stating the most rational, and I think you will admit, the most cogent reason, namely, the general improvement of my health." I apologized for the interruption, as I exclaimed, "Your health; but, dear aunt, are you then of opinion that such would be the result to others, if a vegetable diet were to be universally adopted?" "In the aggregate I think it would," she replied, "though I will candidly admit, that there might be found many abstract instances of total failure where the constitution, previously debilitated by an unnaturally stimulative diet, having induced the disorders erroneously attributed to old age, might render a change hazardous: such must submit to the penalty wrought by ill custom too blindly followed; and doubtless originating in the sacrifices of the early ages. I shall startle Í shall startle you not a little perhaps, when I declare it as my firm opinion, that fewvery few are there, who die a natural death: but from poison! Yes, I repeat, poison from the habitual use of flesh diet, spicery, and all those pungent condiments, stimulating a desire for that most destructive and insidious poison, strong drink. These combined evils induce a febrile irritation of the nervous system, rendering it susceptible to the casual assaults on Nature; for which the calmer temperament of the vegetarian and waterdrinker is no recipient. I dare also to affirm, that perfect health would result, and (by divine permission) life be considerably prolonged, by the universal adoption of a vegetable, fruit, and farina diet; of which there is sufficient variety to gratify even the most fastidious palate. I think, also, that the moral character would be benefited by the change wrought in the human temperament; in which opinion I find myself encouraged by the Jewish historian Josephus, who observes that their food was then the fitter for the prolongation of life so great a number of years; and besides, God afforded them a longer term of life on account of their virtue.' Sir William Temple also, in his Essays on Health and Longevity,' offers the following intelligent remarks:†' Of what passed before the flood, we know little from Scripture itself, besides the length of their lives. So as I shall only observe upon that period of time, that men are thought neither to have eat flesh nor drunk wine before it ended; for to Noah first seems to have been given the liberty of feeding upon living creatures, and the prerogative of planting the vine.'

66

Now, in corroboration of the reasoning of these two authorities, it may not have occurred to you, with many others perhaps, how essentially the divine ordinance in the first instance differs from that after man's great dereliction. In the first days of creation, we read, that every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which is the

* Antiquities of the Jews. Book i., chap. iv., P. 35.

+ Vol. iii.,

p. 112.

fruit of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for meat."

We also find it decreed that man shall have dominion over the beast of the field; but not as in the days of offence, that the fear of you, and the dread of you,'t was to be a part of that dominion; and this command of every herb bearing seed,' &c., extending even to the inferior part of creation, appears evidently to preclude the dire necessity of any living creature devouring another. The works of our God are creation, preservation, and his beneficent will, that all creatures he hath made capable of enjoying life, should enjoy it freely. I confess that, to me, the feeding upon creatures that in common with ourselves are susceptible of pain and pleasure, of kind treatment, as awakening grateful attachment, together with the occasional exhibition of qualities that are as lessons to the human race, I confess that the proceeding seems to be little short of cannibalism. How slender is the link defining the animal and the intellectual being! In some parts of the earth, monkeys are served up as food; the Chinese are, we all know, the most unscrupulous feeders; yet who among the enlightened and rightly feeling could endure a repast off his faithful dog, or, indeed, any animal whose nature had reciprocated his kindness?"

"But, dear Aunt,” said I, “you just now quoted Scripture; pardon me, but am I to conclude that you are influenced by religious tenets in the diet you have adopted?" "Do me the justice of believing me to be more liberal in my sentiments, and more consistent with the true principles of Christianity," she replied; "for even were I so influenced, the divine creed that ' regardeth not that which goeth into the mouth, but that which proceedeth from the heart,' must unquestionably refute all that could be advanced on the religious importance of diet. The Bible is a history-a history of mankind in the present fallen state; and as many passages might be adduced by the feaster on the 'fatted calf,' as by the ascetic in confirmation of their individual opinions: in many things we offend,' but He who knoweth our infirmities, in mercy condescends to the imperfections of men, that he may raise men to the perfection of angels. However, it is not my intention, neither do I arrogate to myself the ability, to enter into theological disquisitions; and I think that arguments either for or against the vegetarian system of diet should never be adduced from sacred authority, as involving doctrinal points. I would reply to your queries simply on the score of vegetable diet, with its powerful adjuncts, pure springwater, pure air, and, to crown all, that grand corroborant of human strength, sound unbroken sleep; rarely the result of flesh food, strong drink, and spices; which diminish bodily

Genesis, chap. i., verses 29, 30.

† Chap. ix., ver. 3.

strength, by clogging the vessels, and stimulating the system, beyond the operations of nature."

"There may be some truth in your latter assertion," said I, "and yet there are many who have enjoyed uninterrupted health, to what is termed a good old age, upon a diet very dissimilar to that of the vegetarian, and also in opposition to the principles of the teetotaller."

"The escape of a comparative few, does not lessen the risk incurred," replied my aunt. "In wars, pestilences, and other public calamities, there have always been some who have escaped under the most threatening circumstances."

"Still," said I, "do you not think that with the declining powers of life"

"A proportionate system of diet is then decidedly required," interrupted she. "Do we not anticipate the change of seasons, by appropriate clothing and similar precautions? and ought we to be less vigilant with regard to the changing seasons of human life, and rather spare the worn wheels of the machine if we would arrive pleasantly to our journey's end?

"To such as have always lived simply, the mutations attending old age will scarcely be felt: as (by the blessing of Providence), in my own experience, for though, as you are aware, much past seventy, I am unconscious of indigestion, headache, or indications of any of the frightful list of disorders, that, generally speaking, are the companions of life's decline. No, no, my dear Walter, time brings years undoubtedly; but individuals are in a great measure the authors of their own ailments."

"By a flesh diet?" queried I.

