graphical information, and perhaps with a view of constructing an Itinerary of this coaſt, similar to those of various other parts by Antoninus. The measurements of the distances in the first part appear to have been taken at ſea; but how they were ascertained, it is not easy to ſay. Several ships we know were employed, and perhaps the diſtances may have been computed from a medium of the calculation of each. They are too near the truth to allow us to ſuppoſe, that the time which elapſed in the paſſage from one place to another was the only guide they had in ultimating the interval between them. They may poſſibly be reckoned according to the meaſurements by land. The commencement of the voyage is dated from Trapezus, a Greek city, and a colony from Sinope, ſituated on the Southern ſide of the Euxine ſea[1] , nearly in the
- ↑
The dimenſions of the Euxine ſea have been variouſly repreſented. I here give the beſt account of its length and breadth I am able to collect from modern writers and geographers.
Firſt then of its length.
Its, greateſt length, as meaſured nearly on a parallel of Latitude from Eaſt to Weſt, ſeems to be from the mouth of the Phasis to the correſponding Latitude on the opposite ſide.
According to Laurie's Chart, the mouth of the Phaſis lies in Long. 41° 33′ East and Varna on the oppoſite ſide lies in Long. 28° 13′ Eaſt. The difference of theſe is 13° 2.5′, which in Latit. 42° 30′ amounts nearly to 687 Engliſh miles. Fadwn's Map of Turkey in Europe makes the mouth of the Phaſis to be in Longit. 41° 18′, and Varna to be in 23° 4′ The difference of theſe is 13° 4′, or nearly 669 Engliſh miles and a half. D'Anville places the mouth of the Phaſis in Longitude from London 42° 31′ 10″, and the oppoſite ſhore (in the ſame Latitude) in 28° 46′ 10″, The difference of theſe is 13° 45′, equal to 703.564 Engliſh miles, Arrowſmith's Chart puts down the mouth of the Phaſis in Long. 41° 21′ 30″, and the oppoſite shore on the parallel of 42° in nearly 28°. The difference of theſe is 13° 21′ 30″, equal to 687 Engliſh miles and a half nearly.
According to Citizen Beau champ, the length of the Black ſea is 214 nautical leagues, equal to 642′, equal to 740.44 Engliſh miles nearly: but I think this calculation over-rated. He computes from the mouth of the Phaſis to the meridian of Trebizond 32.6 leagues, equal to 97′.8, equal to 113 Engliſh miles nearly: but the Charts make the difference of Longitude between Trebizond and the Phaſis to be no more than 1° 40′, equal to 86 Engliſh miles nearly, which makes a difference of 27 Engliſh miles in that portion of the diſtance. It muſt however be conſidered, that as Varna lies 1° 14′ to the North of the Phaſis, he eſtimates the diſtance from S. E. to N. W. but this obliquity will only make the whole diſtance to be 690 Engliſh miles, which is 50 Engliſh miles ſhort of what he ſpecifies.
