410 APPENDIX B 



know it is objected, that to hinder persons who eat but very 

 little from eating as much as they can is unreasonable. But 

 experience is on my side, and I will appeal to every prudent 

 person who has tried the effect of eating slowly, and sometimes 

 with a little restraint. 



This abstemious method has likewise another good effect ; 

 it allows a glass of wine to be drunk without injury ; nay it 

 renders it necessary and beneficial. I am certain that under 

 such circumstances a glass or two of good red wine would be 

 of great use to thyself. 



I think butter, fat meats, or anything much seasoned will 

 not be agreeable, I mean so as to make them a considerable 

 part of thy diet. The first are relaxing, the last heats the 

 blood too much. I do not say that butter is absolutely to be 

 avoided ; only that it is not quite so inoffensive in habits like 

 thine as some think. When it is quite fresh and new it is the 

 least detrimental. 



As I have frequently mentioned my opinion of tea I shall 

 say little of it now : only permit me to add that I am no enemy 

 to it from prejudice, but from experiment : I like it too well 

 myself not to wish that I might allow every one to drink it 

 without restraint. But it certainly relaxes the stomach, 

 in time weakens the digestion, and infallibly renders the 

 constitution itself more delicate, tender and weakly than it 

 is by nature. Strong and healthy people, who drink freely, 

 are so far from feeling any ill effects from its use that it is 

 often advantageous to them, but we are neither of us of this 

 rank : if we must therefore drink tea let it be in small quanti- 

 ties, not hot, nor immoderately strong. 



Let me prevail upon thee never to read immediately after 

 dinner, and after supper not too rrmch. It is next to 

 impossible, if the subject is at all interesting, entirely to forget 

 it, when it is necessary to seek repose. The nature of my 

 employment has for a long time engaged me in a contrary 

 conduct, and I have suffered accordingly, yet almost without 

 a power of altering it. What necessary study began choice 

 soon induced me to continue, and a strong desire of being 

 behind nobody in the faculty, as far as industry capacity and 

 opportunities of improvement would suffer me. I only 

 mention these to assure thee the more strongly, that reading 

 at nights with any attention or concern about what we read 

 is highly prejudicial to health. 



When I have had resolution enough to throw aside my 

 book or my pen for the latter part of the evening, and only 

 entertained myself with reviewing the actions of the day, I 



