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.

Eleventh day.—Twelve, noon; appeared as well as usual; appetite good; but kept more within doors, and more frequently reclined on a sopha.—Twelve, night; slept well; started immediately when called; appeared in good health and spirits; and persevered with courage.

Twelfth day.—Twelve, noon; kept more within doors, and more frequently reclined on the sopha, but appeared in good health and spirits.—Twelve, night; slept well, but complained of pains in the back of his neck and shoulders, occasioned, as he supposed, by not wearing a sufficient quantity of clothes during the night, and by sitting with his back towards an open window, after being in a state of perspiration from the walk.

Thirteenth day.—Three, morning; at this time felt a little pain in his legs, particularly in the back tendons; but in every other respect he was as well as ever.—Twelve, noon; in good health and spirits, but complained of slight pains in his neck and shoulders.—Twelve, night; slept well; appeared refreshed by sleep, and went on with cheerfulness.

Fourteenth day.—Three, morning; felt rather more pain in his legs, but no remedy was applied.—Twelve, noon; felt no pain; very cheerful, and appeared in good health.—Twelve, night; at this hour, felt no pain; was somewhat dull, but walked as usual, and slept soundly.

Fifteenth day.—Two, morning; felt some pain in his legs, but it was nothing of consequence, and did not impede his walking; slept well, and appeared in good health.—Three, morning; felt more pain than before, particularly at starting; when he had gone a hundred yards the pain ceased, and in other respects he was quite well.—Twelve, noon; felt no pain, looked fresh, and went on with cheerfulness.—Twelve, night; the pain in his legs had returned, and it gradually increased till three o’clock in the morning, when it was at the worst; but it wore off as the day advanced: He was still in good health.

Sixteenth day.—Three, morning; the pain in his legs increased, but in other respects the same as before.—Five, morning; the pain going off, and in good health and spirits.—Seven, morning; almost free from pain, and very cheerful.—Twelve, noon; at this hour, Capt. Barclay removed to new lodgings, and new ground. His victuals were not cooked in the house, and in all respects he was more comfortably lodged than before.—Twelve, night; the pain in the legs returned; was somewhat stiff, and did not sleep well, but was still cheerful.

Seventeenth day.—Three, morning; at this hour seemed rather dull and heavy; pains in the thighs as well as in the legs; his walking somewhat impeded, particularly at starting, but became better when he had gone two or three hundred yards.—Five, morning; felt less pain, and was in better spirits.—Seven, morning; much better, the pain going off, and cheerful.—Nine morning; quite well; felt no pain; in excellent spirits, and was much the same throughout the day.—Twelve, night; rather stiff; felt some pain in his legs and thighs, but was in tolerable spirits.

Eighteenth day.—Three, morning; rather dull; complained of the pain in his legs and thighs; stiff at first starting, and appeared as if he had been somewhat lame.—Five, morning; felt less pain, and was more lively.—Seven, morning; much better; felt little pain, and was in good spirits.—Nine, morning; nothing appeared to be the matter with him; much the same throughout the day, and very cheerful.—Nine, evening; rather heavy; at this time the pain returned, and increased throughout the night and morning; he was always worst at three o’clock, but gradually recovered as the day advanced.—Eleven, night; felt more pain, and was more stiff, but slept well, and was still in good spirits.

Nineteenth day.—One, morning; the pain increasing.—Three, morning; felt more pain in his legs and thighs, and experienced more difficulty in walking, especially at starting.—Five, morning; considerably better; the pain going off, and in tolerable spirits.—Seven, morning; much better; scarcely felt any pain.—Nine, morning; as well as ever; pain gone off, and in good spirits; cheerfully persevering, and nearly the same throughout the day, but lay down more frequently, and generally slept.—Eleven, night; rather worse; felt some pain; not so cheerful as during the day, and walked somewhat heavily.

