180 Kot'icei respecting New Books. 



lives the more striking it becomes), that even while men do 

 live, their existence is too often embittered by disease, and 

 their life a burden both to themselves and to others. 



'^ These circumstances united, naturallv directed his atten- 

 tion to the subjects of Health and Longevity. 



" He began by endeavouring to procure the re-establish- 

 ment of his own health, in which, with the assistance of 

 some eminent physicians, he has happily succeeded; in so 

 much that he is now enabled to take as much mental and 

 bodily labour, as any person, it may be presumed, could 

 undergo at this time, who was born in the year 1751, who 

 had fallen into a weak and delicate state, aiid who had, for 

 above thirty rears past, been engaged in laborious and ex- 

 hausting pursuits. Indeed, nothing but a complete restora- 

 tion of health could have induced him to engage in a work 

 like the one v.hich he has now undertaken, and which must 

 necessarily be attended with no common degree of fatigue 

 arid exertion. 



" He next ventured to iiive hints to others, whether ad- 

 vanced in life, or in a sickly state, how they might secure 

 the same advantages which he had derived from his exten- 

 sive inquiries ; and he has had the satisfaction of receiving 

 the most grateful acknowledgments from various persons, 

 in all ranks of life, for the benefits they have received, by 

 the adoption of the rules which he recommended. 



" Thus, confirmed in the opinion he had formed of the ad- 

 vantar^es to be obtained from such inquiries, he was at last 

 induced to think of a greater and bolder attempt, ' That of 

 instrucling his J'ellow-crfatures in general, how they cozild 

 -best preserve their health, and attain a comfortable old age.' 



" If an antient maxim be true, Experientia docet, the 

 author has some pretensions to a knowledge of these subjects, 

 from his own (/oservalion and experience ; and, in the pro- 

 ijrcss of the intended publication, he will necessarily detail 

 the means by which his own health was restored. It will 

 thence appear, that the preservation and the restoration of 

 Ticalth depend much on minute and unremitting attentions 

 to clothing, diet, air, exercise, habits. Sec. which, taken 

 ■siniily, appear even trifling, but when co^ibined, and regu- 

 , larly 



