New and Complete
Art OF SWIMMING 
WITH
Instructions for Bathers;

PRICE sixpence.FRONTISPIECE
SEABATHINGINTRODUCTION.
Dr. FULLER observes, in his Gymnastic Mediant, that nothings more conducive to health, or can afford a more salutary-amusement than the knowledge of this art. He even goes so far as to attribute the longevity of the antediluvian world to their frequent practice of immersion; and it is well known that the oldest man* that ever lived in England frequently bathed and swam after he had attained his 150th year. Youth is the pro-perest season to acquire this art, for in early life we are less fearful, and having more spirits, sooner get the knack of keeping upon the surface of the water.
In the education of youth this matter should not be so slightly overlooked; for it may be deemed unnecessary and saving knowledge, as it gives the possessor an opportunity of saving his own as well as preserving the lives of others, whom accident or imprudence may have involed in the most imminent danger; and if Milton t thought boxing a useful acquisition, I think no one will think less of Swimming, particularly when it is considered the old, Romans and Grecians all bathed, and of course could Swim. *
Much has been (aid by medical writers in praise of the Cold-Bath, as well of immersion, intirely or partially in cold water. Its effects upon the nervous system is astonishing, and, besides the pleasure it affords, it is a sacrifice to cleanliness in all countries, particularly in the hot season, that mechanics, and all inhabitants of populous and crouded cities cannot do better than to observe as duly as they would the greatest preserver of their health- Sedentary people should pay attention to this requisite for health, as it braces the solids, encreases the motion of the blood, promotes the secretions, and bestows fresh vigour upon  the whole system. To the young generation it is most particu-larly recommendable and beneficial; for as Dr. Buchan Observes in a separate pamphlet he published some time ago, ‘ it encourages their growth, quickens their strength, enlivens their motions, and prevents a multitude of distempers to which they arc liable before the date of manhood coming on J. Under 17 years, where it can be practised with safety, it may be depended upon as a great corroborative and strengthened. Before the use of linnen, it was Co necessary that nothing but frequent ablutions (could keep the most lively plague from the human body, and should never be omitted in gleets. However, as every useful and  necessary  thing may be too much used, and as the abuse of all : things are hurtful, it is very proper to give a few cautions against  too often bathing, as well as remaining too long in the water at
• Old Jenkins of York.   f Milton on Education J- Cures the Sickest.[ ii ]
one time; for that may produce the most fatal consequence, by forcing the humours into the head, contracting and cramping the muscles, relaxing the nerves, and provoking a total debility, thereby defeating the salubrious intention of Cold Bathing.
Some consideration should be observed by Bathers, in regard to their stripping themselves- If you have sweat some time before you came, and are not quit cooled, you ought to strip by degrees, and that in walking to and fro on the shore, so that you may recover a good temperature, and by thus gradually stripping, the pores have leisure to close, and the body become in good condition, to be exposed to the air without any detriment to the health. A person intending to bathe, ought to take as much exercise as may excite a gentle heat all over the body, but yet not to over-heat themselves; and Dr. Buchan observes the best time, is the prime of the morning, or at least before noon, always observing to go in head formost; for the blood and humours naturally propelling towards the head, it ought to be always a rule to wet that part first: and by attending to this circumstance, the violent head-ach, chillness of the breast, singing of the ear, Ac. ye often attendant on cold bathing, may be avoided. It is also requisite that the body' should be wiped as dry as possible on coming out of the water, or where convenient, a little Exercise ought to betaken till the body is dry. But if after all these precautions, any of the before-mentioned symptoms appear in a violent degree, bathing ought to-be discontinued, as the consequences may prove of the most serious nature. It is most advisable for all who wish to learn to swim, to practice in tire Cold Bath first, as no danger can be apprehended therefrom. A knowledge of the art of swimming may, more than once in a life time give the possessor an opportunity of restoring to their friends some whom rashness or accident had involved in the immediate danger of drowning; but for this acquirement many, a widow might have had to deplore the loss of a husband! many: a parent-the loss of a child ! and many of both sexes the loss of a friend. .	-
To mention a few other advantages of knowing how to swim. In case of shipwreck near the shore, the art of swimming may set one safe there, and so save from being drowned. In case of being pursued by an enemy, and meeting a river in one's way, you have the advantage of escaping two sorts of death, by gaining the shore on the other side, and so escaping from your enemy, and from being drowned in the attempt of doing it.
Besides a good swimmer may nut only preserve his own life, but several others also, An open vessel on the main sea, in a storm may be kept from sinking by a good diver; or having lost her anchors and cables, and being ready to be cast on the shore,[ iii ]
may by him be haled thither, and avoid being dashed against the rocks, and so the lives of all in it saved ; and the occasions of being thus helpful are only too frequent, as those who are used to the seas very well know. By the same means one may attack an enemy posted on the adverse sides of rivers, and thereby sometimes gain a victory. And those places which are surrounded by water, are too frequently the scenes of drowning, not to mention here the utility of knowing how to swim, to escape a sudden innundation.
There is no season wherein a man may not have occasion to practise the art of swimming; but any season is not proper to learn it in. That time of the year is (without doubt) the best wherein people follow the baths, or swimming for their diversion, or to retain the habit of it; that is, in the mourns of May, June, July and /.vfutt, especially in our climate, where the water is often prejudicial to the health at other times. There arc also some very wet years wherein it is not healthful to go into the water at all times in those four months, as when the weather is colder than ordinary for the season, and consequently the water. He that learns to swim, ought to have his animal spirits at perfect liberty and command,which cannot be when the ordinary coldness of the water forces one even to shake and tremble. It would be superfluous to add, that one ought not to go into the water when it rains, for besides the rain, (if it lasts any time) chilling the water, it hinders from swimming freely, and besides endangers the wetting of the cloathes, which may occasion severe colds, and rheumatisms.
