other artisans is about 36. The capacity of the lungs, as evinced by measuring the air thrown out at an exspiration, is not less than common. The average of six individuals was seven pints two-thirds. The prejudicial influence of their employ is more insidious than urgent: it undermines, rather than destroys life. Apprenticed at an early age, tailors have their constitutions modified to their employment. But its native vigour, drawn off in youth to this adaptation of organs to external circumstances, gradually declines, and finally ceases before the natural termination of life. Of twenty-two of the workmen employed in Leeds, not one had attained the age of 60: two had passed 50: and of the rest, not more than two had reached 40. We heard of an instance or two of great age, but the individuals had lived chiefly in the country. The evils attendant on the employment are, in many cases, greatly aggravated by bad habits. Like other men whom circumstances have physically depressed, the tailor often seeks the baneful comfort of ale and ardent spirit. The time of relief from work is generally spent, not in invigorating the animal frame, but in aggravating his complaints, and converting functional into organic disease.

"Can we correct these evils?—The position of the tailor might be amended. He now sits cross-legged on a board; because in the ordinary sitting posture he could not hold a heavy piece of cloth high enough for his eyes to direct his needle. Let a hole be made in the board of the circumference of his body, and let his seat be placed below it. The eyes and the hands will then be sufficiently near his work; his spine will not be unnaturally bent; and his chest and abdomen will be free."-Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 49.

Whether the position recommended by Thackary will be found to answer the operative tailors' purpose or not, I am unable to judge; but I am certain that much of the injurious influence from which working tailors suffer, might be prevented by proper care on the part of themselves and their employers. I have sometimes had occasion to go into a tailor's workshop, and I have never seen any class of workmen so crowded. Their position enables them to occupy very low

ceiled shops; and provided they have room to draw their thread, there is not much space required between them. It is probably on this account that they are satisfied with a less amount of atmospheric air to each individual than is allotted to other workmen. They take but little exercise to produce warmth; and consequently, instead of counteracting the evil arising from crowding, by superior ventilation, they are apt to keep their doors and windows closed, perhaps to prevent suffering from rheumatism, if they were opened. If, to save time, they take a part of their meals in the workshop, or gratify a vitiated taste for drink by allowing beer and ardent spirits to be brought to them, intemperate habits may easily be formed and encouraged, the pernicious consequences of which are greatly promoted by want of exercise and effective ventilation. Let the working tailors pay attention to the condition of their workshops, and avoid those which are close and crowded. Let them counteract the effects of position, by daily exercise; and recollect, that though their occupation is not a dirty one, the surface of the body requires daily ablution: and let them further observe, and act upon the principle, that temperance, desirable for all, is peculiarly necessary for individuals engaged in work like theirs, and consequently resist the somewhat peculiar temptations to drink to which they are exposed. If these points were attended to, tailors would soon cease to be distinguishable as a feeble and sickly class amongst the useful and necessary operatives of the country.

NOTE (7.) P. 271.

Although intensely cold regions, within or near the Arctic Circle, are, for various reasons, unfavourable to the multiplication and development of our species, experience has shewn, that where the necessaries of subsistence are supplied, and proper precautions are taken, these regions, as respects individuals, are not remarkably destructive of life:-on the contrary, it would seem that those very circumstances which occasion a certain degree of want of activity in the healthy functions may also tend to repress the symptoms of disease.

Hence there is a most remarkable contrast between the mortality of expeditions to tropical regions and those which enter or approach the frozen zones. In one of these expeditions, in which Sir Edward Parry was engaged, only one life out of the entire ship's crew was lost from disease: and in this instance, the man left England when symptoms of consumption had already commenced; but the progress of the disease did not appear to be at all accelerated by the inclemency of the climate to which he was exposed. Although Sir John Ross and his party passed a succession of winters on the shores of the Polar Sea, during a considerable part of which time they must have been in circumstances calculated to promote depression of spirits, and in this respect unfavourable to health, the company suffered a remarkably small diminution from illness. Captain Sir George Back's party, in search of Sir John Ross, which passed two winters near to the point of extreme cold, and under a temperature lower than that to which any other travellers had been permanently exposed, did not lose a single individual from disease. Whilst these facts indicate that extreme cold has not necessarily a fatal tendency, it must also be stated, that, under Providence, the low degree of mortality in these instances must be greatly attributed to the excellent management enforced by those who had the direction of these expeditions. Other parties who have wintered in similar situations have suffered severely. Perhaps the most remarkable instance of this kind was that of some Russian sailors left on the Island of Spitzbergen. These poor men, who were placed under the most depressing circumstances, became the victims of scurvy, of which several died. Even in this case, it appeared, that not cold alone, but indolence, defective food, and in all probability the want of ventilation and cleanliness, were the real causes of the mortality which occurred. It is well to bear in mind, that these are causes which prove destructive in all climates; and that although their influence has been particularly conspicuous amongst sailors engaged in long voyages and cut off from fresh supplies, they nevertheless exert their influence upon land, and amongst individuals of every craft.

