The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-11-07
INFLUENCE OF THE MIND ON DIGESTION

digestion and nutrition will be equally impaired.
The fact is exemplif ed on large scale in every
commercial country, and especially in times of
public distress and political change. Shakespeare
obviously had the principle in view when he
made Caesar eXcain--
"Iet me have men about me that are fqt
Sleek headed men, and such as sleep o. lights.
Yond' Cassus has lean and hungry IooE;
lie thinks too much 4; such men dangerous.
ANTONY.
Fear him not, Cesar he's not dangerous
lie is n noble Roman, and well given.
CESAR.
Would he acre fatter; but fear linn not:
Yet my name were liable to fear,
do not know the man should avoid
SO soon as that spare Cassius lie reads much.
He is great observer; and he looks
Quite thro the deeds of men he iOceS pldys,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears NO music
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such sort
AS if he mock himself, and scorned his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men rs he be meyer at hearts
While they behold a greater than themselves;
And, therefore, are they very dangerous.
Even experience must have taught every one
with what zest we sit down to enjoy the pleas
ures of the table, and how largely we incline to
eat, when the mind is free unburdened and Joy
Gus, compared with the little attention we besow
on our meals when we are overwhelmed with
anxiety, or have the whole energies of the mind
consecrated on some important scheme. There
cannot he doubt, indeed, that the over-exerton
and excitement, or absolute inerness Of the mind,
in which sedentary people are generally miners
ed, contributes greatly, along with the want OF
muscular exercise in the open air, to impair the
tone of the digestive organs. In this way rs it
is not less justly than forcibly remarked by Dir.
Caldwell, dyspepsy commences perhaps often
in the brain as in the stomach. Possibly o(tener.
That this true of the disease III Europe will
scarcely be denied, after fair examination OF the
facts connected with it, 1t is there almost ex-
cusively Il complaint of the strIdious and the
scheming, who, everlasting their brains, iniurc
them by toll.
In deuouncing active cXertion of mind or body
Immediately after eating, as inimical to digestion,
it is not meant that we should go to sleep, or in
duge in absolute listIessness. A weak constitu-
ton may require something like complete re-
pose; but person in ordinary health may in
dulge in Il eisurely saunter, or pleasant CONVEX
sation, not only without injury, but with positive
benefit; and, perhaps there is no situation in
which digestion goes Oh so lavorably, as during
the cheerful play of sentiment in the afterdnner
stimuous sent to the stomach is then of the most
healthful and invigorating description and even
the dyspeptir, if on his guard against heavy
meal, torges his woes amid the unwoned vigOr
of his tunctions.-Combe's Physiology.
ANNEXATIoN OF TEXAS TO THE U. STATES
The following from the speech of Mr. Lamar
Vice President of Texas, at the dinner given him
lac, e
subject ofits being annexed to the United States.
"..1.e said the whole people of Texas were for
he annexation. There was however, one dis
cnng voice-and that was the humble voice
which was then speaking. Rather than have
lis noble, free, generous, beloved Texas joined
o this Union with the turbulent and nccndiaIy
nnatics, the infatuated abolitionists, with Mr. Adj
inns at their head, he would pray that she might
~ some sudden CONFUSION of nature, by some
mighty earthquake, he cast out upon the ocean
lone island. And rather than be joined him
self in such a union with such flnatical enemies
IF the liberty, freedom and rights of the South,
he would prefer to be chained like Pronetheus
O rock to be devoured by vultures, or like Ma
.eppa bound to a wild horse, to be dashed down
,recipices until life should become extinct. Get
id Of these fanatics, gentlemen, and Texas is
ours, with all my heart"
ANCIENT DRUNKERIEs. The existence and
extent of drunkenness Il hundred years ago were
he subjects Of discussion in both Houses OF Par
lament; Lord Careret said he had seen the peo-
de lying insensible in the cutters, rs he passed
o the House, and Lord ChomondeIy mentioned
he same circumstance; the Bishop of Salisbury
aid, that boards were put up inscribed with, you
nay here get drunk for one penny dead drunk
ortwo pence, and have clean straw for nothing
And tho spropretors Of houses accordingly pro-