This art which may at least be denominated an ingenious one if not a necessary one, is intirely mechanical; since it is performed by motion, and the agitation of the hands and feet, has been hitherto exercised rather by a rude imitation, than the observation of any rules or precepts, by reason no one has taken the the pains to reduce it to any; although it has always sufficiently deserved it, by the great advantages it brings to those who possess it, and in general to all civil societies, the consideration whereof ought to have made men study to render it more easy to be learned, and more familiar to all men, since they may have so great occasion for it,
Fear is the only obstacle to improvement in this, as well as in many other sciences in life: and it is only by over-coming this timidity, that the theory of this art is formed, reducible to certain rules, such as you will find in this little tract, and which being put in practice by frequent use and experience, one may attain to the habit of Swimming perfectly.
Nothing is more unreasonable than the complaint made by some, that man is inferior to the rest of the creation in the ha-bit of swimming. But if we thoroughly consider the business, we shall find nothing more unreasonable than that complaint, since without doubt Man would not only swim naturally like other creatures, but also in more perfection, and with more variety, both for pleasure and advantage: otherwise there would not so many acquit themselves that way with such an admirable, dexterity and address, as we daily see, which sufficiently demonstrates, that man has naturally ail those dispositions which are requisite and necessary for it.
Yet it may be objected, if man has naturally all the requisite dispositions for swimming, how comes it to pass that all men do not swim alike? To this it is easy to answer (which is beyond! all doubt true) that they would swim all alike without any distinction, and all equally share that happiness, if they were equally as bold and confident of escaping danger,but men a re as unequal in the efforts of their minds, as they are different from one another in strength and stature.
The theory of swimming (as an art) has been very diffusively and ably considered by many, the principal of whom are Mons. Thevenot, a Frenchman; Hveranl Ligby, our Countryman; Me. Winman, a Dutchman; and by Dr. franklin, whose observations ; are here subjoined.
To consider it in its most general extent, as the motion and sustentation of bodies in fluids, and from its first principles, ( would be necessary to make the theory perfect.
The first general consideration in such a theory ought to be the specific or comparative weight of bodies in the respective , fluids designed to practice in. From thence may be obtained a perfect knowledge of the forces required for sustentation and motion. When a body is of equal weight with a fluid, bulk for bulk, it will swim immersed in that fluid, its upper part even with the surface; If it be heavier than an equal bulk of the fluid, it will sink in it; if lighter it would float on the surface, as much of it being under the fluid as would equal in quantity a bulk of that fluid of the same weight with the whole body. Human bodies are almost of the same weight with water; the diffidence or weight of a man, wholly immersed in water, being not above a few ounces lighter in salt water than in fresh. Thus a man being of near the like weight with water, swimming becomes an easy art to him, insomuch that lying, on his back without motion, and holding in his breath, be cannot link.DOCTOR Franklin's
ADVICE TO SWIMMERS.
■ iQt~
IT has been already observed that the natural dread which we have of being drowned is the only reason man cannot Swim. With regard to the real danger,, it is but little, and, on molt occasions, owing intirely to the sense we have of our situation in the water. This will plainly appear from the following observations made by the philosophical Doctor Franklin.
“ ift, That though the legs, arms, and head of I a human body; being solid parts, are specifically somewhat heavier than fresh water, yet the trunk, particularly the upper part, from its hollowness, is I 10 much lighter than water, as that the whole body,
I taken together, is too light to (ink wholly under water, but feme part will remain above until the lungs become filled with water; which happens from drawing water into them instead of air, when a person in the fright attempts breathing while the mouth and nostrils are under water.
“ 2dly, That the legs and arms are specifically lighter than salt water, and will be Supported by it; so that a human body would not link in Salt water though the lungs were filled as above, but from the greater Specific gravity of the head.
“ 3dly, That therefore a person throwing himself on his back in fait wafer, 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 hands may prevent turning, if he Should perceive any tendency to it.
“ 4thly, That in fresh water, if a man throws A 3himself on his back near the surface, he cannot long continue in that situation, but by a proper action hands on the water. If he uses no such action, the legs and lower parts of the body will gradually sink till lie comes into an upright position; in which he will continue suspended, the hollow of the breast keeping the head uppermost.
“ 5'thly, But if in this erect petition the head is kept upright above the shoulders, as when we Hand 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.
“ 6'thly, The body continued suspended as before, and upright; if the head be leaned quite back, so that the face looks upwards, all the back part of the head being then under water, and its weight consequently in a great measure Supported by it, the face will remain above water quite free lor 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.
"7thly, If therefore a person unacquainted with swimming and falling accidentally into the water, could have prefence of mind sufficiently to avoid Struggling and plunging, and to let the body take this natural position, he might continue long safe from drowning, till perhaps help would come; for as to the clothes, their additional weight while immersed is very inconsiderable, the water supporting it; though when he comes out of the water, he would find them very heavy indeed.”His Method of Learning to Swim. “ The method of learning to Swim is as follows: The person must walk into water so deep that it will reach to the head. He is then to lie down gently on the belly, keeping the head and neck perfectly upright, the breast advancing forward, the thorax inflated, and the back bent; then withdrawing the legs from the bottom, and stretching them out,
strike the arms forwards in unison with the legs.  Swimming on the back is somewhat similar to that on the belly ; but with this difference, that although the legs are employed to move the body forwards,
I the arms are generally unemployed, and the pro-gressive motion is derived from the movement of the leg In diving, a person must close his hands together, and, pressing his chin upon his bread:,
I make an exertion to bend with force forwards. While in that position, he must continue to move with rapidity under the surface; and whenever he chooses to return to his former situation, he has nothing to do but bend back his head, and he will I immediately return to the furface.”
