Pedestrianism

206 SKETCHES OF CAPT. BARCLAY'S ing world by the title of CAPTAIN BARCLAY. His favourite pursuitshave ever been the art of agriculture, as the serious business of his life, and the manly sports, as his amusement or recreation. The improvement of his extensive estates has occupied much of his attention,andhe is well acquainted with every thing relativeto modern husbandry. His taste for rural affairs is hereditary, and his knowledge of them is derived from experience. The exampleof his father, who raised his rentalfrom three hun­ dred pounds a year, to several thousands,was an irresistible stimulusto an ardentmind; and Capt. Barclay, by pursuingthe plan adopted by hisimmediate predecessor,has greatlyaug­ mented the value of hips roperty,which is still increasing, andin a few yearswill produceten thousand pounds annually. His love of the athletic exercises maypro­ ceed from the strong conformationof his body, and great muscular strength. But his predi­ lection for the manly sports has never inter­ fered with his important business, or in any man-