that the water buoys you up against your inclination; that it is not so easy to sink as you imagine, and that you cannot, except by active force, get down to the egg. Thus you feel the power of water to support you, and learn to confide in that power; while your endeavours to overcome it, and reach the egg, teach you the manner of acting on the water with your feet and hands, which action is afterwards used in swimming to support your head higher above the water, or to go forward through it.

"I would the more earnestly press you to the trial of this method, because, though I think I shall satisfy you that your body is lighter than water, and that you might float in it a long time with your mouth free for breathing, if you would put yourself into a proper posture, and would be still, and refrain from struggling, yet, till you have obtained this experimental confidence in the water, I cannot depend upon your having the necessary presence of mind to recollect the posture and the direction I gave you relating to it. The surprise may put all out of your mind.

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"The legs and arms are specifically lighter than salt water, and will be supported by it, so that a human body cannot sink in salt water, though the lungs were filled with water, from the greater specific gravity of the head; therefore, a person throwing himself on his back in salt water, and extending his arms, may easily lie so as to keep his mouth and nostrils free for breathing; and, by a small motion of his hand, may prevent turning, if he should perceive any tendency to it.

"In fresh water, if a man throws himself on his back, near the surface, he cannot long continue in that situation but by proper action of his hands on the water; if he use no such action, the legs and lower part of the body will gradually sink till he come into an upright position, in which he will continue suspended, the hollow of his breast keeping the head uppermost.

"But if, in this erect position, the head be kept upright above the shoulders, as when we stand on the ground, the immersion will, by the weight of that part of the head that is out of the water, reach above the mouth and nostrils, perhaps a little above the eyes, so that a man cannot long remain suspended in water with his head in that position.

"The body continuing suspended as before, and upright, if the head be leaned quite back, so that the face look upward, all the back part of the head being under water-and its weight, consequently, in a great measure supported by it-the face will remain above water quite free for breathing, will rise an inch higher every inspiration, and sink as much every expiration, but never so low as that the water may come over the mouth.

"If, therefore, a person unacquainted with swimming, and falling accidentally into the water, could have presence of mind sufficient to avoid struggling and plunging, and to let the body take this natural position, he might continue long safe from drowning, until, perhaps, help should come; for as to the clothes, their additional weight when immersed is very inconsiderable, the water supporting it; though when he comes out of the water he will find them very heavy indeed.

"But as I said before, I would not advise you, or any one, to depend on having this presence of mind on such an occasion, but learn fairly to swim, as I wish all men were taught to do in their youth; they would, on many occasions, be the safer for having that skill, and on many more, the happier, as free from painful apprehensions of danger, to say nothing of the enjoyment in so delightful and wholesome an exercise. Soldiers should particularly, methinks, be all taught to swim.* It might be of frequent use, either in surprising an enemy, or saving themselves; and if I had now boys to educate, I should prefer those schools (other things being equal) where an opportunity was afforded for acquiring so advantageous an art, which, once learned, is never forgotten.

"I know by experience, that it is a great comfort to a swimmer, who has a

This advice has been adopted in the military academies of France and Germany, where instruction in swimming torms an accredited part of the system of education pursued towards the pupils, who are one and all made to acquire this useful art.

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considerable distance to go, to turn himself sometimes on his back, and to vary, in other respects, the means of procuring a progressive motion.

"When he is seized with the cramp in the leg, the method of driving it away is, to give the parts affected a sudden, vigorous, and violent shock; which he may do in the air as he swims on his back.

"During the great heats in summer, there is no danger in bathing, however warm we may be, in rivers which have been thoroughly warmed by the sun. But to throw one's self into cold spring water, when the body has been heated by exercise in the sun, is an imprudence which may prove fatal. I once knew an instance of four young men who, having worked at harvest in the heat of the day, with a view of refreshing themselves, plunged into a spring of cold water. Two died upon the spot, a third next morning, and the fourth recovered with great difficulty. A copious draught of cold water, under similar circumstances, is frequently attended with the same effect in North America.

"The exercise of swimming is one of the most healthy and agreeable in the world. After having swam for an hour or two in the evening, one sleeps coolly the whole night, even during the most ardent heats of summer. Perhaps, the pores being cleansed, the insensible perspiration increases, and occasions this coolness. It is certain that much swimming is the means of stopping diarrhoea, and even of producing constipation. With respect to those who do not know how to swim, or who are affected with diarrhoea at a season which does not permit them to use that exercise, a warm bath, by cleansing and purifying the skin, is found very salutary, and often effects a radical cure. I speak from my own experience, frequently repeated, and that of others to whom I have recommended this.

"When I was a boy, I amused myself one day with flying a paper kite, and, approaching the banks of a lake, which was near a mile broad, I tied a string to a stake, and the kite ascended to a very considerable height above the pond while I was swimming. In a little time, being desirous of amusing myself with my kite, and enjoying at the same time the pleasure of swimming, I returned, and loosening from the stake the string with the little stick which was fastened to it, went again into the water, when I found that, lying on my back, and holding the stick in my hand, I was drawn along the surface of the water in a very agreeable manner. Having then engaged another boy to carry my clothes round the pond, to a place which I pointed out to him on the other side, I began to cross the pond with my kite, which carried me quite over without the least fatigue, and with the greatest pleasure imaginable. I was only obliged occasionally to halt a little in my course, and resist its progress, when it appeared that, by following too quick, I lowered the kite too much; by doing which occasionally I made it rise again. I have never since that time practised this singular mode of swimming, though think it not impossible to cross, in this manner, from Dover to Calais. The packet-boat, however, is still preferable."