** It is very common for novices in the art of swimming to make use of corks or bladders to assist in keeping the body above water. Some have utterly condemned the use of these: however, Dr. Franklin allows that they may be of service for supporting the body, while one is learning what is called the Stroke, or that manner of drawing in and striking out the hands and feet that is necessary to produce progressive motion. ** But (says he) you will be no swimmer till you can place confidence in the power of the water to support you : I Would, therefore advise the acquiring that confidence in thefirst place, especially as I have known several who, by a little of the practice necessary for that purpose, have insensibly acquired the stroke, taught as it were by nature. The practice I mean is this : Choosing a place where the water deepens gradually, I walk coolly into it till it is up to your breast; then turn round your face to the shore, and throw an egg into the water, between you and the shore ; it will link to the bottom, and be easily seen there,-if the' water is clear. It must lie in the water so deep as that you cannot reach it to take it up but by diving for it. To encourage yourself in order to do this, reflect that your prog refs will be from deeper to shallower water; and that at any time you may, by bringing your legs under you, and standing on the bottom, raise your head far above the water; then plunge under it with your eyes open, throwing yourself towards the egg, and en- deavouring by the action of your hands and feet against the water, to get forward till within reach of it. In this attempt you will find that the water buoys you up against. your inclination; that it is not so easy a thing to sink as you imagined ; that you cannot but by active force get down to the egg. Thus you feel the power of the water to support you, and learn to confide in that power; while your endeavours to overcome it, ana to reach the egg, teach you the manner of acting oh the water with your feet and hands; which action is afterwards used in swimming to support your head higher above water, or to go forward through it.’* These are the most material of Dr. Franklin's direction, and if rightly pursued will insure from danger and accident.Of the Manner of entering into the Water. 'THOSE who do not know how to Swim, ought to enter by degrees, and gently, into the water;
but those who are expert, oftentimes leap in all at once, with their feet perpendicular to the bottom, sometimes after having walked a little way in the water, they lie along stretching out the body and armss. Others holding their right hand, or both hands behind their neck, from the-bank cast themselves in head foremost, linking the water with the calves of their legs one after another.
There are some who after a short race fling themselves into the water on their right side, as is often done. Others taking several leaps towards the bank of the river, at last leap in with their feet foremost, body upright, meeting the water first with 1 their buttocks ana calves of their legs. This way is very safe, and the bell of all.
All these ways of entering into the water seem to be very well and pleasant; nor can I find any tiling inconvenient in them, except it be, that those who make use of them run the hazard of taking in water at the nose and ears as they go down into it; but that may be avoided by holding in the breath. It sometimes happens that those who are less expert, go down quite to the bottom, which is inconvenient, by reason of sometimes linking against it, and that in a great depth you are obliged to hold your breath a great while. But you may remedythat by turning oh your back as soon as you begin to approach the bottom; for you will cease descend-ing is soon as you begin to turn yourself. The coldness of the water is somewhat troublesome and] painful at first, but in a little time you will find use will take that off.
You ought likewise to take care that the shore (or bank of the river) where you strip, be not dirty I or muddy, that you may not dirt or foul your feet I at going out: You ought also to take heed where the grass or weeds be high, for fear of Snakes, or Toads, or other venomous animals, but that it be a plain even turf, neat and clean, that you may keep your feet so in returning to your cloaths.
Before you go into the water, you ought to fee that it be clear, that there be no scum or froth on the surface, what fort of bottom it has, that there be no weeds or mud, for ones feet may be entangled among the weeds, or one may fink into the mud, and the water coming over one’s head, remain there, and be drowned. This may happen to the bed: Swimmers, by reason that by how much the more they endeavour to disengage themselves, they are so much the more liable to fink. The bottom ought to be of Gravel, or smooth Stones, so that you- may stand thereon as firmly as on the .Earth, and be neither in danger of finking in mud, nor wounding the feet. Care ought also to be taken that it be even, and without holes; and above all, that you know the depth, especially when you begin to learn ; for as it is then easy to tire one's felt in struggling and making the first efforts, so you must be sure that the bottom is not out of your depth, when you have- occasion to reft or takebreath. It is, impossible to be too cautious when You are alone, and have no one in company that knows the place already ; or if you have not seen others Swim there in the same circumstances without danger. Moreover, it will not be, amiss to observe, that when you have found out a place fit to learn in, that you don’t venture any where else i till you are a perfect mailer of your Art, and till 1 then it will be the bell way not to exercise without a mailer,orfome one who is very expert in Swimming.
To begin to learn to Swim.
I AFTER he who is to teach you to Swim, shall have fathomed the depth of the water, or you yourself have found it by means of some Staff or Plum-met, to put yourself in a right Posture for Swim-ming, lie down gently on your belly, keep your head and neck upright, your head advancing for-ward, your back bending, withdraw your legs from the bottom, and immediately stretch them out again ; strike out your arms forwards, and spread them open, then draw them in again towards your breast; strike forwards, making use first of your feet, then of your hands, as many strokes as you can; you will find this way easy and pleasant. I have been used to persuade those whom* I have taught to Swim, not at all to fear lying along on the water when they know the bottom, It will sometimes happen that you will be forced to drink down a great deal of water, and put yourself to a great deal of trouble and pains without much advancing in the Art; but that ought not to discourage you, nor need you fancy to yourself that you are not as capable of learning and Swimming well asothers, for the fame things happen almost to all beginners ; for it is common at first learning, in lying along on the water to fink down, arid be ready to be stiffled in holding one’s breath. It is usual at first for these reasons to administer sundry helps ,* as to hold up their chins, or give them a bundle of cork, or bladders, or reeds, which are the belt helps for beginners.
Take special care that the water be not higher than your breast, nor shallower than up to your belly.
How to return back again in Swimming.
