Full text of "An American selection of lessons in reading and speaking, calculated to improve the minds and refine the taste of youth : and also, to instruct them in the geography, history, and politics of the United States, to which is prefixed rules of elocution ... being the third part of a grammatical institute of the English language"

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ViMkRICAN SELECTION 






O P 



L E S^ 0^ S, 



I N 



^j:ading and speaking, 

CAI*C0LATED 

TO IMPROVE THE M1KD8 AND MflNS THE 
TiSTE or fiOtTTBi 

\ TO WHICH J "XZ #MriXEt> 

RULES m ELOCUTION, 

And Directions for Expressing the PrincJpal Passions 
' of the Mind. 

THE THIRD PJRT 

■ .. *P * 

I GRAMMATICAL iNSTITUTT* 

> H OF T»B 

( 

} ENGLISH LANGtJAGE. 

\ Bt no a H W EBSTER, Jun. 

Auilinr of " Dilferutioni on i\it Enjlifh LaDirtMg«« CoIU^Ioa « 
Eflayt «nd Fugitife Writioft,'' « Tkt Prompter^ * «cc«. 



sdsdb 



ELIZABBTH-TOWN: 

^R.IKT£l> BY JOHN WOODS, FOR. EVlRt 3>^vKXircli:/ 






*-*^*-rT xwntt.| 



16J253T * 

TlLcrtN FOUNdATfOW. f ' - . -v. - .. 1^ 

c.* ''^"."J^ eTffi^ ^Pj?/mA Latiguage, is to furnish 

the Art of Speahrig, lknfie»^:^Aer, EndkeK Jt 
*ra.es the ^Rrccept^th^ Xouv/hc»th»>,,/and iM 

r/^^l'^iT' <'fJ\^'^f'o«'^^yudiciaHS theseleZiom, 
essays rispecj distant mtifps 0r <iges i -or contain gme^ 

fvrmsh schools mth addiHhntdejfsaHs^ containing the his- 
toru,geograp/ii/ and transaction fof the U^nited States. 
Jtlfopnation on ihm stihSecfhyneceSsmfor youth, both 
in formtntthm- habiti aaui improving their nmds" A 
loveofourmiitr^ ^d andcqmimmce'xeithits ifUestate^ 
ci'^mdt^ambltT^thty thg^ldltf ^c^irfd m^atfy-iy'e.l 

In the following, teori; I %p en4eatmred.tg mU 
Mch a coUeetion of ettays estkmldforfn ibfinmals ^ 
teeU as impreve the knowledge of yomh^ . 

In theehdae e^ pieces, iSmx feenattattive t* ihtfo- 
htical interest of jtmerKd' J f^n^dfr it us <t capita 
fault iA.dS«ursifhbols,tXatJhk ^^k gemvUs u»e^cm>- 
tmn stdffects tfiholly Umnte(t<xtvng^oo^ry<mth'i tMUthe 
XDritingf Ihat marked the reoohtien, •which ^enot infe" 
rwr in evy respfijti f A? orttioiU-^f CicKrA tmdDemoat- 
kenes, and. which are catculated to impress interesting 
truths uppft- yow^. ^itlds^^ Hglkied mdMS^ten. 
>Skver<tt^^ios«^<utgrMf(ulireases^€mgttsr,vmtt^ 
»t the jcommttxf^mif'if'tki.htUfmokeH&nfnim 
noble sentiments of Ubertt/ and patrioiisnii, that I cannot 
hflp-mshirfj^to ti'dnsfuse theni ivUo the breasts of the ris- 
^g generittienf ,• , 



i 



»m£SFOIi RSADSm A^D SPEAK 

k O L E Iv 

AdOOD artfculatfon co^fifts in ^ving cveiy lettci 
kble its pfo^r proiiunciMion of foimdi 
I . ^ Ifti^aeh fyHabls and the kttctt ^Irich e#«pofe it, 
r MtiatMi WttK * ekir ^tee« vritlntt WhtiitAgi drawli 
Jngi ftaiitmertiigyikiambUag in Uie tlnioac^ or Ipctkiiig ' 
.i1iei^ofc» At9id^c«j[iidty ftduirdf«w)mghabit^ tadu 
- -rftpidvty«f proAOftcmtioci ; iorcach tf ihcCs faoltt 4< 
\ .;dii|{iiA;«nitiil%tion. ' 
[ . - . .^ . .k UL E M. 

r ^4tu^ tU^^y -SUtd mmri tit pr^ptr ftn^fs^ hu ^Mol# < 
[ mA^^iti^Ji w^qmni urn. 

: The. chanifirers .vise dAb assent tie cxtrcmdf «0Ut 

. v^ 'iiot ai Wiiy« iianka XufpeniiBA djf the voice* On tiM 

«iqr» .tJ^v.afe»ofien.eflipl#ftd to»f9pa(irtt^the fweral rk 

m ffrioa, Mid Hiow the |;««aufMucal •otiftfaHioa, M 

«>tiier«it d<%8dit^;4tokc.i^£u» do iIm alirayt d 

' ited'intti«e>^of the fc^€^. - A f«ttlo»kni» (wr^wuiMiplei 
* ^ IrlMigrrpafilt in 4i^nM 4ticoiite> tbitr in « liwdf ««d 
1 idcckmntien. Uoi«e«cr as <:l)ildrea »«e ineapible -of 
^alftraiii^ it fiiif bebcftio adopuat firft fomc fefl«f»l \ 
^'feff^d^ td tbepmeo^^ and tcatm^^them to pay tke fame s 
4a-|hefe'ebamUrama4He7 4ovm*»h&4^^ XikCj fl 
^!gti0^6wBd litaivvtCc agAinlt pwifijig k tbe «iid(t •f «4n< 
ai<4coiaiie«i^i»are ^ Crnie^roquircf thei,woi:d» to b< 
:i(K>iH|^&edvia pionaaciftttois. 

^A^ihe j^M0 9lUuiUf^ $9 acceoty eqnjihafis and cad 

JUettbe aieceatjed ijtUbifi be prpBounced with a pro] 

^ iK>kf .4^be tHK^^;c^tc4^ wittv^ but d 

T^ kaprcaiit motM^i 4 &^0icc» which I call s 



^ ^ 'SceCbe firft part pf iVe IaAU«4e, Mdiete tbet^opo»U 
^«ania|fcmkolofi| coloa aadperiodf m ^4d«t'9iii» twoi-^c 



4 WEBSTER'S-^ - 

l^arttcleSt fficli ai» ^f^ to^asf and^ &r. require no fdre€ of triler- 
aficei unicfs they happen to be emphatical, which is rarely the 
jt^afe. No perfon can read, or fpeak mil, unlefs he underftaods 
vt\aX he reads ; and the fenfe will alv^ays detcrtnlnc what words 
lire cmpliatical. It is a matter or the hi|rhcft confe^ucnce^ 
therefore that a fpeaker fhould clearly comprehend the mean* 
iBg of what he delivers, that he may know wHere to lay the 
emphaQs. This may be illudrated by a fingle example." Thia 
Qiort quedioiiy Will you ride to town to-day ? is capable of fiCkar 
different meanings, and confequentlyof t«ur different aniwera, 
aecwdiag to th« pladng of,ihc cmphalk-- If the etbphafiacta 
laid apon.^9i/y the question ii, whether jr«z< will ride Co. tew n, or 
, mother fKrJofi^ . If the emphafia is laid on ridcf the queftion ia^ 
. 'whether you ,will ride ox go onfoot^ If the emphafis is laid oa 
ioiutt, the queftion is, whether you will ride to town or to ano^ 
ihtr place ^ If the emphalts is lald'bn to-day the qucfUon is, 
whether ygu ,Wtll ride to-day or fome other ^ day. Thus tlie 
wliple nneaniHg of a phrafe oftSn depends on^the emphafis ; and it 
is abfoluiely aeceffary that it fhould belaid or the proper words* 
Cadence is a falling of the voiee ia pronouncing the doiiae 
fyllabkr of a period •*" Thisought sot to be uaiform \ but ti£ 
icreni at the clofe^ of different (entences. - . 

But in interrogative fenuneesy the fenfe often requh-esthe 
clofii^g word or fyUable to be proaonaced .with !ln elevated 
voice; This, hftwever, it only when the laft word ia eqsphatt* 
cal; aa io.tlmqueftion^:'*' Betrayeft ^outhe fon of man with, a 
if/i ?^* Hciriha Cabjeft of enquiry is„ whether the common to* 
ken, of love and benevolence ia ]^ti9^ituted to the piirpofc of 
treachery ; the force of the qoeftion depends on the la k woad, 
which "is therefore to be pronounced with an elevation of voiee. 
Bat to this queftion, «* Where is hoaftlng then ?" the empbaii- 
cat word \% ho^ilHng^ which of courfe requires an . eievatioa of 
xhe voice* . i 



* We may obferve that good fpcakers always proneptice opan a 
. certain key : for although they modulate the voice accordio^ to the 
variaus ideas ther exprSs, yet they retain the fame pilch ot voice. 
Accent an«^ emphafis requwc no el^^tion of the voice, hoe a 
more forciWc eaprs^n of t^e fame key. Cadence refpe^* the lifl 
fyliabie only of a fenience \ which fyliab'e it a(aual|y pronouncsed 
with a lower tone of voice ; but when \*ord« of fevcral iyllahlet clofc 
ai^ripd, a^Hhe fy^blet but the laftarejpcoaounced 6^ the Aiaie key 
as the fffli of the fcntcQce. » / 



• AMERICAN $£L£CTiON. S 

•t^e raoft natural pitch of voict la thai >*bich wc fpeak in 
iVdinary conVerfation. Whenever the vorcc i$ railed above 
' this kejr, pronunciation is difficult and faiiguirtg. There u 
" a difference belweea 2l loud and an */>A voices A {)erCon may 
fpeak*much leudw than he docs in ordinary dffcourre, wiilu 
'* out an elevation pf voice 5 and nuy be hea^ diftinaiy upoa 
^ Vhe Tame kcyi dthcr in i private room or in a large affcmWy. 
;V Jt U%E IV. 

' Xh ihe ftntlments yw exprefs be accom^^anieJ with pro^r tones, 

{ looks fliMf gcilures, 

^ ^yj^ones I mca^ the various nwdulations of voice by wliicl*. 

"* Vi natur illy exprefs ihc eniocioni & paffions. By looh I meatt 

. ,tlic CHpreffiQQ of the emotions and paflians in the couiitcoance* 

Gcfiurts^xt the various motiiaus ohhc hands or body, which 

correfpond to thefcvtral (entvmcnu tni paffiona whicU the 

...ijpcafc^r defigns to exprefs* 

. ;^ ^ii thefe mould be ptrkfilj natural. They ihoold be the 

/ fame whfcb yrt ufis in comrtion conVcrfaiioii. A fpeakcr (hould 

''. endeavor to feel v^hat'hc fpcjiks ; for the perfcAfon of reading 

Vand %)eakiag 18^ to pronounce the ^erds as if the fentioienu 

^'» wej-e opr owg^ . ., 

"^ ' ' if a pcrfoh iV rehearfing the Wofds of in angry inan, he 

^ftpuld afTume the fame furious looks, his eyes (hould flifh witk 

,'. rage, hi| gcfturcs flioold be violent > and the lone of his ^ce 

\.'tlircatening. If kindi^efs is^to b,e eapreffcdji the countenance 

Jhould be calm, and j>laeid,. and wear a fmiJc— tli« torit (hould 

' .be mild, and the motion of the Tiand inviting. An example 

j^ of the firft, wc baye in tliefe words : " Depart from me,* ye 

' ^ curfcdj, into ever la fting fiie, prepared for tkc devil and his an- 

*^el8,'* iOfthcM thefe wortls : " Comei)c bleflcd of my 

..father, inherit the kiftgdom prepared for you from the foun- 

/ datipn of the. world.*? A. imn who (houjci rcpeajt thefe differ^i 

. ent pafitagea with the fame lodksy tones 9L(i^ gidurgs, would pafs 

with his hearers for a very injudicious fpeaker. 

^ I'hc vpKole art 6f reading and fpeakintf, .all the rules of 

i, eloquenee may be comprjfed in, this* concife direction ( Zi^ ^ 

Ginetal SnBioftsfir e^njftng cerlain pafflm 6f'fintmenU* 
'; : .: Fromtbfe Art of SpBAiLiN©. 

\'Mifth or laughter opens the month, <irlfp3 the nbfe|.leSl(a8 
tic aperture ofibi:eyes> and'fhakeitlic wWcJ&Wftcj 

A a - 



6 WEBStTER^S 

Terpkmty draifw dotrti the ey^-browi, hingsi fhelicad, c^ 
3owa the eyw^ tltifei the eye KdB, (hutfr the momh» and ptnthw ^ 
ct the l>p^-^th«ti fucfdenly tine whole bobywugitatcHy the per* 
foB Walks ihottt bulilyy ftopa tfbruptly/iiikfi'to liiitiftrfyi&c. 

FexatiHH adch to the foregoing eomphint, fretting ^ndh* 
DEienting.-— ^i'/irjrdraWa Idowa'the eye^wrows^ opens thcmoajhi 
and drtMrft togetlhct the fwturet. 

Grief h esprefled by Weeping^, ftai»|itBg with the fect^ UtffQ^ 
up the e^e» tahva^en. Sec. 

Melatuhofy is^gloomy und-moticMikfsv the loy«er jaw fall), 4h« 
eyeH are caft dawn nad baff (hut^ Words few and iti^ituptecf 
iviih figh^* 

iP/tfr op6Bfl'the'^e»'ato1d mptith, fcort<*fts ihc 'irofr, dmtva 
down IheTye-brawy, -gives thrCDxratenatice-an att df wildttefs^ 
ihe face 'becomes pale, the elbows art drawn 'back parallel wFllv 
the iidcSy one foot t« drawn ba.ck^ diclieart beatB'violenciy, the 
breath a qaieky the TotGc weak -stxA trembling* Somethnesi^ 
jiroduces mriefcs and fainting. 

Shumi tulnsitway the f^ce from the beholders ; covets it witb 
bluihiest'cafts dowti the head and 'eyes, 'draws dvwn the ey^^ 
brows^ makes the tongae to faah^r, or flrik«i the per&t» 
dii^b. , 

iR^wojj^safts- down the countenance Scdonds ft with anxiety** 
Sbtaettmesthe teeth gnaAi and the right hand bc^rs A^e breai!. 

Cottage feady aild ctfolyofietfs the cotmtcnanice, gives the 
whole' fortn an ere^ and gnaceful air. The voiceis firm, anci' 
the sicccnt*ftrong a^nd articnlaW. * ' 

BQafiifij; is'hnd and bhiftedng. The eyri ftarc, thc'fecc'ii^ 
' red and bbated, the knonth pontSi the «oice is hoHmw, thearmr 
^akim^bo^'the h<iad nods in'a tlir^atening manix«r, thfe right fid 
fomeiii^$ clcntbed and/brai.^Ifhed. ' - 

*Pr/</« afltrmcs alofty^iook, the eyes dp«n, the niomh potft* 
ilng,'the lips pinchtfd,- the words fkiw and^^ "ttifi, with -an air t>f 
inaportance, the afms akm^b^t aud.thelfga at a diftance> or taw , 
king large 'ftrides. ^ , 

Auihrity X)]^ms the ct>cnit^ffance,'bdt draws down* the e}'«- 
^brows a little, fo-astto -give'lhe p'erfo'n.'aa air of gsavity. 

ConmanAng. rccyiires a percti\prory tone of voice and a fevcre 
look* 

Invitmg 13 expreffird 'vHth^ frtitle of ddtnjHactncy, the hand 
tiith' the palm u;pwaras,>draim geritly w^BXtJt^ -the bt)ay; 



AMEltl€AN SEI/ECTION- f 

Wope. bnghtcna the coanttnaoCe, arcbet'thc eyc-browt, jgivcf 
flitf eyes an eager v^fhful lodk, opeot the mouth to half s Imile^ 
bends the body a litlhr forward. 

Xtf^ lights tip «faii!t'upoatbe c<^ntenairce ; the fArth^ad 
Mmxidthed) the eye^br^wt arched^ the moutha h*rt!e open and 
:fi»tUiig^ the cry «• knif mfliin^ die opootenaMe rafliiiiitfs an eager 
m^M imxir, imncd wiibaa air ^mitbLtkfiKtnvi The aocebu 
amfeft aiid wtfouk^, the tone. irftbe'vaice.^^ 

ITM^.opeiiaivht eyca^ and 'aMkxvtbeiB«ftpearipn>^ 
QMacibttdy.k 4ra;fd'ift « coatra^led itooping «poftute,tbe modtb 
iiiipeA«<be:httitd« <a£rt» vaifcd^ Wonder ju ^rtt ftrtkcl a per^ 
ibo .dunob^ then ibwaba *lonii obtcf . exchmatioM^ 

*^rtA/S*i^ .<^p«R(» 4he eyea, «id itoiitbi .IcngtUcnt fhe loecky 
bends Hkt> body lotiamd^iabd fixeait ttt^ one potert , 4(c«' 

.^KgVTiiausRprtsdi&iiby tapidiiy, iii^tarm)^ioii9<nDtfeVnd trepL 
.datt(»>« ;the Wf «b ds ilretcbvd out,: the imd-ooddiiif in a thraot- 
^ttK«9g inamrer^r I'lie e^es i«d^ <la*fn|r, rolling, .^rkliog : %hc 
eyobrowa drawti .fk)#ttoter tbcm, the forehead wrrakled, »h^ 
iRSfikxia ^twtehvd, .c^ry iwin iureHed, ietery 'irxufcle ftvaincd^ 
Whaenaag^ris^vbieixtfUbe BBtHKiiMtaiparrri widtlrai^ 
tbe 4Miva, idheiriftg itbe tfetb in m^oaikiiig poflure ; the feet 
^ Aamp'mgf tbeTCght-baiid tbrowra;»iM,'(hre«teaing wHh.a cleiich^' 
ed ^^ and the whole frame agitated^ . » 

Fmrt/bn9ff\9 expreffcd brtncatiy the fame manner, bat wttkr 
m»xt model aikyn, the eyt^a a fquiiit upon the obje^-of difpleaf-r 
UTC I the upper lip drawo dfidaihlfulty^ . ' 

MalL:e kta the }awf, br^nafhee ^itb t!« tceih . j Tends Halh- 

ea^^ooi the eya9» draws the mouth towards the catty cicnchev 

ibe fiftf atnd bends the elbows. 

\ ^ * Envy it txpreffed ua the fbtne «rarm»er ; BtA tt»ore moderately.- 

Averfion turns the facofirom the ob)ca.^ the immia fpread out 

; to keep 1% oS, ' 

I ' J^^fy ^"^ irftff by fetWffii^fs, peevifhaefs, tbooghtfol- 
aela, ^Qxi€t ji| abfcnce of rtmd. It is a mtxture of a taricty rf 
paffioss^'antl afiTurmet a vaWety of appearances^ 

1 '(hmmpt^^Mxx^tA a haughty ^Jr.; the lips dofed atfd pouting. 
MoMyox AwnAVytwHida Ihe^bdtfy forward, 'cafts downlhe 

I ey€a> The voicei^low^/the wartl»,fcw,, and tone of 4itierane« 

;- fubmiffive* * 

^ EXAMPLES mk irLLUprRA'nON- 

'Inter f elation' 9rjgne/lionh^.- 
Owe day* when tht tnoon was wnder an ccl ipfc, Ac compTtfvo- 
cd thin to the fua of ibef difoo«tun*aocc of his favora.-*— -^ 



My dwreft friend, faid fhc, why do yttt not (tike da ihfe al 
y©u ufcd to do ? Do I not fluric upon the? faid the fun,^ I m 
very furc that I inteadcd it. O np \ raphes the mport ; bmi I 
.oowf>crceire the rcafon,. I fee th»t dirty, planet ihc ea^rth &ai 
got bciwixt tia, . .D94flev's fjiblfii 

Life 18 (hort and unccrUin ; W« have not a moment to ioifc* 
Ifl It prudent tQ throw away any of our time in torment io^ oar- 
fclves or othersj when wc have little for honeft pleafures ? For- 
getting' our weakncfst we ftir up mighty encmie»# and fiy to 
ground ai if wewwc inwdiicniWefc Wherefore all thitbdllie 
bnd Boife? The betl ufeof a ihortli£e^ is to make it.agrce^e 
to oarfelves and tooiherst Have you cmife of quarrel ^&k 
your fcrvant, your jnaftcri your king, your neighbor I forbeir 
' m mooaeat i death is at hand^ which nakcs all equah 

What hai a man to do with wars, tumultt> ambufhes \ Yon 
would delkroy your enemy ? You lofe your trouble ; death vHII 
do your bufmefs while you are at reft. And after all, when 
yon have got your revenge, how Aort will be your joy otJiii 
pain ! While we are among men let ut cfultivate humanity i let 
U8 not be the caufe of fear or pain to one another— Let ub def* 
piTe injury, malice and detra6iion> and bear mthun equal aund 
fuch tranfitory evila. While we (peak, while wc think, death 
comee up and clofei the fcenCi Aftrf1hkMni% 

Wonder. 
*rhen let us hafte towards thoe^ piles of wonde^ 
That fcorn to bpw beneath the weight of year9«>^ 
Lo ! to my view the awful manfions rife, 
TtiC pride bf art, the fleeping place of death ) 'Fre»uUfi 

Let this aufpicioos day be ever facred ^ 
Ko mourni»g, no misfortunes liappen en it ; 
Jjtt it be 'marked^ for triumph and rejoicing } 
Let hsppy lovers eitrer. make it holy, \ . 

