to ourselves and to society-but tend also to break down the physical energies, and prepare the constitution for the ingress of disease, and for untimely dissolution. The mind, as well as the body, let it be remembered, may be feasted too voluptuously. The delights of a fantastic paradise have little harmony with our present nature. The spirit,

"whilst this muddy vesture of decay

Doth grossly close it in,"

must forego the raptures of supernal visions, and accommodate itself to its material relations-to the circumstances and necessities of its earthly dwelling-house.

We unfortunately meet with some writers, who, being themselves the subjects of this fanciful temperament, would persuade us to seek enjoyment in the cultivation of morbid sensibilities, to the exclusion of the more wholesome realities of life. Thus, says that popular and exquisitely sentimental author, Zimmermann, "To suffer with so much softness and tranquillity; to indulge in tender sorrow without knowing why, and still to prefer retirement; to love the lonely margin of a limpid lake; to wander alone upon broken rocks, in deep caverns, in dreary forests; to feel no pleasure but in the sublime and beautiful of nature, in those beauties which the world despise; to desire the company of only one other being to whom we may communicate the sensations of the soul, who would participate in all our pleasures, and forget every thing else in the universe; this is a condition for which every young man

ought to wish, who wishes to fly from the merciless approaches of a cold, contentless old age."

Among the best securities against this prejudicial ascendency of the fancy, and those uncomfortable nervous infirmities which so generally attend it, may be advised a life of active and regular employment, directed to some interesting object. It would seem, indeed, necessary to the health and contentment of the human mind, at least in its cultivated state, that it should be constantly actuated by some prominent and engaging motive,—by the feeling that existence has a determinate purpose. The subjection, also, of the impulses of the imagination to a wise restraint; and the strengthening of the judgment and powers of volition by the prosecution of the exact or demonstrative sciences, such as have truth for their great and ultimate aim; and, in addition, all those means which tend to sustain and elevate the bodily health, and thus to impart vigor to the nervous system, as pure air, muscular exercise, cold bathing, and temperance in its widest acceptation.

Finally, to guard ourselves from the aforenamed moral infirmities, and their concomitant physical ills, we should cultivate a contented spirit, confining our wishes and expectations within the limits of reason; and especially striving against the morbid growth of ambition, which, when from the temperament, or other circumstances of the individual, it does not impel to active efforts for its gratifica

*On Solitude.

tion, will cause the mind to be ever wandering amid visionary scenes of wealth and honor, and thus wholly disqualify it for its appointed sphere of action and enjoyments. Avoiding all eccentricities-keeping along in the beaten track of existence-pursuing with regularity, and a suitable degree of interest, the duties which belong to our several stations, such is the course which would, probably, on the whole, be most conformable to physical and moral health, and enjoyment. The burs and briers of life are oftenest encountered when we wander from its trodden paths.

CHAP. XXIX.

GENERAL CONCLUSION.THE INTELLECTUAL OPERATIONS A FAR LESS FREQUENT OCCASION OF DISEASE THAN THE PASSIONS.EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE INFLUENCE EXERCISED BY THE MIND UPON THE BODILY FUNCTIONS.-CASE OF COL. TOWNSHEND, WHO COULD DIE AND COME TO LIFE AGAIN AT PLEASURE. OUR PHYSICAL INTEREST DEMANDS A VIRTUOUS REGULATION OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.-SELF-RELIANCE AND STRONG VOLITION ESSENTIAL TO THE PERFECTION OF HEALTH AND CHARACTER.-MORAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN SHOULD BE EARLY COMMENCED.-DUTIES OF PARENTS.-CONCLUDING REMARKS.

I HAVE maintained in the first part of this volume, that the exercise of the intellectual functions, abstractly considered, does not tend, on a general principle, to favor disease, or shorten life. Yet exceptions arise where simple intellectual labors are urged to an injurious degree. In the reports of lunatic asylums we almost always find some of the cases ascribed to excess of study. I am convinced, however, that a larger share, both of mental and bodily ills, than rigorous truth will warrant, is referred to immoderate exertion of the intellect; the reasons of which error have been previously

explained. Thus, our intellectual efforts are, at the present day, almost always associated with those habits of life, as undue confinement, insufficient and irregular sleep, and other like incidental circumstances, which are well known to be detrimental to health. And furthermore, as knowledge is seldom pursued for its own sake, but for some ulterior advantage, either of fame, or pecuniary profit, mental labors are rarely unaccompanied with the workings, even the strong and painful workings of passion. Intellectual men, it must be admitted, are, either by nature or the force of circumstances, particularly prone to ambition, and are consequently exposed to those various evils and sufferings, already mentioned, which attend upon this passion when it becomes a ruling one in the human breast. If moderate and obedient to reason, and its aims guided by wisdom, it may, as I have previously said, serve as an incentive to call into useful and wholesome exertion the different powers of our nature; but when inordinate, as it is so apt to become, then will feelings of the most painful and destructive character unavoidably grow out of it.

Our own literary and scientific men, those of the learned professions, for example, will furnish ample illustration of the truth of the preceding remarks. How restless, often, and anxious, are their struggles in pursuit of a little ephemeral notoriety! To what various expedients do we not see them resorting for the sake even of that brief and equivocal fame derived through the columns of the periodical press? But, then, as the flattery of success may not always reward their endeavors; as they may meet the shafts of cen