_The Result of all this, was a reduction of my Weight of upwards of three Stone_, or about Forty-five Pounds, _in about six or seven months_.--I found my activity very much increased, and my wind excellent, but, I think, my Strength not quite so great, though I did not experience any material Reduction of it: my Health was perfect throughout. I then relaxed my System a little, and have up to the present time, being a period of ten Years, avoided the necessity of bleeding, and have enjoyed an almost uninterrupted continuance of good Health, although my Weight has gradually increased; sometimes, however, fluctuating between 7 or 8 Pounds and a Stone, according to my means of Exercise,--always increasing in Winter, and losing in Summer;--and at this moment (January 29th, 1821,) I am about a Stone more than I ought to be, having ascertained, that my best bodily Strength, is at sixteen Stone and a half. When the object is _to Reduce Weight_, rest and moderate Food will always sufficiently restore the exhaustion arising from Exercise;--if an additional quantity of Food and nourishing Liquors be resorted to, the Body will in general be restored to the weight it was before the Exercise. I have sometimes lost from ten ounces to a Pound in weight by an Hour's sparring. If the object be not to reduce the weight, the Food may safely be proportioned to the Exercise. You will readily perceive, that the plan I adopted, ought only to be resorted to by Persons of sound Constitution and of athletic bodily Frame,--it would be absurd to lay down a general rule for the adoption of all fat men. I think, with all lusty men, the drinking of malt Liquor of any kind is injurious,--Meat taken more than once a day is liable to the same Objection. I still persevere in the disuse of malt Liquors and Spirits, and Suppers, seldom taking more than four Glasses of Wine as a habit,--although I do not now deem it necessary to make myself so far the Slave of habit, as to refuse the Pleasures of the Table when they offer. I am, dear Sir, Yours very truly, * * * * * The following are the most interesting Facts in Dr. Bryan Robinson's Essay on the Food and Discharges of the Human Body, 8vo. 1748, which has become scarce. "I am now, in _May_ 1747, in the 68th year of my age. The length of my Body is 63 Inches: I am of a sanguine but not robust constitution--and am at present neither lean nor fat. In the year 1721 the Morning weight of my body without Clothes, was about 131 Avoirdupois pounds, the daily weight of my food at a medium was about 85 Avoirdupois ounces, and the proportion of my Drink to my Meat, I judge was at that time about 2.5--to 1.