Cboofc it to blefs their hopes and crowiv their Kiriibea t 
This happy day, that gives me my Califta, . J'air PtnkifHi 

Then is Oreftes bleft l Mv griefs are fled J 
Fled likt a dream ! Methinks 1 tread in air t 
Surprlfing happioefs ! unleokM for j6y 1 
Never let love defpair, ! The prize is mine ! 
Be fmooth, ye feas, and y^* propitious wiii^s^ 
. Sl9W from £pirui to the BparUa coaft ! ... Djfireji Mnben 



AMERICAN SJLlJLCmtOtf, f 

^* • (Prii/. ' • 

' Att dark, iiQld comfoT>lcft ! 
^P'Ecre a>c thofe various objects. tbat but noWf 
EmployM pay buf/ eye J Whert theff eye* ? 
Dead are 'their picrciog rays^ t4iar lately (hot 
O'er Aow'ry vakrto diftant funny btUty 
A ad drew with joy the vail borizen idi 
Titefe grouping' haada ar« oo^ my only guidcfi . 
And feeling all my Gght* 

mtfery t What wor^s can found my grief } 

-^' Mftft foim the living whil{l among chajivn^g 9 ^ 

jDark as the ^rave amidft (he buftling worldt i 

No more to view- the beauty ai the ffivtug« . 
Or tee the face of ktadrcd or of friend « Tra^. f/* tiMr^ 

. A gtneroud h^^ the t^etVift n^rJy gleaotaga 
>Of many a h^plefa fijhti wuti a Berca 
Heroic fire mfpired eaoh otiier 1 
Refolv'd on death* difdaimng to forvivt 
Tkcir dcarctl country—" It wt fall" I cry'd . 
*f Let ut not tameiy fall like paffive coaranU i 
I^p-*«-leC us live, or let us die IHte men ! 
Come on imf friend*. • To Alfred .w« wlU c ut 
Onr glorious way v ^^% aa we nobly perifh^ 
Will ofler'to the genious oFour country 
Whole-hecatMbaof Panes/'*— At if one foul 
Had mov'dthem ail, around there heads they flafh'd 
Their flanMag^lchioos— •«< Lead oatt> tko(e Danes ; 
6ar oooatry \ vengeance I" was the general cry. Mafn^ of Alff* 

How in tills taper burns ! Ha ! who cof^es here i 

1 thkik it is the waaknefs of m'mt eyes. 
That (hapes this monOifoua appariiton I 
It comes upon me- -Art thou any thing ? 

Art thou iome god, fonce angel, ox fome' devil ? 
That mak'H my blood ooM, and tny hair to (land i 
Speak to me, what art thou I ' . . 

Lovct 
Who can behold fuch beauty, «nd be (ile&t • 
Oh ! I cottUr talk of thee forever \ ^ 



F«re^r fit z&i gaic on t1i<^fe diair eytt i [ 

Fot cv'nr glance thcf fend dcrta thro^ mjfoi!^; * ' ^^3^ 
*^ At»g€r. 

Hear niey rt(K man ; on thy allegiaiiee bear mt^ 
fiince thou hai ftriy^n to mike (is b^eak,oiir Vow^ '' 

( Which nor o^r nature nor our place can bear J 
We bahi(h tbet forever from our fight 
AihI kingdoaii If wjien Uirc'e days are expii^dr 
7hy hated trunk be found iti our dominioiiri 
^hat mdihent'is thy d«atb.«^Awaj I ' 
By Jupiter this>Aall n<^l be retok^di ^ ttsf. •J^tsiii 



Away i-r^6 wochaii cduld defccndfo Ibws^ 
Aik1ppuig)»daodng^¥f^nhkft t^ibe^oii'are^ 
V\t oilly for y6orfi:he«t you herd together ; 
And when the DiicHag glafi warrbt yenr vaiil|\eartr| 
/You talk of beautiea that yoanrver faWj '. . — j. 

And fancy raptures ibatTou never kaiew« "fi^.^elAiiit^ 

At Ss a theattii^, tlK cyel of ttieft, 
iiXxit ft well gr^ac'd aftor leaves^ the ftag^ * .:,.; 

^rc idly bent oniiim thai ^nteiPjiJeiti* ' 
Thinking lus prattle to b<^tcdiens ; ^ ' ' . 

Even fo, or witii muth more cwiteinpt^ (Uteris rytf * "' ' ' 
Bid fcowi oo Richifrd. ;No iHCiii;cned,^aod fate'Mitfi ^ 
t<Io joyful tongue. gate hiatk his i^eftoTaehditie; ' 
Which ^Uh fudi gentle i6i*6wj Jft flidok tjff, 
( Hifr^Ce ftill combating with tears and Cmitetii^ 
.The badges of his grirf affd |)atfcncc,) 
^*bhath»dhorGod^fbrfonaeiht)ngporp«sfe^^ '^ 

The hearts of iben, they<nifift.iia?e meitcdi -1 

Attdbai^nrmu^lflfavcpmelhim. kkUrd^m. 

- Hahred^ . . „ - 

ttow Kkeft awi(iik{;^bKcah he looks ?' ^ 

1 hate hta for he-iSfft dhrtftian : '' . * 

But morefor^hat isktwfintpficity, , ' . ** • * 

He knds' put money gratis, and brings dd#if'' 
The rate bfofance here with us in Venice : 
If I <^n catch^him bnce upon the hip 
I will feed fat the antient grudge I btar hitUi 
Hehateaour£a4»«dnatton$aftd hcrailsy ' . » ' 

]^'ca there whtrcmerchaati^a^ft 4a ««iigr^ifte| - ' ' 



fen XRtf my bargramsy and my ^bvftm thrifty « . . : 

If Iforgiyc him I , . Mfffh^^Trnkt^ 

Eirth fir whofe utcr^Pridc anfwcr, !* 'li% for mine* 

For me kipd nature wake^ b^r genial powVt 

Stickle? each herb« and'fprcadi out efHy f ow'r ^^ 

AtiDuU for fnr» the'grapip, the rofc renevr 

^e^jiffcc iteftqritom ap^ ifie ba!()iy dew ; * 

"Fo^fae, tfal^.^liQe a thaMfapd'tveafuiiM hH^gi ; 

For m^t health gyfli^ frmil a thoufand f|^^tn^ t 

Seal toll to waft fne, fana to light sM'tife.}-. . 

My footilpol parth, ipin pfkoopf the (kka«^' . tfifm^M^nik 

I know pot how jto ehvijk.jropir Rude I !•» 
:I« fpeceh and mannert ; nev^r ttfl chit hpor 
3^p}2d^l>ib %h a prcfep^ufcyiet^ my Lqi^ , 
There^s fomethiBg In my breaft irhich »ake% be htU' 
Tp fay^ that Moryal |ie'er f>H tf>wi»e thy la? or^ i>^^^ 

I Thereta'a'Wifrid^iMHtfghtupbttfny.lhirfeiy^ 
'^^ djfhnd^folfaii ftilliiv(fi'thA4««cordi^^ 
!Fhe i»ifte of^ragcvpdvgfjei^ lifcr fiieni •dcatb ^ - 
Af t«r the tmlsoltS l^l4nlve noife 9f Ulie. . 
Isoirr i^#the iDfbrimiqt«'aAlfc fer>Wiri^ I 
[Now tfcaMVtgiirvelildkihff^iiMifaftn^ta to^aatr^ 
: Apd lMgi,<to^frfiigte' nrtth ici hmdaMr cgcthfi i?4ff AaiMIr 

^ippMNiiuarpttii ' 
.' i « .fcf ii ( I ii Weacei -yg wMa .-■.':."• 
i )Fh«t naht outraftc^Ji wai< ^|>^y tht Metn i' 
A«d|iie9ttMiieioatt:ftHit}iybQttepbiit|«^ . 
, "^t wwtrBk% ekiitoem bffiniflx'd av^mtthr 
f Whft^ I w%i9re my diir«J coiiitaiaiidi f» ii^k* « ', . 
And thoti iMktfbuiideft hdl whdf€ d^eidf^ 
lagiilevtd-n^i&y ?atiia«d4}fw#rgforgoiii->o i^ ' 

~ lmi« b^ itoy phwerfiil voi^ethrocigh- ail thy) N^faif i ^ '^ 
\ Asd» from thy gloott^y caTeria;i«-^thlliid€r thy ««lHy * 

GIm^! fweei:fl4tt^Ver;whcl£e<Mii|ifilo#ck ^ 
^it4>B*»ffK|ad;«lnMteAhifbifc«k#r#9«ifd^^^ . 



Relieves the load of poTprfy/foftains 

TJie captive bending ^tih' the weight of bendffi 

/rii4 fwoollra the pillow of diT^»fe and pain : 

Send back th' exBioring m^fienger witlj joy, 

And let me hgil tnit from tiiat' {/lendlj grove; ' IPgaAol^ 



My arm a a^bfcr viAof y fie'er gainM : 
And I aih^t^uder to have paffed that fiieanii 
Thafi that I itirevc a million »*cr the plaiot X«rV dtOemndcTi 

■ PerphxUyf 

Go fellow, geCthce home provide fome catl> 
Apd brtng away the armour that is there. 
GeiitiiEiveD^ win yoq ga and roufter men I 
If i know how to order thefe affaira, 
Diforderly thus thrust into my ha|dt| 
Never believe me, — ^All ia uneveD, 
And every thrng ii left at fix rind seven* Rkharii{* 

IT ft wffi feed nothtn|^ elfe, it will feed my revenge. ^^ win 
^tfgraced me, andliindered mcof half a ihiUibii, laughed at ^ 
lofiTec, mocked at my gaint, fcomed my nation, thwarted Dif 
' bargaine, cooled my friends, heated mine cnemica.' And what * 
his rcafon ? I am a Jew, Hath not ajew eyes ? hath not ^'i^ 
^liand«, organs, dimenfiona, fenfes, affection, piSofHT^ ' l^^ 
not fed With the* feme food, hurt with the fame wcaponf, ^ 
j<ct to the fame difeafes, healed by the fame meanftt^wa^fl^ ^ 
and cooled by the fame winter and fummer as a Chriftian-ii \ /* 
your prick ns, do we not bleed ? If you tickle Viido we ait 
Jaugh ? If you poison B8> J6 we not die ? and if yoo y^^^fl, 
us, {hall we not revengt ? If ^e are Kkc you in the rcftj ^^ 
wiil rcfcmhle you in that. If a Jew wrong a Chriftian, wM* 
is his humility t rcvii^ge^' If a Ghriftian Wrong a JVvr,* what 
fhould his fufference be by Chriftian example ? why rcvengf- 
Th« viHany you teach me, I wfU execute; aiid^ ftall go bard 
but 1 wai- beliter b/ the inftrudion. • Merch.ofVemti* \ 

1 remember a mafeof things, but nothing d^ft in Aly I a q?**"* 
Tel, but nothing wherefore* O that men fliould put an eiitmj \\ 
in their roouthsj'to flesfaii aythcre brainfe ? that we Aoutd wif^ } 
joy, pleafance, revel, and applaufe, transflrrro ourfsM '^^^^ 



AMERICAN ^ELECTION. ij 

%eafts ? — ^i Will aik htm for my place mgitn— he AaU tell me 
I an a drunkard i Had I as many monUis at Hydra^ fbcli a» 
aafvcr would ftop them all. To be now a fenttble flMfti l|^ 
and by a fool» and prcfently a beaft ! Erery inordimce cop la 
• * a.and the ingredient ia a devil. 7>ji^. if QlMh^ 



h tbefoUowiug lijimtt there ^e ma9y Acamfki •[ MiMifiH ^ 
tiffiefiiiofi in thejmfe. Far the hetufii tff ih$ learmr^ fimt of 
thtfe examphi arc Mk^ul/hed hy Italic letters | ind m 
w0rJs/o marked gre empboHcal. 

SELECT SENTENCES. 
T E A C a t If G^ 
C H A P. L 

TO b^ very aQiTcin Uudabte parfoits, 18 the diftiligtitfluog 
cbara^criftic of a man of merit. 

There is an herdxc innocence , n$ well m an heroic conragf. 

There it a, mean in all things. Even yirtucitfelf haa ita 
4atfd limtta.; which not being firictly obaenred^ it ceaiSpi fp 
^c wirt^e. . 

[ It 19 wifer to preyent a ^oarrel bcforelumd^ than to rmfyf 
it afterwards. . , 

It is mocll better to r^frove^ than to be ang?y fecruty* 

No. revenge is in6re'Eerpic> than that which cornienta envy^ 
«fej. doing good. . 

The difcretion of a man deferreth his anger, an^fit is his glof]r 
xqL.p9fs oyer a tranrgrcfiion« 

, . Money» like manure, does no good till it is fpread. TheMt 
is 11^ real yfe of. riches, eikoept in the diftrUiutbn } the reft ia 
all conceit* . \ , 

. A wiCe man will defire no more than what he can get juftlyt 
uje fej^edy, diftctbQte.cheerf|diy, and live upon contentedly. 

A contcntad intnd, and a g09d confcience, will make it matt 
liAppy in aU conditfons. He knows not how to jfSuir who ^farea 
/odir/. 

Xhere is bot one way of fortifjriog the foul i^i^ft all gbo* 
2Qy pjre&gea and terrors of the xnind 1 and that is by feeiiring 
to themfelyes the friendihip and protedioa of that, fittog whil 
difpofes of events and governs futurity* 



41 WEBSTER'3 

Pbilofophy ifl then onlf valuable, when it {(ires for the Ist^ 
6f life aiid not (ov the pflentation of fcien^e, 

C H A P. TI. 
TTTITHOUT a friend thp world h but a wilder new. 

▼^ A noaa may have a thoufand intimate acquaintances arx) 
xiOidL friend amongft ihcm aH* If you have ifne friend thinli^ 
yourfplf l^appy, 

When once you profess yourfcif a friend^ endeavor to be al- 
ways fuch. He can pcvcr have any true friends who is ^Iway^ 
hanging them. 

Profpcrity gains friends, and adverfily tries them, 

'Nothing more engages the alTedions pf men, than ^ hand^ 
fome addrefSf and graceful converfation* 

fComplaifance renders a fuperipr amiable, ap equal 9greeat 
blc, ;iud an inferior acceptable. 

Excffs of ceremony (hews «f<J|i/ of breeding- That civility 
is heft, which excludes all fuperfluous formality. 

Irgvatitude is a crime fo (hBmefuI, that the man was nevif 
yet found who would acknowledge himfdf'guilty of it. 

Few things are irapoffible to induflry and fliill. 

Diligence is never wholly loft. 

Theje cannot be a greater ttfachery than firft to ratfe a con^ 
idence, and then deceive it. 

By aiier's far.hh tvife ^nen corr^fl there c^m. 

No man hath a thorough tafte pf profperity^ to whom etd'ver^ 
^ty never happened. 

When our vices leave us^ we flatter oyrfclyes that vie leavi 
them, ' ^ . 

.It is as great a point of wifdom to tide ignorance at to dp/^ 
€Qver knowledge. 

Pitch upon that courfe of life which is the pcoft cxcelknt j 
and habit yi\\\ render it the rooft delightful. 

C.H A P, III. 

CUSTOM is the plague of >ife men, and the idol oi fools. 
As to htpcrfiafy juft, is an attribute of the divine na^ 
tpre ; to be fo to the vtpiojt of our abilificd is the ghry of njan. 
No man >\'a8 ever caft down with the ipjuries pf fortune, iinv 
lefs he had before fuffercd hfmftlf to he-deaivfd by her fa^orp. 
Anger may glance into the breaft of a wife man, but retls 
only in the bofom of fools* 



AMfiRtCAM SELECTION- . 15 

None more impat1cnily,^^r injuries than thofc that are moft 
forward in Joi^g ihtm. 

By taking revenge, a man is but ^f« with hit enemyi bat la 
.jffoffing it over then /tfferior^, 
, . To 6rr 16 human f 10 forghti divine^ 

A more gloHoua vi^ory cannot be gained over another mt«« 
ttian this, that when the itifury began on hit paftf the kindntfi 
Ikould begin on oura« . ^ 

Th? prodigal roba his hetr^ the mifer robs himfetf. 
We (houM take a prudent care for che/a/vr^i but To as to eo* 
)oy the^rd^ffif. It is no part of wifdom, to be milerablc to»dajf 
, bectttfe WQ may l^tppen to be more fo /d*morrf iv • 

To moura toUioui majurt hjoity ; aat to moura Oi allUftt^ 

Som^v^onldbethoaghttodo great thtngs, who Ve but to^ta 
l^hd inftraments ; Wkt the fool who fancied he pbyed upoa the 
^i^an, when be only dre«r the bdlow»« 
. Tho a man may become kariud by another^ leieaiagt he can 
.tiever become wifi but by hit o«w wifdom. 

He who wants good fenfe is unhappy in hating learning ; for 
ihe has thereby more ways of expofing himfclf* 

>lt is angentrotts to give a man occafion to blnfh at hit own 
ignorance in am thing, who perhaps may exctl ua in many* 

No object is more pleafing to the eye» than the fight of a 
tban whpm you have olslliged ; nor any mufic fo agreeable to the 
«ar, as the voice of one that owns you for hisbenefaflor. 

The coin that is mod current among man^and is Battery ;^ 
the oidy benefit of which is that by hearing what we are not we* 
xnj^he inHra^ed what we ought to be. 

The chara^er of the perfon who com men 4l yon, is to be 
confidered» before you fet a Talue on his efteem. The wife 
man applauds him whom be thinks moft virtnout ; the red of the 
.U'orldi him who is moft *mtaUhy. 

The temperate man's pleafures txtdnrolh^ becaufethey are 
tcgidar ; and all his life is calm and/rr^f, becaufe ii is innocents 
. A good man will love hhnfefftOQ well to /o/e^ and his neigh- 
bor too well to vvin, aaeftate by gaming. The love ot gaming 
will corrupt the bed principles in the world. 

C HA P. IV. 

AN angry man \ff\io fupprejes his paffions, ihinh worfe than 
htfpeah : and an angry man ihat will cbide^/ptais worfc 
than he thinks* '- * 



19 WEMTER'S 

If'diOQ^woiildftgftafnend, prote Kjm firtt, andbie fkH tmr* 
t^ to'bre6u ViicRt ^ov Come men are Friends for their own 6cc9e 
fionsy and win not-abrde in the day of trouble. 

Forfake^nbt an old fnend, for the new is not coniparable f9 
him : a new friend is as new wine ; when k' is old thou (hah 
drink it with pleafure. 

A friend cannot be known in profpenty ; and an enemy can- 
not be hidden in adverfity, 

Admonilfa thy friend ; it may be he hath not done it ; sifld 
if he hathy that he do it no more. Admonrih thy friv'od ; it 
smj be he hath not fsid it ; or if he hath, that he fpeak it not 
again. . Admonifti a friend*; for many times it is a dander ; und, 
believe not every tale* There is one that flippeth in hh fpeech, 
but not from his heart ; and who is he tbat hath not offended 
with his tongue ? 

