360 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



the mind thofe of the body. The delicate 

 fprings of our frail machines lofe their acti- 

 vity, and become enervated ^ and the vclfels. 

 are choked by obilruclions when we totally 

 defiit from exercife, and the coniequences ne- 

 cefiarily affecV the -brain : a mere ftudious and 

 fedentary life is therefore equally prejudicial to 

 the body and the mind. The limbs likewife be- 

 come ilitf ; we contract an auwkard, conftrain- 

 cd manner; a certain difguftful air attends all our. 

 actions, and we are very near being as difagree- 

 able to ourfelves as to others. An inclination 

 to ftudy is highly commendable , but it ought 

 not however to infpire us with an averfion to 

 fociety. The natural lot of man is to jive 

 among his fellows : and whatever may be the 

 condition of our birth, or our fituation in life, 

 there are a thoufand occaiions where a man 

 muit naturally defire to render himfelf agree- 

 able ; to be aclive and adroit ; to dance with 

 . a grace; to command the fiery (Iced ; to de- 

 fend himfelf againft a brutal enemy , to pre- 

 ferve his life by dexterity, as by leaping, i'wim- 

 ming, &c. Many rational caufes have there- 

 fore given rile to the practice of particular ex- 

 ercifes, and the moil fagacioUs and benevolent 

 legiflato-rs have tnilituted, in their academics and 

 univerfit.ies, proper methods of enabling youth, 

 who devote themfclves to ftudy, to become ex- 

 pert alfo in laudable excrcifes. 



III. By the term exercifes, we nnderfland 

 thofe arts in which a man cannot acquire the 



lead 



