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In the course of the above commentary on 

 the rules here laid down for acquiring a perfect 

 command of arms, and for disposing the person 

 of the shooter to advantage, I have on more 

 than one occasion permitted myself to be led 

 somewhat prematurely forward to an explana- 

 tion of the rules, by exhibiting their direct 

 application to the more intricate part of the 

 business of the field. I say " prematurely," as 

 referable to a considerable portion of readers 

 for whom I feel myself very much interested, 

 but whom I can not consider as yet entirely 

 prepared to follow me thither; and for whose 

 immediate benefit, therefore, it now behoves 

 me to return, for the purpose of assisting them 

 in their regular progress upwards. With an 

 immediate view then to a pupil of this class, I 

 am to presume, that by a due attention to the 

 business of the drill, and to the further disposi- 

 tion of his person in the above commentary, he 

 has become sufficiently perfect at a present to 

 a fixed mark, and in the steady sweep and fire 

 upon a given line in any direction. It is time 

 therefore to lead him forth to an actual practice 

 of these rudiments ; which will best be done in 

 some situation where the swallow presents to 

 him an infinite variety of flights ; in pursuing 

 which, his skill in the sweeps will be improved, 

 a greater degree of flexibility obtained, and hi* 



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