however； have also bedsteads and curtains； but these last are never used in the summer。
In these countries； people of all ranks dine exactly at noon； and this is the time I seize in winter； for making my daily tour of the streets and ramparts； which at all other hours of the day are crowded with men； women； children and beasts of burthen。 The rampart is the common road for carriages of all kinds。 I think there are two private coaches in Nice； besides that of the commandant： but there are sedan chairs； which may be had at a reasonable rate。 When I bathed in the summer； I paid thirty sols； equal to eighteen…pence； for being carried to and from the bathing place； which was a mile from my own house。
Now I am speaking of bathing； it may not be amiss to inform you that though there is a fine open beach； extending several miles to the westward of Nice； those who cannot swim ought to bathe with great precaution； as the sea is very deep； and the descent very abrupt from within a yard or two of the water's edge。 The people here were much surprised when I began to bathe in the beginning of May。 They thought it very strange； that a man seemingly consumptive should plunge into the sea； especially when the weather was so cold； and some of the doctors prognosticated immediate death。 But； when it was perceived that I grew better in consequence of the bath； some of the Swiss officers tried the same experiment； and in a few days； our example was followed by several inhabitants of Nice。 There is； however； no convenience for this operation； from the benefit of which the fair sex must be intirely excluded； unless they lay aside all regard to decorum； for the shore is always lined with fishing…boats； and crouded with people。 If a lady should be at the expence of having a tent pitched on the beach where she might put on and of her bathing…dress； she could not pretend to go into the sea without proper attendants； nor could she possibly plunge headlong into the water； which is the most effectual； and least dangerous way of bathing。 All that she can do is to have the sea…water brought into her house； and make use of a bathing…tub； which may be made according to her own； or physician's direction。
What further I have to say of this climate and country； you shall have in my next； and then you will be released from a subject； which I am afraid has been but too circumstantially handled by Sir； Your very humble servant。
LETTER XXIV
NICE； January 4； 1765。
DEAR SIR。；The constitution of this climate may be pretty well ascertained； from the inclosed register of the weather； which I kept with all possible care and attention。 From a perusal of it； you will see that there is less rain and wind at Nice； than in any other part of the world that I know； and such is the serenity of the air； that you see nothing above your head for several months together； but a charming blue expanse； without cloud or speck。 Whatever clouds may be formed by evaporation of the sea； they seldom or never hover over this small territory； but； in all probability； are attracted by the mountains that surround it； and there fall in rain or snow： as for those that gather from other quarters； I suppose their progress hitherward is obstructed by those very Alps； which rise one over another； to an extent of many leagues。 This air being dry； pure； heavy； and elastic； must be agreeable to the constitution of those who labour under disorders arising from weak nerves； obstructed perspiration； relaxed fibres； a viscidity of lymph； and a languid circulation。 In other respects； it encourages the scurvy； the atmosphere being undoubtedly impregnated with sea…salt。 Ever since my arrival at Nice； I have had a scorbutical eruption on my right hand； which diminishes and increases according to the state of my health。 One day last summer； when there was a strong breeze from the sea； the surface of our bodies was covered with a salt brine； very perceptible to the taste； my gums； as well as those of another person in my family； began to swell； and grow painful； though this had never happened before； and I was seized with violent pains in the joints of my knees。 I was then at a country…house fronting the sea； and particularly exposed to the marine air。 The swelling of our gums subsided as the wind fell： but what was very remarkable； the scurvy…spot on my hand disappeared； and did not return for a whole month。 It is affirmed that sea…salt will dissolve； and render the blood so fluid； that it will exude through the coats of the vessels。 Perhaps the sea…scurvy is a partial dissolution of it； by that mineral absorbed from the air by the lymphatics on the surface of the body； and by those of the lungs in respiration。 Certain it is； in the last stages of the sea…scurvy； the blood often bursts from the pores； and this phaenomenon is imputed to a high degree of putrefaction： sure enough it is attended with putrefaction。 We know that a certain quantity of salt is required to preserve the animal juices from going putrid： but； how a greater quantity should produce putrefaction； I leave to wiser heads to explain。 Many people here have scorbutical complaints； though their teeth are not affected。 They are subject to eruptions on the skin； putrid gums； pains in the bones； lassitude； indigestion； and low spirits； but the reigning distemper is a marasmus； or consumption； which proceeds gradually； without any pulmonary complaint； the complexion growing more and more florid； 'till the very last scene of the tragedy。 This I would impute to the effects of a very dry； saline atmosphere； upon a thin habit； in which there is an extraordinary waste by perspiration。 The air is remarkably salt in this district； because the mountains that hem it in； prevent its communication with the circumambient atmosphere； in which the saline particles would otherwise be diffused； and there is no rain； nor dew； to precipitate or dissolve them。 Such an air as I have described； should have no bad effect upon a moist； phlegmatic constitution； such as mine； and yet it must be owned； I have been visibly wasting since I came hither； though this decay I considered as the progress of the tabes which began in England。 But the air of Nice has had a still more sensible effect upon Mr。 Schz； who laboured under nervous complaints to such a degree； that life was a burthen