Whofo difcovereth fccrets lofeth his crediti and (hall never 
£nd a friend to his mind. ^ 

Honor thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the 
fonrows of thy mother, how canft ihou recompence tliem tht 
things wh:ch they have done for thee ? 

There is.ncithing of fo much worth as a mind well inftru^ed* 

The lips of talkers will be telling fuch thinj;s as pertain niSt 
unto them ; but the words of fuch as have underltanding zve 
weighed in the balance. The heart of &ols is in their moutbi 
hot the tongue of the wife h in their heart. 

To labor, and to be contented with what a man hath| is a 
fwcct life. 

fie not confident, even in a plain way. 

Be in peace with many ; aeverthdefs have but one cotturelldr 
ef a thoufand. . 

ict reafon go before every enterprize, and ccunfel before c* 
very a£iion» '• — 

CHAP, yr- 

THE latter part of a wife man's life is taken up in curitig 
the fulhes, prejudices and falfe opinions he iiad ca»tra6t* 
ed tn the former. 
Cenfureis a tax a man pays to the public for being eminent* 
Very few merr, properly fpeaking, live at prefent, but arc 
providing to live another time. 

Party is the o^adnefs of many, for the gain of a fe*r. 
To endeavor to work upon lUc vulgar vrilh fine fenfe, is like 
attempting to hew blocks pf marble witit a r^zor.. 



AMERICAN SELECTION* ip 

Supetftitbnil ihe^een of the foul, , 

.He who tellaa Ite, ft no/fcnrible how great ai taik he muSer^ 
takes ; fot he mud be forced to invent twenty more ta inai»« 
tain thsit one« 

''.Some people wfll ce¥et learn ahy thirtg ; for this reafooi b€» 
caufe they underftaod every thing too foon. 

WbiJft an auihsr it yet living, we eftimate bis'powert by the 
word performance. When he is dead, we rate f hem by bit beft. 

Men are grateful in the fame degree that they are refenthil. 
^ Tojiagmen are fat tie arguera ; the cloak of hooor ccvrrt all 
IJ^ir faults, at that of pafiion all their foHiet* 
, ,£conomy it no dtfgrace ; ii it better living oa a llttte^ tLan 
9!lftt-jiving« grca^deal, . ^ 

Next, to the fatisfaAion I receive in the profperity of an 
Ikmeft man, I am bell pleaCed with the confuGon m. a rafcaK' 

What is often .rermcd fhyneft, it nothing more than tefined 
fimfe, and ao indi^erence to common obferrationt. 

. To endeavor afl one's days to fortify onr mfndt with leariH 
tag and. pbilorpphy, is to fpcnd fo much in armori that obe haf 
nothing left to defend. , . ' 

. Ckferiencc often (hriirks and witbtrs at much upon the ip* 
proacH of intimacy, at the fenfitivc j^ant doet upon the toncb 
et one's finder. 

/Mpjefty inaket large amepdt for the pain it givet the per- 
Ibnt Ajtfho labour undtt it ; by ibc prejudice it affotdt every wor-» 
thy petfjon in their favour* 

-The difference therq it betwixt honor and honefty Jecma to 
fee chiefly h the motive. The honcjt man doet that from duty, 
'ipihkh th^ man of honor does for the fake of charadcr. 

A liar begins with makto)^ (allehood appear like truth, an4 
cpds wich mzkik^ truth appear itfelf like falfehood- 

Virtue ihould be confidcredas a part of tafte ; and we fftotild 
at much avoid deceit, or finifter meani.ig in difcourfe, at wc 
fiionldpuns, bad language or falfe grammar^ 

' The iiigher chara£^er a perfon fuppoftt, the more he /hoold 
regard hit minutcft ai^ions. 

C HAP- VII. ' 

DEFERENCE is the moft complicated, thtt moll indirefti 
and4.he moll i^legant of all compliments. 
. To be at once a rajte, and to glory in the- chara^cfj difcov* 
^rs fit ihc fame timt a bad difpofitioa and a bad taftc^ 



t6 WEBSTER'S . 

,« ■ • • . 

How la it pofTible to expedl that mankind will take ad^i 
, ^ben they will not [o much as tak< warning ? 

AUho men arc accufcd for not knowing their own wcakm 
yet peihaps as few know their own ftrength. • It is in men ttf 
folb, where fonictiaies there is a vein of gold which the owi 
knows not of* 

• Fine fenfe and' exalted f^nfe are not half fo valuable as coi 
. men fcnfe. There arc forty men of wit for one man of fenfi 
^d he that will carry nothing about with him but gold, willl 
every day at a'lofs for want of ready change. 

Learning is like mercury, one of the moft powcrfal atid etc 
lefit things in the world in (kilful hands; in un(kilful, the md 
luirchfcvous. ' •! 

A man fhould never be aHiamed to own^he has been in tb 
wrong ; which is but faying in other woidsi that he is wifcr t 
day than he was ycfterday. 

Wherever I find a great deal of gratitude in a poor tnan-l 
take it for granted there would be as much gencrofity if he } 
B rich man. 

It often happens that thefe are the bed people, whofe charaJ 
tcrs have been moll injured by flandcrers ; as wc ufually find tbif 
lo be the fweeteft fruit which the birds have been picking at. 3 

The eye of a critic ist)lten like a microfcope, made fo' vcq 
fine and nice, that it difcovers the atoms, grains and minutcS! 
particles, without ever comprehending iftc whole, compatiAg 
the parts, or feeing all at once the harmony. 

Honoris but a fidlitious kind of honedy : a mean h^t stoe- 
ccfiary fubftitute for it, in locieties which have none ; it iVa 
• * fort of paper credit, with which men are obh'ged ^o trade, who 
arc deficient in the fterlirig ciifh of true morality anti religion. 

Perfons of great delicacy (hould know the certainty of the 
following truth : There are abundance of cafes which, occafion 
fufpenfe, in which whatever they determine they will repent of 
their determination, and this thro a propenfily of human nature 
to fancy happinefs in thoie fchemes which it does not purfue« 

CHAR vin. 

WHAT a piece of work is man ! how ft 6 Me in reafon ! how 
infinite in faculties ! in form and moving how exprefs 
and admirable 1 In adlioa how like an angel ! In apprehenfion 
how like a god ! 

If to do, were as eafy as to know what were good to do, 
] cbappeU had been churchesi and poor men's cottages, priacei 



AMERICAN SELECTION- fi 

palaces. He is t good ditrtne that follows hit owtf mftrvAroM 9 
T can eafier teath twenty urlmt were good to be donC| ikta to 
be one of the twenty to follow my own te«chiDg« 

Men^9 evil manners lire in brafe > lher« vtriore we write ihi 
water. 

The web of our life 1% of a mrinjled yanir g€od and ill tdw 
get her ; our virtues vrould be proud, if our faults whipped* 
theiti not \ and our crkii^s would defpair, if they were vM 
cherifhcd by our virtues. 

The fenfe of death is moft in apprehen&on y 
And the poor beetle thai we tread upon, 
In corporal fuff^crance feels a pang as greats 
As when a giant dies* 

How far the little cawlle throws bis bett&f 
So /h/nes a good deed in a naughty wotld« 

■ ' ■ ** »' lu0^t all, tmft a fe Wr 
Da wrong to none ; be ab/e for thine enemy^ 
Rather in power than in ufe : keep thy friend 
Under thy own life^ekey : be chock'UAip filencff 
But never taOcM for fpeech« 

Our iodifcredoo {bmetiaiei fer? esr tfs welf^ 
When our deep plots do fkil : and that (hould teach «f 
There's a divinity that (hapes oar endfr 
Rotigh h<»r them bow we will. 

What ftroTiger breaCb ]^ate than a heart untainled I 
Thrice is he arm'd that bath his quarrel ji>{W 
And he bt« naked fth^ Jock'd up in ftcel > 
Whi]& confciencrwith fojuilice is corrupted* 

The cloud capt towers, the gorgeous pahcety 
The folcm» temples, the great globe iifelf, 
Yea, ail which it mherits, (hall difiiolvc { 
And, like the bafelefs fabnc of a viAoo, 
JLeave not a wreck, behind \ We are fuch ftuS" 
A« dreams are tmde on, and wxt \k%k life 
Is rounded with a fleep* 

■ — So il falls otft. 

That what we h?ve we pri^e not to the won I1 
While we Cip)oy it : but being lack'd and loft, 
Why then we wreak the value ; then we find 
The virtue that pofiVfilon would not fiiew us 
Whilft it was ours. 

Cowards die many times bcf<xre their de*ih« > 
The vaUaat aevar tatlc of daath but oncc» 



ii ■ WEBStfR*d 

There is fomc foul of groodnefs in things cf Hj ' * .J 

l^ould men obfcrvingly diftil it out* J 

tor oijr bad neighbor makes us early ftirrcrs i 
Which is both healthful and good hulhandry* . 
Befides they are ouroutWard confcitnces^, 
Anlipnrach^s to us all ;' admonifhing j 

That we fliould drefs Us fairly [of our end* ^ 

O momentary grace of mortal men> 
Which we more hunt for than the grac^of Grod I 
Who builds his hope in the air df ftoea'd fair lookfi 
Lives like a drunken failor on a maft| 
Ready with every nod to tumble dowit 
Into the fatal bowels of the deep. 

1 , ^Who Ihall go abbUt 

To cozen fortune and be honorable 
Without the (lamp of merit i let aone prefdm^ 
To wear an undcfcrved digtlity« 
O that edatesi degrees and office^ 
Were liot derited corruptlyj that cleai^ hortp^ 
Were purchafed by the merit of the wearer 1 
How many then fhould cover, Xhat (land bare t 
iiovr Qtftnf be commanded* that command ! 

*- ' *Ti8 (lander ! 

Whote edge is (harper ihan a fword ; whofe cOQgttd. 
OutveiiOFfflsaU*tlMi worm^ of I>lite ; Whofe breath 
Rides on the pdfting winds* and doth belie 
All cornets of the world* Kings* queens and date^ 
Maids* matrons* nay* the Crcrets of the gra«e» ^ 

This viperous (lander enters* 

There is a tide in the affairs of rtteil* 
Which* taken at the flood, leads on to fortutie f ', ^1 

Omitted* all the voyage of their life 
Is bound in*(haltow3^ and in mifeties» 

To-mofrow, and to-morrow* and to-morroWf 
Creeps in this pretty fpace. from day to day. 
To the laft fyllable of recorded time. 
And all our yefttrdays. have lighted fools 
The way to dufky death. Out* out, brief candle f 
Life's but a walking (hadow* a poor player, 
That (IrutS'dnd frets his hour upon the ftage* 
And then is h(:ard no more ! It is a tale 
Told by an idiot* fuUof foUnd and fiiryj 
Signifying nothing. 



AMERICAN PEI^CTIOK, . m$ 

Trie ibat would pa^ tlie lattcT patt of his life with honor abd 
[eeency» mytft when he hyoung coniider that he ihall one day bf 
Ui^ and remember when he is dld^ that hp had poce beeojpoMr^^' 
Avarice is always poor, but poor by her own fault. 
The maxim which Pcriandcr of Corinth, one of the fe?ci| 
a^es ^f Greece, left as a memorial of his knowledee and bene^ 
H>lence wa8,M £e mafter of your anger.'* He conudered kngcr 
ts the great didarber of human life ; the chief ^ncmy both of 
>ubHc happinefs and private tranquility, and thought he cottl(| 
kot lay on pofterity a ftrongcr obJtgatioo Co reverenqe hia mcm« 
>ry> that by leaving them* a (ahitary caiition a^nft thia put» 
pageoTis pafiion. 

^he uniyerfal axiom, in which all complaifance ii incladedi 
lind fvom which flow all ^e formalities which cuflom htt efta« 
f»lirhed in civilised nation^ iB»T^** That no man fhooldgivf 
l»ny preference to himfeif," a rule fo conpreh^nfive and certaia 
that perhaps it is not eafy for the mipd to imagiDe an incivility 
^itbout fUppoHng It to bjB broken, 

The foundation pf pontent muft fpnng up in a fhan't owQ 
^lind ; and he who has fo little knowledge of human nature, 
JI6 tafee^ happinefs by changinjir any thing hoc his own difpoiSl 
|toa, will wade his life in fruitless effort 8| and m^ltiply grieft < 
!^hich he purpofea to remove* 

No rank in life precludes the e^cacy of a well timed com* 
^limenu When Queen Elizabeth a(ked an anbaffitdor how he 
liked her ladies, h^ replied, f* it was hard to judge of ilari iQ 
prcfence of the fun." 

The crime lyhich has ppcc been coiprnktcd, is commtlted at 
gain with lefs reln£lance« ' ^ 

The great difturbers pf our happinefs fn this world, are our 
^cfires, our griefs, and our Tears ^ and to all thefe the eovjidftdu 
iwM?ofmorfa/hy is a certain and adequate remedf, •• Think (fiyi^ 
Cpi^etus) frequently on poverty, banifhment and death, and 
^hou wilt never indulge violent dcfires or giye up thy heart to 
inean fentences/^ 

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability 

: that it will be ikorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every 

man to the adivc t»rofecutjQn of whatever he is dcfiroui to per* 

form. It is true that no diligence cs(n alcertain fuccefs r death 

may intercept the fwifteft career ; but he who ib cut of in the 

- execution of an honcA undertaking, has at lea fl the honor of 

ialUng in his rank, and haa fought the battle, though he mifSbd 

' the vifltory. 



When we a£^ iccovdiog •to our .€luvy« ;i^ coamit^he tvcai 
#0 Him by whoCe lawi our «6^lon8 arc governed, aud who w9 
izifFcrnooeiotbe fically punifhcU (or obcdici»cr« But when ia 
f rofped of focne good, .whether «iatuial or moral, we break the 
•aules prefcribed .to us, we withdraw froin the 'duc6iofi of fs- 
perior wifdocHi cod take all .confcqucnoes upon ourfelvea. 

Employ nieiit ia tiic great inAriMDcDt jof inttllci^val doMa* 
]on« 'The ^rmod cannot retiie^from its objeA kilo total ^acaa- 
CYf or tHirn a^de Crom.one objed, but by paffiog to another* 

•Withcirt frugality^ ao&e .can i>e4i(^ i and with it^ very ft« 
^oald be poor« 

Though in every age, thtre are fome, who by bold advra* 
,tnrea.or by favorable accident8» jrife {uddenly -into ^ichea ; the 
btttk of mankind jivuft ^we their laAiience ^o fmall and gtadnlj 
{trofitSi bcjov^ wiiich their expcnces muft be refolutcly reduced* 

A man's aoluMicjr ^jpttx^ fhould not exceed his income^ 

XfCt .not a man antici'i^te nncer&ain prdke. 

The happinefa ol the generality of thef>eopIe la flothisgS 
Ui* not kiiown, and very Httle if h ib not envied. 

To improve the:goldrii moment >of opportunity, and eatcb 
the^Qod t'hat is withioour ^each^ is the gr^eat art of life. Ma-j 
oy .wants are fuffered which might have once been fuppliedij 
and much time is loft in regretting the tiixe which haa beet, 
loft before. 

O«eof ibe^oldeii4>receptSQf /^Mtf'^ortf/dtredstts— -^ That 
9 friend ibouki not be hated iot little foults^'* 

N AA R A T I O N. 

^ ^ C H A P. IX. 

SWIkY of. the C03LER and his SOS. J 

-f . A YOUN^ ma^, foo «f a oebler in a fmall village ncsa 

£\ Madridi having pushed his fortune to the Indies, retarw 
ed t6hit Mtive coontry whh a confiderable ftock, and fet i 
as a Banker in Madrid* In his abfence, his parents frcqtieatj 
talked orhim, prayiftg fervently that Heaven wc^ild take hi 
^nderits protection; aad the vicar being their fnend, gaxi 
ihem frequently the public prayers of the congregatiop for hifl^ 

2. The Banker was not kfs dutiful on his part ; for fo ibol 
as he waa Settled, he mounted on horftback* and went aloy; 
to the village* Ct was ten at night before he got there ; ai 
the honeft cobler was abied with his wifp, in a found, fteej 
when he knocked at the door. Open the doer, fays the ban 
cTf Ms your fon FranciUo. 



AMERICAN, SELECTION. . 93 

3,: Make others bcHcvc that if you can, cried the oldflasui, 
fining from hU fleep ; go about your bufin^^fs, you ihicWiij^ 
rogacai, here is nothing for- you : FranciUo, if not dead, it now 
^n the Indies. Hejs-na longer there, replied the banker; he 
is returned home, and it i« be who^ow Ipcaka 10 you i open 
your* door and receive nim» 

• 4. Jacobo,.faid the womaur let us rife then ;^^J really beliete 
*ti3 Francillo— 1 think I knaw his voice. The father, darting 
from bed, lighted a candle ; and the mother, putting on ker 
gown in a hurry, opened the door. Looking eyrneftly onFran- 
ci Ho, (he flung her arms about his neck, and hugged him with 
the utmoft affcAion, Jacobo embraced bis fon in his turn, and 
9II three, traufportcd with joy after fa long abfence^ had no end 

. in exprefling theit tendetnefs. 

-5. After thefe pleating tranfporti, the. banker pntbishorfe 
. inr«.che /lable, where he found an»ol4 mUc^^cevir,. nurfc to the 
whole family. He then gave the pid f(>\k9 an account of hia 
^ voyage, and of all the riches he had broughi from Peru. They 
lillened greedily, and every tbc lead pacticula/ of his relati«a 
made on them a fenfible impreilion of ..gri^f or joy. Haviug 
finifhed his ftory* he offered tbem a part of his cftatc, and en- 
treated his father. not to work any more. 

* 6« No, my fon, faid Jacobo^ I love my trade, and will noc 
leave it off* Why, replied the banker, is it not now high tine 
to take your esiCe ? Jl 'do* no.t propofe rour living wi:h me ac 
Madrid : 1 kao.w w^ell thata<:ky,lifc will •not pleafe you ; ea« 
joy your own way of h'ving ; but give over your hard labvur, 
•and pafs the remainder of your days in cafe and plenty. 

7, The' mother feconded the fon ; and Jacobo yielded^ 
To pleafe you, Francillo, faid he, I will not work any more for 
the public, but will only mend my own (hoes, and thofeof my 
good friend the vicar. .The^agreement beiag cencloded, the 
banker ate a couple of es^gs and went to his bnd, tnjoying than 
. pieaQi^ fatisfa^ion which none but dutiful .childt en can feel 
or underftand. - • 

S^ The next morning the banker, leaving his parents a purfe 
^of three hundred ducats, retuined t6 Madrid ; bcft was furpriL 
ed to fee Jacobo at his houfe a few days thereafter- My fa- 
iher, -faid he, what briogs you here ^ Franciflo^^nfwered tb< 
' honeftcpbler, I have brought your purfe j taksjtagam j fot 
I dcfire to live by iny trade, and have been r^ady to die ivit) 
uneafittcb ever tincc I left off working. 
.' - • ..... C- ' ' 



^ WEBSTER'S 

' ' C H A P. X. 

hottejly rewarded* 
J» TJERRlNioft both parentf before he could articulate 
J{r their uames, aod was obliged to a charity houfe fur hU 
educttion. At the age of fiftetn he was hired by a iarraer lo 
be a fhepherd, in the neighborhood of Lucctta, who kepi lit t • 
father'* (heep. They often met, i^fid were foud of being to- 
gether. 

