POST FOR THE COl^VEYAN.CE OF LETTERS. 
58T 
The riglit hand was the place of honour and respect. Among the 
Greeks and Romans it was customary for inferiors to walk on the 
left hand, that the right hand might be ready to afford protection to 
their left side, which was, on account of the awkwardness of the left 
hand, more exposed to danger. 
Ambidexterity. 
By this term we designate the quality of being able equally to use 
both hands. Various instances occur in history, where the left hand 
has been exercised preferably to the right. By the laws of the 
ancient Scythians, people were enjoined to exercise both hands alike ; 
and Plato enjoins ambidexterity to be observed and encouraged in 
his republic. In the German armies, the more distinguished soldiers, 
their pikemen and halberdiers, as well as those who formed the first 
line of the battalions, were trained to be able to fight equally with 
the left hand or the right. We find it mentioned in scripture, too, 
that on an extraordinary occasion, the single tribe of Gad produced 
seven hundred brave men who fought with their left hands as well 
as the right ; and the Roman historians assure us, that they had gla- 
diators who were trained up to the same exercise. An ingenious 
French writer is surprised, that among all the modern refinements 
in the art of war, none have thought of restoring the ancient practice, 
of training ambidexters, who undoubtedly might be of great service, 
especially in cases of stratagem. 
Post for the Conveyance of Letters or Despatches 
Posts of one kind or another appear to have been pretty early 
established among civilized nations. Without taking into account 
the different means of carrying on correspondence, said to have been 
attempted, by pigeons and other animals, we can at least trace with 
certainty the invention of something like regular posts as far back as 
llie ancient Persian.s, Xenophon says, that they were invented by Cyrus 
on his Scythian expedition, about five hundred years before Christ ; 
that the houses of the several stations were sumptuously built, and 
large enough to contain a number of men and horses; and that every 
courier, on bis arrival, was obliged to communicate his despatches to 
the postmaster, by whom they were immediately forwarded. Froia 
the shore of the iEgean sea, to Susa the capital, there were, according 
to Herodotus, regular stages for posts, each a day^s journey distant 
from the preceding. 
In what manner posts w'ere conducted among the Greeks, does not 
clearly appear, but, from their extensive commerce and frequent cor- 
respondence, some regular modes of conveyance must have been 
established. 
Though posts were well known among the Romans, yet it is difficult 
to trace with certainty the period of their mtroduction. Some writers 
carry it hack to the times of the republic ; posts, and post-offices, 
under the name o( statorcs and stationes, having been then, it is said, 
calHhiished by the senate. Be that as it may, Suetonius assurer us, 
