LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 275 



impression-resw#zn<7 power, we have only to increase 

 the latter, in order to diminish the former ; and so 

 restore the necessary and natural balance. And this 

 brings me to the point at which I wished to arrive ; 

 viz. bodily exertion ; this being- the only means I 

 know of invigorating the power of the circulation. 



This manner of considering the circulating and 

 sensitive powers furnishes a ready answer to that 

 hackneyed and silly question : " How is it that we 

 see men arrive at a good old age, who have, all their 

 lives, been drunkards?" 



Let me observe, by the way, that these instances 

 are extremely rare ; and that they only appear to 

 be frequent, because they are obtruded on our 

 notice as remarkable occurrences. An instance of 

 this kind is never allowed to escape our observation ; 

 because man is ever eager to catch at any thing 

 which may offer itself as an excuse for indulging in 

 those habits to which his inclination urges him. 

 Every such instance is, therefore, carefully regis- 

 tered; while the thousands who drop daily, like 

 rotten sheep, into premature graves, the victims of 

 intemperance, are neither minded nor marked. 

 " He died," say they, " of this, or that, or the other 

 disease ;" never stopping to inquire how that dis- 

 ease was incurred. 



