Captain Barclay
In his Walking dress.
PEDESTRIANISM;
OR,
AN ACCOUNT
OF
The Performances of celebrated Pedestrians
DURING
THE LAST AND PRESENT CENTURY;
WITH A FULL NARRATIVE OF
Captain Barclay’s
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MATCHES;
AND
AN ESSAY ON TRAINING.
BY THE
AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF ABERDEEN,
&c. &c. &c.
ABERDEEN:
Printed by D. Chalmers and Co.
FOR A. BROWN, AND F. FROST, ABERDEEN; CONSTABLE AND CO.
AND GREIG, HIGH-STREET, EDINBURGH; LONGMAN AND
CO. PATERNOSTER-ROW; FORSYTH, 114, LEADENHALL-STREET;
AND RICE, 28, BERKELEY-SQUARE,
LONDON.
1813.
PREFACE.
At the suggestion of a few friends, theauthor undertook this work. His intentionat first was to confine it solely to Capt. Barclay’sperformances. But on farther consideration,he thought that the feats of otherpedestrians might be introduced, and theplan enlarged, so as to embrace a treatiseconveying information or amusement toreaders in general, as well as to sportinggentlemen.
He has therefore treated of objects connectedwith the physical powers of man,with the view of drawing the attention ofthe public to the best means of strengtheningand augmenting the capacities of thebody. The subject he deems important,especially at a time when the physical energies[iv]of many of our countrymen are frequentlybrought into action by the conflictsof war.
The republics of Greece prepared theiryouth for the duty of the field by theirgymnastic institutions; and the Romanswere exercised by long marches, running,leaping, and throwing the javelin. Butwith the soldiers of Britain, a different systemprevails. While stationed at home,they are allowed to waste their time in“indolent repose,” and prevented from takingeven that degree of exercise which is requisiteto health, lest they should exhaustthe most trifling of their necessaries, beforethe return of the usual period of supply.All the advantages they might derive froma course of training, are thus sacrificed to anill-judged economy, and to the vain showof a parade or field day.
The author has considered Exercise in amilitary point of view, and he thinks hecannot too strongly urge the necessity of[v]adopting such measures for training ourtroops preparatory to actual service as wouldfit them for undergoing the hardships of thecampaign.
He therefore trusts that this work maydeserve the perusal of military men—noclass in the community having so much occasionto prepare themselves to bear bodilyfatigue, as those who are engaged in thebusiness of war.—And, if it be fully explained,as the author hopes it is, by what expedientsmen may be enabled to undergo morethan ordinary exertion, the subject certainlymerits the