From mark_bluemel

...
>>Has anyrat started a computerised scrapbook for things culled from the 'net?
>
>
>Yes, I call it my commonplace directory. Many of the entries come from
>umra.
...
>And my favourite:
>
>Letter from Rev. Sydney Smith to GEORGIANA MORPETH, February 16th 1820
>
>Dear Georgiana, 
>
>Nobody has suffered more from low spirits than I have -so I feel for
>you. Here are my prescriptions. 
>
>lst. Live as well as you dare. 

and can afford

>2nd. Go into the shower-bath with a small quantity of water at a
>temperature low enough to give you a slight sensation of cold, 

and without Sid Perks

>3rd. Amusing books. 

is much more difficult than amusing babies

>4th. Short views of human life-not further than dinner or tea. 

Or taller than Ronnie Corbett

>5th. Be as busy as you can. 

or as idle as you can get away with

>6th. See as much as you can of those friends who respect and like you.

These X-ray spectacles can help

>7th. And of those acquaintances who amuse you.

These X-ray spectacles can help here as well

>8th. Make no secret of low spirits to your friends, but talk of them
>freely-they are always worse for dignified concealment.

But don't be surprised if people avoid you

>9th. Attend to the effects tea and coffee produce upon you.

Or at least do your laundry regularly

>10th. Compare your lot with that of other people.

The sunday tabloids will help here.

>11 th. Don't expect too much from human life-a sorry business at the
>best.

Drugs and alcohol can help

>12th. Avoid poetry, dramatic representations (except comedy), music,
>serious novels, melancholy sentimental people, and every thing likely
>to excite feeling or emotion not ending in active benevolence.

In particular don't listen to "The Archers"

>13th. Do good, and endeavour to please everybody of every degree.

And you can start by sending £10 to each of the people listed below

>14th. Be as much as you can in the open air without fatigue.

But don't blame me when you die of pneumonia.

>15th. Make the room where you commonly sit, gay and pleasant.

A lot of pleasant gaiety can be injected by sitting really commonly.

>16th. Struggle by little and little against idleness.

Then give up

>17th. Don't be too severe upon yourself, or underrate yourself, but do
>yourself justice. 

A summary hanging will do fine

>18th. Keep good blazing fires.

Remember good fires make good neighbours - or have I misquoted?

>19th. Be firm and constant in the exercise of rational religion.

And them you only need find 5 other impossible things to believe
before breakfast

>20th. Believe me, dear Georgiana, your devoted servant, Sydney Smith 

And it's "good night" from him