TO return back, you must turn the palm of your right hand outwards from you, and strike out the arm the fame way, and do exactly the contray with your left hand and arm, striking that inwards the contrary way, embracing as it were the water on I that fide. Thus you may turn yourself also on the left fide, after having inclined your head, neck, and the length of your body to that fide
To Swim with the Head erect towards Heaven.
THIS way seems difficult, though it imitates that posture they fay is natural to man, to look upwards ; and if we knew how to make use of it, there would not be so many drowned as there daily are; for that happens, because, instead of looking up wards, they look downwards with their heads towards the bottom, and embrace the water, as it were with their arms, insomuch that one might fay they did all they could on purpose to drown themselves. If they would place themselves on their backs, and keep their bodies extended, the might easily escape, liny' could not fink themselves in that posture ifthey would; this we find attested by experience; and I never yet met with any diver that could possibly descend in that posture, that is with the head erect towards Heaven; and if they had a mind to it, they found themselves first obliged to elevate their arms upright to contract their thorax or bread:; and when all this is done, find it very difficult to fink, though very (lowly, and always come to the 1 bottom with their feet first. But to learn to Swim on your back, observe what follows.
When you are upright in the water, lie down on your, back very gently, elevate your breast above the surface of the water, and in the mean while keep your body always extended in the fame right line, your hands lying on your belly, striking out and drawing in your legs successively, and keeping them within two feet of the surface of the water,
1 It is true there will always be great part of the head Under water, which makes most tender pates not I much care for this way. Notwithstanding which, it is the most easy ana safe of any way of Swimming, and that wherein one may continue longest, for it least tires, and one is not forced to drink so I much water this way, as when Swimming on the i belly; besides, one more easily cuts through the i waves this way, and runs not so great a risque of being entangled among weeds as on the belly. At the beginning it will appear difficult, and one can scarce forbear using his hands. ’ The best way to begin will be by the assistance of some other hand, or a Bundle of corks or bladders; you have nothingunking, and that motion of the foot is the way to make you do so. You must also take care not to lift your knees too high, nor link your hips and tides too low, but keep your body extended in the same strait line as I have already {hewn. If you have a mind to turn any ways, and you are not yet very expert, you must turn in Swimming and taking a round or circle ; or also whilst the one leg lies still, embrace the water next beside you with the other thus you will find yourself to turn on that fide on which your leg by its motion embraces the water, and you may turn either to the right or left, according as you- make use of the right or left leg for that purpose. Swimmers ought to be acquainted with several ways of turning themselves backwards, or so one fide, as occasion shall require, to avoid meeting boats, weeds, rocks, or shores, and a thou-sand other accidents. There are several ways; of doing it, I design here to show them all; and first that way which is called the Easy Turn.
How to turn in the Water.
TO turn easily you mull incline your head and body to the fide you would turn to, and at the fame time move and turn your legs after the fame manner, as you would do to turn the fame way on land; this hinders and stops the motion of your body forwards all at once.
If you would turn to the left, you must turn the thumb of your right hand towards the bottom, and with the palm open, but somewhat bent, drive off the water foreright from that fide, and at the fame time, with the left hand open, and fingers close, drive the water on that fide backwards, and atonce turn your body and face to the left. If you would turn to the right, you must do just the same things contrariwise. If any one ask of what advan-tage this turn may be ? its life is very great in retiring from dangers that may happen. As suppose you meet any floating timber, or any thing else that you were obliged to avoid. It is also useful for helping others that are in danger. But you must take special care that, in turning after this way, your legs are not open, and that you have water enough, for fear of hurting your back parts against I the ground.
The Turn called Ringing the Bells.
THIS way of turning is at leaf of as great use as the precedent. You have no need of much room for it, and may do it either Swimming on the back or belly, and you go contrary in the one to what you do in the other. If you swim on your belly, you must at once draw in your feet, and strike them out forwards, as you aid before backwards, at the fame time finking out your hands backwards, and putting your body in an upright posture.
If you Swim on your back, you mull at once draw in your legs towards your buttock, and striking them down towards the bottom, cast your body forwards till you are turned on your belly ; but you must take heed that you have water sufficient, and that there are no weeds at bottom, which have sometimes proved fatal to the heft Swimmers.
Another way of turning or rolling round.
THERE is another way of turning from the right to the left, and contrariwise, as a globe does B 2
aabout its axis. If you Swim on your belly, and would turn to the left, you must extend your right hand and arm as far out before you as you can, and turn your face, breast, and whole body, to the left, lifting up your right hand towards the top of the water, and you will find yourself on your back, and from your back you may turn again on your belly, and so as often as you please. And to the end those changes of postures may be performed with speed and agility ; you must take care to keep your legs close together, and your arms must be stretched out right before your breast, but not separated far one from another.
To Swim backwards.
WE go backwards, when lying on the back we push ourselves onward with our feet and legs; but to do the contrary, and advance forward, we mud, lying always on the back, keep the body extended at full length in a strait line, the bread inflated, so that part of the back which is between the Shoulders, mud be concave (or hollow), and funk down in the water, the hands on the belly. Being in this posture you must lift up your legs one after another, and draw them back with all the force you can to-wards your hams, letting them fall into the water, for thus you will return to the place from whence you came. This way is not only very pleasant, but also when you find yourself weary sometimes with Swimming, and far distant from the shore, it may be useful to rest yourself, and give you time to recruit your spirits.To turn one's self lying along.
IT seems at first fight as if to turn one’s self, and turn one’s self lying along, were the same thing ; but if you inspect the matter more nearly, you will find that in the seventh Section you turn your body very quick about: but to turn lying along, you must keep yourself in a posture extended and lying on the back, the top of your arms close to your tides, turning the lowest joint of your right hand outwards; the legs at distance one from another at leaf a foot, or thereabouts, the soles of your feet turned towards the bottom of the water. In this posture you may turn, as you please, towards the right or left tide. This may be serviceable in several rencounters; for it often happens, that a person Swimming on his back, may be forced against a bank, or among weeds; wherefore a ready way of turning is very proper to avoid those sorts of dangers. But notwithstanding there methods of escapes, it is not safe to venture among such sorts of dangers, especially weeds; for some time or other one may be catched. There is another way of disengaging one’s self from weeds, which I will (how in the following Section.
