of, who, but for this accurfed vice, might have been an ornament to the world, an honour to their country, and have afforded me as much joy in their lives, as I now feel concern at their deaths..

IN order, therefore, to put a stop to fo great an evil, I have undertaken this little book, and I attempt it the more readily, as many young gentlemen have requested it of me, moved thereto by seeing their fathers drop off in the flower of their youth, and me fo found and hearty at the age of eighty-one. They begged me to let them know by what means I attained to fuch excellent health and spirits at my time of life. I could not but think their curiofity very laudable, and was willing to gratify them, and at the fame time do fome fervice to my countrymen, by declaring, in the first place, what led me to renounce intemperance and lead a temperate life; fecondly, by fhewing the rules I obferved;

and

and thirdly, what unfpeakable fatisfaction and advantage I derived from it; whence it may be very clearly feen how eafy a thing it is for a wise man to escape all the curfes of intemperance, and secure to himself the ineftimable felicities of vigorous health and chearful age.

THE first thing that led me to embrace a temperate life, was, the many and fore evils which I fuffered from the contrary courfe of living; my constitution was naturally weakly and delicate, which ought in reafon to have made me more regular and prudent, but being like most young men, too fond of what is ufually called good eating and drinking, I gave the rein to my appetites. In a little time I began to feel the ill effects of fuch intemperance; for I had fcarce attained to my thirty-fifth year, before I was attacked with a complication of diforders, fuch as, head-achs, .a fick ftomach, cholicky uneafineffes, the gout, rheumatic

rheumatic pains, lingering fevers, and continual thirst; and though I was then but in the middle of my days, my conftitution seemed fo entirely ruined that I could hardly hope for any other termination to my fufferings but death.

THE beft physicians in Italy employed all their skill in my behalf, but to no effect. At laft they told me, very candidly, that there was but one thing that could afford me a fingle ray of hope, but one medicine that could give a radical cure, viz. the immediate adoption of a temper, ate and regular life. They added moreover, that, now, I had no time to lofe, that I must immediately, either chufe a regimen or death, and that if I deferred their advice much longer, it would be too late for ever to do it. This was a home thruft. I could not bear the thoughts of dying fo foon, and being convinced of their abilities and experience, I thought the wifeft courfe I could take, would

B 2

would be to follow their advice, how disagreeable foever it might seem.

I THEN requested my physicians to tell me exactly after what manner I ought to govern myself? To this they replied, that I should always confider myself as an infirm perfon; eat nothing but what agreed with me, and that in fmall quantity. I then immediately entered on this new course of life, and, with so determined a resolution, that nothing has been fince able to divert me from it. In a few days I perceived that this new way of living agreed very well with me; and in lefs than a twelvemonth I had the unfpeakable happiness to find that all my late alarming fymptoms were vanifhed, and that I was perfectly restored to health.

No fooner had I began to taste the fweets of this new refurrection, but I made many very pleafing reflections on the great advantage of temperance, and thought within myfelf, "if this virtue has

"had

"had fo divine an efficacy, as to cure me "of fuch grievous diforders, furely it "will help my bad constitution and con"firm my health." I therefore applied. myself diligently to discover what kinds of food were propereft for me, and made choice of fuch meats and drinks only as agreed with my conftitution, obferving it as an inviolable law with myself, always to rife with an appetite to eat more if I pleafed. In a word, I entirely renounced intemperance, and made a vow to continue the remainder of my life under the fame regimen I had obferved: A happy refolution this! The keeping of which entirely cured me of all my infirmities. I never before lived a year together, without falling once, at least, into fome violent illnefs; but this never happened to me afterwards; on the contrary, I have always been healthy ever since I was temperate.

I MUST not forget here to mention a circumftance of confiderable confe

quence.