Twentieth day.—One, morning; worse; with more pain than last hour; stiff and dull.—Three, morning; much pain in his thighs and legs; some difficulty in walking until he had gone a few hundred yards; slept well, and always started at the first call.—Five and seven, morning; much better; felt less pain, and walked with more ease.—Nine, morning; still felt some pain in his legs, particularly at starting.—He was not so well throughout the day as usual, owing, in a great measure, to the extreme heat of the weather. His legs were bathed several times with vinegar; but he was still in good health, and his appetite the same as at the commencement.—Nine, evening; still felt some pain, but it did not affect his walking, and he was in good spirits.—Eleven, evening; pain increasing, and somewhat stiff in his motion.

Twenty-first day.—One, morning; much worse; pain increased; walked heavily, and not in good spirits.—Three, morning; at this time felt much pain in the back parts of his legs; could not walk with ease, and complained a little on the tread of his right foot.—Five, morning; somewhat better; did not feel so much pain, and walked with more ease.—Seven, morning; much better; the pain considerably abated.—Nine, morning; in good spirits; still felt a little pain in his thighs and legs, which continued throughout the day; bathed them frequently in vinegar; his foot better in consequence of the application of vinegar.—Nine, evening; about this time began to feel the pain increasing; walked rather heavily, but was in good spirits.—Eleven, night; felt more pain; somewhat stiff, particularly at starting, but was still in good spirits.—During this day, Capt. Barclay lay down every time he returned from his walk, and was rather more stiff than during the preceding day.

Twenty-second day.—One, morning; felt much pain.—Three, morning; pain continued, but not so violent as at the same hour the preceding day, and he walked with more ease.—Five, morning; still felt much pain, walked heavily, but was in good spirits.—Seven, morning; the pain did not abate so much at this hour as it had usually done; experienced some difficulty in walking.—Nine, morning; a good deal of pain; complained on the tread of his foot, and walked heavily: the ground, although turf, and watered once every day, had become hard from the drought, and from being trampled by so many people who came to witness Capt. Barclay’s exertions.—Nine, night; pain increasing; more difficulty in walking, but in pretty good spirits.—Eleven, evening; felt rather more pain; somewhat stiff, but on the whole nearly the same as during the preceding day; lay down every time he came in from his walk, and slept well throughout the day; Dr. Sandiver called; recommended the application of the warm bath, and sent a liquid in a small phial to be rubbed on those parts where the pain was most intense, after being bathed, which was accordingly done.

Twenty-third day.—One, morning; pain increasing; walked with difficulty, and complained on the soles of his feet.—Three, morning; much worse than before; complained of the pain in his legs and feet, and had some difficulty in walking.—Five, morning; appeared to have greatly recovered; was much fresher, felt less pain, walked with more ease, and was in good spirits.—Seven, morning; greatly relieved from pain, and walked with more ease.—Nine, morning; much better; walked tolerably, and felt little pain: the warm bath was applied, and his legs and feet were frequently rubbed throughout the day and night.—Nine, evening; began to feel more pain, and more difficulty in walking; not so well this day as yesterday; was seized with the tooth-ach, which broke his rest, and he was somewhat feverish; the weather very hot.—Eleven, night; the tooth-ach still continued; very ill and fretful; complained much of his legs and feet, and walked with difficulty.

Twenty-fourth day.—One, morning; worse, and complained much of the pain in his legs; tooth-ach still continued; got little sleep, and walked with more difficulty.—Three, morning; was rather worse than last hour; had much difficulty in walking; complained of great pain in his legs, particularly at starting, but was better when he had gone some distance; distressed from want of sleep.—Five, morning; somewhat better, and not so stiff; walked with less difficulty; tooth-ach continued, which deprived him of sleep.—Seven, morning; in better spirits; the tooth-ach abating; complained of pain in his legs and feet.—Nine, morning; still felt much pain, but appeared fresher; tooth-ach less violent, and got some sleep; little variation until evening.—Nine, evening; rather worse than during the day; complained much of the pain in his legs and feet, and walked with great difficulty.—Eleven, night; pain increasing; walked with much difficulty, but in better spirits; tooth-ach nearly gone, and had more sleep.

