Pedestrianism

110 CAPT. BARCLAY'S PERFORMANCES. hundred and forty yards, in fifty-six seconds. —Mr, Fletcher Reidand the Hon. B. Craven, were the umpires. In March 1804, Capt. Barclay undertook, for a wager of two hundred guineas, to walk twenty-three milesin three hours. It was in­ tended that he should start in Hertfordshire, and finish at the Royal Exchange, London. But unfortunately, on the day appointed he Was taken ill, and consequently losthis stake. The sporting world were thus disappointed; and any odds would have been laid that he should havecompleted thetask. On Thursday the 16th of August, Capt. Barclay, who wasthen a lieutenant in the 23d regiment ofoot, and quartered at East Bourne in Suffolk, engaged to runtwo miles intwelve minutes. He accomplished this undertaking with apparent ease, in two seconds and a half within thetime. The arduousness of the task was greatly increased by the excessive rain which had fallen during the two preceding days, and a high wind that blew in his face. He ranthe first mile in five minutes. On