LONGEVITY. 
2. Parentage. Being born of healthy 
parents, and exempted from hereditary 
disease, are circumstances evidently fa- 
vourable to the duration of life ; and nu- 
merous instances warrant the opinion, that 
longevity prevails in some families more 
than in others, or that descent from long- 
lived ancestors is one of the circumstances 
which give the greatest probability of at- 
taining to extreme old age. 
3. Form and size of the individual. It is 
generally admitted, that persons of a com- 
pact shape, and of a moderate stature, are 
the most likely to live long. Tall persons 
frequently acquire a habit of stooping, 
which contracts the chest, and is a great im- 
pediment to free respiration ; whereas the 
short sized find little difficulty in keeping 
themselves erect, and are naturally much 
more active, by which the animal functions 
are retained in a state of greater perfec- 
tion ; the only disadvantage attending a 
short stature is, that it is frequently accom- 
panied with coi'pulence, which is rather un- 
favourable to long life. 
4. Disposition of Mind. Nothing is more 
conducive to longevity than to preserve 
equanimity and good spirits, and not to sink 
under the disappointments of life, to which 
ail, but particularly the old, are necessarily 
subjected. This is a point which cannot be 
too much inculcated, as experience continu- 
ally shows that many perish from despon- 
dency, who, if they had preserved their spi- 
rits and vigour of mind, might have sur- 
vived many years longer. Neither the irri- 
table, who are agitated by trifles, nor the 
melancholy, who magnify the evils of life, 
can expect to live long. Even those who 
suffer their strength and spirits to be ex- 
hausted by severe study, or other mental 
exertions, seldom reach great age. In the 
list before referred to, of 1712 persons who 
lived about a century, Fontenelie (who did 
not quite reach 100 years) is the only author 
of any note ; and his great age is ascribed 
to the tranquil ease of his temper, and that 
liveliness of spirits for which he was much 
distinguished. Among those who have de- 
voted themselves to the study or practice of 
music, a profession which encourages cheer- 
fulness of mind, instances of gi'eat age have 
been very frequent. 
5. Occupation. No person that leads an 
idle life will ever attain to great age ; but 
health and long life must depend much on 
the manner in which the individual is em- 
ployed. Those occupations are certainly 
the most conducive to the duration of life. 
which are carried on in the open air, and re- 
quire activity or labour ; thus farmers, 
gardeners, and labourers in the country, are 
in general the longest lived. Foot soldiers 
also, who have survived the dangers of war, 
are remarkable for long life : they are ge- 
nerally stout and vigorous men, and the re- 
gularity to which surviving soldiers must 
have accustomed themselves, whilst their 
careless and disorderly companions have 
dropped off, the erect posture to which they 
have been trained, and being of course men 
well formed by nature, and habituated to 
walk well (by which they enjoy the most 
natural exercise in perfection) all combine 
in their favour. Sailors also would furnish 
many instances of longevity if comfortably 
provided for in their old age : of this a 
striking proof is given in the accounts drawn 
up by Dr. Robertson of the pensioners in 
Greenwich Hospital. In the year 1801, 
the complement of in-pensioners was 24io, 
of whom there were 96 of the age of 80 
years and upwards ; of this number 13 were 
above 90 years of age, and one man 102 
years old. The number of out-pensioners 
was about 2500, of whom it appeared 
there were only 23 from 80 years of age 
and upwards. Of the former therefore 
about 4 in 100 survived 80 years of age, 
but of the latter not 1 in 100 attained that 
age, a sufficient evidence of the benefits of 
regularity and ease in the advanced period 
of life, and of the attention paid to the 
health of the in-pensioners at that excellent 
institution. 
6. Mode of Living. If persons were to 
live with the simplicity of ancient times, it 
is probable that they would attain long life, 
without experiencing any material illness, 
merely by a proper attention to air, exer- 
cise, clothing, and diet. But in the pre- 
sent state of society, the great bulk of the 
community follow, not a natural, but an ar- 
tificial nuide of life, and thence are per- 
petually exposed to various temptations, 
which they find it difficult always to resist, 
and to dangers which they cannot always 
avoid. Most persons however have it in 
their jfower in some degree to regulate 
their manner of living by their own choice ; 
and by a little attention to their food, 
clothing, employment, rest, and temper of 
mind, might not only contribute materially 
to the prolongation of their lives, but pre- 
serve themselves from many diseases, and 
greatly increase their relish for all the en- 
joyments of life. 
The importance of wholesome food, for 