The warm bath had produced no good effect; indeed it had softened his feet so much, that they became unable to bear the pressure of his body, and it was therefore abandoned. Dr. Sandiver recommended the application of flannel soaked in boiling water, and wrung until nearly dry, as a substitute for the bath. The flannel in this state was applied to the parts affected by the pain, and frequently renewed. It had the effect to cause the pains in his legs and thighs to remove from one part to another, but afforded no permanent relief.

Twenty-fifth day.—One, morning; much worse; great difficulty in walking, and the pain in his legs and feet rather increased.—Three, morning; still worse; very stiff, and walked heavily.—Five, morning; still much difficulty in walking, but appeared fresher.—Nine, morning; walked with less difficulty; appeared quite fresh, and in good spirits. Through the day he suffered more than during yesterday, but was in good spirits, and ate heartily.—Nine, evening; rather more pained, and walked with more difficulty.—Eleven, night; pain increasing, but in tolerable spirits; little difference in his walking.

Twenty-sixth day.—One, morning: very ill and very stiff; great difficulty in walking, and complained much of the pain.—Three, morning: rather worse, and complained much while walking. He was sometimes dressed and out before he was fully awake.—Five, morning: appeared rather better; had less pain than last hour, and walked somewhat easier.—Seven, morning: in good spirits, although he suffered much while walking.—Nine, morning: rather less pain, and walked with less difficulty. The flannel application began to do some good. Oil and camphor mixed, was rubbed into the parts affected, after the flannel had been applied.—Nine, evening: felt more pain than through the day, and very stiff. The flannel application eased the pain considerably, but he was gradually becoming weaker, and less able to bear the fatigue of walking.—Eleven, night: complained much of pain in his legs, and walked with more difficulty, but in tolerable spirits.

Twenty-seventh day.—One, morning: still worse; great difficulty in walking, and felt much pain.—Three, morning: at this time very ill, and complained more of pain than at any other time of the night and morning.—Five and seven, morning: much better; had less pain, and in better spirits.—Nine, morning: more lively, and walked with less difficulty. The flannel and oil were applied frequently during the night and day, and the pain moved down his legs towards his ancles. He was on the whole rather worse this day than during any preceding one, being very weak, and suffering much pain.—Nine, evening: rather worse than during the day, and walked with difficulty.—Eleven, night: much the same as last two hours. This day was very rainy, and Capt. Barclay wore his great coat, which was soon soaked, and became so heavy as greatly to fatigue him.

Twenty-eighth day.—One, morning: much pain, and very stiff.—Three, morning: complained more than at any time through the night, but slept well, and was sometimes dressed before his eyes were fully opened.—Five, morning: appeared much fresher; felt less pain, and walked with less difficulty; ate a good breakfast as usual, and in good spirits.—Seven, morning: somewhat better; in good spirits, and although much pained, walked with less difficulty.—Nine, morning: in every respect fully as well as during two last hours. He was rather better throughout this day than the preceding. He always undressed, and went to bed, when he returned from his walk, and generally slept, by which he was much refreshed.—Nine, evening: not so well as during the day, and felt much pain. About this period of the walk, it was reported in the newspapers that Capt. Barclay’s legs were much swelled. It was erroneous, for his legs did not swell during the whole time.—Eleven, night: rather worse than last hour; felt more pain, and had more difficulty in walking.

Twenty-ninth day.—One, morning: pain increasing, particularly in the calves of the legs.—Three, morning: much worse than last hour; complained much, and appeared very stiff.—Five, morning: in better spirits than through the night, although suffering not less pain, but walked with less difficulty.—Seven, morning: the pain little abated; very ill at starting, and very stiff.—Nine, morning: in much better spirits; walked, to appearance, with less difficulty, and recruited as the day advanced.—Capt. Barclay always improved so much during the day, that no person who saw him then, had any idea of his debilitated state during the night; and those who saw him then were equally deceived as to his appearance during the day. This circumstance gave occasion to the many false reports which were inserted in the public prints.—Nine, evening: little difference at this time, but still felt great pain, and was very stiff. The warm flannel and oil were constantly applied; many prescriptions were tried, but without effect: it is therefore unnecessary to mention them.—Eleven, night: nearly the same as for the last two hours; still felt great pain; was very stiff, and had much difficulty in walking.

