r 



ATHLETIC BXERCISES. 6? 



'^ ' X. 



Extracts from a Collection of Papers on the Subject oj Athletic 

 Exercises, By Sir John Sinclair, Bart. M.P.* 



This Pamphlet consisting of 100 pages ifi octavo , contains 

 a re-print of the Observations which ivev^ before circulated by 

 Sir John Sinclair, nhich were inserted in our thirteenth volume , 

 p. SO9 to p. 317* with the answers which wer£ produced by 

 that interesting enquiry. For the present I shall confine my^ 

 ielfto a Letter from Dr. A^ P. Buchany on the manner of 

 treating the Ancient Athletics, 



To Sir John Sinclair, Bart, M.P. 



Si r. 



My attention having been greatly excited by the 

 tery ingenious observations and queries circulated by you, ^"^^'^^fS^'jf 

 concerning the method of producing, what, perhaps, with ancient and 

 propriety, may be denominated the athletic temperament ; modem me- 

 as well as by the interesting facts contained in the comrau- bg. 

 nications of your various correspondents, it occurred to me, 

 that a comparison of the modern art of training, with that 

 practised by the antients, who certainly paid no small atten- 

 tion to the means of augmenting corporeal vigour and acti- 

 vity, would tend to throw some farther light on this curious 

 subject. 



Among the antient inhabitants of Greece much pains 



were bestowed in improving the strength and activity of the The ancient 



, . 1 1 1 • • Grecians, 



human body, by due cultivation. 



• Printed In London, 1806, and gratuitously circulated by the Author* 

 I would take the liberty to suggest to the honorable Baronet, as well as to 

 all other public spirited writers in like circumstances, that for the purpose 

 of easy and extensive distribution, every book ought to be sold for a price 

 at some Icnovyn place, and announced once or twice in the public papers. 

 This effectual means of placing a work in the hands of the public by the 

 m:diumofbookse.lers, is obviously no impediment to the |ratu;tous dis- 

 tribation, which may at the same time be carried to any extent desired. 



. The 



