after what has gone before in this dissertation, that the opposite to all such "comforts of life" as these is the only sure method by which sound health and length of life are to be secured. Can any but men of the shallowest minds experience a real disappointment in not finding health, when they have sought it in paths which do not lead to it, but lead in a contrary direction? The secret of what to do, and what to leave undone, so that we could not if we would forfeit the enjoyment of natural pleasures (which are the only rational "comforts of life") lies in attending implicitly to the simple and easy rules laid down in these pages.

I may appear too minute in these observations; but let those who think so only make the experiment fairly, and they will soon become convinced of their truth and importance. I do not expect that the mere iteration of truth will carry conviction on the contrary, my arguments go to show, that, unless truth be brought home to the bosom of man, no positive conversion from error will be wrought; but of this I do feel intimately persuaded, that, were a man once made really sensible by a fair trial of the advantages of a life according to nature, it would be difficult to induce him afterwards to relinquish them, how confirmed soever his former prejudices might have

been, or how much soever he might have been previously disposed to view every attempt to introduce natural* in the place of artificial modes of living, as opposed to what the sensual are pleased to term conviviality. And, should there be any who, notwithstanding all my admonitions, are determined to pursue their destructive course, I shall still derive unspeakable satisfaction, from reflecting that I have at least done my duty in endeavouring to draw the attention of the public to matters† which so intimately concern the individual and collective welfare of mankind. I shall likewise be supported by the consciousness, that, if my efforts prove unavailing, the failure will not be owing so much to the inefficacy of the means, as to the want of obedience to precepts of unquestionable authority for, if people will but open their eyes, right and wrong contrasted beyond the possibility of mistake, will stare them in the face; and, unless they relapse too soon into voluntary blindness, their prejudices will, one after another, forsake them. Let but the subject be considered with a degree of the attention it deserves, and I doubt not men would be induced to abandon a course of

"If we did not take great pains and were not at great expense to corrupt our nature, our natnre would never corrupt us."."-CLARENDON.

"The force of custom, the appearance of necessity, the sanction of time. and the power of example."-BURDON.

life, which, through ignorance and confirmed examples, they may have imagined to be the right one, on perceiving, as they then would, that it was fraught with dangers of the most appalling kind, and would immediately adopt rules of conduct more agreeable to the dictates of nature; rules, be it observed, which sanction true conviviality, accompanied by that cheerfulness which ever results from health, and is never succeeded by those suicide-begetting drawbacks of depression which invariably tread upon the heels of unnatural excitement; for

"Temperance never was designed

To make our pleasures less!"

The key to physical and moral health, long life and happiness, (it cannot be too often repeated,) is moderation; but no permanent good will, or can result without undeviating regularity and continuing perseverance; for frequent interruptions will most assuredly undo all that may have been previously effected.

To induce men to reflect upon the causes which have given rise to the almost universal relinquishment of the substance for the phantom of health, is the object of my most earnest desire; and, if in the course of my remarks, repetitions are occasionally discernible, I trust they will be attributed to

the same cause which influences physicians in varying their prescriptions; namely, anxiety to give the disorder an opportunity of choosing for itself. If, however, my reasoning may prove sufficiently powerful to persuade men to unstop their ears and listen with obedient attention to the warning voice of nature, no power on earth can prevent success; health will in the end predominate, and long life as certainly follow.

THE

RULES OF HEALTH.

QUIT your bed at sunrise; or, in the height of summer, soon after.

Immediately wash and sponge yourself all over with cold spring water; or, if you cannot conveniently do this, take a tepid bath, at least once a week.

When dressed, get into the open air; and, if an inhabitant of the metropolis or any other large town, either walk or ride on horse-back (to walk is preferable) as far out into the country as may be compatible with the necessary occupations of the day; for in the morning the air is far more invigorating than at any subsequent period of the day.