To make a Circle.
THE Circle (or entire Compass) is made, when one Toot remaining immoveable, the other turns round and describes a Circle,ending where it began: In the fame manner the head may remain immoveable, while the legs strike the water, and make the body turn round. To perform this, the body lying on the back, if you would begin to turn fromthe right to the left, you mull first fink your left fide somewhat more towards the bottom than the other, and lift out of the water your legs successively, first the left, then the right, and at each of these motions advance your legs onwards about a foot each, towards the left fide, your head remaining still in the same place; the froth on the surface of the water will note the parts of the Circle you have described. This way may serve to remove any thing from one’s head (or feet) that may offend, which too often happens in the water. In the practice of it you must take care not to elevate your feet too high in the air, for that would sink down the head in the water; nor to strike the water, too hard with your feet, by reason it causes a disagreable noise.
To turn ones self in the water, being in an upright Posture.
BEING in the Water in a posture upright, you may turn and view every thing fucce(lively round about you : suppose I have a mind to turn to the right, in the first place I do, as it were embrace the Water with the foie of my right foot, and afterwards with that of my left, and in the mean while I incline my body towards the left; I also draw as much as I can of the Water towards me with my hands, arid afterwards drive it off again; I draw it first with my left hand, and after with the right, and having so drawn it towards me, drive it off again. This manner of Swimming may be very useful; it is very serviceable to know what happens on every side. Suppose you are in the sea, youmay this way find a place to land on or where to attack an enemy that might happen to follow you, or avoid his attacks; or it you have a mind to fight him in the Water* it shows how to do it to most advantage* and to turn yourself on all sides. There are several other different manners of turning one's self in the water, and among them some that are very curious and pleasant but are only for those to practice that are very expert in this Art.
To advance forwards in Swimming, with the Hands ,	joined together.
THIS is one of the first and most: simple ways of Swimming, and is also very graceful. In the practice of it you hold your hands joined together, drawing them in towards the breast, and successively linking them out again. The two hands remain all the while joined, insomuch that the thumbs and fingers being turned towards the surface of the wafer, seem to be out of it. Besides the gracefulness of this way of Swimming, it is moreover, serviceable for traversing, or Swimming cross a heap of weeds, &c, for the hands being thus joined as ii were in a point, open a passage to you through weeds or reeds, if they chance to oppose you, especially if you take care not to strike your hands out too far.
. To Swim neither on Back nor Belly.
SUPPOSE you Swim on your Back, or Belly, lower, or fink your fide, and at the fame time elevate your right one. In Swimming, when you are thus laid) move your left hand as often as you feeconvenient, without either separating it far from your body, or finking it; perpetually striking it our, and retracting it, as in a right line on the surface of the water. Besides the pleasure of Swimming 1 thus, you may also find an advantage by viewing as you please either fide of a river, and that one fide may reft while the other is employed.
To Swim on the Belly , holding both your Hands still. THIS is easily performed in manner following. You must keep your breast advancing forwards, your neck upright on the water, both your hands fast behind your head, or on your back, while in the mean time your legs and thighs push you for-ward by the same motions you make when you Swim (as at other times) on your Belly. This way of Swimming may be useful, in case any accident, as the Cramp, &c. should happen to your arms, or if you were forced on occasion to Swim with your hands tied behind you, or in case you were a prisoner, and your life or liberty depended on it. The same thing may be performed by placing yourself on the Back, but the other way is most advantageous, because you may see your way before you; and those that Swim on the Back are obliged to turn themselves often for that purpose. Besides the hands are here at rest, but must be employed if you turn yourself on your Back.
To carry the Left Leg in the Right Hand. THIS is performed, when, in Swimming on the Belly, you lift up your Leg, and moving it towards the buttocks, you take hold of it with the hand of the opposite side, continuing in the mean while toSwim with the Leg and other hand which are at liberty. This method may be serviceable in cases of the Cramp or Gout, or if one Leg should be entangled among weeds; for by this manner you may easily break through them; but if you should chance to find yourself engaged wholly among Weeds on every side, the following method will be most proper.
To Swim tike a Dog.
YOU are not to imagine that this way is difficult, for it is so far from it that several who never knew how to Swim before, by practising of it by chance, have kept themselves above water. To Swim like a Dog, you must elevate or lift up and depress one hand successively after another, and do the same with your feet, only with this difference, that with your hands you must draw the water towards you, and with your feet drive it from you ; you must begin with the right hand and right foot, and afterwards with the left hand and foot, and so successively. This way of Swimming is very useful, for disengaging one’s self from weeds under water. But here follow other more easy methods to avoid the same danger by Swimming on the Back, where of the first is very pleasant.
To beat Water.
YOU strike the Water with your right and left legs; the manner of it is very pleasant, when Swimming on the back, at each extension of the legs, lifting them up out of the Water one after the other, you strike the Water so that it rebounds up into the air. Those who are expert at this, bring their chinstowards their breast at each extension. There are some who not satisfied with going so far only, to perform the business more gracefully, lift up their legs much higher than others, strike the Water, each extension, sometimes with the right leg, some-times with the left, and at the same time turn the whole body. This is the most agreeable manner of all the rest. To perform this, you must keep your body extended on your back, expand or inflate your breast, and keep it almost out of Water, the palms of both your hands extended and turned towards the bottom, for it is the office of the hands to keep up the body while you strike and open the legs; but at the fame time you have a mind to beat Water, and turn yourself, in that case suppos-ing your right leg is up out of the Water,you must strike the Water with that, and at the same time lift up the left leg, and by the same action turn your whole body. This agility makes Swimming very easy, and does not require so much force as the following.