Thirtieth day.—One, morning: not quite so well as the last time he walked; felt more pain, and complained much at first starting.—Three, morning: at this time very ill; complained of the pain in his legs alone; was so very stiff that he could scarcely rise, and when he got up could scarcely stand, and had great difficulty in walking.—Five, morning: felt as much pain as before, but appeared fresher, and was in better spirits than during the night and morning.—Seven, morning: in much better spirits; walked with less difficulty, but still felt great pain. Nine, morning; nearly the same as last time he walked; going on with great difficulty.—Nine, evening; nearly the same as throughout the day, but rather stiffer, and had more difficulty in walking.—Eleven, night: not so well as last time he walked; felt more pain, and very stiff, particularly at starting, and required more time to go the mile.

Thirty-first day.—One, morning: worse than last time he walked; becoming more stiff, and felt more pain.—Three, morning: still more difficulty in walking; when he sat down, could scarcely rise without assistance, and complained much of the pain in his legs.—Five, morning: great pain, but in good spirits.—Seven, morning: little difference since last time he walked, but rather better.—Nine, morning: much the same as last time he walked.—Eleven, morning: more difficulty in walking than last hour; required more time, and could scarcely mend his pace.—One, P. M. nearly the same as last time he was out.—Three, P. M.: not quite so much difficulty in walking as the last hours.—Five, afternoon: little difference in any respect.—Nine, evening: not so well as last walk; felt more pain, and stiffer.—Eleven, night: if any difference, not so well as at nine o’clock; much distressed while walking. This day he was rather worse than yesterday, but kept up his spirits, and as usual enjoyed a good appetite.

Thirty-second day.—One, morning: now much exhausted, and so stiff after resting that he could not rise without assistance; complained much of pain, and walked with great difficulty.—Three, morning: still worse; when he rested, the back tendons of his legs shrunk up, and the pain was excessive during the time of relaxing them, but his courage was unconquerable.—Five, morning: he now, required so much time to walk, that he had little time to rest, and even great part of that, was taken up with rubbing his legs with the oil.—Seven and nine, morning: the worst part of the day being over, his spirits were better, although still much pained.—Eleven, night: the pain increasing, and experiencing great difficulty in walking.

Thirty-third day.—One, morning: rather worse; felt great pain, and could not rise up without assistance. It required some time before he got the use of his limbs; very stiff, and walked with the greatest difficulty.—At this time, he was apparently completely exhausted.—Five, morning: not much difference as to his walking, but in better spirits.—Seven, morning: nearly the same as last hour.—Nine, morning: no difference since last time he was out; still felt great pain; could not get up without being lifted, and kept till he had the use of his legs.—One, three, and five, afternoon: continued in the same state. Nine, evening: rather worse, and much fagged with the rain.—Eleven, night: felt it more difficult to walk than last time he was out. The rain this day was very much against him: he wore his great coat, which was soaked every time he went out; the weight of it distressed him, and he was becoming weaker every hour.

Thirty-fourth day.—One, morning: very ill; the pain in his legs excessive; could not move without crying out.—Three, morning: his worst hour; could scarcely move when started; walked in a shuffling manner, and could not mend his pace if it had been to save his life.—Five, morning: not in so bad spirits as at last walk.—Seven, morning; no difference in walking, and in better spirits.—Nine, morning: the same as last walk; could not rise without assistance.—Eleven, forenoon: somewhat better; not quite so much difficulty in walking.—Three, five, and seven, afternoon: little difference in any respect.—Nine, evening: not quite so well as last time he walked; felt more pain, and had more difficulty in proceeding. On the whole, he was rather better to-day than yesterday; when in bed he felt no pain, but slept well, and readily wakened at the call. Nothing else was yet applied but the flannel fomentation and oil.—Eleven, night: not so well as last time he walked; felt more pain, and was rather heavy.

