  We present the results of high-resolution (1-0.4A) optical spectroscopy of a
sample of very low-mass stars. These data are used to examine the kinematics of
the stars at the bottom of the hydrogen-burning main sequence. No evidence is
found for a significant difference between the kinematics of the stars in our
sample with I-K > 3.5 (MBol > 12.8) and those of more massive M-dwarfs (MBol =
7-10). A spectral atlas at high (0.4A) resolution for M8-M9+ stars is provided,
and the equivalent widths of CsI, RbI and Halpha lines present in our spectra
are examined. We analyse our data to search for the presence of rapid rotation,
and find that the brown dwarf LP 944-20 is a member of the class of ``inactive,
rapid rotators''. Such objects seem to be common at and below the hydrogen
burning main sequence. It seems that in low-mass/low-temperature dwarf objects
either the mechanism which heats the chromosphere, or the mechanism which
generates magnetic fields, is greatly suppressed.
