vii) 
Jarger towns of North-America have, with their fpacious ftreets, a nuni- 
ber of narrow alleys; which are peculiarly detrimental in a fultry cli- 
mate, and in co-operation with the flovenly habits of their poorer in- 
mates, are nurferies of difeafe. 
Among the general cuftoms which may influence health, the moft 
ftriking is an exceflive, and in fome cafes ill-judged cleanlinefs: the con- 
tinual wafhing of houfes, efpecially in the cold feafon, has, I am confi- 
dent, coft the lives of many eftimable women, and entailed painful dif- 
eafes on their families. 
In the bufinefs of life we often remark a very irregular application ; 
indolence fucceeded by hurry and intenfe fatigue. ‘This muft particu- 
larly injure our hufbandmen, as the neglect of a day may damage a pre- 
cious crop, if it is not compenfated by exertions, which in the fultry 
heat of fummer are very trying to the ftrongeft conftitution. 
As to nervous diforders, philanthropy compells me to remark, that, 
befides their general connexion with a fickly conftitution, they have in a 
great meafure originated from two fingular caufes. One is the convulfion 
of public affairs for a confiderable time paft, which occafioned many and 
great domeftic diftrefles: the natural events of the late war are univerfal- 
ly known: numbers of virtuous citizens have alfo felt the dire effets of 
the fucceeding anarchy; efpecially in the lofs of property.* The operati- 
ons of this caufe are, however, continually leffened by time that cures our 
griefs, or buries them in the grave ; and fuch evils will under Providence 
be for ever prevented by the new confederation of the United-States— 
The other caufe is that gloomy fuperftition diffeminated by ignorant illi- 
beral preachers; the bane of focial joy, of real virtue, and of a manly 
fpirit. ‘This phantom of darknefs will be difpelled by the rays of fcience, 
and the bright charms of rifing civilization.+ 
2. ARTICLE, Inquiries relative to rural economy. 
The United States poffefs a vaft territory fertile in many valuable pro- 
ductions. They will therefore, if truly wife, make agriculture the 
principal fource of profperity and wealth : to prefer other objets, how- 
ever ufeful in afecondary view, would be perverting the order of nature, 
nays 
* Not by violencc, but the well known diforders of paper money in various forms. 
+ It is pleafing to fee how fanaticifm declines with agricultural improvement in many new _ 
fettlements ; and how refinement of public manners keeps pace with a preference of enlight- 
ened teachers, 