See the Narrative of this Expedition, by R. King, M.R.C.S.

NOTE (8.) P. 281.

In speaking of war, I have mentioned some circumstances connected with the life of a soldier, as tending to promote the enjoyment of health; such as, his regular allowance of wholesome food, removed alike from want and excess; his regular exercise; his suitable clothing; and his accommodation as to dwelling. Though these are advantages, with reference to health, which the regulations of the army are designed to confer on the soldier-which, in urging the mere im policy of war, I have not been disposed to conceal-I have subsequently learnt, that in these respects the life of a soldier is frequently not so well circumstanced as I had supposed, even when not engaged in foreign service. In various ways, the Commissaries fail duly to perform their contracts, as to the quality of food; and though great care, as well as professional skill, is devoted to the arrangements for the health and comfort of the men, it is impossible to make general rules applicable to all the individual cases. Hence there is often a large mortality amongst those who have recently joined the army. Marshall, who has carefully considered this subject, is of opinion that the influence of the mind is greatly concerned in producing this result. The following extract, from his observations in relation to this subject, is well worthy of attention :—

66 The influence of the state of the mind on health is well exemplified in recruits for the army. According to Mr. Henry Marshall, regret for having enlisted, and separation from friends, makes them brood over the inconveniences attending their new mode of life; and their health suffers in consequence. These causes, combined with the fatigue of drill and the restraints of discipline, have so much influence, that "growing lads" frequently fall victims to them. The recruit, if not very robust, loses that active fortitude which is required to fit him to bear up against difficulties; and falls into a gloomy state of mind, that is soon followed by deteriorated bodily health: he loses his appetite, becomes emaciated, a slight cough supervenes, and, after frequent admission into the hospital, he at last dies of diseased lungs. This is an outline

of the history of many a young lad who enlists in the army."— MARSHALL, On Enlisting and Discharging Soldiers; quoted by COMBE.

It is probable that the melancholy fact which Marshall has here announced is to be ascribed to the circumstance, that the recruit often enters into his engagement precipitately, and when he is in a condition which renders him incapable of exercising his deliberate judgment. Many causes of excitement or vexation, approaching to despair, may lead a man of hasty temper to enlist in the army; but there can be no doubt that it is chiefly under the influence of strong drink that the vivid representations of the recruiting serjeant are viewed as peculiarly attractive. The recent very remarkable reformation amongst the Irish peasantry, as to the use of intoxicating liquors, seems to have placed this beyond a doubt; since it has been found that the recruiting officer now offers his invitations almost in vain, in those very districts in which he could formerly obtain with ease an ample supply of vigorous and athletic youths, ever ready to fight with an enemy abroad, or to contend with each other in a fray at home.

The enumeration of the evils of war will not be complete, without mentioning the fact, that the service of the soldier is only a variety of slavery. The soldier may be enlisted, not only before he is legally of age, but before he has actually attained to years of discretion; and when he comes to maturity, he may discover, that, by the collusion of his parents and his country, he has been deprived for life of the right of being master of himself. He is liable to the same degrading punishments as the slave; and, like the slave, he cannot obtain the right to freedom, but by redemption, which it may be out of his power, from the want of pecuniary or conscientious ability, to purchase.

NOTE (9.) P. 295.

Although I have, in the course of the Lecture, abstained from discussing the opinion which I hold, in common with the religious sect to which I belong, as well as with many individuals of other societies, that war of every description is altogether repugnant to Christianity-and though it would