1803.] 
Nervous diseases may be said to be the 
“ order of the day”—to be ill in any way 
is In one sense to be nervous: for a de- 
ficiency or decay of health must induce 
sume derangement in the organs, or de- 
pression in the faculties of sensation. 
he numerous offspring, both of ner- 
vous and bilious complaints, may for the 
most part be fathered upon errors and 
excesses in egicurean indulgence, they are 
tobe found principally amongst persons, 
who in their habits of living, sin against 
the stomach; an organ, which always 
suthciently revenges “itself upon those 
gluttonous or spirituous transgressors, 
who impair its substance or trifle with 
its texture. 
There may likewise be an intemperance 
in the use of weak liquors, as well as in 
strong, especially when the former are 
taken at a high temperature. 
The celebrated Burke was in the habit 
of intoxicating himself by ingurgitations 
of hot water, as thie equally celebrated 
Pitt was by ingurgitations of wine; and 
many prudesin regimen who pride them- 
selves in the fancied consciousness of 
their dietetical discretion, gradually wear 
away the tone and vigour of their tram, 
by an excessive indulgence in gruc®s¢ 
soups, and teas. 
These pro tempore stimuli relax as 
ecrtainly, though not in.an equal degree, 
as the poisonous produce of fermentation. 
By the constant application of hot 
liquids, the stomach is soddened in the 
same manner as a washing woman’s hand’ 
is by a habit of tepid nblution. 
This remark is by no means intended 
ty vive any countenance or encourage- 
went to the having recourse to the more 
State of Public Afuirsin May. 
449) 
violent incentives to exhilaration,.or the’ 
transient tranquillizers. or opiates” of the 
mind, 
This resource js especially to’ be 
dreaded by men of more than urdinary 
feeling, and of a superior degree of in 
tellectual energy; they in particular cane 
not submit to ane ennui of yacancy, oF 
patiently bend under the leaden weight 
of incurable sorrow ; and on that.account 
endeavour too frequently to fill up the 
want of interest, or to disperse the eloud 
which darkens their horizon by tempos 
rary remedies: which permanently ruin; 
by momentary relrets which tend only to 
destroy more expeditiously the last wreck 
of their comfort and constitution. ~ . 
One or two cases have recently oc- 
curred of a mother, who from an amiable 
but indiscreet tenderness, although in a 
very sickly state, persisted in nursing the 
child herself, to the mutual injury of the 
parent and the infant. The milk of a 
healthy cow is better than that of an un- 
healthy woman; a doctrine which, to some 
may be obnoxious; and perhaps it is not 
always discreet to bei ingenuous in a pub- 
lie declaration of opinion, where the 
‘feelings and prejudices | of others are in 
danger of being injured or opposed. An 
unmasked and fearless integrity must be 
expeusive, and may ultimately be ruinous 
to a writer, more especially to aphysician 
in this huge metropolis; where out of the 
croud of candidates for professional cre- 
dit and emolument, the successful must 
necessarily be few. ‘“ Rani apparent 
nantes in gurgite vasto,” 
Joun Rertn, 
Grenville-street, Brunswich-square, 
May 26, 1808. 
RO ee 
STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN MAY. 
Containing efficial and authentic Documents. 
— ae 
SWEDEN. 
6 thon Swedes have been obliged to sur- 
render the Fortress of Sweaboreg, 
but the King has dismissed the command- 
ers by seaand laud who were concerned 
in its defence, 
Stockholm, May 6, 1808. 
Lieutenant Cullerftadt, of the Life Guards, 
arrived here on the 3d inftant, at night, with 
the following report; having been detained 
by the enemy 19 days, between Sweaborg 
and the head-quarters of the army in Finland, 
which the 2stl of April ftill continued at 
Lumijocki. 
*« The enemy having on the 3d of March 
Montary Mage., No, 171. 
driven in our advanced posts, and advanced 
againft the town of Helfingfors, which was 
occupied by one battalion of the regiment of 
Alcercreuz, our troops were obliged to retreat 
into the forirefs. All communication with 
the town was intercepted by the enemy, and 
the fortrefs surrounded on all fides. The 17th 
of March the enemy opened a well-dire&ed 
fire from the battery conitru@ted on Bluk- 
holm’s cliff. The 18th, roth, and 20th, the 
enemy continued to keepup a brisk fire again‘ 
the fortrefs; and threw numerous fhells and 
ies hot balls into our works. 
$* The 21f of March an officer arrived taith 
a flag of truce, and required a conference, the 
principal object of which was, on our fide, 
4N thas- 
