The recruits being make perfect in the foregoing points, they are next to be drawn up in a single rank, and sized; that is, the tallest are to be on the right, and the shortest on the left, decreasing gradually in height from right to left. The space which each man is to occupy, is to be one pace, or two feet and an half; that is, the distance from the center of one man’s body, to that of the next to him, is to measure [33] so much. This point being settled, which will be better explained farther on, the Corporal is then to proceed according to the following directions.

The keeping of the body erect is acquired by a knowledge of particular principles, contributing to the appearance, ease, and strength of the man; and for which purposes the following rules are to be observed.

The body of the man is to be kept firm and upright, but not in a stiff or constrained posture. His face is to be truly erect, so as neither to recline backward, or to incline forward; there being in either position an equal awkwardness, and that which will affect the due ballance of the body. His view, or visual direction, is to be horizontal, except when he shall have occasion to look sideways, or at an object below him; and even then without altering the erection of his face. His shoulders are to fall easy from his neck, and to be pressed or thrown a little back, in order to bring his breast or chest the more forward. Each arm is to hang easy down by his side, with the palm of each hand turned inwards, and placed on the outside half-front of his thigh. And his knees are to be kept stiff and firm under him, in order to support the better the weight of his body, and to prevent any inclination of it.

Note. This attitude is called standing in proper order; either when a Soldier is with or without his arms, the small difference between either being the position of the hands.

[34]

The planting of the feet consists in placing them at a proper distance from each other, and in such a manner as can best sustain the weight of the body and keep it erect. To effect which this maxim is to be observed: That "every object stands the weaker by how much its base is less than its greatest diameter." Now, the base of a man is his feet, and his greatest diameter the breadth of his shoulders; therefore should his feet be placed so near to each other, as to occupy a less space than the breadth of his shoulders, he must consequently stand so much the weaker, or not so firm as if they had been placed at a more convenient distance.

Now, in order to ascertain that point of distance, I shall show on what principle I limit the space of ground upon which a man is to stand; and for which purpose let it be first observed, that the weight of a man’s body, when he stands, rests upon an arch which is called his fork; and that the piers of that arch, if I may so call them, are his thighs and legs. Now, as "no independent object can sustain itself out of the line of gravity," it therefore follows, that every independent object is best supported by a perpendicular bearing; therefore as a man’s thighs and legs are the piers, or columns, which support the arch that sustains the weight of his body, consequently those columns ought to stand perpendicular, and be parallel to each other. Hence it is, that when a man happens to stand out of this direction, by having his feet placed either too near or too far asunder, he will quickly find himself to stand uneasy and infirm; because [35] the weight of his body has not then a perpendicular bearing, which strains the parts when out of that direction; therefore, as a perpendicular bearing is of course the firmest posture, let the distance then be measured from the centre of one thigh bone to that of the other, just below the fork of a middle sized man, which will be found to be about ten inches; and let that distance be laid from the centre of one ankle to that of the other, holding the feet parallel to each other at the same time, and then the heels will be found to be placed by that means at the distance of about seven inches asunder; and on the toes being again properly turned out, as will be shown farther on, the distance, then, from out to out of the toes, will likewise be found to be nearly equal to the breadth of his shoulders, or the greatest diameter of his body. And hence I deduce this general rule, viz. That the heels be placed, when a man stands erect, at the distance of seven inches asunder.