Z. Five years thtM pafied, when their fei>fatioii8 became 
nwre ferious. Perrin propofed tp Lucetta toi^jrmand her fiom 
Tier father : She b!ufl)eft| and confeired her AfvilJiBgners. A4 
fhe had an errand to town next day> the opportunity of her 
;;bfence was cbofen for making the propofal. Yoti ^aot tp 
marry my daughter, faid the eld i)el20. Have you a houfe to 
cdver her, or motiey to majiitain her \ {^ucctta's foituneis uq\ 
enough for both, 

3. It won't do, Perriji, it wpn'i do» *Bul, rcph'ed Perrin^ 
I hate bands to work* 1 have laid up twenty crowns of my 
wages which will defray the e^t pence of the wedding. I'U 
work harder, and Isy up more. Well, fald tbe old mun, you 
^rc young, arid may. \yait a little- Get rich apd my daugher 
is ai youi feivice. Peiria waited for Lucctla's return in tUp. 
evening, |Iaj my father given yoa a refufal ? cried Lucettd, 
Ah Lucetta I replied Perrin, hpw unhappy am I for being 
poor ; tut I have no^ Ipft aU V^f^^* My circumfiauces may 
cbange for the better, 

4. As they were uevcr tired of ronverfing together, the 
night drew on» and it becaoie dark^ Perrin making a falfc 
iiep^fell 0(1 the grownd. He foimd a bag, which was lieavy* 
jbrawiog toward a Hght ^u tbe neigbborhood, he found that ijt 
wa« filled with gold. I thank heaven, cries Perrin, in a traaf* 
pert, for being favorabk to our wiflies. This wBJ fatUfy Toar 
father, and make us Tiappy, 

' 5. In their wny to her father'*, houfe, a thought flruck Per-. 
ri\ : This mcney is not purs ; it belongs to ionie (I range r j 
and perhaps thio n^.on^iit he is laar^nting the kft of it.. Let 
ua go to the y^car. for advice~he has always beep kind, to mt.'* 
rcrriii put the bag into the vkrar's hand, faying, that at fifft \\c 
l|»oked up«u it as a prcvii^entia! prefent, to remove the only ob« 
ftaclc to their oairiggc ; but lliat ht- new doubted Vvhcther He 
ftoivM Jawfi^ly retain it. The vicar eyed ^the lovm with at* 
tentitm, " ^ 

0. He adnilfed ihcir honefv^y, which appeared even to furpafs 



AMERICAN SElECTtON. i) 

JtiWir affeflion. l?eniri, faiJ he, cbcrlili thefc fcjitimcntf, heaf* 
en \Vill blefs yon, iV'c wifl endciveur to fiaJ #'Jt the owner ; h* 
will reward thy hoocfty ; I will add what I can fparc j you fliall 
have Liictita » The bdg was Vidvcitifed in the ncwfpapcrs, and 
Cried in the neighboring pariOie?« Some ihhc having elapfedt 
and the money not dcnftnded, the ticarcariied It to Pcrrin : 
7. " Thcfe twelve thoufatvd h'vres bc?r at prcfcul no profit f 
-yoa may renp the interell at Icaft } lay them out in fuch a man- 
ner aato enfui-e the Tarn itfelf tothe owner, ifheniiU appear.'* 
A farm was parc^afcd, ahd the confent of Lncelia's fatncr to 
^lhc marriage wai obtained* Pcrrin waa employed in hufband, 
ry,.anl Lucetta in fanjily affairs. They Jived in pcrfeft cor. 
.diaiityi^nd two children endeartd then dill more to eaeh other/ 
Perrin) oneevenitig returning honaeward from Kia woik^ Cawf 
.diaife oveiCttmed with two gemlemen inir. 

S^ He ran vo their tfliftance, and offertd then) every aecom* 
modation his ikall houfe could a/ForJ, Tbfi fpof cHrd on« ^f 
*t)^e gv^fen»eii|7a very fatii to vac. Ten years tgO| I M. litr^ 
twelve tho'«ifand Uvres. Perrin liftened with atttn^i^'on. What 
fearch m^de yoa for them ? (aid he. It was ftot in my pnwtri 
feplted. the ftrangef, to make any fearch, I was hnrrying to 
l*6rt L'Orient to embark to the Indiesi for the vefTei w»s rea« 
^y to fail. 

9. Ne)tt morning Perrin (hd^lred to his guefls his houlei Ws 
•farden, his cattlej and mentioned the produce of the fields.— 
♦' All thefe are yonr property,'* addrcffing the gentle aistJwhj 
had foil th« bag ; " the money fclj ii5tx) my hands ; I purchafci 
this form wiih it ; the farm is youci* The ? icar has an inftro, 
1»ent whicfi fecurcs your property, tbb* I had died without fee- 
ing you-" The ftranger r?ad,the iaftrument with ediotiOR* 
He looked on Perrin> Lucetta and the children. 

to, Where am I| cried he, and what do I hear ? What vi^, 
toe in people fo low ! Hare yod any othcrr lar^dbtit thia farm I 
N6, replied Perrin ; but yoi wfU ha»>; or jail jn for a tenint 
' and I hope you will allovv mc to remain here. Yoar honeft; 
defer? es a better recompence, anfwcrcd the llmngcr. My fn^ 
ccfa in trade has been grcar, and 1 have-forgot my lots. Yo' 
fer(? well cn:itled to this little Fortune ; keep it n^ yonr own. 

II. What man in the Avorid woiiM ha-ve a^ed like Perrin 
Perrin and Lucetta Acd tears of diffeftion and joy. ** My de-' 
childnen/* fild he, " kifs the hand of your bc^ncfadJor. L 
cettSf this farm now bclonga to u^, and we ean now enjoy 



at WEBSTER'S 

^iihont anxiety or rcmoTfc." Thus was hoocfty rcflrardcA 
Let thofe who d% (ire the reward pradtife it. 

C H A' P. XI. , 
CbcraSerofa Toung Ladj* 
'"/ Q OP^IA 18 not a beauty, but in her prcffnce beaoliea 
O are difconterjtfd with thcmatlves. Art firft (he fcarcely 
appears pretty ; but the'rftore fhe is beheld, the more agree- 
able (lie appears. She gains when ojhcrs lofe, and whht (he 
gaina (he iwver lofcs. She is (qnalled by none in a fweet rx- 
I rcffion of eountenancr ; a'^id witbout da'zzUng beholders ^« 
ir.urcrtsthem. 
* 2. She loTcp drtfif tnd >fl i good judge of it \ dfrfpifcs finery, 
but dreflea with peculiar grace, mixing unaplicity with elegance, 
ignorant (he ii of whit colours are in fafhion \ but knows well 
what fuits her complexion. She covers her beauties; but fo 
(lightly, or Vather artfully, as to give play to the ImagtBatiott. 
w^he prepares herfelf for managing a famfly of her owo, by 
managing that of her father « 

3. Ceokcry is familiar to her, with the price and quality af 
provifions ; and ihe r« a ready accountant. Her chief view, 
however, is to icrvc her mother, and lighten her cares- She 
holds cleannefs, and neatnefs to be indifpendble in a woman ; 
ar^ that a flat tern is difgufting, efpecially if beautifnl. 

4. Tb« attention given to esternal^, does not make her o«' 
veriook her more itaterial dutiei>. Sophia's underftanding la 
foh'd, without being profound. Her fenfibility is loo great for 
IB perfc^ equality of temper ; but her fwectncfs renders that 
inequality harmlefs. A harfh word does not make hcrz-angry ; 
but her heart fwclls, and ihe retires to difburdcn it by weeping-, 

5. Recalled by h^ father and mother, Hie, comes at the in^ 
Hant, wiping her eyes and appearing cheerful. She fufiFcrs >yith. 
patience any wrong done her; but is impatient Co repair.any 

, wrong fhe^ias done, and doers it fo cordially, as to make it ap« 
pear meritorious. If (he happens to difoblige a companioiv, 
Jifr joy ?nd her careiTes, when reflored to favor, fhcw thcbur^ 
then that lay tipon her good heart. 

6. The love of virtue is Sophia's ruling pafiion. She loves itj 
bec'ufe no other thing is fo lovely s She loves it, becaufe it is 
the glory of the female fex : She loves it ad the only road to 
happiftcfSj-mifery being the fure attendant of a woman without 
virtue : She lovss it, as dear to her refpcdlable father and tep- 
^cr mother. Thcfc fentimenta infpirc her with a ^tgxtA of 



. ^ AMfiRICAM SELECTION.- ^ 

tetiihtifiafm, tim elevates hci fauJ, and fabduci evaty irrr^ofjlr 
tappetite. ' . 

7. Of tliC abftftt (he nev^f talk* but with circtiinrptaiofi, 
ker female acquaintance cfpccially. She hai fcmaikcd, lh«t 
what rencfers womferi prone to dcrraf^ion, 19 talking of ihcu* 
u^n fei ; and that they are moie equitable with refpe^ to lh*j 
men. ^ Sfvphia therefore never talks of women, but to pxprefi 
the good /he knowa of ihera : of oihers (he fays nothing. 

8i Without much knowledge of the world, ftic il aitcntitrr, 
ipWigingj and graceful in all fhc daes. A goad difpofiifon doqa 
Iffviich more for her than art does for oihere. She poiTHTea « 
decree of poUtencfs which void of ccremonyt proceeds from ft 
ideiife to pleafe and which confequently never fails to pleafe. 

CHAP* XIT, 
• MoDSSTV, Doubt anU Tmoin Affectio>j. 
V AGATHOCLES and CALISVA. 

t. /T^ALISVA was yoiing and beair.ifu!, endowed with 1 
/W great fliar^of wit add fglid fcn^e, Agaihoclef, whof! 
age very Tittle exceeded hers, wa^ well mide, brave and pru» 
dent. He had the good fortune to be lutroiuceJ xt Calitla ; 
where his Ido^s, wandering indifferently over a numerous cii- 
cle, foon diftingniHied and i\xtd upon her. 

2. But recovering from the fhorl ecftac^ occaHoned by ifce 
livft fight, he immediately reproaclied "bimfelf, as being guilty 
X)[ rudenefs to the reft of tlie company j a fault which he had 
endeavored to corrtfft, by looking round on other objeAs— 
'Va?n attempts ! They were sftrafted by a powerful charw, 
and turned again towards Cah'lla, He blufhed as wdl as (he, 
while a fweet Amotion, till then unfclr, produced a kind of 
fluttering in his heart, and confufion in his connteoance. 
^ 3. They both become at ihe {^rac time more timid and more 
curious. He vC^as pleafed with gaiing at Calida, which he 
^ could not dci without trembling ; while Califta, fecrctly fatif* 
* fied with'\hij flattering preference, caft her eyes on him bV 
'fteahh. Tliey were both under an a^pprehcnfion, 4)ut cfp^ci 
ally Califta, of being caught by the other in the fjjd— and yt 
caught they were alraoft every moment.* . ' * 

4, The hour of feparation came, which to them appeared to 
fudden 5 melanchofy were the reflections they made on* th 
rapidity of time. Imagination, however, did not permit tJicr 
to be entirely abfent from cacl) other j for the image of Cal^^ 
WW dfijfply engraved oa the mii^d of Agatho^leSi and ^/f|at«r 

V 36 



3* - WEBSTER'S 

were ftrongly unprtffed on that of CaliAa. They both appear- 
ed lefe cheerful the reft of the 4>7* A lively fentiment, wlifch 
ihty did not well comprehend themfelTe?* entirely eniployed 
their minda, in fpite of every attempt to divert thcmfelvc*. 

5. Two dayspaffed without feeing one another again, and 
tho this interval .of time had been .filled up either by bu/inerfs or 
recreations, yet they both» notwiihftanding^ experienced a wca- 
rioefs and dil?atisfa6iion in their minds, for which they could 
no way account. But the moment which broc them together 
again, explained it to them : The prrfe^ contentment thej 
Jclt in each other's compai\y» made them fenfiblc of the real 
fourcc of their melancholy. 

6 Agatbocles took more courage that day : He addveflcd 
Califta in a moft obliging manner^ and had the bappinefs to 
converfe with her for the firft time. As yet he had feen onJy 
her outward charms ; but nov^ he difcovered the beaiiiy of 
her mind, the integrity of her heart, the dignity of her fen- 
tfovents, and the delicacy of her wk ; bot what chsumed him 
irofl, was the opinion "tic conceived that fhe did not judge 
him unworthy of her efteem* 

7. Frofi this time he made her frequent vifite j in every 
cne of which be difcovered fome new perfc6lfon in the fair 
Ca'iila. ^ 1 his is the charactcriftfc of true merit ; it gattia by 
ifiag eacpofed to the eye of a judicious perfon. A man of 
Jenfe will soon diflike a coquette, a fool or a giddy woman, r 

■ But \f he fall in love with a woman of merit, time, far from 
\reakemng>'will only ftrengthen and augment his palfion, 

8. The fixed inclination of Agathocles convinced him now» 
t^hat what he frit for Califta, was love and that of a moft ten. 
dcr nature*. This he knew ; tut Califta did not as yet kiiovr 
ir, or at le^ft had not Karnt it from hfa lips. Love fs tinwr- 
ous and dtlRilent. A. bold luiicr is not the feal lover of the 
kdy whom he addf cflcs ; he leeks for noiln'ng but pleafure. 

9. Agathocles at laft refolved to open his heart 10 Califta. f 
but he did not doit in the afF<i6lcd langiiage of a royiantic pa£-' 
fion. " I-.oyeIy Califta^'* fafd he ingeniqufly, ** it is not mere 

» tiilccm that binds me to you, but a moft psfeonate and tender 
]c\c, I fec^ that I cannot live without you : Can you, with- 
fU]t violence to your incKnaiions, confeht to make me happy ? 
I may love .you without oflfcnce ;' 'tis a tribute due to your 
irerit; But may I flatter myfelf with the hopes of feme 
.fmall return V* 

10. A ccoitettc'wouU have aff.dcd to be difpltaCcdai fucb. 



AMERICAN SELECTION: ft 

u dccJaratiQn. Bot -Cali'fta not onlyliftentd to her lo»er with- 
out interrupting hirt^ but anfwer^d liim without ill naturc» 
and gave him leave to hope. Nor did fee put \m cooflancy tp 
a tedious trial : The happin?(3 for which he fibbed was no 
longer dela)ed than was ncceffary to prepare tIjc ccreinony. 

' II. The marriage feitlemtnta were eaG|)[ regulated betwixt 
tlie parlies ; for inleieft was out of the quieftioo : The chitf 
article confided in the mutual exchange of hearts. Which WM 
already fplfilled. What will be the lot of the new matried 
«:ouple I The happieft, I may venture to foretell* thst mortals 

can enjpy upon ea/'th. 

12. No pleafurca arc comparable to ihofe that effr6l the 
"heart, and there arc none, »s 1 have obferved before, that af- 
fedt it with fuch cxquifit delight, as loving and being beloved. 
Xq this tender uiuonwe can never apply the word* of ^cmQ* 

^crt'tus, that theplenfure of la^oiu hui a fkort efiUffy, He meant^ 
without doub:, that mere fenfual plrafure* whirb had fo'lrtlle 
in it of the nature of love, that a man may enjoy it without lov- 
ing, and love wichout ever enjoy ing.it/^ 

13. They will be conllant in thctr love. Thia I dare irtfo t© 
. predifl ; and Iknow the reafoti. Their aflcdlion is not founds 

ed on the d3zz]ing charmi of beauty ; they are both the frienda 
ef virtue ; fhey loye each other on chi9 account. They will 
therefore continue to love as lon^ as thry arc vir iuou&«<^flnd 
their onion itfclf it a pledge of their per fe vera nee— for nothing 
fo mnch fccures our continuance in the paths pf virtue, as to 
.have perpetually before our eyes the example of a perfon whom 
wc love. 

14. Nothing 18 capable of diHurblng their happincfs* but , 
thofc difaftera and mrsf')riune« from which their love cannot 
shelter ihem. But, fappofinrr fuclj a reverie of fortune, would 
not th^irfate in«lh/i re?pe£l^.c common with that of the reft 
of mankind^ Thofc who have never tailed the pleafores of 
love are not exempt from the like cafuahies \ and, the lover 
is, at icaft, a gaiiifCr iV regard to thofe pleafurei, which coalti- 
tute no fmall part of the^hanpinefs of life* 

^ 15. Bcii4<:s, e?en love ittelf, will greatly diminifh the fenfe 
of their misfortunes. For love has the pectih'ar property of a}* 
leviaritig the fufFeil/ig^ of two for.d hearts and of rendering theit 
plcafurci more- exquffite. By this communication of dfftref 
they feem do divide its weight : And on the contraijr» by par. 
ticipation, their fatisfa^ion is doubled. 
\ 16. As a fquadroti of borfc is wi\h jjrcater difficuKy broJtc 



ii vfEBsrik'i ' 

thro by the enemy, in proportfcn to its c!orctt?r2 ; To the bappr 
pair refift ihc attacks of advcrfiiy with fo much ihc more RrcngiJ 
and fucctfs) as ihcy arc the mere dofely united. 

SORROWj PlETT, DETOtlON, FlLlAL OsKDlBMCt, 

Story d/*LA Roghe, 
1. Ik itORE than forty years 9go^ an Engli/h phile/fophcr, 
IVA whefc works have fince been read and .aditiii crd bj 
aV Europe, rcfided at a h'ttle town it France, Some dif appoinr. 
ments in hfs natire conntry I^id Crft driven him abToad^ and be 
^'38 afterwards induced to remain there, from having fouiid li 
his retreat, where the conne£^foifs even of nation and la^gua^e 
were avoided, a perfcd feclufioo and retfremenr, highly &vcr. 
able to the'dcvelopemeiit of abftradl fubjedtsj in which he ex. 
'CcHtd all the Writers of his titec. 

^. Perhaps in the flruAurc of fuch a mind, the finer zti 
more delicate fenfibfh'ties are feldom known to have place ; of, 
ff originally implanted there, are in a great meafurc extingiiffticd 
by the exertions of inlenfe ftudy and profound inteftigation. 

3. Hence the idea that philofophy and unfeeKngnefs are nm^ 
ted, h?8 become proverbial, and in common language the for- 
mer \tord is oftcr ufcd.io exprefs the latter. Our phifofophef 
has been cenfored by feme as deficient in warmth and hcYing) 
hiii the mi!dnefs of his manners has been allowed by all ; Smi 
It is certain that iT he was not eafily melted into compaffion, it 
was, at leaft, not difficalt to awaken his benevolence. 

4. One morning, while he fat bufied in thofe fpeciilationli 
which afterwards aftoniflied the world, an old female domeftfc^ 
who fervid him for a houfc keeper, brocght him word,-that an 
eWer'y gentleman and his daughter had arrived in the village| 
tie preceding evening, on^heir way to fome diftant country, 
ard that the father had been fuc^enly feiz^d in the night «'iih 
a csrtgerotis difordtr, which the people of the inn, where they 
lodged, feared would prove mortal. 

5. That fbe h^becrt fent for as having fome knowledge of 
medicme, the village fn^gexsn being then.abfent ; and that it waft 
truly pitcons to fee the good old man, who fccmed not fo 
tnuch effcdled by his own diftrefs, as by that which it cauftd 
to his daughter. 

6. tier matter kid afide the volume in his hand, and hrbke 
'cfftbc chain of ideas it had infpired. His night go>*n was ex- 
changed for a coat, and he followed his gpveraante to the /ick 
hran's apartment, ft was the beft in the little inn where they 
lay, b'Jl a pahry ooe notwiihftinding* Our philo'fp][;hcr wa» 



AMERICAN, SELECTIOJ^. 

aV>ligcd to (loop as he critercd i>. It was floored wlih c«ri 
tLTid above were the joifts ftot pfajilercd, and hung withcobMrc! 