Thirty-fifth day.—One, morning: pain increasing, and great difficulty in walking.—Three, morning: his worst hour; pain excessive; could not rise, and was lifted up. To have seen him at this time, one would have thought that it would be impossible for him to go on, he was so debilitated and in such agony, but he was determined to complete the match at all risques.—Five, morning: in better spirits than last time he walked; complained less, and walked with less difficulty.—Seven, morning: in much better spirits; did not feel so much pain, and walked with less difficulty.—Nine, evening: not so well as he had been through the day, and walked more heavily.—Eleven, night: walked with more difficulty than last hour; complained much of the pain in his legs; not so well this day as yesterday, and to appearance rather more exhausted.

Thirty-sixth day.—One, morning: as usual at this time, considerably worse, and walked with great difficulty, feeling much pain.—Three, morning: still worse, so very ill indeed, that it became difficult to manage his time, for he could not mend his pace, which was now so slow that he had but little time for rest, but he still courageously persevered.—Five, morning: not quite so ill as at the last walk; more cheerful, and mended his pace.—Seven, nine, and eleven, morning: nearly the same as at five o’clock: if any difference, rather better.—One, P. M. no difference; much exhausted from want of rest, but showed no inclination to give up the match. Three, and five, afternoon: nearly the same; every hour becoming weaker; at this time, a spectator would have thought it impossible for him to go on another hour, but he persevered contrary to all expectation.—Nine, evening: not quite so well as last time he walked; appeared more distressed than during the day.—Eleven, night: complained much of pain; always getting weaker: if any difference, this day rather weaker, but his appetite still the same.

Thirty-seventh day.—One, morning: at this time rather heavy and dull, but not much difference in his walking.—Five, and seven, morning: no difference in his walking, but in better spirits.—Nine, morning: not quite so well as last time he went out, the rain fagged him.—Eleven, morning: nearly the same as at last walk.—One, three, five, and seven, evening: nearly in the same state.—Eleven, night: much worse; felt excessive pain, and walked with great difficulty; when lifted up, could not stand for some time; every hour he appeared weaker, and less able to proceed; nothing could now relieve him but rest, which he could not obtain.

Thirty-eighth day.—One and three, morning: nearly in the same state as last night.—Five, morning: somewhat better in spirits, but had still the same difficulty in walking.—Seven, morning: the same as at last walk, but rather more distressed in consequence of the rain; for at this time there was a heavy rain, and violent thunder-storm.—Nine, morning: the rain continued, and he was nearly the same as at last time he walked.—Eleven, morning: the weather warm and dry, and he walked with less difficulty.—One, three, five, seven, and nine, evening: little or no alteration.—Eleven, night: not quite so well as through the day; becoming weaker, and more distressed. This is the first day, that any alteration could be observed as to his eating since the commencement. He did not seem to relish his food so much as usual, but he never thought of resigning the task.

Thirty-ninth day.—One, morning: at this time very much wore out; had great difficulty in walking, and complained much of the pain in his legs.—Three, morning: still worse; the want of rest began to affect him dreadfully; very stiff, and could not stand, when lifted up, without assistance.—Five, morning: in better but in other respects nearly the same.—Seven, morning: in the same state.—Nine, morning, walked with somewhat less difficulty.—Little variation through the day.—Eleven, night: rather worse, and weaker than yesterday.

Fortieth day.—One, morning: if any difference, rather worse than last walk; more fatigued in consequence of the rain.—Three, morning: very ill; walked with great difficulty; felt as much pain as ever, and much fagged by the rain.—Five, seven, and nine: no difference.—One, P. M.; it is now fair; less difficulty in walking.—Eleven, evening: becoming worse; so much worn out as to be scarcely able to move: rather weaker this day than yesterday.

