and what was most important, new principles were gaining ground.

"The amount of money paid to the poor during the years of my occasional superintendence, exclusive of the maintenance of those in the workhouse and of the expense of a few articles of clothing, was as follows:

"When I first interfered in August 1817, it was the practice to admit families into the workhouse; at the time my interference ceased the number of inmates was reduced to eight, viz. six aged persons and two young women-one of the latter half idiotic, and the other labouring under severe disease. Three of the old men broke stones for the roads, and the idiotic girl maintained herself. In fact, a workhouse was become quite unnecessary. Before the commencement of the alteration of system, the expenses of pauperism were rapidly increasing, and the reduction was solely owing to that species of amendment in management, which may be put in practice under any circumstances."

Note to Second Edition, published in 1831.

The last opportunity I had of seeing the effects of my system, was in September 1828, when I made the following extract from the Poor's Books.

May 1817, Monthly payments to regular poor 68 3 6

In April of this present year, 1835, I attended a town's meeting for half an hour, after a lapse of fourteen years, and found the business carried on just as when I was there before; and I learnt it was in contemplation to abandon the workhouse on the 21st of this month, as useless.

THE ART OF ATTAINING HIGH HEALTH.

(Continued.)

As I have stated in the beginning of this number, I shall follow in my observations upon health the familiar and desultory style, writing down what I have to say just as it occurs

to me,

This is the golden rule-Content the stomach, and the stomach will content you. But it is often no easy matter to know how; for like a spoiled child, or a wayward wife, it does not always know its own wants. It will cry for food, when it wants none-will not say when it has had enough, and then be indignant for being indulged-will crave what it ought to reject, and reject what it ought to desire; but all this is because you have allowed it to form bad habits, and then you ignorantly lay upon poor Nature your own folly. Rational discipline is as necessary for the stomach, as for the aforesaid child, or the aforesaid wife, and if you have not the sense or the resolution to enforce it, you must take the consequences; but do not lay the fault upon another, and especially one generally so kind, if you would but follow her simple dictates. "I am always obliged to breakfast before I rise-my constitution requires it," drawls out some fair votary of fashion. "Unless I take a bottle of port after dinner," cries the pampered merchant, "I am never well." "Without my brandy-and-water before I go to bed, I cannot sleep a wink,”

says the comfortable shopkeeper; and all suppose they are following Nature; but sooner or later the offended goddess sends her avenging ministers in the shape of vapours, gout, or dropsy.

Having long gone wrong, you must get right by degrees; there is no summary process. Medicine may assist, or give temporary relief; but you have a habit to alter—a tendency to change from a tendency to being ill to a tendency to being well. First study to acquire a composure of mind and body. Avoid agitation or hurry of one or the other, especially just before and after meals, and whilst the process of digestion is going on. To this end, govern your temperendeavour to look at the bright side of things-keep down as much as possible the unruly passions-discard envy, hatred, and malice, and lay your head upon your pillow in charity with all mankind. Let not your wants outrun your means. Whatever difficulties you have to encounter, be not perplexed, but think only what it is right to do in the sight of Him who seeth all things, and bear without repining the result. When your meals are solitary, let your thoughts be cheerful; when they are social, which is better, avoid disputes, or serious argument, or unpleasant topics. "Unquiet meals," says Shakspeare," make ill digestions;" and the contrary is produced by easy conversation, a pleasant project, welcome news, or a lively companion. I advise wives not to entertain their husbands with domestic grievances about children or servants, nor to ask for money, nor produce unpaid bills, nor propound unseasonable or provoking questions; and I advise husbands to keep the cares and vexations of the world to themselves, but to be communicative of whatever is comfortable, and cheerful, and amusing.

With respect to composure of body, it is highly expedient not to be heated by exercise, either when beginning a meal, or immediately after one. In both cases fermentation precedes digestion, and the food, taken into the stomach, becomes more

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or less corrupted. I will mention two strong instances. pig in high health was driven violently just after a full meal : it dropped down dead, and at the desire of some labourers, who thought it was too good to be lost, a butcher forthwith proceeded to dress it. When the hair was scalded off, the skin presented in some places a somewhat livid hue, and when the stomach was opened, the contents were so extremely offensive, that all present, of whom I was one, were obliged to fly, and the carcass almost immediately became a mass of putridity. The second case was that of a man in the service of a relation of mine, who, after a harvest supper, and a hot day's labour, was thrown in a wrestling match, by which he instantly died, and decomposition took place so rapidly, that it was with difficulty his body within four-and-twenty hours could be placed in a coffin. Whilst I was subject to the affection of the trachea before-mentioned, I frequently brought on the most distressing attacks, and sometimes instantaneously, by heating myself just before or after meals. Even dressing in a hurry ought to be avoided previously to a meal, and I should advise all, especially invalids, to be ready a little before-hand, as the mind is also often in a state of hurry prejudicial to digestion. After meals, stooping, leaning against the chest, going quick up-stairs, opening or shutting a tight drawer, pulling off boots, packing up, or even any single contortion or forced position of the body, has each a tendency to cause fermentation, and thereby produce bile, heart-burn, difficulty of breathing, and other derangements. I have often experienced ill effects from washing my feet at night instead of in the morning, fasting, which is decidedly the safest time. Of course, persons in high health may allow themselves liberties, but those who are at all liable to indigestion, cannot be too observant of even their most trifling actions. In my next number I shall take up the subject of diet.

COURTEOUS FORBEARANCE.

A gentleman, making a morning call upon a late county member of great taste and scrupulous courtesy, was accompanied into the library by a beautiful kid, which he found standing at the street door. During the conversation the animal proceeded round the room, examining the different objects of art with ludicrous curiosity, till coming to a small bronze statue, placed upon the floor, he made a butt at it and knocked it over. The owner of the house taking no notice, his visitor observed: "That kid is a special favourite, I perceive; how long have you had it ?" "I had it!" exclaimed the virtuoso in an agony, "I thought it had been your's." "Mine!" said the gentleman, with no less astonishment, "it is not mine, I assure you"-whereupon they both rose, and by summary process ejected the intruder.

SAYINGS.

The taxes of state are more oppressive than the state taxes. Private comfort and public magnificence constitute the perfection of society.

The cheapest government is not the best, but the best government is the cheapest; that is, God's few at the top, well paid by God's many.

Philosophy is a fire of rotten sticks flickering in a desert, with all around cold and dark. Religion is the glorious sun, cheering and illumining universally.

What an annoyance are long speakers, long talkers, and long writers!-people who will not take time to think, or are not capable of thinking accurately. Once when Dr. South had preached before Queen Anne, her majesty observed to him, "You have given me a most excellent discourse, Dr. South; but I wish you had had time to have made it longer." « “ Nay, madam," replied the Doctor, "if I had had time, I should have made it shorter." The model of a debate is that given by Milton in the opening of the second book of Paradise Lost.

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