7. On a flock bed at one eiid, lay the old man whom 
eame to vifii ; at t1ic foot of ii fat hi8 daiigliter. She ^ 
circffed in a clean white bed gown } htr dark locks hong loo 
ly over it as ffie bent forwatd, watching the languid looks 
lier father. The philofopher and his houfe keeper had ftt 
f9inc moments in the room, without the young Jidy'a bci 
TenGj^re of their entering lui 

8. Madcm^iifclle 1 fail the old woman at laft, in a foft to 
fiUe turned nnd (how^ one of the fiweil faces in the world, 
iR^as toiicl^eJ) not fpoiled with furrow ( and Hie pcrcttvr 
Uranger^ whom.the old.waman now introduced to bcr ; a bli 
ftt fir(^9 and then the gentle cereroomal of ntlite politent 
which the affli£kion of the time tempered 1 bul did not est 
gmibf crofied it For a rooment* and changed its cxprtflion* 
was fweetnefs a}J» how'^ver, and our pbiiofopher frit tt ftrong 

9; It was not a time for words 1 he offered his fervice 11 
few (incereones. ** lylonfieur lies miferably illhere}'' fai'd 1 
gOerhentc ; " if he could ploflibly be moved any wherr,'* •• 
he could be moved to our houfe," faid her m^Acr, He ha* 
(pare bed for a friend and there was 1 j^t^Ht foomi unoecupi 
next td the governate'94 It was conlrived aeoor^ingly. 

id. The feruplas of the (Iranger^ who conld look fcrtipl 

though he could not fpeak them, were overcomfs and the ba 

ful reludlance of his daughter gavi way to her belfef of its 

to her fdthen The (ick man was wrapped in blankets and c 

ried acrofs the ftreet to the Enghlh gentleman's. The - 

woman helped ihc (laughter to nurfe him there. The furgc< 

"who arrived fbort after, prefcribcd a little, and nature did mi 

for him ) in a week he was able to 'thank his bcnefad^or, 

I X. By that time his lioft had learned the name and chars 

I er of his gueflr* He was a protedant, and clrrgyman of Sw 

■ acrland, called La Roche^ a' widower,, wjio had lately bui^ 

his wife, after a long and lingering illnc(8,.for which travrlli 

had been prefcribed ; and was now returning home after 

inelFeflual jourae)% with his only child, thi^ daughter wc h 

mentioned, 

12/He was a devout ra^rif as became li»s profeflion. He| 
feflfed devotion in all its warmth, but with none of its afpec 
I feean that-afperity which men, who are called devout, fof 
times indulge. The philofopher, though he fcU na devoid 
never quarrelled with it in others. ^ Hi3 govername Joined. 



^4 WEBSTEli*^ 

olti man and his danglucry in the prayrrs and thankr;2^iinnfl 
wlu'cli he put uji on ihcir recovery ; for fhe too was a h 
•in ihc phrafe of the village* 

• 13. The philcfaphcr walktd out with hia lapg ftsIF and 
* dog, ami leit ihtm lo ihcir prayers ani thiiiksglvingp. «* M 
maibr," faid ihc oU woman, ** alas ! he is not a chriUfan, bi 
he 18 the bed <i^f nnbthevcr*." «* Not a cli: Kllan,'* cxcisii 
Mademolfells; La Roche, *• yet he faved n^y father ! Hcava 
blefs him for it i I would he wei*c a chiiiiiar*/' 

14.. *• Thci'e is a pn'Je in hnmia knowkdge my child,** 'M 
herYaiher, "which oficr blinds men to'the fublimc tniihirf 
revdaiioq ; hence there are oppofers of chriflianiiy among ma 
of virtuous livc9, aa well aa among thofe of diffipated and Iiceo' 
tiooa charattten. Nay fometimet I haT« knovra the laltef 
more eaHly convened to the triu fafth than the former ^ k^ 
caufe the fume of psfBon 19 more eafiiy diilipated tbati tbrimt 
of falfc theory and delulive fpeculaticn.'^ *^ But this ^hilofoi 
pber)" faid hia daughttri *" tka S 117 fadur^ ^ ihatt be a c^if^ 
tian bcfcrc he dies." . ■ - 

15. She was interrnpted by the arrival of their landlord-- 
He took hcV hand with an aii of kindnefs ; fhe drtvir it twf 
froto hrm in fitcnee ; thretv down ker tyet to the grotsnd^ ^ 
left the- room, '* i lubve been thanking God," faid the good 
La Roche " for my recovery.*' " That is right replied the 
landlord.*** I (hould not wiflii,'* contimicd the o\d man, bcfr 
talingly, .** tojhink otherwifej 6\d 1 not look up With*grati« 
tudt: to that Being, I fhpuld barely be fattaiicd «rith my rt* 
tovery, as « continuation of life, which it may be^ is not a re«i 
good." 

16. •* Alas 1 T may* live to wlfli I had died 5 that you had 
left me to dL\c^ lir, inftead of kindly relieving rtic (clafping !b« 
phflofophcr's hand) bot when Tloek on thf« renovated being 
as the gift of the Almighty, Ifeel a far different fentfixienr, 
M-y heart dilates with grratitude and loVe to him. Ic is pre* 
pared for doing his wii', not as a duty but as a pleafure ; aal 
regards every branch bi it not» wit hjdisapprobrlion, bat with 
horror." . 

17. ** You fay right my dear fir,*' ^eplfed the flnlof^hef) 
« but y-du are not yet re.eftablifhed enough td talk much : 
you mult take care of your 4iea1tb, and neitb|r ftudy nor 
preath for fome time. 1 have been thinking over a fchchic 
that ftruok mt to-day^ when you mentioned your intend^'J, 
departure* i-was never ia Switzerland \ I have a gre^t atiali . 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 85 

tq accompany pair daughter and yoo into that country. I 
will help to tak? cave of yon by'thc road, for at 1 w«8 your fiift 
. pbyiican, 1 bold myfclf rcfpoufiblc for your cure." 

x8. La Roch^'j eye* gliftcncd at the propofal ; hii daughter 
was calltd aud told of it. She was equally plcaf«.d with her fa- 
ther tor ihfey rcaUy .Iqv^d their Jandlord ; vol ptthaps the Icfi 
fpr hij joliddlty ; at lead that circumftancc roiaod a iort of pity 
with their, reg^ard for hiro^ Thci'r fouls were not of a mouKl 
for harih feelings-r«-hatred nerer dwelt with them. 

X^s They iravelledpby fliort ftagei \ for the philofoplu^r wat 
a^^^d ai hi£ wordy ia taking care that Uie old man (iioold nuC 
be" fatigued. The parties had time to be well acquainted with 
ot)c aaolhervand their fricodfhip was incrcafcd liy acquaintance* 
La Rocht found a degree of firaplicity and gcailcncfs in hit 
compaaiou, which is not alwaya, wincx^d Jo tlie chaiadcr of a 
. Iss^tncd or a wife inan* 

2Q. Hi's daughter, who was prepared to be a fra/d of htm* 
was tq^nWy {mdcctivt^A She found in hftn nothing of that klf 
importance which luperror parts, or great cultivation of thenii 
; i^ apt to confer. . He talked of every thing but philofophy and 
\ religion ; he fecmed to enjoy erery pltafureaod aanufcmcnt of 
ordinary life, and to bie intereftcd ia the moft ooanroon topict 
of difcoiuTe, When his'knowlcdgc or learning at any i ime ap* 
peared;.it was delivered wiih the utmoft plainaefs, and without 
the leall (how of dogmaiifm* » • 

21. On his f)art he wa3 cbanned with the focicty of the good 
ckrgyroaa and his lovely daughter. .He four.d in them ths 
gaiUlcis manners af the earh'ed tinges, with the cultnrc acd ac« 
[ eompiiniments of the moft refined ones. Ever)' better feehng 
i w^raand tivid ; every ungentle one, pcpre (Fed or ovcrccnoc. 
I H&wwas not addicted to love ; hot he felt himfelf happy, inbe^ 
^ hj^ the ftiemi of MademoifcUe ha Roch^^ and fome times co- 

vied Uer fathci the pcifleffion of fuch ii^ child. 
^ iZr After « journrry of eleven days they arrived at the dw^U 
^ lingof i,ii Ixoc^t It was (jluated Jo orie of thofc vallies in the 
^ C«nton of .Berncy where Tialure fccms to repofe in quiet, and 
b|i cnclufed her retreat with rooantains inacccffible. 

23. A flream, that fp^cnt its fury in the hills above, run m 
irMt of the houfe, and a broken water fall was fern through 
the .woods tha^ covered iis fides. Below, it ctrcleil roimd a 
tufted plain, and farn;cd a little lake in front of a vtlUf;!-, at 
the end ©f vAuch appeared iae fpiic of La Rofh^'i church, ri- 
fuig above a clump of beeches. 

24. The philofupher enjoyed the' beauty of the fccnc ; but 



|6 . WEBSTER'S. • 

lo,h<8 cooipanions it recalled the aicmory of a v*Ifc end parcaT 
ihcy had loft. The old roan's forrow was filent ; hiV daughter 
fobbed and wept. Her father took her hand, kfffed it twicfi 
prefled it to his bofora, threw up his ejes to heaven ; andhai* 
ing wiped oiFa tear that was juft about to drop from each,,begaft 
to point out to hk gueft fonie of the moft llriking objects whick 
the pro{pe6l afforded. The philofopher interpreted all iLisj 
snd he could but (lightly cenfure the creed from which it arcf& 
* 25. They had cot been long arrived, when a number of Z^ 
Koche*i parifhioners, who had heard of his rctuin,camc to tiic 
houfe to fee ?nd welcome bin:. The honed folks were awL 
ward but fincefe, in their profcflionsof friendfliip. They iracV 
some attcmps at condolence ; it was too delicate for their haodi 
ling I but La Roche took it in good part. *^It has pleafc^ 
Cod," faid he ; and they faw he had fettled the matter uiib 
himfrlf. Philofoph^ could not have done fo much with a thou* 
jfand words. 

26. It was now evening, and the ^ood pcafants were about 
te depart, when the clock was heard to Alike fcven, and tie 
. hour was followed by a particular chime. The country folU 
• who came tf> welcome their paftor turned their looks towardi 
him at the found ; he explained their meaoingr to Lis gueft, 
♦' That is the Cgnal," faid he, *♦ for our evening eatercife. 
This is one of tlic nights of the week in which foqae of my 
paViduoners are wont to join in ii ; a little ruAic faloou ferves 
for the chape) of our family, and fuch of the good people as 
are with us ; if you ehofe rather to walkout^ I will furnifh jo^ 
with an attendant ; or here are a few old books which may af^ 
ford you fomc entertainment within." 

'"27. «* By no meansV anfwcred tliC philofopher ; ^^ J wHlat* 
tend Mademoifelle at her devotions." •• She is ourorganift," 
faid JLa Rode; " our neighborhood is the coiintry -of mufical 
mechanilmi and I have a fmall organ, Rtted up for the pur^Dofe 
oFaflifting our finging." *< It is an additional inducenvent,"' 
replied the other, and they walked into ihft rQom|og^iher' 
28, At the end ftood the organ mentit>ned by La Ro^ie ; 
.before it Was a curtain, which his daughter drew afide, and, 
placing herfflf on a feat within, and drawing the curtain clofe,* 
foas to fave her the awkwardnefe of an exhibition, begana vol- 
untary, folemn and beautiful in the highe ft degree. The phi- 
lofopher was uff muficiaii, but he vi'as no^ altogether infcnfcble 
%o mufic. This fattened oa Ijiis mind more ftixjngly, from ill 
leaiuies being uaexpcfted. 



. AMERICAN SELECTION. .37 

29, The iolemo prelude introduced a hjmn lo whicbt foch of 
t'be ;i«d«nc€ as cpuld fing, immediately Joined., The wordt were 
moftly taken itom holy writ ; it fpoke the pratfei of God^ 
and hts.carc of good men. Something was fsid of the death of 

^ the juft ; ot fuch as die in the Lord. The organ wai touched 
.-with a hand lefs fiira— it paiifed — it ceafed^-aad .the fohbing 
.of Madicmoifdle wat heard in its ftead* 

30, Hcf father gave a fign for ftopping the pfalndody, and 
rofe to prayer* He was difcompoied at firft and his voice 
vfaulcered as he fpoke ; but his heart was in hih words, and it« 

wart^th avercome bis bmbarraifment. He addrefled a Bang 
;'wbom he laved and he fpoke for thofe he loved. Hit pariih. 

; ioQcrs caught the ardor of the good old nan, even the philofo* 
j)her feh hi mfelf moved » and forgot for a momenti to think why 
Jie /hopJd not, • 

3 r. Z<a .Roche* f religion was that offentiment not cbcory» 
and his gued was averfe to difputatioQ ; their difcourie did not 
therefore lead to queftions concerning the belief of either ; yet 
would the old man fometimes fpeak of bis, from the feelings 06 
a-beart impreffed with its force, an4 wi(hing to fpread the plea> 
-fare he enjoyed in 4% 

32. The ideas of hfs God and his Saviour, were fo conge- 
^nialto {lis mind, that every emotion of it naturally awakened 
iliem. A philofopher might have callrd him an enthufiaft ; 
but if he poiTefied the fervor of emhufiafts, he was guiltleCs 
jof their bigotry. «* Our father who are in heaven !'* might 
-;the good old man fay^^for he felt it — and all mankind were 
Ill's brcthre^i. 

33» " Yon regret, ray friend,** fa:d he to the philofopher^ 
M when my daughter and I talk of the ezquifite pleafure de« 
f lyed from miific ; you regret your want of muAcal powere 
and mufical feelings : it is a department of foul, you fay, which 

: nature has almoft denied you, which, from the effeds you fee 

' ' it have on others, you are fare niuft be highly delightf^iL 

34- " Why fiiould not the fame thing be faid of religion I 
Truft me, I feel it in the fame way, an energy, an infpiratiooy 
which I would not lofe for all the bleffingt of feafe, or enjoy- 
ments of the world ; yet fo far from leiToning toy rclifh of the 
^eiifuresoi life that I feel it heightens them aH. 

' 3f. •« Th« tliought of receiving it from God, addi the blef- 
fing of fentimenc to that ot fenfation, in every good thing 
which 1 pofftfs I and when calanrirics overtake me, and I hav« 

D 



3«. WEBSTER'S 

h'ad my fliare, It confers a digaity on my affliction, and fa 
liits me above the. worlti. Man, I know^ is btit a v^o^m, yc( 
mcthinkd 1 ain allied to God !" It would have been iiibuman 
in our p*hilofoplu;r to cloudy even witb a doubt, the funniin^ of 
hw belief. * • . . 

• 36. His difcourfe, icdeed, was very remote from metaphyr 
fical dirquifition or religious contro^erfy, Ot all rncn I ever 
knew, his 'ordinary cotiverfaiion was the leaft iin<^urcd v. ith 
pedantry, or liable to diiTertation, With La Reche and bl« 
daughter, it was perfe£^ly familiar* 

•37. The country round. then), the manners of the village, 
the comparifon of both with thofe of England, renvarks^ oq tl»e 
works of favorite authors, oa the fcntiraents thfy conveyed, 
and thepafTions th^y excked, v/ilh many other topies in vihtcii 
there was an t quality > or alutnate advantage, among x2ic 
fpeakers, were the fubjc^s they tglked of. 

*38. Their hours too of riding and walking. were pianyt ia 
which the pliilofophcr, as a flranger, was fhown the rcmaika-. 
ble fcenefl and curiofiUes of the country. They would feme- 
timtS make little expeditions^ to comicmplate, in different at- 
titude?, thofe aftonifliing mountains; the cjifis of which, .cov- 
ered with" eternal fnow, and fometimes fhooti»)g into frantic 
fltapes, from the termination of naoft of the Svrifs prpfpeQs. 

39, Our philofopher ail<ed many qucftions, as. tp \h^ na- 
taral hidoTvand produdtipas* La Rsche obferved the ,5ub. 
limity of the ideas which the view of ihefe flupcndous funsmits, 
inacctfTil/lc to martal foot, was cul«;u}ated to itifpire, which faid> 
lie, naturally leads the mind to that Being, by whom their foun- 
dations we^c laid. *' They Sire not fccn in Flanders," faid MajC- 
cmoifcllc, with a figh, *< That is an odd renjark," faid the phi- 
lofopher frailing. She tlufl^ed, and l^c enquired no farther.* 

40, It was with regret hp left a fociety in which he found 
hjmfclf fo happy 5 but he f<itil(?d vvitfc La Rode and Jw^ daugh- 
ter a plan-of correfppndenee ; and tbey took his piottJfc, that 
if ever he came within fifty leagues of their dwelling, he would 
travel thofe fifty If agues to vifit ihcra. . , 

41, About three years after, our pliilofcp4ier W35 on.a vifif 

* Tlie plii'Dfophtr was a rtiidcnt in Flanders, and a fcfptir. This 
rejjrrufof hia iRfuleUty is inimitably delicate. In Qioft, ihie whole 
HiBXTj is a.h^aulijul fa'/ircon dt fm, bigotay and mciaphiBcai theology^ 
whii« \\ paibtB unafi"c<5\^d vjyiuc, benevolence and piety. in the mojl 
'•^^aging colours. ' ' . _. • ' 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 59 

at Geneva ; the promlfe he made 10 La Ruche and hfs daugh- 
• ter, on his former vifit, was recalled to his min'!, by ihe victv 
. t>f that range af lAountams, on a part of which they had oftca 
[ooked together* 

42. There was a reproach too, conveyed along with tbere^ 
colledion, for his having failed to write lo cither of ihero for 
feverai niontha paft. The troth was that indolence wat the 
habit moft natural to him, from which he wa« not cafily rouf- 
ed'by the claims of correfpondence either of bit frieiula or his 
enemies ^ when tht latter dre;v their pens in controverfy, they 
were often unanfwered as well as the former. 

45. While he was hefitating abojt a vifit to J^a Roc/^c, 
which he wifhed to make, but f»und the effort rather'too raucb 
for him, he received a letter fro« the old man^ which hi J 
been for«Vatded'to him from P^vn, w\i4!re he bad then Axed his 

44. It contained a gentle complaiat of the philoCbpher'j 
Want of pttn^uali'ty, bnt an afTitiance of continued giatiaid * 
for his former good offices, and as a friend wh')rxi the writer 
contidered interefted in his family, it informed him of tht: up. 
preaching n^ptiald of Mademoifelle La Roche^ with a yniin^ 
tnah, a ralatiot? of her own, and formerly a pnpil of her father* 
<6f the nioft noble difpofftioQyaad n-fpedable diaraftcr. 

4|« Attached from there earlieft^ ydar», they had been fepa^ 
rated by his joining one of the fublidlary regiments of the 
Canton, thee in the fervice of a foreign power. In this fit u- 
atfofty he had diftinguilhed himfeif as much for courage and 
military fkill, aa for the other endowments' which he had cul- 
tivated at home. The term of his fervice waa poW expired, 
.and they expe6kd him to return in a few weeks, when the 
old man hoped, aa he exprefled it in his ietti:r, (o join iheii 
hands and fee them happy« x 

46. Our phHofopher felt himfeif intercfled in this event 
but he was not; perhaps, altoj^ether fo happy in the t:i!'M;!;s c 
Madesj^oifcllc LaRaehe^i mairrrage, a& her fr.ilior fuppoffx^ Kin 
Not that he ever was a lover of the lady ; but he tliuiight h 
one of the mod amiable women he^had feent; and there w 
fomething in the idea of her being another's forever^ that ftu' 
him, he knew not why, like a disappoinrment,^ 

47. 'After fome little fpeculaiion on the matter, howcv 
he could look on- it as a ihing fitting, if not quite agieeal 
ind determined on his vifit, to fee his old friend and da'Jj 
tcr happy. ^ ^ 



<o WEBSTER'S 

. 48. On the lad Jay of his jourpeyt different accidents had 
irurdcd his progrefs ; he was beoightcd before he rcacbed 
the quarter in which Ls Roche reiided. Hia guide however, 
was well acqiiainiiid with the road, and he found himlcif In 
view of th^ lake, which I have before defcnbed, in the ncigb. 
borhoodxtf La Rochf*s dwclJing. 

. 49. A light gleamed on the water» that fcemed to procee^d 
frbm the houfe : it moved ilovvly albog as he proceeded up the 
f)deof the lake, and at latl he faw it glimmering thro the tree?, 
and flop at feme diflcince from ti'c place where he then was. 

50. He fui^pofcS it fome rJece of bridal merriment aai 
^ uihcd ou lii'i hoife that he might be a fpc£lator of the fceoc; 
tut he was a good deal (hocked, on approaching the fpot to 
£n j it to be the torch of a perfon doathed in the d^efa of aa 
attendant on a funerali and ^accompanied by feveral others, 
^'ho. like him, feemed to have been employed in the ritetof 
iVpulturi^ 

51. On the philofopher'a making enquiry who was the per*. 
fori they had been burying \ One of them with an accent 
more mournful than is common to their profeffion, anfweTed, 
** then you knew not "Madamoifelle, fir, you never beheld a 
Jovclier" — " La Roche /*' exclaimed he, in reply — «« Alas, it 
was fhe indeed V* The appearance of grief and furprife whick 
Uli countenance aflumed, attradled the notice of the pea^t 
1^'ith whom he talked. 