Different Modes of Swimming, Diving, and Floating.

THE SWIMMING MOVEMENT must be practised in the following way:-The learner must place himself with his body on a stool, as shown in the engraving, and drawing his legs together, with the toes pointed outwards, at the same time

bend his elbows downwards, and bring his hands forward, with the palms together, and the fingers pointed outwards, just under his chin. Then he must thrust his arms suddenly horizontally forward, at the same time kicking out his legs backward, with the heels far apart, so as to bring the whole body in a horizontal position-exclaiming, "One!" Then, turning his hands, with the palm downwards, or slightly inclined outwards, let him describe a semicircle with his fingers, till the arms

are horizontal from the shoulders, when he drops the elbows, and gathers up his legs as before, for a fresh effort, returning to the position shown in the

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first cut. While this is being done, he must slowly pronounce "Two," and repeat the exercise-One (thrust forward of hands and feet horizontally); Two (sweep of the arms, and gathering up of arms and legs for fresh thrust); and this is the whole movement-One (quick), Two-o-0 (slow)-one -two!

Remember that the head must be kept as upright as possible, and the spine slightly bent-that the breath should be expelled when the movement one is made (as then the head will be lowest on the water), and a fresh breath inhaled when the hands and feet

are gathered under the body, as the head will then be highest above the water. This was all the preliminary training the sergeants received, of whom we have just now spoken; and if they could swim, why not our young friends? for, "whatever man has done, man can do!"

Having well mastered the movement above described, the intending swimmer should choose a safe piece of water, in which he is sure of not being taken suddenly beyond his depth. When the water is up to his arm pits,

let him join his hands, and leaping gently from the ground, pressing his breast

forward against the water, he will naturally come into the position shown in the accompanying cut; then, without losing a moment, and yet without hurry, let him at once commence his exercise of "One, two-one, two!" These motions must be repeated with as much regularity as possible, without hurry and flurry; for in no exercise is the good old saying, festina lente, more clearly developed than in this of swimming, and, as a consequence, the corresponding saying, "More haste, less speed," also holds good.

SWIMMING AND FLOATING ON THE BACK.-The young swimmer should learn this accomplishment as soon as possible; for it is invaluable, as a means of getting rest when out of breath, or exhausted by swimming in the ordinary way. Bend the body gently backwards, which will

bring you on your side; then turn quietly over on the back, bringing the legs stiffly together, throwing back the head, so that only the face remains above the surface, and keeping the palms of the hands flat under the water, to balance yourself. A touch with the right or left hand, if you feel yourself going, will be sufficient to prevent you from turning over again. If you wish to progress through the water, kick out with your feet as if you were swimming, pushing away the water with your hands at the same time.

To turn over again, lift one leg out of the water, and depress the other, and you will turn first on your side, and then on your chest. It is well also to practise swimming on the back with the hands alone, without aid from the feet; and then with the feet, without aid from the hands. It is scarcely necessary to give our readers detailed directions as to the different movements. When the swimmer has once found out the great fact that the water will support him, he will learn, almost mechanically, the best method of propelling himself through it. The advantage of knowing different methods of swimming is chiefly this-that the swimmer finds relief and rest by employing his muscles in different ways, and with different degrees of strain upon each. SWIMMING HAND OVER HAND.-This method of swimming requires a good deal of effort; but, if well practised, the swimmer can get through more

space in a given time by this method than by any other. Stretch yourself on the water, chestdownwards, and lifting the right arm out of the water, throw it forward to its full extent, and bend the fingers, so as to "hellow" the hand; strike out with the feet, and pass the right hand

sweep as possible with it. Strike out again with the feet, and repeat with the left hand the movement you have just executed with your right. You will thus swim forward very rapidly with a rolling movement; and from the swiftness attainable by this method of swimming it becomes very useful when a given point is to be attained in the least possible time-for instance, to assist a friend in distress. Persevered in for any length of time, it, however, becomes very fatiguing.

Methods of swimming may be varied ad infinitum. The learner will, however, soon find out by experience the one most adapted to his capacities. The following are useful at times :

SWIMMING LIKE A DOG.-This is, after all, the most natural method of swimming; and, as such, is followed by the unhappy kittens and puppies con

demned by relentless fate to death by drowning in pails of water. The swimmer who wishes.to imitate these canine evolutions must keep his hands in front of his chest, as shown in the cut, and strike out with each hand and foot alternately, the right hand with the left foot, and vice versa. The hands strike

downwards towards the chest, the palms depressed, and a little hollowed. The legs strike out as usual, except that the motion is alternate, first one leg being used, and then the other. Remember always to inhale the air when the head is highest out of the water.

SWIMMING ON THE SIDE.-Sometimes in swimming it is desirable to keep the bank of the river continually in sight; or perhaps you may have a companion with you, to whom you are giving instructions in the

"noble art," and towards whom you wish your face to be continuaily turned. In such cases, swimming on the side is a very easy method of progression. To swim on the left side, push the left shoulder forward; with the left arm, pull the water towards you, the palm of the hand being held downwards, and with the upper hand push the water from you. Swimming on the side may also be practised with the feet only, the

arms being merely used to balance the body. As in the "hand over hand" method, great swiftness of motion may be attained in swimming on the side, as a much narrower surface is presented to the water than when you "breast the wave" in the ordinary mode of swimming.

TO SWIM WITH ONE ARM OUT OF THE WATER. -After you have mastered the method of swimming on the side, the next