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.

FOOTNOTES

Walter Thom

[1] Its height was sixty-eight feet; its breadth, ninety-five; and its length, two hundred and thirty.

[2] Pausanias, lib. v.

[3] Pausanias, lib. vi.

[4] West’s Dissertation on the Olympic Games, p. 61.

[5] West’s Dissertation, p. 176.

[6] West’s Dissertation.

[7] The odes of Pindar, which have been handed down to us, were made for these occasions.

[8] Gillies’ History, vol. i. c. 6.

[9] West’s Diss., p. 243.

[10] Gillies’ Hist. chap. vi.

[11] Rollin, vol. v. p. 54.

[12] Dissertation on the Olympic Games, last paragraph.

[13] Edgeworth’s Essays on Professional Education, p. 166.

[14] Genuine Guide to Health.

[15] Chap. vii. p. 447.

[16] Code of Health, vol. i. p. 494.

[17] It is a curious fact remarked by Mr. Jackson, and founded on the experience of all swift runners, that “for the first two or three hundred yards one feels very much distressed, but after that a second wind comes, which lasts until one is spent with bodily fatigue.”—Code of Health, vol. ii. p. 100.

[18] See Appendix.

[19] A learned antiquary has obligingly communicated to the author the following etymon of the name Barclay:

“Barclay is a compound word, and pure Gaelic. Bar is borrowed from the Gaelic, and adopted into the English language. In both, the signification is the same, i. e. the bar or bolt of a door, gate, &c. Clay is the Gaelic Cladh, pronounced clay, and signifying a sword. Every one knows that Cladh Mor, pronounced Claymore, signifies the great or broad sword. As C and G are commutable letters in the Gaelic, it is generally written Cladh, though, sometimes Gladh. Gladh is the radix of the Latin Gladius; and Cladh, perhaps, of the Latin Clades. The name Barclay, then, literally imports, ‘The Bar Sword,’ or ‘Sword of Defence.’

“Previous to the use of gunpowder, when every thing depended on personal strength and individual exertion, the single arm of a hero often decided the fate of the battle. Many of our ancient families derived their names from feats of prowess; and there is no doubt that the Barclays received their name from some singular act of heroism performed with the sword.”

[20] Mr. Molyson has often walked thirty-six miles to breakfast, and thirty farther to dinner. He attended Capt. Barclay when he went to Dr. Grant’s house at Kirkmichael, in August 1800, (see page 108); and in less than three days walked one hundred and eighty miles, without sleeping during that time. Mr. Molyson was then forty-eight years of age; but his athletic powers are astonishing, and he is a true lover of gymnastic sports.

[21] See page 124.

[22] Code of Health, vol. ii. p. 118.

[23] Code of Health, vol. ii. p. 120.

[24] Ibid. p. 121.

[25] Code of Health, vol. ii. p. 84.

[26] Code of Health, vol. ii. p. 89.

[27] It is not so generally known as it ought to be, that a salt, introduced into medical practice by Dr. George Pearson of London, is as excellent a purge as Glauber’s salt, and has none of the nauseous taste which renders that purge so disagreeable to many persons. The Phosphat of Soda is very similar to common salt in taste, and may be given in a basin of gruel or broth, in which it will be scarcely perceptible to the palate, and will also agree with the most delicate stomach.

[28] “It may serve as a preliminary rule, that fresh meat is the most wholesome and nourishing. To preserve these qualities, however, it ought to be dressed so as to remain tender and juicy; for it is by this means, it will be easily digested, and afford most nourishment.”—Willich on Diet and Regimen, p. 313.

[29] “Broths and soups require little digestion; weaken the stomach, and are attended by all the pernicious effects of other warm and relaxing drink.”—Willich on Diet, &c. p. 304.

[30] Bell’s Anatomy, vol. i. p. 12.

[31] Code of Health, vol. ii. p. 103.

[32] Code of Health, vol. ii. p. 123.

[33] Annals of Scotland, vol. i. p. 184.

[34] The above account of the Apologist was drawn up by the author for the Edinburgh EncyclopÆdia, where it is published.

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