Philosophical Society of London. 307 



than the animals destined to his use, or subservient to his 

 subsistence ; for, as the impulse of instinct is sooner ex- 

 cited, than the evohttion of reason is matured, their wants 

 are supplied with little care, and less reflection, and where 

 animal gratification alone constitutes the summit of happi- 

 ness. But wiih man, impressions are as varied and nume- 

 rous as the objects of creation, and the operations of mind 

 coextensive with nature, which subject him to feelings of 

 pleasure or pain, of gratification or dislike ; — his passions 

 hence become hastv and vident, or slow and temperate ; 

 and whilst the latter conduce to intellectual character and 

 dignity, the former sink him to sensual and animal depra- 

 vity. 



The human mind is an existing something, that revolts 

 at quiescence ; this spring for exertion is often a source of 

 iniellectual improvement, by exciting its energies, till 

 mind itself, as it were, creates mind and action ; bold and 

 vehen)ent figures spring up, which wing the thoughts with 

 fire; an animated expression of sentiment, which pervades 

 the whole frame, as blond runs through the veins, ikit if, 

 from the want of stimulus, this action of the mind is sus- 

 pended, or weakened, some excitement is sought for, to 

 obviate the horrors of this suspension of the mental func- 

 tions ; and no excitement is so generally grateful, as liijuors 

 that have acquired more or less potency by the process of 

 fermentation. 



After having shown that Vv'here a succession of various 

 functions and amusements keeps the mind in continual 

 occupation, the desire for stronij drink is regulated in a 

 great measure by the climate, and diminishes or increases 

 accordine to the variation of the temperature, the lecturer 

 proceeded to observe, that in Europe and other civilized 

 regions fermented liquors are principally produced frora 

 sugar, graj)c, or grain, and the quantity of spirit made in 

 this kingdom alone aniounls to SO,Ot)0 tons, which produce 

 a revenue ol four millions animally, and destruction to 

 health, happiness, and morals. 



The accretion and nutrition of the body is principally 

 produced by the solids taken into the stomach, 'lo divide, 

 dilut( , and assimilate these, fluids are requisite as menstrua, 

 and the thinner and purer they are, the better they are 

 adapted to these purposes ; and hence the lecturer concluded 

 thai water must appear the most prominent, aijreeably to 

 the poet of health*. Next to simple water, cyder, beer, and 

 those iluidii which contain the least alcohol, may be ranged j 



• V.dc Armstrong, book 1. , 



U 2 and 



