Intemperance has now converted day to night in the course of the gay, young world; but this needs not, nor should influence those in years. Midnight entertainments are no part of the œconomy of their peaceful lives; and therefore they may come nearer to the course of nature.

The degree of sleep is a material article: and the time of it not less. The old man has been cautioned against the cold air of evenings; and we may now add, that after a light and early supper, and an hour of social conversation with his family and his neighbours, bed will be his best place.

Sleep was intended to recruit nature, and to restore the wasted spirits. This is necessary to all persons; but to the aged most; because they can least bear the waste of them. The passions will disturb all constitutions, but those of old men most of all. Sleep composes these: therefore ’tis of excellent use to them: and they may safely indulge in it longer than the young.

Six hours is as long as a person in the prime of life should sleep; but in age, eight, or even ten, according to the peculiar constitution, may be more proper.

The natural season of sleep is night; and let the old man therefore go to bed in such time, that he may pass these hours of rest without breaking in upon the morning. In general, the most healthful custom for age, is to go to bed at ten; and rise at eight in the morning.

If the mind be hurry’d; or from any other cause the person finds he cannot compose himself to rest soon after going to bed; or get so much sleep during the night; let him still rise at the same time the following day: and the next evening prepare himself thus for better sleep: let him go into a warm bath; and indulge himself with a glass of wine, beyond his ordinary allowance, a little before bed time. This will take off his watchfulness; and he will sink into the most pleasing slumber.

The contrary practice, that of lying in bed in the morning, to make up for want of sleep at night, is every way extremely wrong. As nothing refreshes like seasonable sleep, nothing weakens and dejects a person more than indulging in bed in the day: there is also this farther ill consequence from it, that the person is never sleepy, at the due time of the succeeding evening; and thus what was at first an accident, becomes by indulgence a custom; and is then the more difficult to be conquer’d, and the more hurtful.

The old man who has observed a temperate diet; and has gone to bed regularly at ten o’clock, will naturally wake towards eight. And when he wakes let him get up. He will then be in spirits for the day. If on the contrary he lies dosing, he will get into a weakening sweat. He will then be low spirited during the whole following day; and waking and watchful at night.

On these little circumstances do the health or sickness, the happiness or uneasiness of old persons depend, in a very great measure. We often do not perceive them, or we easily overlook them: let us be for the future more careful. There is no pain in living regularly in old age; and the consequence of it is certain; a longer life, and every day of it more agreeable.