Our "VINUM BRITANNICUM"--good Home-brewed Beer--which has been very deservedly called "_Liquid Bread_," is preferable to any other Beverage during Dinner or Supper--or _Port_ or _Sherry_ diluted with about three or four times their quantity of Toast and Water--(No. 463*): undiluted, these Wines are too strong to be drank during Dinner,--they act so powerfully on the feelings of the Stomach, that they dull the desire for solid Food, by producing the sensation of Restoration,--and the System, instead of receiving material to repair and strengthen it,--is merely stimulated during the action of the Vinous spirit. However, the dull stimulus of Distention, is insufficient for some delicate Stomachs, which do absolutely require to be screwed up with a certain quantity of diffusible Stimulus[63],--without which, they cannot proceed effectively to the business of Digestion,--or indeed any other business--we do not recommend such, especially if they have passed the Meridian of Life, to attempt to entirely wean themselves of it--but advise them, _immediately after Dinner_, to drink as much as is necessary to excite that degree of action in their System, without which they are uncomfortable, and then to stop.--See Observations on _Siesta_. Now-a-days, _Babies_ are brought to table after Dinner by Children of larger growth--to drink Wine,--which has as bad an effect on their tender susceptible stomachs, as the like quantity of ALCOHOL would produce upon an Adult. Wine has been called "the Milk of Old Age," so "Milk is the Wine of Youth." As Dr. Johnson observed, it is much easier to be abstinent than to be temperate--and no man should habitually take Wine as Food till he is past 30 years of age[64] at least;--happy is He who preserves this best of Cordials in reserve, and only takes it to support his Mind and Heart when distressed by anxiety and fatigue. That which may be a needful stimulus at 40 or 50, will inflame the Passions into madness at 20 or 30--and at an earlier period is absolute Poison. Among other _innumerable Advantages which the Water-drinker enjoys_, remember he saves at least FIFTY GUINEAS per annum--which the Beer and Wine drinker wastes--as much to the detriment of his health, as the diminution of his Finances: moreover, nothing deteriorates the sense of Taste so soon as strong liquors--the _Water-drinker_ enjoys an exquisite sensibility of Palate, and relish for plain food, that a Wine-drinker has no idea of. Some people make it a rule to drink a certain number of Glasses of Wine during and after dinner, whether they are dry, or languid, or not--this is as ridiculous as it would be to eat a certain number of Mutton Chops whether you are hungry or not. The effect produced by Wine is seldom the same, even in the same person--and depends on the state of the animal spirits at the time--whether the stomach be full or empty, &c.