52. He came up clofe to the pbilofopher — " I perceive yoa 
were acquainted with Mademoifclle La Loche^^* *• Acquaint- 
ed with her ! Good God ! when — how. — where did (he die ? 
Where is her father ?" " She died, lir, of heart-break, I be- 
lieve ; the young gentleman to whom (he was foon to be mar- 
ried, was kiUer« in a duel by ;a French ofiS^er, his intimate 
companion, and to whom before there quairel, he had often 
done the greated favors. 

55* ** Her worthy father bears her death, as he has often 
told us a chriftian (hould. He is even fo compofed, as to be 
now in his pulpit, ready to deliver a few exhorcatioiis to his 
parifhioners as is the cullom wiih us on fuch occafions. Fol<; 
low me, fir, and you (hall hear him.'^' He followed the mm 
without anfwcring.* 

54;Tlie church was dimly lighted, except near the pulpit, 
where the venerable^ La Roche was feated. • His people were 
now lifting up their voices to that Bein* whom th^ir paftor 
had taught them c^ar to blefs and revere. La Rocbc fit, bis 



"AMERtCAM SfeLECTION. M 

ftgure bendin^T gently forward, his eyes haU clofed, Kfted up m 
lilenf devotion. A latap lay placed near him, threw a light 
ftrongly on his head, and marked the (hadowy hncs of his age 
^<:rof8 the palenefs of his.brow, thinly covered w.th grryhairjf. 

$S. The raufic ceafed— Xa Roche fat for a moment, and na- , 
f ure wrung a few tears from him. His people were loud id 
their grief* The philofopher was not kfs at^t-acd than they* 
JLd Roch£ arofe »' Father of mercic?," faid he, " forgive thclt. 
tears ; aflift thy fcrvant to lifi up hia foul to thee ; to lift t6 
thee the fouls of thy pedplc ! My friends, it is good foto do ; 
at all feafons it is good ; but in the days of our diftrcfs, what^ 
fit privi'.ege it is I Well faith the facrcd book, • Truft in the 
i-iOrd ; at all times truft in the Lord/ 

56, " When every other fupport falls us ; when the fonti.- 
tains of worldly comfort arc dried up, let us then fctk thofc 
living waters which i3ow. from the throne of God. It is only, 
from the beh'ef of the goodncfs and wifdom oYa Suprcmz Being, 
that our calamities can be borncjn a manned which becpmci 
ti mank ^ . 

57, « Human wifdom is here of little^ufe ; for in proportion 
as it bellows comfort, itVeprclTcs feeling, without which wc 
tnay ceafe to be hurt by calamity, but wc (hall.alfo ccafe to crt- 
"joy happiifcfs* I will not bid you be infcnlible, my friends ! I 

. cannot. .. , 

58, «* t feel too much myfclf, and 1 ain not alhamcd of my 
fceiiiigs t but therefore may I the more willingly be heard ; 
therefore have I prayed God to ^xvt jnc ftrength to fpcak to 
you ; to diredi you to him, not with empty words, but with 
thefe tears ; rio\ from fpcculation, but from experience ; that 
while you fee me fufFer, you may know alfo my confolation, 

59» " You behold the mourner of hii only child, tKe laft 
Tcarihiy ftay and bleffing of his declining years ! Such a child 
top { It becomes not mc to fpeak of her virtues ; yet it is but 
grateful to mention them, becaufe they ^/erc exerted towards 
im'felf* Not many days ago you faw her ^oung,' beautiful, 
virtuous and happy ; yc who are parents will jwlgc of. my af- 
llidlion now* But I look trrwards him who ftruck m^ j 1 fee 
the hand of a father amidft the challenings of my God»' 

60. " Oh ! . could I make', ymi feel what it is td poar but 
the heart when it is prefled down yvilh many forrows ; to pour' 
it out with confidence to him in whofe hands ^rtlife and death ; , 
00 whofc' power awaits ^11 that ihejirfi enjoys, and in coutcau 

D z 



42 WEBSTER'S • 

plation of whom dtfappears al] that the lafi csa iDfld ! For mt 
are not as thofe who die whliout hope ; we ktiow that cur 
Kedecmer livcth.; that we /hall Jive wfih hiin» wiihonr fricncsi 
his fervants, in tlm blflTed land, whers foiTOW k unknown, 
and happinefs a» eadlcb as it is perfeA. 

6i. ** Go then, moiirt^ not for me ; [ have not loft my child 1 
Cut a little while and we (hall meet afj^atn never to be feparau 
ted. But ye are alfo my childrei?. Would ye that I fhould 
not grieve without, comfort ? So live as Hie Hved ^ that when 
your death (hall come, it may be the death of the i:ightcoiUr 
«nd your latter end like his." 

62: ^Such wa2» \\\i exhortation ol La Roche ; his andieoce 
anfwered i( with tears. The good uld man had dried up hi% 
at the altar of the Lord ; his countenance had loil its fadocf% 
and afTun^ed the glow of faiili and hope. 1 he philosopher fcL 
lowed him into \\h houfe. 

63. The infpira-tion of the pulpit was paft f the fceoes ibey 
had lail'met in, rulhed again ou hrs mind ; La Roche threw his 
&rms around his neck and wtfiered it with his tears. The other 
was epually afl'c6ted 5 they went together in filence intp the 
paiicur, where the evening fervice was wont to be performed* 

6^. I'he curtains of tl;e organ weie opened ; La Rocht 
ftaried back at the fight—** Oh my friend," (aid he, and hit 
tears burft forth again. The philofopher had now recolleded 
Limri.lf ; he ftept forward and drew the curtain clofe, , The old 
loan wiped offhis tear?, and taking bis friend by the hand* '' }oa 
iee my wcaknefs," faid he, •' tis the wcaknefs of humaoity 5 
but my comfort is not therefore loft." 

C$* «' I heard "you," fafd the other, «< in the pulpit ; I re- 
joice that fuch confolation is yours." " It is my friend faid 
iic, **'Gud 1 troft I (hall ever hold it faft* If there are any who 
doubt our faith, let ihcra think of what importance religion '\% 
to calamity, . and forbear to weaken iis force ; if i hey cannot 
leftorcouw liappinefi^ let them not take away the folacc of our 
afflidion." 

<;6. The philofophcr's heart was fmitten.; and I have heard 
him long after confcis, that there were mo jiients, when the re. 
membiaace overcimc him even to weaknefs ; when amid ft all 
\\i£ plearures of plulofophical difcovcry, and the pride of lite- 
isiyfame, he called to^miod the venerable figure of the good 
La Rq^c^ and wiilied that tic had never doubled. 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 4j 

♦ . . " * * 

FttntralafGRHfikAL FuJiMty near Saraf9gd. 
Related ky G&N, BurcoTNM, 
I • A BOUT funfct the corps of General. Frafcr was brought 
Xa. up* tlic hill attended oaly by the officers who had liv- 
ed in his family. To arrive kl the redoubi, ir paffed within 
^tcw of the greatcft part of both armicsi - 

a- General Philhps, General Rcidcfel and myfelf, who were 
{landing together, were (Iruck with the humility of the piO» 
ccffion : They who were ignorant that privacy had been re* 
<iuefled by General Frafcr, might afcribe k to negleft. 

3, Wc could neither endure that rcflcftioni hor indeed re* 
ftrain our natural propenfity to pay our laft attention to his re* 
nvaiss. We joined ihe proceflion and were wiuiciTeaof the af- 
fecting fccne that enfu#d» 

4, The inccffaat cannona'<Je daring the folettwify t the ft ear* 
Jy attitude and unalterable voice of the chaplain who officiat* 
eds tho frequently covered with duft, ffom the (hot which the 
American arc ilkry threw around us ; the mutC) but exprelRve 
mixture of fcnHbiiity and indignation upon every countenance ; 
llifffe ohjc6ls will remain to the laft of life on the midc^ of eve* 
ry Bian who was prcfent* 

5, The growing duflcineU of the evening added to the fee- 
- nery^and the whole markcdsr cbarader of that jundure, that 

would make one of the (incd fubjeds for the pencil of. a mafter 
' that the field ever exhlbitedi 

6« To ihecanv^^s and to the faithful page of a more Import 
tant hiftocian, gallant fiicDd^ I conftgn thy xncmory. 

StOrV OF'Lai>v HARkiEt AcKtAvD^iy Gen* Burgbyntk 
J . T AD Y* Hairiet Ackland had accompanied her hufband to 

* Sl^ Canada, in the beginning of the year 1776. In the' 
courfe of that campaign (he had travcrfcd a vaft fpace of coun« 

[• try, in^diflfcrent e'xtremiifes of feafon,' and with difficuhies that 

f an £i)ropean traveller will not eafily coni:eiv^, to attend^ in a 

' - poor hut at Chanoblee, upon his fick bed. 

2* In the opening of the campaign of 1777, (he was re*, 
flrained, by the pofitive injundtions uf her hu&and, from of- 
fering herfelf to a fli are of the fjuigue and hazard ejipc6l(id be- 
fore Ticoaderoga. The day after the conqueft of that p'ace, 
Ks \^a$ badly wounded, and niecroilcd the LakeXhampiain to 
join him* ^ • 

3. As foon as he recovered, Lady Harriet proceeded tofol- 

i low his fortunes thro the campaign, and at J:'ort Edwatd. 



4^ WEBSTER'S 

the next campf obtained • two wheel tumbril, whicli tad 
conftni(acd by tbc artificers of the artillery, fomethiii^ fii 
to tKc carriage ufed for the mail upon the great roads in £i 
land. , 

4. Major Acktand commanded the Britifh grenadiers, wM 
V^erc attached to General Frafer's body of the army, and coi 
feqncntly were always the moft adtanced poft. Their fituatkal 
-^vere often fo alert, that no perfon (3ept out of his clothes. 

5. In one of thcfc fituations, a tent in'which the Major al 
his lady were aflecp, fuddenly took fire. An orderly Icijcai 
•of the grenadiers, with great h:»zard of fufiTocation, drag^ 
out the lif ft pcffon he caught hold of. It proved to be theMajofi 

6. It happened, that in the fame Inftaiit, not knowing vhi! 
(he did, and perhaps not perfeAly awal^c/providciiciall/ wB^t 
her efcape, by creeping under the walls of the back part of 
the tcntr , 

7. The firft objeft fhe Taw, upon tho recovery of her i€0» 
tral the Major on the other fide, and in the fantic irtftant a^ 
in rtie fire, in fearch of her. The fcrjeant ag&tn faved m 
but noLwithout the Major's being fcvcrely burnt in his faccani 
other parts of big body. Every thing ihcy had in the tent vt 
confunnrd. 

?[, This accidetit happened a' little time before ih^ ^^[ 
paffed the Hudfon. It neither altered the refohition vox ti| 
cheerfukefs of Lady Harriet j and fhe continued her progrw 
IB ptir^akcr of the fatigues of the advanced body. The b«^ 
calj upon her fortitude was of a different nature, and more dif 
treffing, as of longer fufpenfe* 

9.' On the march of the I9lh of SejitTCmber, the gretiadicrJ 

being liable to afiion at every (Icp, fhe h?d been dircfted tf 

the Major to follow the artillery and baggage, which were.QO^^ 

expofcd* At the time the adlion began, (he found hertfj 

/Dear a fmall uninhabited hut, where^fhe alighted. 

10. When it w^s found the sdiion was becoming general and 
bloody, the furgcons of the hofpital took poflefTion of the tu'i 

-«S the' moft cOBvenietit place for the firft care of the wounded. 
Thus was this Lady in heating of one continued iire of cann^^ 
and*mufquetry for four hours- together, w"ith the prefumpli^'* 
from' the poft of htr hufband at the head of the greoadiersj (^^ 
he was in the moft cjCpofj-d part of the aftion. 

1 1. Shehad three female QompanionSj the baronefs of Rei«I' 
efcl, and (he wfves of two Britifh officers, Major Harnage a"^ 
Lictttenani Reytiell i but in the CTent their prefeace ktfd 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 4j 

but Utile for comf&rt* Mzijdr Harntge was foon brought to 
.the furgeons, very badly wounded ; and a liule time after 
came iatelligenec that LieuteoaDt Rcynell was (hot dead. 
Imagination will want no helps to figure the date of the whole 
group. 

12. From the date of that a^lioa to the 7th of October,, 
Lady Harriet, with her ufual fcrenity, ftood prepariiory for 
new trials ; and it was her lot that their fcvcrity increafed with 
their numbers. She was again expofed to the hearing of the 
whole adion» afld at lad received the Hiock of ber individaaf 
miifgrtdnp, mixed with the intelligence of the general calami* 
iiy ; the troops were defeatedi and Major Ackland defparatdy 
wounded, was ar prifoner. 

13. The day of the 8th was paflcd by this Lady,. and har 
companions in common anxiety— not a tent nor a fhcd being 
ftand/i^, exccj^t what belonged to Che hofpital, their refuge 
was among the wounded and dying, 

14. During a halt of the army, in the retreat of the 8th. of 
Odobei^' I received a a>eflage from Lady Harriet, fubmitting 
to my decifkui a propofa^ of palling to the American camp, 
aqd reqiielUng GeneralGates's permif&on to attend her hui[b3nd. 

. i5< Tho 1 was ready to believCf for I ,had experfenoed, that 
patience and fortitude, in a fupreme degree, vi'ere to "be found, 
is well as every other virtue, under the moft tender forms, I 
was aftoniihed at this propiofal. 

16. After fojong an agitation of the fpirits, eshauHed nort 
©rfy for want of reft, but want of food, drenched in rain? for 
UrcUs Hours together, that a woman fhould be capable of fuch 
Bq nndertaking as delivering herfelf to the enemy, probably 
fa the night and uncertain what hands (he might firft fall into, 
ippealred ao effort above human nature. 
[15. The afliftancc t was enabled to give was fm all indeed* 
I had not even a cup of wine to ofiVr her ; but a was told (lie 
^ad found, from {ome kind and fortunate hand, ^a little rum 
»d dirty water. All I could furnifli to her was an open boat 
ittdafew lines, written on dirt) wet paper, to General Gated). 
f«c6mmending her to his protetSlion* 

18. Mr. Brudenell, the chaplain, who had ofEciatrd at the 
aoetal of General Farfer, readily undertook to aciiompany her. 
ttd with one female fei van t and the Major's vale;, who had 
fen in his fhoulder a ball received in 'the late action, ihe row- 
rid m the river to mrcet the. enemy. Bat her diftrcfles were 
fe« at an end.. 



46 W£BSTER*3 

19. The night was adranccd before the baat mchici 
enemy's out pod, and the centinfl would not let it pa(v 
even cttmtxon (hore. In vain Mr. Brudenelt of^rcd the B 
truce, and rep re fen ted the ftatc of the exiiaordjn?.ry pa£ 
The guard, apprchenfivcof trcachcr)% and pundtilious lo 
orders threatened to tire into the boat, if it ftirred ' 
day-Iight» 

20. Her anxiety aad fuifcring were thus piotra£icd tli 
fevcn or eight dark and cold hours 3 and her redc£tion6U| 
that firlt reception could not give her very cftcouraging idi 
of the treatment (lie was afterwiards to expe6V. But it^* 
to judice at the dofe of this adventure to fay, that fee wssj 
ceived and accommodated by General Gates, with all ui<\ 
inanity and tefpedt, that her rank, her merits and her fortsi 
dcfcrved. 

21/ Let fuch as are alFeded by thcfecircumftafices ©{ahn 
hardfliip and danger, recoUcA, that the fubjeft of tlie«wif 
woman j of a moft tender and dek'eate frame j of the grti 
maonera ; accuiloraed to all the foft elegances and refintd( 
joymcnt that attend high birth and fortune, and fAf adv»ei 
in a Hate in which the tender cares always due to- her frt^ 
Come indiCpenfably ncccffary. Htr miud alone Wau^tBrmi^ 

fuch trials. ■ " 

AnvENttJRts d/ General Put^iam . 
J» In the month of Auguft, five hundred men were e«np'^ 

JL ed, under the orders of the Major's ^.©(^ers and PuwisJ 
to watch the motions of the enemy near Ticondcroj'a. ^ 
South Bay they feparated the party into two equal diviM 
and Rogers took a pofition on Wood Creek twelve ttaki dS 
tailt from Putnam. • ^ . | 

2. Upon being, foole time afterward, difcovered^ t^^ 
formed a re-union and concerted mcafures for returning toFor^ 
Edward. Their march thro the woods was in three divifan^ 
by FILES, the wright commanded by Rogers, the left by P"'< 
nam and thcicentre by Captain- D'Ell. The firft night tkf 
encamped on the banks of Cfear Bher^ ;?boiit a mile from olo 
Fort Ann, which had been formerly built by G*in, Nicholfo»' 

3, Next morning. Major Rogers and a Briiifh o^^c&\ 
named Irwinj incautioufly foffcred themfelves, from a fp''^^' 
of falfc em«lationj to be engagcfl in firing at^a mark, N^^"' 
ing could jiavc been more repugnant to the military principle* 
of Putnam than fuch coududt or repiobattd by him in . mo^^ 
pointed' terms, . 

I 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 4f 

14. As f(KMTas the heavy dew tvkich had hV.£n the preceding 
pighl wouljd p?r|iii;, chc detachment moved in one body, Put- 
nam being ii> front , D'Ell in centre and Rogers in the rear. 
The imperwiou« growth of flarub» Sfcd undtibiufh iha^ had 
'fprung up, where the land had been partially cleared fome ycara 
before, occafioned this change in ihe order of qiarch, 

5. At the moment of movm^, the famoift French pariizan 
Mblang, who had been fent wiih five l/'ii !• 1 tr.cn to intercept 
Diirjiariy, was i:ot more than one m u- a. 1 an half d:ft:inl from 
them. Having heafd the ftitng, he halted to Iry an ambuf- 
cade' precil/iy in that part of the w^ood mod favorable to his 
proje^h Major f uttpan was juft emerging from the thicket 
into the common foreft, when the enemy role, and with difcor. 
dant yells and whoops, commenceiL an attack upon the right 
of I|i« divifioD. 

6. SarprifeiJ, but undifmayed, Putnam baited, returned, the 
ire and pafllJd the >¥ord fojr the othci; divifions to advance for 
hfs fuppoit. P'EU came, Tkeadli'on though Widely feat- 
jtcred and prljacip^Jy* foiight between man and man, loon grew 
geDcraland1nte.»4fcVy warm. It would be as dliiieiill as nfcfefi 

^ ^ddefcribe thli-rrt^guht and ferpcioua m.pde of fighting. 

7. Major Putnamr, perceiving it would be impradicable to 
; crofs the erejek, det^f mined to maintain his ground. Infpired 
: hy Lis example, the ofHccrs and men behaved wiih gr«at bra^ 
1 yay ; fometimes they fought aggregately in open view, and 
I jgrcetime'd individually under cover ^ taking aim from behind 
\ the bodies of ti^ees and atting^in a maoqer independent of eacb 
[other, " ' ^ ../'■'■ 

I 8. For himfelf, h^Tiiig difchargqd hfs fyzce fcvcral time?, 
length it raiiRd fire, while the nj«z:Sc y^as preffed againft i. 
I brcafl of a large and well proportion^ Tallage. This warrm ^ 
availing hJnnfelf pf the indefenfible at<iitude of hie adverfaryi 
with a tremendu6u8 waf whoop, fprang forward, with his lifted 
latchet, and compelled him to furrender ; and having difarnicd 
.»pd bound hira f^fl to a tree, returned tp the battle, 

f Tfie intrepid captains D'Ell a*nd Harrpsn, wht) now com* 
m ed, were prced tb give grpm^d for a little diftance ; the" 
(a? cs conceiving; this to be tlje certain harbinger of victory, 
rirf d impetuoufly op, with dreadful and redoubled criefiit 
Bu ur two pajtiz^ns, coliedling a handful of brave men, gave 
^tt rfuers fo wara a reception as tO'Oblige there, \n turn, to 
Tct a little ^beyond th^ fpot at *yhich- the a^lio^ had com. 
^^ \ Here they made a (land, - 

r 



4» wpBsrr.R's 

,io. This phauge of ground occafioned the tree to which 
Putnam was tied to be direAly betwce^n the fire of the tyro pir- 
tfrs. Human imowiginatmn can hardly figurcr tp i(feif a rnqr^ 
deplorable fityation, Tht balls flew inccflaBlly frOqi either 
fide, many ftruck tlic tree, while feme pafled through the 
fleevcs and flcirts of his coat. In this ftate of jeopardy, unabJe 
to move hrs body, fo llir his limbs, preyen to indine his head, 
ht remained more than an houi'. So equally balanced and (q 
obftinatc was the right 1 

1 1. At one moment* nvhHe the battle fwcrvcd in favor of the 
enemy, a youg iavage phofe an odd way of difcoveribg hie hu- 
mor. Hl found Put nam Tjound, H.e might have difpatchcd 
him in a blow. But he loved better to iexcite the' terrors of 
the priioner, by hurling a tomahawk at his head-— or rather it 
fiiould fecm his objeA was to fee how near he could throw it 
without touching him-r-tbei;7eapon ftruck in the tree a number 
of tim^ei at a hair's breath diftance fi;om the mark* 

12. When the Indian had finifhed his amufementy a French 
Bas^Oificer (a much more inveterate favage by nature, though 
defc ended from fo humane and polifhed a nation) perceiving 

' Pu nam, capoe up to him, and levelling a fuzee within a foot ol 
his brestft attempted to difcharge it ; it miffed fire— rineffcda. 
ally did the intended vidim folicit the treatment du^e to his fit. 
nation, by rcpjeating that he was a prifoner pf ?var. 

