The breakfast is not very important. Those who eat no supper are too hungry in a morning; and the stomach being loaded with what they take at that time, is the less able to digest a dinner. This is the reason we advice old persons to eat suppers, of a right kind; these take off the too keen edge of the morning’s appetite; and there will remain just so much desire to eat, as will lead them to get a little into the stomach without loading it. Men may fast away their appetite; and their power of digestion goes with it. The conduct of the appetite regulates the health; and this is a point not enough regarded. It is as essential not to keep the stomach empty, as it is not to overload it. Wind is the consequence of emptiness; and this always disturbs its office. It should be constantly kept at its due employment in advanced periods of life; and this by small quantities of proper food. Therefore breakfasts are as necessary as suppers: only those who are troubled with phlegm should eat less at this meal than others. A cup of chocolate, not made too strong, is a good breakfast. Coffee I cannot advise generally: but the exceptions against tea are in a great measure groundless. If an elderly person likes tea, he need not deny it to himself for breakfast. Let him use the plain green sort of sixteen shillings a pound, and make it well; taking care the water boils, and allowing so much tea that it may be of sufficient strength, without standing too long upon the leaves. Let him drink three moderate cups, with a little sugar and a good deal of milk; and take it neither too hot, nor mawkishly cool. Let him eat with it a thin slice or two of good bread, with a little butter: and he will find all this nourishing and excellent. The virtues of tea thus drank are as considerable, as its bad qualities when ill managed. In this manner, it strengthens the stomach, and assists digestion: it keeps the body from emptiness, without loading it: the appetite for dinner will be the better for it; and the digestion will be also more perfect. Tea in this quantity is sufficient also for the great purpose of diluting; and it refreshes the spirits more than any other liquid. The best drink at meals is malt liquor, not too strong: small ale is better than table-beer; because it will keep to a due time for safe use. Some wine is necessary to old men: and according to the constitution, and former manner of life, more may be born by some without inconvenience. Of all wines sack is the best, if it can be obtained genuine; and the next best is mountain.