soil, if, to due exercise and abstemiousness, a plain simple diet were added. Easton on Longevity, mentions one Numas de Cugna, a native of Bengal, who died in 1566, at the astonishing age of 370 years: he also quotes two respectable Portuguese authors in support of the fact. However favorable a northern climate may be to longevity, too great a degree of cold is, on the other hand, prejudicial to it. The medium, rather inclining to cold, with some degree of civilization, are best suited to the full developement of the physical organs, and also to Longevity. In Ireland and the northern parts of Asia, such as Siberia, men attain at most, to the age of only 60 or 70. But besides England and Scotland, Ireland is celebrated for the longevity of its inhabitants, and we doubt not, henceforth, having taken the advice of FATHER MATTHEW, and are now banishing the reptiles, strong drinks, from their beautiful green isle, it will be still more celebrated. St. Patrick is said to have banished all natural reptiles from their shores, but Father Matthew is conferring a still greater boon on his country, by banishing artificial ones, in the shape of Whisky, etc. May he go on and prosper? A proof of the longevity of Irishmen, we observe, that in Dunsford, a small place in that country, there were living at one time, 80 persons above the age of fourscore. And Lord Bacon says there was not a village in the whole Island, as he believed, in which there was not one man upwards of 80. In France instances of longevity are not so abundant; though a man died there, in 1757, at the age of 121. The case is the same in Italy; yet in the northern provinces of Lombardy there have been some instances of great age. In Spain also there have been instances, though seldom, of F men who lived to the age of 110. That healthy and beautiful country, Greece, is still as celebrated as it was formerly, in regard to longevity. Tournefort found at Athens, an old consul, who was 118 years of age. The Island of Naxos is particularly celebrated on this account. Even in Egypt and India there are instances of long life, particularly among the Vegetarian Bramins, Anchorites, and Hermits, who detest the indolence and intemperance of the other inhabitants of this country. Ethiopia formerly was much celebrated for the longevity of its inhabitants, but a very different account is given by Bruce, as to its present condition, showing that climate is not the only prerequisite for longevity, as that cannot have been altered much. Some districts of Hungary are distinguished by the great age of the people who reside in them. Germany contains abundance of old people, but it affords few instances of very long life. Even in Holland people may become old; though this is not often the case, as few live there to the age of 100 years. On the whole then it will be found to be an incontrovertible fact, that the more a man follows and is obedient to those laws which the allwise ruler of the universe has established for his guidance, the longer will he live, other things being equal: and though this is a general law, it is not so much the effect of climate, as the mode of living. In the same districts, therefore, as long as the inhabitants lead a temperate life, they will attain to old age; but as soon as they become highly civilized, and by these means sink into luxury, dissipation, and corruption, which is commonly the case, their health will suffer, and their lives be shortened. In the course of nine years advocacy of the Temperance cause, we have often met with objections to our views of Intemperance in eating and drinking being destructive of Health and Longevity: and we are ready to admit that there are exceptions to the rule, but they are so rare, as to be only exceptions, not the rule. Yet we are certain, had those persons who, by more than usually good constitutions, have lived to 70 or 80 years, adopted a rational mode of living, they would have been honored with ranking with our Jenkins, Parrs, and Cams; and instead of being distinguished in their latter days, by palsied limbs, by racking pains, an intellect betokening a state of dotage, and as Bishop Berkley observes, being set up as the Devil's decoys,* to draw in proselytes, they would have sunk into the grave, as into a sweet repose, at the close of a long, useful, and happy life; and perhaps, been enabled, to the very last, to relish the enjoyments of reason. Thus instead of decoying others into bad ways, they would have been able to communicate to them the lessons of wisdom which they had been taught by long personal experience and observation. The above facts to which we have called attention, are all derived from unimpeachable, and as regards our object, from disinterested sources; and are of such an unequivocal nature, that we may confidently base our system upon them as to * Dr. CHEYNE mentions one of these Decoys who had drank from two to four bottles of wine every day, for 50 years, and boasted that he was as hale and hearty as ever. Pray, remarked a bystander, where are your boon companions? Ah! he quickly replied, that's another question; if the truth may be told, I have buried three entire generations of them. And as Dr. BEDDOES observes, Neither do all who are exposed to its contagion, catch the plague, and yet is the hazard sufficient to induce every man in his sober senses [when is the drunkard in his ?] to keep out of the way of infection. its influence on Health and Longevity. If, however, they fail to convince, even the most sceptical, we think we may safely adopt the language of Abraham to the rich man, "neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." DEATH. CHAPTER IV. DEATH. It is a common argument amongst Divines in the behalf of religious life, that a contrary behaviour has such consequences when we come to die! It is indeed true, but seems an argument of a subordinate kind: the article of death is more frequently of short duration. Is it not a stronger persuasive; that virtue makes us happy daily, than that it smooths the pillow of a death bed? SHENSTONE. MANY of our readers on closing the book after reading the remarks in the preceding chapter, will perhaps exclaim,-" We do not wish to live so long!" Perhaps not! And how many there are who feel in their old age, as did Louis Wholeham, at the age of 118; less resigned to die than he was 80 years before. Even the Christian who has " a good hope through grace," and knows that "if the earthly house of his tabernacle were dissolved, he has a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ;" even he fees the physician at no small cost, and takes the most nauseous drugs, to ward off the "last enemy." One reason for this anxiety probably is, that the evening of the longest day finds most men with their work but imperfectly done, and therefore but ill |