Of all the Customs of Clothing, the most extremely absurd is the usual arrangement of Bed Clothes, which in order as the chambermaid fancies to make the Bed look pretty in the Day time—are left long at the head, that they may cover the Pillows; when they are turned down, You have an intolerable load on your Lungs, and that part of the Body which is most exposed during the day—is smothered at night—with double the quantity of Clothes that any other part has.

Sleep is prevented by an unpleasant degree of either Heat or Cold; and in this ever-varying climate, where often “in one monstrous day all seasons mix,” delicate Thermometrical persons will derive much comfort from keeping a Counterpane in reserve for an additional covering in very Cold Weather: when some extra clothing is as needful by Night,—as a great coat is by Day.

A Gentleman who has a mind to carry the adjustment of his Clothes to a nicety—may have the shelves of his Wardrobe numbered 30, 40, 50, 60, &c. and according to the degree of Cold pointed to by his Fahrenheit40, he may wear a corresponding defence against it:—This mode of adjusting Dress according to the vicissitudes of the weather, &c. is as rational as the ordinary practice of regulating it by the Almanack, or the Fashion, which in this uncertain Climate and capricious Age—will as often lead us wrong, as right.

Leave off your Winter Clothes late in the Spring;—put them on early in the Autumn. By wearing your Winter Clothes during the first half dozen warm days—You get some fine perspirations—which are highly salutary in removing obstructions in the cutaneous pores, &c.

Delicate and Dyspeptic persons are often distressed by changing their Dress,—which must be as uniform as possible,—in thickness—in quality—and in form,—especially (Flannel, or indeed) whatever is worn next to the Skin.

The change of a thick Waistcoat for a thin one—or a long one for a shorter one—not putting on Winter garments soon enough, or leaving them off too soon,—will often excite a violent disorder in the Lungs—or Bowels, &c. and exasperate any constitutional complaint.

Those who wear Flannel Waistcoats, are recommended to have their new ones about the middle of November, with sleeves to them coming down to the wrist—the shortening these sleeves in the warm weather, is as effective an antidote against extreme Heat—as lengthening them, and closing the Cuff of the Coat, is against intense Cold.

Our Coat41 should be made so large—that when buttoned we may be as easy as when it is unbuttoned, so that without any unpleasant increase of pressure on the Chest, &c. we can wear it closely buttoned up to the Chin—the power of doing this is a convenient provision against the sudden alternations from heat to cold—buttoning up this outer garment, will protect the delicate from many mischiefs which so often arise in this inconstant climate from the want of such a defence; and the additional warmth it produces will often cure slight Colds, &c.

Another way of accumulating Caloric, is to have two sets of button holes to the Cuff of the Coat, (especially of your Great Coat,) one of which will bring it quite close round the wrist.

When the Circulation is languid, and your Feet are Cold—wear worsted Stockings, have your Shoes well warmed—and when you take them from the Fire—put your Slippers42 to it—that they may be warm and comfortable for you on your return home.

In Wet Weather wear Shoes with double upper-leathers—- two thin leathers will keep you much drier than one thick one, and are more pliable—the Currier’s Dubbing is the best nourisher of Leather—and renders it as soft as satin, and impervious to Water.

The mean temperature of England is about 50 degrees of Fahrenheit—it sometimes rises 25 degrees above this, in the height of Summer,—falls about as much below, in the depth of Winter—and in Summer frequently varies from 20 to 30 degrees between Mid-day and Midnight.

The restoration, and the preservation of the Health, especially of those who have passed their Fortieth Year,—depends upon minute and unremitting attentions to Food,—Clothes,—Exercise, &c. which taken singly may appear trifling—but combined, are of infinite importance.

“If you are careful of it, Glass will last as long as Iron.” By a regular observance of a few salutary precepts, a delicate Constitution will last as long, and afford its Proprietor as many Amusements, as a Strong Body,—whose Mind takes but little care of it.

Invalids are advised to put on a Great Coat when they go out, and the temperature of the external air is not higher than 40. Some susceptible Constitutions require this additional clothing when the Thermometer falls below 50; especially at the commencement of the Cold weather. A Great Coat must be kept in a Room where there is a Fire,—if it has been hung up in a cold damp Hall, as it often is, it will contribute about as much to your Calorification,—as if You wrapped a Wet Blanket about You.

Clothes should be warm enough to defend us from Cold43,—and large44 enough to let every movement be made with as much ease when they are on,—as when they are off.

Those whose employments are sedentary,—especially hard Students—who often neglect taking sufficient Exercise45, suffer extremely from the pressure of tight Waistbands—Garters, &c. which are the cause of many of the mischiefs that arise from long sitting—during which they should be loosened.

Braces have been generally considered a great improvement in modern dress—because they render the pressure of the Waistband unnecessary, which when extremely close is certainly prejudicial—but we have always thought they have produced more inconvenience than they have removed—for if the inferior Viscera get thereby more freedom of action—the superior suffer for it—and, moreover, Ruptures are much more frequent—the Girdle which formerly prevented them being removed,—and, instead of that useful and partial horizontal pressure, in spite of the elastic springs which have been attached to the Braces, the whole body is grievously oppressed by the Vertical Bands.

The best material for Breeches, is the elastic worsted stocking stuff.

Tight Stays—and Braces—obstruct the circulation of the Blood, &c. are the cause of many Chronic Complaints, and often create Organic Diseases46.