134  Dr.  haygarth’s  Obfervations  on  the 
The  air  of  Chefter  is  uncommonly  clear.  In  a regifter 
of  the  weather,  kept  for  the  laft  four  years,  there  were 
■only  fix  foggy  and  thirty-two  hazy  mornings.  In  general, 
the  atmofphere  on  the  weftern  is  much  clearer  than  on 
the  eaftern  fhore  of  Britain,  though  more  rain  falls  on 
the  weft  than  on  the  eaft  fide  of  the  ifland. 
The  modern  refinement  of  manners,  under  the  op- 
probrious name  of  luxury,  is  generally  thought  to  be 
peculiarly  deftructive  to  health;  but  the  true  friend  of 
mankind  will  candidly,  and  without  prejudice,  inquire 
into  the  fadts  which  only  can  determine  his  judgement 
on  this  important  fubjedt.  A large  portion  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  Chefter  enjoy,  with  temperance,  the  elegant 
refinements  of  life ; yet  no  diforder,  except  the  gout,  can 
be  peculiarly  afcribed  to  this  caufe,  in  the  tables  of 
difeafes  for  the  laft  three  years,  that  is,  no  more  than 
two  deaths  out  of  1277.  But  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that 
refined  manners  here,  as  they  generally  do  every  where, 
entirely  banilh  the  deftructive  excefles  of  gluttony  and 
drunkennefs.  It  is  the  large  quantity,  rather  than  the 
rich  quality  or  exquifite  flavour,  of  what  we  eat  and 
drink,  that  is  injurious  to  health. 
As  the  healthinefs  of  Chefter  muft  appear  fo  very 
extraordinary  as  to  be  almoft  incredible,  it  is  neceftary  to 
declare,  that  the  enumeration  was  made  with  all  poftible 
care 
