Pedestrianism

MODERN PEDESTRIANISM. 35 mayexcite in the husbandman, the manu- « facturer,and the mechanic, as well as in the «' soldierand the sailor, and men of superior " ordersand professions,suchan emulationas f( may tend to promote industry, encourage « trade, improve the knowledge and wisdom « of mankind, and consequently make his " country victorious in war, and, in peace, " opulentandhappy." It is admitted, that the new levies in the Britisharn>y are diminishedmore by fatigue, thanby the sword of the enemy. Our regi­ ments are gradually wasted by sickness and disease, for they are not fitted by a course ol preparatorytraining, to undergo those hard­ shipsto whichthey areunavoidably exposed; and the sudden transition from a life of ease to that of greatactivity, too frequentlyproves fatalto menof feeble bodiesand weakconsti­ tutions. Were the practice of the ancients imitated,by the erection of schools forgym­ nastic exercises, and our young soldiers sub­ jected to a process of training, the lives oi manyof themwouldbe savedto theircountry, e 2 and