"By a flesh diet, fermented liquors, much-much aggravated by silly customs; eating and drinking from complaisance, and permitting the idle solicitations of the palate to supersede those of the stomach."

"But, Aunt," said I, somewhat hesitating, "do you not think that by your abstinence you deprive yourself of many comforts, and indulgences of the table?"

"My dear boy," she replied, "I have only changed them: believe me, our individual preferences on this subject are but the result of early prejudice. People eat flesh from infancy, and therefore imagine that they cannot subsist without it; but we may accustom our palates to any diet; as in the instance of olives, which are generally so disliked on the first trial."

"That is true," said I; "and as regards animal strength, then, you think "

"Considering the animal system only," she continued, "let me ask if the man possesses the strength of the horse? or if the elephant, an animal purely herbivorous and granivorous, does not exceed all others in that particular?"

"Nay, but my dear Aunt," I exclaimed, "you must make allowance for the wear of mind in the intellectual being.”

"The wear and undue empire of the passions, Walter," she replied; "the exercise of a well-regulated mind must tend rather to strengthen the human frame, by elevating the soul." Tea and coffee being now announced, we adjourned to the drawing-room.

"I conclude that you take tea, notwithstanding," said I, as my Aunt Primitive handed me a cup.

She laughed as she replied, "I consider tea as a dram.”

"A dram!" I exclaimed, “why, bless me ! my dear Aunt, how shocked some of our fine ladies would be if they thought as you do." "Fine ladies,” observed she, archly, " and a great many others would be shocked, perhaps, if they were to think sufficiently of many of their doings; and, to confess the truth, I found leaving off tea to be the most difficult task of all; and, for that very reason, became convinced of the necessity for so doing. I first took alarm upon hearing some of my acquaintance, expressing their anxiety for their tea, declare that they could not possibly go without it; this assertion, it not being an article of food, seemed plainly to evince its properties of stimulating, and of course proportionably debilitating the nervous system: as such, I abandoned it; classing it, as also coffee, with tobacco, snuff, and other strong operatives, that by degrees obtain such powerful ascendancy, as to render their unfortunate votaries comparative invalids, as being dependent on their influence; the faintness, or as it is termed 'sinking' at the stomach, I am of opinion is relaxation of that organ, occasioned by the habitual use of one or other of these pernicious articles, for which reason I class them with spirituous liquors, and term them drams."

During the foregoing speech, my Aunt Primitive had been very sociably sipping some new milk, to which she added bread and butter.

"Well," said I, rather languidly, "I really don't know how I shall ever bring myself to change-"

My aunt interrupted me, smiling; "Never mind, my dear boy," said she. "You are yet but young, and whatever change you may have in contemplation, heed well the lessons afforded throughout all nature; and to do so with safety to your constitution, remember it should be made by imperceptible degrees."

"I am very glad to hear that, however," I replied, smiling also, as I handed my tea-cup for the purpose of replenishment. "And now," said she, rising gaily from her seat, and opening the piano, "what say you to a little music? You have not heard me sing since you were quite a child?"

I knew my aunt Primitive to have been considered highly accomplished in her palmy days, and was not therefore much

surprised; nevertheless, I prepared for the tremulous tone of three-score and ten. I think she guessed my thoughts, for she smiled as she turned to the instrument, and equally surprised as delighted me, by her perfect command of voice, in one or two arias of Italian composition, in which her roulades were distinct, and her sostenuto (that most difficult triumph of vocal attainment) still unimpaired. She concluded by giving, with characteristic sweetness and simplicity, Dr. Arne's "Hymn of Eve," in which her intonation was clear and steady, as in early youth ;* while, as she sat with her back towards me, I could not help remarking with admiration, how much her slender form still retained its symmetry, and that, in her graceful "green old age," there appeared very little to justify regret for what she had been.

The evening was mild, and, as I beheld the moon rising in full radiance over the smooth lawn before the glass doors opening thereunto, I arose, and stepped out. My aunt, with light active step, followed me, but without the precautionary shawl, usually adopted by many much her juniors: and, as I beheld her tripping by my side, so gay, so fresh, and fairy-like, I really began to doubt if my respected relative were actually seventy or seventeen! and to indulge (Heaven help me!) in pretty little fantastic visions of "doing the agreeable" perhaps in some as yet unsuspected centre of fashion, of figuring gaily in some future charming Polka, a blooming youth, and acknowledged lady-killer of a hundred years' preservation! We had strolled but a very short distance, when we encountered a little party, that (aware of my worthy aunt's predilection) by no means surprised me: two canine favourites, the same number of cats, together with a few garrulous fowls, were feeding quite en famille, from one large dish. This harmonious blending of contrary natures, was certainly pleasing to witness, and the more surprising, as divers small birds fluttered round, to occasionally appropriate to themselves a portion of the meal, with a saucy peck close by the cats, that took no notice of the intrusion.

"And these, also, are vegetarians, I suppose, Aunt," said I, smiling.

Mrs. Wesley, mother of those two musical geniuses, so celebrated in their day, Samuel and Charles Wesley, sang "Pious Orgies" when upwards of seventy years of age, with such impressive sweetness, as to elicit commendation from her Majesty, Queen Charlotte. This lady, it seems, lived to upwards of a hundred; but not with the absolute possession of human faculties Mrs. Primitive appears to think possible: however, she was not a vegetarian in her diet. An instance more immediate in point, might perhaps be adduced in the example of the learned Nathaniel Brassey Halhed, a member of Parliament, and well known in the fashionable circles of about fifty years ago. This gentleman was for many years a vegetarian; and, at the age of ninety-five, was an active, lively, and intelligent companion. There are some now living, who may remember Mr. Halhed at that advanced age, dancing in the playful good humour of his excellent heart, with all the grace and agility of early youth.