13. The degenerate Frenchman did not underftand the lan- 
guage of honor or of nature : deaf to their voice and dead, tq 
fcitfibility, he violently and repeatedly pufhed the muzzle of hif 
gun againft Putnam's ribs, and finally gave hira a cruel blow 
on .the jaw with the butt^of his piece. After this daflardlj 
deed he lefi hinr.. - 

- 14. Ai length the aiftive intrepidity of D* EH and Harxnan, 
f^cended by the perfevenng valor of their followers, prevailed. 
They drove from thei field the eucmy,* who left about ninety 
dead behind them. As they were retiring Putnam was nnttcd 
by the Indian who had made him prifoner, and whom be after- 
wards called mafter. • 

15. Having been ccndu61ed for feme diflaiyce from the place 
of action he was ftripped of his coat, veft, (lockings and (hoes ; 
traded with as iiany of the packs of the wounded as could be 
piled upon him ftrongly pinioned, and his wrifo tjcd as clofely 
logeiher as they could be pulled with a cord* 

16. After he had marchct3^ ihrpu|;h no plcafant paths, 14 

1 



AMERICAN SELECTION- . 49 

tkis p&irtfvH manner for many a tedious mlk 1 the p^tj; (who 
»rcre cxccffively fatigued) halted to breathe. His hand| were 
«jow immoderately fwelkd from the lightncfs of the li'gatarc | 
^nd the paxil had become f[(itolerable% . His feet were fo muck 

. ieratched that the blood dropped f»ft from theiq^ 

17. Exhauftcd with, bearing a burden above his ftreDgth^ 
and frantic with torments exquifice beyond endurance ; he ea« 
treated the Irifh interpreter to implore as the lad and only 
grjicc he defired of the favages, that they would knock him 
j>n the head and take his fcalp at once or loofe his hands. 
.18, A French officer inftantly iaterpofing, ordered hfi 

: ^liands to be unbound, and fome of the packs to be taken o(F» 
By this time the Indian who captured him, and had been ab- 
fenc with the wounded, coming up, gave him a pair of moca. 
fons^ and exprefi*ed great indignation at the unworthy treati^ 
.jneot his priioner had fuffered. 

1 9* That favage chief again returned to the care of the 
vrowidedf and the Indians, about two hundred in number, went 
before the reft of the party to the place where the whole were 
that night to encamp. They took with them Major Patnara» 

\oa whom (be fides innumerable other outrages) they bad the 
barbarity to infit^ a deep wound with a towahawk, in the 
left cheek. 

20. Hia fufferings were in this place to be confummated. 
A fcene of horror infinitely greater than had ever oaet his eyet 
before^ was now preparing. It was determined to road him, 

\ alive. For this purpofe they led him to a dark foreft, ftrip* 
ped biia naked, bound him to a tree and piled dry bru(k with, 
other fuel, at a fmall difiance, in a circle round him. 

21. They accompanied their labors, as ii for. his funeral 
I dirg^i with (creams and founds inimitable but by favage voices. 

' Then they fet the piles on fire« A fudden fhower damped the 
I nUng flame. Still they drove to kindle it, until at laft the 
blaze ran fiercely round the circle. Major Putnam . foon be* 
gan to feel the Icorching heat. His hands were . fo tied that 
he c6uld move his body. He often ihiftcd fides as the fire aa« 
1 -Hed. ^ 

This fight, at the very idea of which all but favagei 
n (hudder, afforded the higEed diver fion to his inhulnaa 
t entors, who demond rated the delirium of their joy by 
e :fpondent yell^r, dtlncts and ge'dicaiations. He faw clear 
^] kt his. final hour was inevitably come. He fummoned s>l 
^ " latioQ and compofed bis auad|.as far at the circox 



so WEBSTER'S 

iknced eould admits to bid an eternal farewell to all he h<ld 
mod dear, * 

23. To quit the wqrld would fcarcely hare coft a fingic 
pang but for the idea of home» but for the remembrance of do- 
xnefiic endearments, of the afFeflionate partner of his foul, and 
of their beloved offspring, {iis thought was uhimately fixed 
oh a happier ftate of exigence, beyond the tortures he was 
beginning to endure, 

24. The bittcrncfs of death, even of *thtt death which h act 
compariied with the kceneft agonies, was, in a manner, paft-n 
nature, with a feeble ftruggle, was quitting its laft hold oq 
i'ubhiriary Ihings-f-r-whcn a French officer Tufhcd through the 
crowd, opened a way by fcattering the burning brands, and 
unbound the viflim. It was Mblang himfelf-^to whom ^ 
favage; unwillirig to fee another human facrifice, had run aQ4 
communicated the tidings. 

25. The commandant fpurncd and fererely reprimanded the 
barbarians, whofe nofturnal Powwas he fuddenly ended, fut* 
nam did not want for feeling or graiitudc. The French co^- 
nfander,' fearfng to truft him alone with, them, remained until 
he could deliver him in fafcty into the hands of bis maileT.. 

'26. The favage approached his prifoner kindly, and feenaec^ 
to treat him with particular affedion, He offered him fome 
hard bifcuit, but finding that he cpuld not chew them, on ac- 
count of the blow he hatl received from the Frcndhmari, thii 
more hiimane favage foaked fonie of the biCcuit in watef an^ 
xcade him fuck the palp like part, 

27'. Determined, hovi^evcr, not to lofe his paptjve (the re* 
frefhracnt being finifhed) he tpok the mocafons from bis feet 
and tied tbein to one pf his wrifts ; then directing htm to U^ 
down on jiis back upon the bare ground^ he. ftrctched'one arm 
to Its full length, and bound it fat^ to a young tree ; the other 
arm was extended and bound in the fame manner-^his icgi 
were flretched apart and fattened to two faplingsr 

28. Then a number of tall, but (lender poles were cut down j 
which) vviih fome long bufhc^S) were laid acrofs his body fron^ 
head to foot ; on each fide lay as many Indians as coultl coa. 
venienlly find lodging, in order to prevent the ppflibiiity of hit 
cfcape. In this disagreeably and painful pofture he remained 
until morning. 

29. 'During this night, the longeft and raoft dreary conc-eiv- 
able^our hero ufed to relate that he felt a ray of checrf^4laef| 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 51: 

eeme cafually AcrofsUts mind, and could not c^ch refrain from 
fmiling, wlicn he refieded on this ludicrous group for a paiDter^ 
of which he himfelfwas the principal Bgure. 

30. The next day he was allowed his blanket and roocafon?, 
and permitted to^mar^ch without carrying any packj or r; ceiving 
ciny infult* To allay his extreme hunger, a little bear's meat 
V9Z% given, which he fucked thro his teeth. At nighc, the par- 
ly arrived at Ticonderoga, and the prifoner was placed under 
Jhe care of a French guard, 

31. The favagcs who had been prevented from glutting thciV 
^diabolical thirft for blood, took every opportunity of manifcil.* 
iiig their malevolence for the dilappotntment, by'horrrd giima* 
cea and -angry geftures ; but thpy were fuifered no more to of- 

-fer violence or perfonal iodignatioa to him. 

32. After having been exaoiined by the Marquis de Mont- 
calm, Major Putnam was conduced to Montreal, by a French 
ofScer, who treated him with the greateit indolgeoce and hu^ 
Baanity« 

Titi^ pAitHFvii Amb&icak Dog*. 

If A N Officer in the. late Amecic&n army, on his ftation at 
jt\, the weftward, went out in the morning with his dog 
and gun« i<^ qacft of game. Venturing too far from the garri* 
fonj, he was fired upon by an Indian, who was lurking in the 
fc«^e8a°<i fell to the ground. 

2. The Indian running Co him> (lru(;k him en the head with 
his tomahawk, in order to difpatch him ; but the button of his 
bat fortunately warding off the edge,, he was only dunned by 
the blow. With favage brutality he applied the fcalping km'fe, 
and haftened away with this trophy of his horrid cruelty, leay« 
Ing the officer for dead, and none to rduve or ccnfole himi 
but his faithful dog. ^ 

3. The *ffli<Sed creature gave every expreffion of hia attache 
tnent, fidelity and afftftion. He licked the wounda witK io^ 
•xprefllblc tenderhefs, and mourned the fate of his beloved mai- 
mer. . Having performed every office which iympathy didateJ, 
-- ''igacity could invent without being able to remove his maC 

from the fatal fpot,or procure from him any figos of life, 
Is wonted expreffions of affedtion to faim^ he ran off in queft 

Bending^ his courfe towards the river, where two men 
iflbing, Ke urged them by all the powers of native rh«»- 
~ accompany him to the wood^. The men were fu( 



51 WEBSTER^S 

ciows of a decOy to an ambrtfcadc, and dared net veiiuire to fol- 
low the dog ; who finding all hfs entreaties fail returned to the 
care of his mallei* ; and licking his wounds a fccond timey re- 
newed all his tendcrnclTes ; but with no better fuccefs thats be- 
fore. 

5 Agaift he returned to tbc men jonce more to try hfs flcfJI 
in allurinfi; them to his aifillauce. In this attempt he was more 
' foccere.fuTthan lii the other. The men, feeing his fulicitudir, 
began to think the dog might have difcovcred fomc valuable 
game, and determined to hassrd the coofs^quccce of following 
iii'«' , ^ ■ . ^ 

6. TranfpOTtcd with his fuccefs, the afftdionatc creature 
hurried them along by every expieffion of ardor* Prefently 
they arrive at the fpot, where behold— an officer wouaded, fcal- 
ped| and welteriag in his own gorcy aad faint %vith the lofs of 
biood« 

7. Suffice It to faykc was yet alive. They earned him ta 
the fort, where the firft dreffings were performed. A fwppu- 
rarion immediately took place, and he was fooii conyeyed to the 
liofpital at Albaay ; where in a few weeks he entirely recover. 
<^, and was able to return to his duty. 

8. This worthy officer owed his life, probabljr, to the Mdr 
ty of his fagacious tiog. His tongue, which the gentleman af* 
terwards declared gave him themoft exquifite pleafure, eiarified 
the wound in the inoti effectual manner, and his perfeveran^ 
lirvught that affiftance, without which he muit have petifhed. 

^. "My dog the truftieft of his kind, 
With gratitude infiames my mind ; 
I Mark his true,, his faithful way» 
And in my fcrvice copy Tray,'* 

VoLCAHOEs 0/ IcuhA^mtf airidgeJ from (be Eticytfofteduf^ 
1. TCELALD is noted for volcanoes, %vhich fecm to be more 
JL furious there than in any other part of the world. They 
begin with a fubterranean rumbling noife, with a roaring and 
* cracking in the place from whence the fire is to burft forth. 
Fiery meteors alio precede the eruption of fire, and fometimea 
fhocks of earthquakes. 

2. The drying up^of fmall lakev, dreams and rivitfeU is alfo 
confidered as a fign of an approaching eruption ; but the im« 
mediate forerunner is the burfting of the mafs of ice on the 
nnountaias. Flames then iffiie from the earth, aiiid liglaaing 



^ AkfcRlCA^ gELECTioR 5J 

and fire balls frol«»th^ fmokci and ftane«and iifiics arc thrajrif 
to a vaft diftance. In 1735, * ^*^"^ ®^ *9^ pounds weight 
Was thrown ,24 miles* • * 

3. The moft trcnacnjuous eruption ever known wa» in I78j« 
Ita firft (ign was perceived on the firft of Jtine, by a trenobling 
of the earth Jn the vreftcrn part of the province of Shapterfall, 
It (ioniinued and cncrcafcd till the 1 ith day, when the iphabf- 
tants qmtted-their houfcs and lay in tents. A cofttiijaed fiVoke 
wa« fecn to arife out ©f the earth in the northern parts of ih« 
ifland/and three Or four fponts broke forth in dilFercnt placet* 

4. Thcfe f[)out«of fireafceuded to a vaft height, fo as to be 
tifible at the diftance of 200 miles* Immenfe quaniiiici of a fli- 
cs^ iand and other fubftances. wete caft up tnd fpread over the 
iviToIe country, ■, The atmofphcre was fo filled with them as to 
be rendered dark, and great damage was done by the pumice 
ftqnes which fell red hot in large qiianticies* 

5- The Hiower continued for many flays. The fire fometiems 
appeared in a continued ftream, and fometimes in fiafhcs, with 
^hoife like thund^j which laded the whole' fummer. At the 
fame time feU vaft quantities of rain^ impregnated with acid 
an^, faltSi which coroded the fade and hands ol the peop]e**-in 
cttier places there fell (bowers of hail, which did much damage. 
In places near the fire, the grafa and evety green thing wnsdcflroy^ 
ed; being covered with a cruft of 4 fulphurous and foot y matter* 

6. Such thick vapors were raifed by the confiidl of adverse 
elements, that the fun was obfcured and appeared like blood ; 
and the whole face of nature fcemed to be changed. This 
dreadful fcene tail feveral days, and the whole country was laid 
vafte. The inhabitants ficd to the utmoft parts of the iilandy 
to cfcape the terrible conflagration* 

7. On the firft eruption of fire, the river Skapta wasconfid- 
crably isugmented, but on the iithiday, the waters were dried 
up. . The next day, a prodigious ftream of red hot lava was 
difchargcd from the earth and ran down the channiel which the 
tiver had left, and overflowing the banks, rofe to a great height 
and fpread defolation over the whole adjacent country. 

The fiery ftream then afcended thechannelt and mount* 
..igh, it deftrpyed the village «f Buland, tho fituated on a 
I eonfuming the houfea and every thing that ftood ia its 
» It fpread, till it had converted a tra^ of 36 miles of 
>try, intoafca of fire. It then changed its courle to the 
^ and after filling the channd of the Skapta (or' fix mJi* 
£ 2 



54 • WEBSTER'S 

itburft upon a wide pUin, wwying flaming' wood on it« furfacei 
asd Overwhelming the earch with torrents of b'quid fire. 

9. It continaed thus to fpread from June 12 ia AugvR: 15, 
whea itceaOed to extend itfclf, but continued to burn. When 
any part of the farface acquired a crull by cooling, it was fooo 
bl'o&en by the mafi of fire below, and then tumbling among 
the melted Tubftance, it was toffed about with prodigious nolfe 
and' crackling, and fmall fpouts of fire were continually ihooC. 
ing into the air. 

IG. When it left the channel of the Skapta, this mafsof fire 
tras 460 feet in dcpt]i. It ran in every dircd^ion where it 
' could find a vent, and deflroyed a inimber of villages. In oat 
place it fame t&a catarad of the river of 14 fathoms high, when 
it fell with a tremenduous noife and terrible r«rwul(ion». In 
another, it (topped up the channel of a river, filled a large val- 
ley, and deftroyed two villages tho ic approached no nearer 
than 600 fsct. 

II. Other villages were inundated by the waters cf nverSi 
driven from their channels by xht fiery torrwjt. At la ft having 
filled all the vallfes to the South, it changed its courfe, to the 
North, and fpread over a tT&£l of country 48 miles in length 
■ aTid 36 in breadth. It dried up feveral rivers and formed lakes 
•of fire. At lad on the 16th ef Augnft, the eruption ccafed. 

iz. the whole extent of ground On three fides covered by 
this dreadful inundation, was computed to be 90 miles long 
and 24 broad ; and the depth of the lava fr«m 100 to 120 feet. ^ 
Twelve riycts were dHed up — 20 villages deftroyed, and a coii* 
fiderable number of people. The extent of the graund covefr 
edcm the aorth was not afcertained. Some hills were melted 
down— *ocherscovered^ and the wkolc had the appearance of a 
fea of red hot hielted metal. 

13. After this eruption, two new iflands rofe from the fea» 
One in Flthruary i7S4rofc about 100 miks fouth-wcft of Icj'* 
land. It was about 3 miles in circumference, 'and a mile m 
height.. It burnt with great violence, fending forrh prodigiotts 
quantities of f and and putefcc lUncs. Both iUands have fincc 
difappcarcd. 

JEtcfraaffpm the Oratjon ©f Thomas Dawfs,-^. A/fv^^rf 

• ■ at Boffon, July ^, 17^7. 

I» T*^HAT Education is one of the deepeft principles of in- j 
A iependcoce^ need nut be laboured iu this afFcmblyi 



AMERICAN SELECTION. -''sj 

In arbitrary governments, where tlie people neither. mak^ the 
law nor choofe thofc who legiflate, the more ignorance the 
more peace. ' . . 

' 2. But in a gov<rnment where the people fill ail the branch- 
es of the fovereignty, intelligence is the life of liberty. An A- 
mcrican would refent his being denied thie ufe of his muflcct ; 
but he would deprive hfmfelf^of a ftrongcr fafeguard^ if he 
fhould want that hartting which is neceflai y to, a knowledge of 
his conftitution. 

* 5. It is eafy to fee that our agrarian law and the law of eii* 
iication were calculated to make reptiblieans ; to ^m^ke men* 
Servitude could never long confift with the habits of facb citizene. 
Enlightened mind and virtuous manners lead to the gates of 
glory; The fentiment of independence mu(t have been co-nai^ 
tiralivi the bofoms of Americans.; and fooner or latery mud 
hate blazed out into public adion. 

4, Independence fits the loul of her rcGdeace for feycry bom 
bU enterprize of humanity and grcatnefs^ Her radfast imHe 
lights up celeftial ardor in poets and orators, who found her 
praifes through all ages ; in. Icgifistors and philofophers^ who 
iabricate wife and happy governments as dedications to her 
fame ; in patriots and heroes^ who (bed their lives in facrificet 
to their divinity. 

5, At this idea, do not! our mfnds fwell with the memory 
of tbofe whoie godlike virtues have founded her magnifice^it 
temple in America Mt is eafy for us to maintain her doArincs, 
at this late day, when there is but one party on the fubjedt, an 
immenfe people. But what tribute (hall we bedow, what fa- 
cred paean (hall we raife over the tombs of thofe who dared, in 
the face of wnrlvalled power, and within the reach of majefty, 
to blow the biaft of freedom throughoat a fobjedl continent. 

6, Nor did thofc brave couRtiymcn of ours only etapr^s the 
etootionsof glory ; the nature «f their principles mfpired them 
with the power oi praHice ; and they offered their bofoms to 
the fliafts of battle. Bunker's awful mount is the capacioua 

of their afhes ; but the flaming bounds of the univerfe couij 
limit the flight of their minds. 

/. They fled, to the union of kindred fouls ; and Ihofe who 
at the draights of Thermopylae, and thofe who bled on the 
:hta of Charlefton, now reap congenial joys in the fieida rf 
bleficd. .. 



^6 . WEBSTER'S 

GENERAL WASHINGTON^i RESIGNATION. 
Mr. Prhsident, . 
1. T^HE great events ort which mj- tcfignation depended 
JL having at length taken place, I have now the ^ionor. 
of ofFen'ng my ilncere congratttlations to Cengtcfsy and 6f pre^ 
fen ting myfelf before them, to furrcndcr into their hands the 
ttuft committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiriDg 
from the fervic| of my country. 