Forty-first day.—One, morning: at this time he had more difficulty to walk than ever: he went so slowly, and so much time was required to rub his legs, that he had little time for rest. It was quite apparent that he could not go on much longer.—Three, morning: fully as ill as at last time he walked, and had quite as much difficulty to go on.—Five, and seven: in somewhat better spirits, but in other respects the same; no difference during the day.—Nine and eleven, night: walked with the greatest difficulty.

Forty-second day.—One, morning: could not mend his pace, but in better spirits.—Three, morning: in better spirits than usual. This being the last morning, there were many attendants.—Five, seven, and nine, morning: nearly in the same state, but in good spirits. Eleven, forenoon: the crowd began to assemble from all quarters.—One, P. M.; the crowd so great that he could scarcely find room to walk; to appearance he was much better, and walked with less difficulty: he mended his pace.—Three o’clock, afternoon: the last mile, which he performed in twenty-two minutes, and the crowd gave three cheers.

Before Capt. Barclay had finished the last mile, a hot bath was prepared for him in an adjoining house, where he slept. He was put into the bath for a few minutes, and when taken out, well dried with flannel, and put to bed. He went to bed at four o’clock, and slept soundly till twelve, when he took some water-gruel, and again lay down. He slept till nine in the morning, when he got up in perfect health, and quite relieved from pain. He walked about Newmarket a considerable time, and was four hours on the race-ground.—July 14th; set off for London in a chaise and four, and arrived that evening.—15th; walked on the streets of London in his usual way.—16th; quite fresh, and in good spirits.—17th; seemed as well as before he started. This evening left London, and posted to Ramsgate, where he joined the expedition to Walcheren, and embarked with it as Aid-de-camp to Lieut.-Gen. the Marquis of Huntly.

TABLE of Captain Barclay’s Pedestrian performances, &c.

JOURNAL
OF
CAPT. BARCLAY’S CELEBRATED WALK
OF
ONE THOUSAND MILES
IN
One Thousand successive Hours.

TO THE READER

The following Journal of this extraordinary performance was regularly kept by the attendants, under the inspection of a person appointed by Mr. Webster, for the purpose of watching the time, that his interest might be protected in the event of any failure on the part of Capt. Barclay. It may, therefore, be deemed perfectly correct. In the original, the performance of each hour is certified by the initials of the attendant’s name, which we do not think necessary to insert here.

In the first column, the hour of the morning, day, and night, is marked; in the second, the exact time past that hour at which he started; in the third, the exact time at which he returned; and in the fourth, the number of minutes in which he walked the mile. In the last column, the state of the weather is mentioned; and at the foot of the page will be found the total time of performing the twenty-four miles, with the average of each.

First Day.—June 1st, 1809.

Average time of walking each mile, 15 minutes 15 seconds.

—Total, (25 miles,) 5 hours 50 minutes.

Second Day.—June 2.

Average time of walking the mile, 14 minutes 10 seconds.—Total, (24 miles,) 5 hours 40 minutes.

Third Day.—June 3.

Average time of walking the mile, 14 minutes 52 seconds.—Total, (24 miles,) 5 hours 57½ minutes.

Fourth Day.—June 4th.

Average time of walking the mile, 14 minutes 57 seconds.—Total, (24 miles,) 5 hours 59½ minutes.

Fifth Day.—June 5.

Average time of walking the mile, 15 minutes 20 seconds.—Total, (24 miles,) 6 hours 8 minutes.

Sixth Day.—June 6.

Average time of walking the mile, 15 minutes, 16 seconds.—Total, (24 miles) 6 hours 6½ minutes.

Seventh Day.—June 7.

Average time of walking the mile, 15 minutes 31 seconds.—Total, (24 miles,) 6 hours 12½ minutes.

Eighth Day.—June 8.