inducing aneurism, ruptures, and other evils, and were, therefore, as being out of the order of nature, to be most severely reprehended. Upon the whole, therefore, this discarded system is not to be regretted.

Some persons think to secure firm health by residing a few miles out of town. These are bankers, merchants, men in public offices, wealthy tradesmen, and others. Now, in the first place, they seldom, if ever, think of walking to and from town. In general, they rise between eight and nine o'clock, breakfast, step into their own carriages, or a close omnibus, and are whirled away into town. There they remain for half a dozen hours perhaps, in a sitting posture. Returning to their homes in the same manner as they left them, they sit down to dinner, spend the evening in the drawing-room, and then retire to rest. Thus, for the most part, all the exercise these persons take is a few strides at their own habitations, and at their places of business. What can be said for this inconsiderateness in such persons, who are commonly remarkable for clear intellects, and evince a sound judgment enough in every thing else? If they would for once bestow a tithe of the time they every day devote to the study of the influence of the Carlist movements on Spanish bonds, on the subject under consideration, they

would be convinced that every human being requires powerful active exercise to secure health. Those who in this manner practically forget that the Creator has endowed them with a locomotive faculty and muscular energies, may not immediately feel the ill effects of their indolence; but their existence is not more certain as a fact, than this as a consequence, that their latter years will be embittered by the inevitable results. The measure they have taken to obtain sound health, will be worse than nugatory, till it is combined with active exercise. So thoroughly am I persuaded of this, that I hesitate not to assert, that those who are obliged constantly to reside within the precincts of the metropolis, and who consequently are subject to the injurious tendency of confined air and various pernicious effluvia, which they must continually respire, have nevertheless, if they steadily conform to the rules here laid down, (more particularly if they embrace every opportunity of emerging from the confines of the City,) a far better prospect of securing sound health and length of life, than those who reside in the open country, but neglect active exercise.

EARLY RISING.

“Falsely luxurious, will not man awake,
And, springing from the bed of sloth, enjoy
The cool, the fragrant, and the silent hour."

Of all the evils which spring from intemperance at table, none contributes more to shorten life than the habit such indulgence induces of keeping untimely hours, and consequently of lying late in the morning. This habit is of itself sufficient to destroy the strongest constitution, though the destructiveness of its tendency may not be at first perceptible. The advances of weakness and disease in such a case may be very gradual; but they are very certain, and, if not timely stopped, will ultimately disorder and derange all the functions upon which life depends.

In cases of this description, the progress of disease resembles the lapse of time as indicated by the hour-hand of a clock. It moves so stealthily that the sharpest eye cannot detect its acts of motion. The fact that it has moved can only be

discovered at comparatively long intervals; and then it is but too evident. There is another point of resemblance. The wheel of time cannot be turned back; and diseases of slow and insidious growth are proportionately difficult of cure.

But there are two classes of persons to whom the appeal on early rising applies:-those who, because they retire after midnight, are in bed after daylight; and those who, though they retire early, lie late. It is hard to say which of the two are the more censurable; but the conduct of the latter is the more unaccountable.

"For is there ought in sleep can charm the wise,

To lie in dead oblivion, losing half

The fleeting moments of too short a life?"

And yet three-fourths of the inhabitants of this country lie fast asleep for several hours in broad day-light. While it is continually in men's mouths that "life is short," does it never occur to them that they themselves make it much shorter? One would think it was not short enough! By giving to sleep two hours more than nature requires, we actually cut off the seventh part of our existence. Were we to redeem this portion of time, we should lengthen our lives in two ways:-first, by the mere addition of time redeemed; and secondly, by the extension of our whole period of existence

consequent upon the increased health and strength to which we should attain. A moderate degree of sleep recruits the energies of nature, and gives fresh vigour both to the body and the mind; but sleep in excess stupefies the one and enfeebles the other, debasing the whole character of man.

Early rising essentially contributes to the highest enjoyments of which a man is capable. No man can adequately describe the pleasures of the early morning. How fresh and sweet is the air!How soft the landscape!-How glorious the rising sun !—How full and yet how calm the flow of the spirits, which these pure delights naturally diffuse through the frame! In fact, whether we regard the body or the mind, nothing contributes so greatly to health as the practice of early rising. The morning air,

"The balmy breeze of incense-breathing morn,"

has a peculiar tendency to brace and invigorate the entire system; indeed, what has been said respecting prosperity in life may be said with much greater truth respecting health and longevity, that they were never attained by any man who was not in the habit of rising at an early hour.

To the oft-repeated question, "What portion of time ought to be devoted to sleep?" I would