To turn to the Right or Left.
THERE are several different ways of turning one’s self in swimming. You may do it in this way : Turn the palm of the right hand outwards extend the arm in the same manner, and make a movement with the left hand and left arm; then, by a gradual motion, incline your head and whole body to the left side, and the evolution will be finish-ed. There is another way which is easier still : Bend your head and body toward that side to which you are going to turn. If you wish to turn to the left, incline the thumb and the right hand towardsthe bottom, bend the fingers of the right hand, stretch it out, and use it for driving away the water sideways, or, which is the same thing, for pushing yourself the contrary way. At the same time, with your left hand, the fingers being close, push the water behind you, and all at once turn your body and your face to the left, and the manoeuvre will be accomplished. If you with to turn to the right,
you must do with your right hand what you did with your left, and with your left what you did with your right. You must be careful when turning yourself never to stretch out your legs, and be sure that the water be so deep that you be in no danger of hurting yourself.
To turn from the Belly to the Back.
WHEN you are Swimming on your belly, and wish to turn on your back, draw your feet in quick-ly, and throw them before you; stretch out your hands behind you, and keep your body firm and steady. When you wish to turn from Swimming on your back, fold your feet at once under your body, as if you were throwing them to the bottom, and at the fame instant daft your body forwards, that you may fall upon your belly.
In Swimming, the eyes ought to be turned towards heaven. This is a most important rule, and to the neglect of it many of the accidents which befall Swimmers are owing. For when they bend their eyes downwards, they insensibly bend their head too, and thus the mouth being too deep in the Water, may admit a quantity of it in breaking; be-sides, the more the body is stretched, it covers a greater part of the surface of the water, and confe-quently its specific gravity is less. Any person who will make the experiment will find it impossi-ble to dive while he keeps his head erect and his ! eyes fixed on the heavens.
To Swim on the Back.
THE easiest posture in Swimming is lying on the Back. When you wish to Swim in this pos- ture, lay yourself softly on your back, and raise your head to the surface of the water, keeping your body extended in the same line. Put your hands easily over the upper part of your thighs, and throw out your legs and draw them in alternately, keeping them within two feet of the surface. In this way you may advance in any direction you please. You may perhaps not like having so much of your head under water ; there is, however, no way of swimming so easy, so safe, and so little fatiguing. If you wish to Swim with great rapidity, you may use your arms as well as your feet; and you will find this the easiest way of breaking the force of the waves. In Swimming on the back, one may advance forward as well as backward, for this purpose the body must be kept taught, and extended: the breast inflated, so that the hollow of the back may assume a semicircular form. The hands must recline over the upper parts of the thighs. It is also necessary to raise the legs one after another, and draw them in strongly towards the hams, and then leave them suspended in the water. This way of Swimming is not only pleasant, but may serve to rest you when fatigued.To keep one Foot at Liberty .
THESE easy ways of Swimming, or rather refinements, seem more for diversion than advantage; yet notwithstanding there is not one of them but what may be serviceable in some of those numerous encounters which happen to Swimmers. As for example, this may serve to disengage one's feet from weeds, and that after a free fearless manner, which shews the Swimmer to be master of his Art. He turns himself sometimes to the right, sometimes to the left, having always one leg up out of the water, looking about him, bringing in his chin always towards his breast. It is more difficult than it seems to be at first sight; for if the breast is not inflated, the palms of the hands extended, and turned downwards toward the bottom, and if the other leg is not employed in the water; in short, if you miss of any of these things your head immediately sinks down: Thus the address, or management of it is difficult; but the recompense (when learned) satisfactory and very useful, as I have shewn in disengaging one’s self from weeds. Here follows another method more easy.
To shew both Feet out of the Water.
ONE may Swim holding both feet out of the water, and this is very easy. You may also not only remain so in one place, but also make advances forwards. You must place yourself on the back, and bend the small of it, contrariwise to what is prac-tised in other ways of Swimming: your hands must be on your belly, the palms of them open, moving them to and fro, like oars, which must sustain your Cbody while your feet are shewn. This way of Swimming will serve to shew you whether Your feet are clean or not, after having taken them from the bottom.
Sufpen/ion by the Chin.
YOU cannot easily imagine how this manner of Swimming is performed, it is indeed very sur-prising. By this means you may stand upright in the water though never so deep, without fear of sinking. To make you comprehend it, you are to remember, that when you Swim on your back, you lie still, your legs being extended: when you find yourself in that posture, you must let your legs go down or sink ; and when you come to be perpendicular to the bottom, you must take them up again, bending your knees, inflating your breast, and as to the arms and hands, whereof the back parts lie flat on the water by the shoulders, you must some-times extend them on the one side, sometimes on the other, sometimes shut them, turning the palms towards the bottom, the fingers close to one another, holding your chin as upright as possible. This way, which seems so surprising, is sometimes very useful; suppose at any time the ice should happen to break under your feet, this way will be of vast advantage to secure yourself from the danger. It may also be very advantageous in case a man is obliged to save himself from some enemy pursuing, by leaping into the water in a dark night; for, in that case, one may wait, without making any noise, till he is passed by, and then go again on shore.To Swim on one Side.
When you are tired with Swimming on your back and belly, you may Swim on one side. When you wish to do this, sink a little your left side and raise your right; you will immediately find yourself on your left side. Move then your left hand without either raising or sinking it; you have only to stretch it and draw it back, as in a straight line, on the surface of the Water. This motion independent of the relief it gives, affords the Swimmer the satisfaction of freeing both sides of the stream.
To Swim on the Belly without the assistance of the hands.
