shed

authority by appeals to the sword. We should have generals without armies, and victories without bloodno pestilential vapours from fields covered -no smoke from burning towns would rise, to tarnish the bright glory of the successful guardian of his country's weal!

with carnage

REST.-Although I have noticed the effect of rest, as well as of exercise, upon the muscular system, I have not as yet given any directions specially relating to the management of intervals of repose. I have merely pointed out, that a time of rest is necessary for a fatigued muscle to recover itself; and that, on the one hand, if this inactivity is too long continued, the muscle loses its strength, and, on the other hand, becomes injured, together with its appendages, if it be too long or too severely exercised. Were this the only consideration necessary to be borne in mind, in the regulation of rest, I might leave the application to your individual judgment and experience. Rest, however, requires to be considered not merely with reference to its restorative powers, as connected with the muscular system: it has an important influence on digestion, and on the strength and activity of the mind. Moreover, on the due limitation and arrangement of the hours of repose very much depends the proper and economical employment of that most invaluable possession, time. The misapplication of time in active pursuits is so self-evident, that the conscience can scarcely become callous to the evil; but it becomes insensibly seared against the insidious vice of consuming an inordinate length of time in sleep, or the inactivity of soft repose.

In considering the subject of rest, it is unnecessary

that I should make more than two degrees of it. The one, in which all bodily exercise is wholly, or to a great degree suspended; whilst the mind, though not put to the stretch, still retains its consciousness, but is not bent on any subject calculated to fatigue or disturb it. The other, well known by the name of sleep, in which not only the exercise of the body is, or at least should be, suspended, but the perceptions and consciousnes of the mind cease, and its operations are put a stop to. Even dreams are an imperfection in sleep: at least, they shew that it is not complete. It is needless that I should enter into the physiological consideration of the precise condition of the mind and body in sleep. The subject has been much considered and discussed by persons of great ability, well conversant with inquiries of this nature; but the question is, as yet, by no means satisfactorily set at rest. It is quite enough for our present purpose, that you are practically acquainted with this state, and know all the force of the poet's expression, when he calls it,

"Nature's sweet restorer-balmy sleep."

Although the exhausted system obtains relief from the degrees of repose to which I have alluded, yet they are far from being precisely similar in their effects, nor can the one be indifferently substituted for the other. You must be well aware, that when the body and mind are exhausted by long-continued wakefulness and exertion, a short period of sleep has an incomparably greater restorative effect than the complete tranquillity of body and mind without it, although the interval may be of longer duration.

the other hand, there are times when rest is necessary, but when sleep is undesirable. The first part of the

process of digestion does not seem to go on so well during sleep, as when the body is in a state of wakeful repose; and the mind, provided it has not been exhausted by long-continued application, is better fitted for some occupations after wakeful relaxation, than after sleep. The portion of time to be devoted to rest, and the part of the day in which it should be taken, are points to be specially considered in the regulation of rest. It will be improper to lay down one rule for all persons, with respect to the amount of time which ought to be spent in taking rest. Some individuals are of so very active a disposition, that a comparatively small portion of sleep is all which they can take; whilst others are so inclined to sleep, that they can give way to it at any time. Both of these extremes are undesirable; but they may, happily, be very much corrected by careful attention to the formation of habit. Those who possess extreme activity of mind or body, and greatly curtail the rest allowed to both, cannot fail seriously to injure their health. If they do not bring on some smart disease, under which their exhausted frames sink after a short struggle, they become almost inevitably the victims of premature old age, decrepitude, and death. On the other hand, those who give way to slothfulness, and devote an inordinate time to rest and sleep, have their energies destroyed; their bodies become flabby, bloated, and easily fatigued; and their minds, even in their most wakeful moments, are torpid, indisposed for continued attention to any subject, and unfit for close application. Such persons may be said to waste life in a threefold manner. First, all the time consumed in rest and sleep, beyond what the body and mind require, is lost a second portion is lost in

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the diminished value of their waking hours: and, thirdly, the term of their life is likely to be shortened by the injury which their health sustains. There is considerable difference in the amount of sleep required at different ages. Children, who have little power and much activity, are the soonest fatigued, and require the most rest. In old age there is generally the smallest necessity for sleep; yet exceptions to this are seen in the decrepitude of extreme old age, and in cases in which, in consequence of disease, there is great tendency to sleep. In the prime of life, when the system is capable of using and sustaining the greatest exertions, a medium portion of rest is required to restore the body, after exhaustion from fatigue; but even at this period of life, the differences depending on constitution and habit, to which I have already alluded, are very considerable. From nearly six to seven hours may be regarded as the average amount of time which those engaged in the ordinary concerns of life, and reasonably exercising the body and mind, may devote to rest in bed. Some persons have been able to do with from four to five hours; but I believe that in most, if not in all such cases, the mind is kept in a state of excitement, by a succession of momentous or intensely interesting subjects: hence instances of this kind are met with`among severe students, military commanders, and persons engaged in political affairs. Health is generally injured, and life shortened, by a continuance of this habit. There are very few cases, excepting among persons with impaired health, in which the limit which I have mentioned need be exceeded. The following distribution of time has been prescribed by some superior individuals, who were well acquainted with its value. Lord Chief

Justice Coke has laid down a rule, in the following couplet :

"Six hours in sleep; in law's grave study six;

Four spend in prayer; the rest on nature fix."

This has been somewhat modified by that excellent man and accomplished scholar, Sir William Jones :— "Six hours to law, to soothing slumber seven,

Ten to the world allot-and all to Heaven."

The late John Wesley, who combined great bodily fatigue with constant and varied mental exertion, in study, writing, preaching, and deliberation, devoted six hours to rest: and the advanced age to which he attained, proved that this arrangement was not inconsistent with health.

With respect to the portion of the day the fittest to be devoted to rest, we cannot do better than follow the dictates of Nature herself. Some animals are evidently designed to take their rest in the day-time, and others in the night. Those of the former class are distinguished by the character of their eyes; which cannot bear, without inconvenience, the glare of day; and whose large pupils take in and make the most of the faintest light which night affords. To this class, excepting in some very rare instances, man evidently does not belong: he is, therefore, disobeying the dictates of nature, in turning night into day, by devoting the latter to sleep, and the former to his occupations, whether of business or pleasure, Those who adopt this pernicious practice, from either of these causes, almost always exhibit a pale and squalid complexion, which forms a strong contrast with the fresh and ruddy countenances of those who rise early, to follow some healthful labour or amusement in the