ranged digestion. Then it takes some time for the part affected to recover its tone, or it may be that actual disease is the consequence, according to the force of the cause acting, or the tendency to disease. People die from a wound in the foot, or a cut finger, on account of their previously improper living, which has disposed their bodies to disease, and the wound or cut is the exciting cause; but with those in perfect health, cure commences immediately after the injury, whether the injury be great or small, provided it is not in a vital part. Hence, in accidents, it is necessary with most people that they should submit to the influence of diet and medicine before a cure can be effected; and the same course is generally pursued before an operation, the only reason being that there are very few who live as they ought to do. The difference in the state of health is so great, that the same blow, which would cause death in one man, would not even produce discoloration in another.

Once when I was riding at Rome, my horse suddenly ran up a steep bank, and threw me off behind with great force on my head upon a hard road. I felt a violent shake and a very unpleasant sensation for the moment, but experienced no bad consequences whatever. For some time previously I had been living very carefully as to diet, and had taken a great deal of exercise, otherwise I am confident I should have suffered greatly, if not fatally; as it was, I had no occasion even to take any precaution, and I felt nothing beyond the one shock. Had my vessels been overcharged, the effect must have been very different.

But to return to tight shoes. Every body must have observed that they are more inconvenient at the end of the day than at the beginning, and most of all, after a full dinner, though they may not have been aware that over-fasting will produce something of the same effect, and that consequently the whole is referable to the state of the digestion; for even the fatigue of the day does not act directly upon the limbs,

Restore them, and Labour and exercise, empty, especially the soon as the stomach is Even that fatigue of

but first upon the powers of the stomach. the sensation of fatigue disappears. when the stomach is too full, or too former, cause great uneasiness; and as relieved, the weariness is relieved also. the limbs, which seems only removable by rest or sleep, I believe equally depends upon the same cause, and that it is the stomach first which requires repose. Where it only requires food, as I have just remarked, the fatigue of the limbs will disappear without rest; when it has received too much. food, the fatigue will in like manner be relieved as digestion proceeds. I recollect once, when walking a long distance before breakfast, I became at length so wearied, as only to be prevented by my companion from lying down in the road; and when I had breakfasted, I was immediately fresher than when I started. After eating too heartily, I have experienced still more distressing weariness, which has gradually disappeared, without any cessation of exercise, as digestion has proceeded. This is something the same as what is called se cond wind in boxing or running. It may be said, that when the feet are inconveniently affected by exercise, they are relieved by placing them in a horizontal position; but I apprehend that position is chiefly beneficial as affecting the connexion with the stomach, and that for any other reason, it would be nearly useless-in short, it appears to me, that in the stomach is the spring, upon which entirely depends every other function and every other affection of the frame.

not.

With respect to corns, I have been treated with great ridicule for asserting that they are dependent upon the digestion; but I have observed these things, and the ridiculers have With me, when I am in the best health, they disappear, and only come, or inconvenience me, in proportion as I am careless. This I have ascertained over and over again. Of course they are made better or worse by different kinds of

boots or shoes; but no kind of boot or shoe will bring them, unless there is a tendency from improper living. Pressure would only affect as long as it lasted, but would cause no formation, without some superfluity to work upon. The reason why corns shoot on the approach of rain is, that the change in the atmosphere more or less deranges the digestion, which causes a throbbing sensation. I have made these remarks because the state of the feet is of so much importance to our comfort and activity, and because I think they are applicable to the general management of ourselves, and may be useful to those who are subject to gout, rheumatism, cramp, and other diseases of the limbs. My principal aim is to furnish my readers, from my own observation and experience, with sufficient hints to induce them to think, and to notice what happens to themselves. If I am not always perfectly right in what I lay down, I do not much mind that, provided I enable others to get right in detecting my errors. I am sure I am not very far from the truth in my principal positions.

I believe that species of health is the best, and certainly the most prized, which is the result of study and observation, and which is preserved by constant watchfulness and resolution. Anxiety and quackery are destructive of health, but a reasonable attention is absolutely necessary. Those who constitutionally enjoy robust health, seldom know how sufficiently to value it; besides which, for want of discipline, they are not often so well as they think themselves. They frequently mistake strength for health, though they are very different things-as different as St. Paul's clock from a chronometer. The weaker mechanism often goes the best. I think that those who are so constituted as to be well with care, have on the whole the most reason to be thankful as being most likely to enjoy permanent well-being of body and mind; there is often a recklessness about constitutional health

which is dangerous to both. As usual, I have been led on beyond my calculation, and must defer my other observations till my next number.

REGULATION OF CHARITY.

There is nothing more destructive to the interests of mankind than the principle of providing for those, whom Providence intended to provide for themselves, whether the principle is put in practice by government or by individuals, whether by poor laws or by private bounty. By destroying moral energy it destroys the soul, and under the mask of kindness is the height of cruelty. Every one who idly gives, or to gratify his own feelings, or to avoid importunity, so far from well deserving, is answerable for the consequences arising from debasement. Casual charity is much to be deprecated; for the objects of it are ever undeserving, and it serves only to create, or perpetuate, a lost race. The rule is, that human beings are born into the world with a capability of self-dependence, if they please to avail themselves of it, and the exceptions are so few, as not to be worth providing for beforehand. To help those who are helping themselves, or who only want a fair start, is most praiseworthy and beneficial. To relieve the few, whom unavoidable calamity has utterly overwhelmed, or overtaken too late in life to have a chance of retrieving themselves, is a gratifying duty; but to lay down any general rule that the old are to be maintained, the fatherless to be provided for, the sick to be taken care of, is to render null God's ordinances in favour of prudence and foresight in the shape of the ordinary changes and vicissitudes of life. There is no excuse for poverty so weak, as that of old age; it is the very reason

why a man should have made provision for himself. Though it is commonly assumed to be a sufficient plea for help, the truth has only to be stated to be past dispute. If the fatherless are held to be legally entitled to relief, the parental feeling of obligation to provide for children will be weakened or destroyed. If the sick are to be taken care of by law, one of the chief uses of health will be perverted or neglected. Particular cases of old age, protracted beyond the usual period, children left destitute by extraordinary contingencies, or sickness of uncommon violence or duration, furnish legitimate objects for the voluntary care of relatives, friends, and neighbours, and that resource, if left to free operation, would always be found at least amply sufficient. Legal provision either makes the mass of misery it can but inadequately relieve, or is a wretched expedient for remedying the demoralization and debasement of defective government. Give men fair play, with the full consequences of their own actions, and they will exhibit human nature according to a much higher standard than that of any system of poor laws. I will conclude this article with two strong illustrations-one a public, the other an individual case, in which relief was more than commensurate to an extraordinary emergency.

In July, 1794, a fire broke out in the hamlet of Ratcliff, in the parish of Stepney, which consumed more houses than any conflagration since the fire of London: about six hundred were burnt. An account was transmitted to government, and arrived during the sitting of a cabinet council. In consequence, one hundred and fifty tents were ordered to be pitched for the reception of the distressed sufferers, and food was distributed for their relief; besides which, covered wagons were sent from the Tower to accommodate those for whom the tents were not sufficient. Amongst other subscriptions in aid of the sufferers, 7,000l. was collected at Lloyd's in one day, and on one Sunday alone the sum of 800l. was received from visitants to the camp and ruins, of