IT is possible to Swim on the Belly without the assistance of the hands. For this purpose you must keep your breast erect, your neck straight, and fix, your hands behind your head, or upon your back, while you move forward by employing your feet. This way is not without its advantages. It is an excellent resource when the arms are seized with a cramp or with any indisposition which makes it painful to exert them. This in some cases may be preferable to Swimming on the back; for while in that attitude, one cannot see before them without turning every instant. If one of your legs be seized with a cramp, take hold of it with the hand opposite to it, and use the other hand and leg to advance or support yourself.
To Swim with the Hands joined.
A very ancient and graceful mode of Swimming, is that of Swimming with the hands joined. When you wish to put this in practice, join your hands, C 2keeping the thumbs and fingers towards heaven, so that they may appear above the Water; then draw them back and push them forwards alternately from your breast. This method of Swimming may be useful in several circumstances, but above all if you arms entangled with grass or weeds. Your hands will then open a passage for you.
With the Hands Elevated.
AS a person may sometimes have occasion to carry  something in his hand in Swimming, Which he is anxious to preserve from the water, he may easily swim with one hand, and hold a parcel in the other, as Caesar swam with his Commentaries at Alexandria; or one may swim with both hands elevated. To perform this well, the Swimmer must raise his breast and keep it as much inflated as he can, at the same time that he supports the arms above the Water. It must not be concealed, that this method of Swim- mine is attended with some danger to one who is not dexterous at the art; for if one should imprudently draw in his breast, when his arms are raised,-he would immediately sink to the bottom.
To .rife to the Surface after Diving.
EVERY one knows that when a man plunges into the Water, and when he has readied the bottom, he has nothing to do but to give a small stroke with his foot against the ground, in order to rise; but an experienced Swimmer if he misses the ground, has recourse to another expedient, which is very pretty, and which has not been considered with sufficient attention. We suppose him at a considerable depth, when he perceives that he cannotreach the bottom. In such a case, he first puts his hands before his face, at the height of his forehead, with the palms turned outwardly; then holding the fore part of his arm vertically he makes them move backwards and forwards from right to left; that is to say, these two parts of his arms, having the elbow as a kind of pivot, describe very quickly, both the-hands being open, and the fingers joined, two small portions of a circle before the  forehead, as if he would make the water retire, which he in fact does ; and from these strokes given to the Water, there results an oblique force, one part of which carries the Swimmer upwards.
To Tread Water.
BY this way you may remain upright in the Water without making any motion with your hands, only you move the Water round with your legs from you, the soles of your feet being perpendicular to the bottom; you may make use of this if you are cast into the Water bound hand and foot. Swimming on the belly is also serviceable in this rencounter. This way of Swimming is very advantageous, for it leaves us the free use of the hands. One may make use of it in defending one’s self; but it ought not to be practised where the bottom is full of Rushes or Weeds, for they may entangle one of the legs ; and in such case you may use the method following.
Changing Hand and Foot.
WITH the right Hand you hold the left Foot, and contrariwise; but you must change those holds by a speedily letting or striking down the Foot
9 3held up. This may be useful for taking of weeds from the legs, and freeing them when they are both engaged amongst them.
To Swim having the Legs tied together
THE Legs being bound either by Weeds, or otherwise, you must turn on your back, and lay your hands across on your breast, for in that posture you may gain the shore, by linking your legs one against another, and holding them up as much as you can.
To Creep.
THE action of Swimming in Man, is very like the motion of Creeping in Reptiles; as suppose a Snake, for example, who resting or Hoping first, with his fore parts, draws the rest of the body to-wards them; and it is a way very servceable to get clear of weeds. To practise it, being upon the belly, you cast your hands forwards, and your feet softly backwards, but close together, and thus you advance, extending your arms and hands as far from your breast as possible, your fingers close and the palms of your hands a little bent, turned towards the bottom; for being in this posture, if you draw towards your breast with your hands and arms, the water that is before you, by that you give time to the rest of your body to advance further, and to disengage yourself from the weeds, if you are entangled in them, which must not be done with too much haste or force; for if you strike out your hands and arms too vigorously you will entangle yourself more among them, and when they haveART OF SWIMMING  31
once caught you fast, you are in danger of perish-ing, if timely help does not come to relieve you.
To Sit in the Water.
EXPERT Swimmers can do whatever they please in the Water; they can walk there, stand still upright, or lie still, or sit down. To Sit, you must take both legs in your hands, draw in your breath, and so keep your breast inflated your head upright, and lifting up successively your arms and legs, by that motion you sustain yourself easy. This way may be serviceable to pluck off the weeds, which may happen to entangle and hang about your legs, as also to sustain or keep one’s self above Water in places where there is-not room enough to Swim, or the ground muddy, or other-wife unobliging to the feet, no that you care not to set them down.
To Shew out of the Water four Parts of the Body.
This manner shews at once four'parts of the body, viz. the Head, the two Elbows, and one Knee; you lift up one knee, and place it upon the other by turning it, while in the mean time you lift up and depress the other successively, keeping in the interim your elbows elevated, your breast inflated and elevated as much as possible, and all lying on the back. Besides the management of this method, and the difficulty of doing it well, it is serviceable to rest yourself by putting one thigh across the other, and to take breath where the Water is so deep that you cannot reach the bottom.To Swim holding up one Leg,
THIS way seems at first light to be the same with that of shewing the feet out of the Water, which we have already taught, but it is very different from it for while you hold up one of your Legs, both your hands must embrace and gather together (as it were) the waters, striking them under you, and driving them off; the other Leg must not be lifted up above halfway, beating the Water frequently therewith by quick and short strokes. This is an easy way to carry any thing from one side of a river to the other, by fastening it to your great toe: but you may perform the same thing more easily as follows.
To Swim bolding up your Hands.
WHILE you* Swim on your back, it is easy to put your hands to what use you please, but it is difficult to hold them upright, and Swim at the same time too. 1 It would appear at first sight as if this were the most easy of any method we have yet taught. You must take care lest while you lift up your arms, the thorax or breast be not contracted, for so you sink. The whole Art of this way of Swimming consists in heaving up the breast as high, and keeping it inflated as much as possible, while your aims are held up.
To Boot one's self in the Water.
I call this way by the name of Booting or drawing on one’s Boots, because the action very much resembles a man doing so. You must first lift up one leg out of the Water, and afterwards the other, and take the foot in your hands as those do who are drawing off their Boots,and presently after let it go again, extend-ing it out at length. The management of this way consists in keeping up your breast as high as you can, and as much inflated as possible, and also the one leg up out of the Water, while the other is continually playing downwards. This way may be very commodious for cleaning your feet from mud, &c.
The Leap of the Goat.
IT is called so by reason you imitate the Leaping of Goats in the motions of the feet. To perform it, you must have both courage and strength. You must keep your breast inflated and strike with both your hands the Water on each side, by thick short strokes three or four times, but more forcibly the last time than the others: while you are lying thus, you must lift up your feet quite out of the Water, and rub them one against the other, as you see commonly done in cutting of capers. This is one of the most difficult but most ingenious pieces of Art belonging to Swimming, and when you are arrived to it, you may say you have mastered one of the most difficult points in the whole Art: For it is as difficult as to Swim under Water, to which there is required a great deal of artificial management; which now I come to shew, as far as I am acquainted with it. The first step is to learn to Dive.
To Dive.
IF men sink to the bottom of the Water, it is their own fault, nature has laid no necessity on them of doing so; nay, there is not only occasion for force and strength to come thither, but also Art to do it safely speedily,and handsomely; but those who are expert at Swimming, do it on occasion, as swift as an arrow, and descend perpendicularly or obliquely as they please. The first way of doing it is, to begin standing on your feet touching the bottom; then afterwards rise up,your Head bowed down, so that your chin must touch your breast; the crown of your head being turned towards the bottom, holding the hacks of your hands close together, right before your head, and sinking or striking them down first with all the swiftness and exactness you can; thus you may Dive to the bottom, and this is the first way 1 .ordinarily teach.
To Swim under Water.
IN the first place you are to determine whether you \ are to Swim at the bottom of the Water or near the surface,or in the middle between both. You first of alt dive down; the two hands must be turned back to back and close to one another; after which you must extend them with all the swiftness you can, your thumbs turned upwards, and your fore-fingers towards the bottom; and if you have a mind to descend yet lower, you must as your hands are extended still strike them down low-er the Water. If contrariwise you would re-ascend towards the surface of the Water, you must keep the palms of your hands open, and your thumbs towards ; one another, as when you Swim on your belly, the palms of your hands being towards the bottom,and your two thumbs, as I have just now said, towards one ano-ther. He that would Swim in the middle, or between top and bottom, must grasp with both his arms the Water before him, attracting it towards him, keeping in the mean while his thumbs turned more towards the bottom of the Water, than the rest of his hands. You may have occasion to Swim thus, when you are to seek for any thing at the bottom of the Water, or to pass unseen from one shore to another; sometimes also to help one in danger of drowning. But in this last case you must take heed not to come too near neither under Water, nor on the surface, to any one in that danger; for if such a one takes hold of you, you are certain'y lost. To proceed therefore in that case safely, you must keepat a distance, as ten or twelve feet off; your best way will be not to lay hold of him till he is quit sunk down, and lost the use of his sight; and if you have observed the place where he is, you may endeavour to take hold of him by the hair, and so draw him on your back, tak-ing always care that he does not lay hold on you ; or otherwise hamper you ; you may thus draw him to some shallow place; or if you have any string or rope about you, leave one end on shore in the hands of your companions, and fasten the other to him, and so let them draw him out.
To come to the Top of the Water again, after having dived.
AFTER you are at the bottom, you may return with the same facility; which is performed much after the same way as we have taught before, to turn one’s self in the Water; the person who Swims with one of his hands extended, must push from him the Water before him with his palm, and with the cavity of the other palm drawing the Water that is behind him, towards him; when your hand is extended as far as it can be, the fingers of the hand so extended, and the palm of that turned outwards, ought to shut or clench: the perfection of this way you’ll see as follows.
In Swimming under Water to make a Circle.
WHEN Swimmers go to search for any thing in the Water, they Swim round about the place where the thing was cast, if they do not find it immediately ; by
this sort of address they can take up any the least thing that is at the bottom. The manner of making this compass or circle is thus: If you would begin the circle from the right hand, and end it at the left, you must grasp or embrace the Water with both your hands from the right to the left, and exactly contrary if you would turn the other way; but when you have dived perpen-dicularly down, and cannot find what you went to
Lseek,you will be obliged to take such a compass, but do not go so far as to lose the light; for when once that begins to fail you, it is a sign yon are too deep, or under a boat, or shore, or something else that intercepts the light. You must always take heed of venturing into such places; and if you should find yourself so engaged, cab to mind whereabouts, or which way you came thither, and turn back the same way, looking upwards for the light: for you may see it a great way off; above all, take heed that you do not go to breathe un-der Water: In case you are afraid that any enemy should lay wait for you when you came up again, you must have recourse to the agility of the Dolphin.
The Agility of the Dolphin.	
THIS way teaches to descend and come up again in the Water to take breath, and after having respired, to dive down again. You may Swim fifty paces under Water in the Summer, without taking breath, which which has saved many peoples lives, After two or three strokes you must dive, the deeper the better, and more safe, so you have the light; you may advance forward or keep yourself under Water in the same place as long as you can hold your breath ; when you can hold it no longer you come up to breathe, and then dive again, as often as the necessity of respiration requires. There are several sorts of dangers which may oblige us to take this method.