2. Happy is the confirmation of our independence and fo- 
vcreigty, and pleaf^d with the opportunity afforded tire Uni* 
ted States of becoming a refpedable nation, I reiign with fat< 
i*fa6iion, the appointment 1 accepted with diffidence $ a diffi' 
dence in my abilities to accomplifh^fo arduous* a ta(k ) wl»icb| 
however^ was fuperceded by a confidence in the reditude of ouf 
caufe, the fupport of the fupreme power of the Union, and the 
patronaee of Heaven« 

3« The fucceUful termination of the war hii verified the 
moft fanguine expe^tions ; and my gratitude for the intcrpo 
fit ion of Providence, ani the aHiftance-I have received from roy 
countrymen, increafes with every review of the moraeutoui 
conteft. 

4. Wjiile I repeat my obligations to the army in general,^ 
fhould do injudice to my own feelings not to acknowledge, in 
this place, /the peculiai* fervicea and diBinguifhed merits of the 
gentlemen who have been attached to my perfon during the war* ' 

5* It was impofiible the choice of confidential officers to 
copfipofc my family fhould have been more fortunate. Permit 
me, Sir, to recommend in particular thofe who have continued 
in the fcrvice to the prefent moment as worthy of the favorable 
notice and patronage ot Congrefs* ' 

6. 1 cenfider it as an indilpenfable duty to clofe this laft io* 
lemn ad of my official h'fe, by commending the intercfls of our 
deareft country to the protedioa of Almighty God, and thofe 
vrho have the fuperinteridence of ihem to his holy keeping. 

7* liaving now finifhed the i^ork affigned roe, I retire from 
the great theatre of a£li>ra ; and bidding an affedifonate fatr^ 
wcl to this auguft body, under whofe orders I have fo Jongac* 
ted, I here offer my commii£on> and take ray leave of all the 
employments, of publiclife« 

a WASHINGTON. . 
December 23,1783, 



AMERlCAjvT SEf.ECTION. 57 

Singular Instance of Patriotism. 
^ i, T^EWARD the Third, king of England after the bat- 
JCj lie of Cr^ficy, laid fiegc to Calais. He had fortified 
- bis camp in fo impregnable a nianncr, that all the eflforis of 
' France proved inetfe<fiual to raife the fiege, or throw fuccors 10- 
to the city.' The citizens, however, under the londudt of CouiX 
Vienna, their gallant governor, made an aJmitablc defence. 
2« Day after day. the English effVded many a breach, which 
. they repeatedly expected to ilormby morning ; but when mor- 
ning a|>;)eared, they wondered to behold n»w ramparts nightly 
> raifed, eredled out of the rulas which the day had made. 

■ j . ~rVance had now pnr her ficWc row f\tr l^ond harvtft^ 
i fioce Edward, with his vid^orious army, fat down before tht 
. town. The eyes of all Europe intent on the iifoe. The Eoglilh 
' made their approaches and attacks without remiffion^ but the 
' citizens were as dbftinate ja repelling all their efforts. 
I 4* At length, famine did more for Edward than arns$» Af« 
[ ter the citizens had devoiired the lean carcafes of their half- 
: ftarved cattle, they tore up old foundations and rubbtfh, in 
I fearch of vermin : They fed on boiled leather and the weeds 
1 of exhatiftcd gardens ; and a morfcl of damaged com Was ac- 
L counted matter of luxury. 

\ 5i In this extremity they refolved to attempt the enemy'i 
i camp. They boldly Ullied fourth ; the Engli/h joibcd battle* 
[ and, after a long and defparate engagement, Count Vienna was 
I taken prifoncr^; and the citizens who furvivedtbe (laughter, re.. 
; tired within their gates. 

I 6. On the captivity of their governor, the command devdif^ 
I ed upon Euftace Saint Pierre the mayor of the town, a man of 
\ mean birth, but of exalted virtue. Euftace foon found lijmfelf 
[ under the ncceffity of capitulating, and offered to deliver to 
; Edw|ird the city, with all the pofleilions and wealth of the in^ 
habitants, provided he permitted them to depart with life and 
liberty. ■ 

7. As Edward had long fince CKpe6^«d to afcend the throne 
of France, he was exasperated to the laft degree agaiaft thele 
p le, whofe fole valor hnd defeated his warmell hopes ; he 
t :fore determined to take an exemplary revenge, tho he wi(h- 
c " avoid the imputation of cruelty. 

He anfwered by Sir Walter Manny, that they all defer v- 
( iital punt(hmcnt, as obftinate traitors to him, their true 
8 >table fovcreign ; that, however, In his wonted clemency, 
I Cented to pardon the bulk of the plebeians^ provide"^ 



5i ' WEBSTER^S 

they wotttd deliver up to Lioi (Ix of their principal ciuze&fij 
•with hakc-ri about their- necks, at vifiima of due atoaemea) 
for that fpirit of rebeUion with which they had m^atned thi 
common people* 

9* All the remaids of this difolate city were convened in th< 



id 



great fquare» and like men arraigned at a tribunal from whcm 
there was no appeal^ cxpe^ed with throbbing hearts the fea* 
C€nc« of their conqueror. When Sir Walter had declared hil 
nieiTage confternation and pale difmay waa etptefTcd on evt^i 
ry face ; each looked upon death ai hia own fnevit^Ue lot} 
for how (hould they defire to be fa?ed at the price propofed f 
-Whom had they to dcKver up, favc parents, brothers, kindrd 
or valiant Dcighborsi who had fo ofter exposed their Jxves ia 
their defence I . . * 

. 19. To a long and dead fikncCi deep fighs and groans fuc- 
ceeded, till Euft^ce Saint Pierre, afcending a little eminence^ 
tlius addrefledthe aiTembly ; '* My friends and fellow.citizen^, 
you fee the condiiion t» which we are reduced ; we mull eiiher 
liibmit to the terms of oar cruel and enfnaring conqueror, or 
yield up oar tender infants, our wives and chafte daughters to 
ike bloody and brutal lutls of the violating foldfery. 

II.*' We well know what the tyrant intends, by his fpedooi 
offers of mercy. It docs not fatute his vengeance to make as 
ilierely mifcrable, he would alfo make us criminal ; he woiild 
make us^contemptable ; he will grant us life on no condition, 
fave. that 6f our being unworthy of it* Look about you, my 
friends, and fix your eyes on the perfons whom you wirh to de» 
liver up as the vi^ims of your own fafety. 

1 2. <* Which of thefe would you appoint to the reck, the axe 
or the halter ? Is there any here who has not watched for yov, 
wlia has not fought for you, who has not bled for you ? Who, 
thro the length of thit> inveterate liege, has not fuffered fatigoei | 
and roiferies a thoufand times worfe than death $ that you and ! 
yours might furvive to days of peace and profperity ? Is it your | 
prcfervers,then, whom you would delline to dellru£iion ? \ 

13. *' You will not, you cannot do it. Judtce, honor, hu^i 
inanity, make fuch a treafon impoHible. Where then it our i 
refouree ? Is there any expedient left, whereby we may avoid . 

• guilt and infamy on one hapd, or the defolation and horrois 
of a facked city on the other ? 

14. *' Tliere is, my friends, there is one expedient left : a ; 
gracious, an excellent, a god.like expedient 1 Is there any he* 
ro to whom virtue is dearcar than lite ? Let him offer himfdf ' 



AMPHICAN SELECTION, ^9 

ifn oblation for the tafety of his people I He (liall not fail of a 
blcfl<'d i^pprobatii>n from that Power, who oEered uphH only 
Son for the falvation of roankind." 

• 15. He fpoke— — fbul a uaifCirfal filence cnfued* 5ach 
man looked aroi^nd for the example of that virtue and magna«r 
^Imity in others, which all nvifhe^ to approve in tbemfeWtfly 
though they Wante^ thS reiolution. At length St. Pierre r^ 
fumed, 

2$. *^ It had been bafe in me, my fellow citizens^ to promote 
jmy matter of damage to others, which X myfelf had not been 
IRrilliog to undergo iamy own perfon. But 1 held it ungenerouf 
^^o deprive any man of that perfercncci and eftimation which 
might attend i firft offer 00 fo iignalan occafion ; fori doubt 
[pet but iherf: are many ^ere as ready, nay more 7;eaIou8 for this 
jnartyrdom than I can be, howetcr modtfty, and the fear of im- 
iputed odent^tion may v^^jthhold them from being for^^poft m9 
f&hibiting their merits. 

; 17, •• Indeed the ftation to which the caj>tivttj of count VU 
> ennahai unhappily raifed me, imports a right to be the (irft 
[in giving my life for your fakes, I giye it freely* I give it 
; pbeerfully ^ who comes nc^t ? your fon ! erclainncd a youth 
' pot yet- come to maturity. Ah, my child ! cried St» Pierre j 
I am then^ twipe facrifiited. But no-^I have rather begotten 
r fhee a fecond time. Thy ycar« are few, but full, tty fon : the 
I yii^im of virt*ue has reached the utxuoft purpofe and goal of 
» Tnortality;'^ 

18, f« Who next, my friends ? This 19 the -hour of heroes.'^ 
! Your kinfman, cried John it Aire ! your kinfman, cried Jamea 
f Wiffant r^.Yo^r kinfman, cried Peter Wiffant ! M Ah I" ex*' 
? claimed Sir Walter Mauny, burfting into tears, " Why was I 
' |K)t a citizen of Calais .f'\ 

.19. The fixih viAim was ftill wanting, bnt wa« quickly fnp* 
plied by lot, from numbers who were now emulous of fp enno- 
bling an ^^ample. TJie keys of the city were then delivered to 
^Sir Walter; iie took the {17;. prlfoners into his cuftody. He 
on d the gates to be ppened, and gave charge to his at- 
tet s to condu^ the rcmarping cit jipen|», with their famiHes, 
|h gh the camp pf the Englifh, 

Befpre they departed, however, they defired perroiffion 
to ^c tlieir laft iadieu of th^ir dcliverers-r-What a parting I 
Vf\ a fcene !' they crouded with their wives and children a^ 
iw: St» Pierre ?md his fellow prifoners. They embraced, 
th lung around, they fell prpftrat^ before them. The; 



6o WEBSTER^S. 

{rroaned ; tlicy wept aloud ; and the joint clamor of tbclr 
inournmg pafTcd the gates of the' city, and was heard throogh. 
out the camp. ^ 

21. At length, St. Pierre and his fcUow vj^ima appeared 
under the condu6\ of Sir Walter and his guard. All tiie tenti 
of the Eflglifh were inftaotly emptied. The foldiers pomd 
from all parts, and arranged themfelves on each fide to beholdi 
to comtemplatC) to admire this little band of patriots at 
they paffed. 

22» They murmcred their applaufe of that virtue trliJcE 
they could n6t but revece even in enemies : and they regard- 
ed thofc ropes which they had voluntarily affuroed about their 
necks, as enfigns of greater dignity than that of the Britifh 
Garter, 

23. As foon as they had reached the royal prcfenee, ** M«i* 
By," fays the king, ** are thefe the principal inhabitants of 
Calais ?** " They are," fays Manny ; •* they arc not only the 
principal men of Calais : they are the principal men of France, 
my lord, if .virtue has any Hi arc in the aft of ennobling." 

24. *< Were they delivered peaceably V* fays Edward, — 
*< Was there no reiiftance, no commotion among the people l^ 
*^ Not in the Icafts my lord. They arc felf delivered^ felf de- 
voted, and come to o^er up there ibeftimable heads, at an am* 
pie equivalent for the ranfon of thoufands," 

25. The king, who was highly incenfed at the length and 
difficulty of the fiege^ ordered them to be carried away to im- 
mediate execution ; nor could all the remonftfances and ta- 
treaties of his couftiers divert him from his cruel purpofe.*- 
But what neither a regard to his own intereft and honor, what 
neither the diflatea of iuflice, nor the feelings of humaBity 
could effeft, was happily accomplifhed by the more powerful 
infiuence of conjugal affeftion. 

26. The queen who was then big with child, being inform- 
ed of the particulars rcfpeding the dx vidlims, Hew into her 
bufhand*8 prefcnce, threw herfelf on her knees before hiw, 
and, with tears in her eyes, befought him not to ftaifi his 
charafter with an indeliable mark of infamy, by committiag 
fach a horrid and barbarous deed. 

27. Edward could refufe nothing to a wife whom he fo 
tenderly loved, and efpecially in her condition ; and the queen 
not fatisfied with having favcd the lives of the fix burghers, 
conduced them to her tent, where fhe applauded their virtue, 
regaled them with a plentiful repafti and having made them a 



AMlplRICAN SELECtlON. 4i 

j»rcTcnt of /noncy and clothes, fcot tbcm back to tlicir iellow- 
cltizena^ 

Extras Jrom Z)«. BELKPiAP's yioDBEss to the IniaUtants 

pf New-Hampjhirt^ at the clofe of hit Hijiory of that State. 
Citizens of New— Hampshiri, 
J. TTAVtNG' fpent above twenty years qf my Ufe with 

JlJ. .you, and pafTed through various fceiies of peace and 
WM within that time ; being perfotially acquainted with many 
^f yoi:}^ both in yonr public and privata chara^^ers ; and hav^ 
jog, ah carneft defircto promote your true intercft, I truft you 
will not think me altogether unquaHfied to give you a iew 
hints by way of advice. 

2. Younre certainly a rifrag Hate ; your numbers are ra- ' 
t>idly racreafifig ; and your importance in thd political fcaleu 
isriU be augmented, in proportion to your improving the na> 
tural advantages which your Situation affords you, and to your 
^rultivatiog the intcUe^iual and moral powers of yourfelvea 
and your children. 

3« The lirft articles on which I would open my mind to 
"you I's that o^ education • Natnre has been as bountiful to you 
&9 to any other people, in giving your children genius and 
rapacity j jt is then your duiy and your interefl to cultivate 
tJbair capacites, and render them fcrviceable t6 themfelves and 
the commbnit^% 

^4. It was the faying of a great orator and ftatefpnan of an«. 
^iqoity, that " The lofa^ which the commonwealth fuftains, by 
a want of education, is Kkp the lofs which the year would fuN 
fer by the dcftruftiott of the fpring.*' 

5. If the bud be blafted, the tree will yjpld no fruit. If 
^hc fpringiflg corn be cut down, there will be no harveft. So 
if the youth be ruined 'through a fault in their education, the 
/community fuftaihs a lofs which cannot be repaired ; *< for it 
23 too late to correA them when they are fpoib^d.'*. 

6. *Not with Handing the care- of your legiflators in enabling 
laws, and enforcing them by feverc penalties ; notwithftartding 

■4hc wse and liberal provifion which is made by fome towna 
and fame private gentlemen \vx the ilate 5 yet there is 'ftill ia 
many places, " a great and criminal negle^ of education/' 

7. You are indeed a vtry conficjerable degree better, in ihls 
fcfpc€l, than in the timts of the htc A-ar ; h\.v. yet much re^ 
mains to be done. Great care ougat to be taken, not only to 



62 . WEBSTER'S 

prcvldc a fupport for inftru£^ors<of clalldren and youth : hn\ 
to be alt:ntive in the choice of iiiliiuMors ; to fee thai ihey 
be men of good under ftandLng, learrirr:> and mcrjsls ; that ihcy 
teach by their cxtimple aft weiJ aB by tiiVir plectp^E ; that ihey 
govern ihcmfelveB, and teach thcjr pupils^ the art pf ftlf gpy* 
crnment, 

8, Another fourcc «f im p rove men t, which I hcg Ic^vc tp 
recommend, is the eltabhihnncnt' of fecial libraries. , This ia 
the eaiiefty the cheapest and moik effedual mode of diffufing 
Icnowlcdge among the people, For the fum of 6x or eigb| 
dollars at once, and a fmall annual payment befides, a xoaq 
may be fopplied with the meaps of \itcrary improvement dur<} 
ing his life, and his children my inherit the blefling. 

9. A fcwneighbors, joined together in fetting up a library, 
and placing it under the care of fome fuitable pcrfoh, with a 
very ffew regulations, to prevent carclclTncfs and wafte, may 
render the mail eiTential fcrvice (o t^emfi^lves and to ihc 
community, 

10. Books may be much better prcferved in this way^ thaii 
if they belonged to individuals ; and there is an advantage in 
thcfocial intercourfe of perfons who have read the fame books;^ 
by their converfing on the fubjed which have occured i^ 
thei^ reading, and copninunicating iheif obfervatipns ose tq 
another. 

'II.. From this mutual intcrcotufe, another advantage may 
arife ; for the perfons vvho are thus a^bciated may not only 
acquire, but originate knowledge. , By ftudying nature an4 
the fciences ; by praftifing arts, agriculture and manufactures, 
at the fame time that ihey improve their minds in reading, 
they may be. led t^ difcovciies and improvements, original and 
beneficial ; and being aU^ady formed into focicty, they may 
difFufc their. knowledge, ripen their *JanS, cprrc^ their njif- 
takes, and promote the caufc of fcienpe and humanity in ^ 
Very confiderable degree. 

12. The book of nature is always open to our view, ^nd 
vc may ftudy it at our leifuic. "'Tis elder fcriptprc, writ by 
God's own hand." The earth, the air, the- fea,*the rivers, the 
'mountains, the rocks, the caverns, the anifnal and vegetable 
tribes are. fraught with inftruflicn. 

Natutic is not half explored ; and in what is partly known 
there are many myfteries which time, obfcrvation and expe^ 
ricnce rauft unfold. 

1 1. Every locial libtaryi among other book| fhouM bt: fu|r- 



• AMERICA^ SELECTION. ' 63 

hitfled wuh thofc of naUiral philofophy, botany, toologyj chy*' 
niiflry, hufbandry^ geography aud aftronoroy ; that ioquirinp^ 
mfnda may be directed in thtir inquiries ; that they may fee 
what is koowQ and what ftiU remiins to be difcovercd 5 and 
that they may employ ibcir Iclfuro nnd their various opporiu- 
wilica iQ endeavoring to add tD the (lock of fcience, and thua 
eorich the world with their obfervaiions and improvements^ 

14, Suifer me to ?dd a few worda on the ufc oi fplriiuous It- 
^uor, thall banc of fociety>' that deflroyer of Kcalth, morals 
fiRd Dfopcrty* Nature indeed has furni(hed her^ vegetable pro- 
du6lions with^iri/ ; but (he his fo combined it with other fob- 
ftancesi that uniefs her work be toiturcd by fire, the fplrit is 
not feparated, and cannot prove pernicious.' Why (hould this 
force be put on nature, to make her yield a noxious draughti 
when all het origina] preparations are falutary ? 
^. 15. The juice of the apple, the fermentation of barley, and 
the dcco^^ioa of ftoruce> are amply fafficient for the rcfrefhment 
of ntan, tet his labor be ever To fevere, and his perfpiration 
ever fo expanfife* Oiir forefathers^ for many years after the fct- 
llement of the countryi knew not the ufe of difliiled fplrits. 

16. Malt Was imported from . England, and wine from the 
Wcftern, 6P Canary iflands, v'^iih which they were refreflied» 
Wfore their own fields and orchards yielded them a supply. 
An expedition wa« once undertaken againft a nation of In- 
dians, when there yras but ^n^ ^i/i^ of (Irong water (as it .was 
ihen called) in the whdle army, and that was refcrvcd for tt»c 
fick J yet no complaint was made for want of refrcfhment, 

17. Could we but return to the primitive manners of onr 
anceftors, in this rcfpefl, we fhould be free from many of tlic 
difordcrs, both of body and mind, which are now experienced. 
The difufe of ardent fpirlts wbuU alfo tend to abolish the in- 
famous traffic ia Slaves, by whofc labor this baneful material is 
ptocured, 

18. Divine Providence Teems to be preparltig the way far 
tHc deftruftioB of that deteftable commerce. The inlarre<^ions 
of ths blacks in the Weft- Itrdics have akcady fprcad defola- 
tion oyer the mo ft fertile plan tat ions and greatly raifcd the 
price of thofe commodities which we have been ufcd to import 
from thence, 

19. If we could check the confumption of'diftillcd fpirlts, 
tad cater with vigor into the manufaAure of maple fiigarnj of 
wliich onr forcfts would afford an ample fupply, thcxicrh^'' 



64 WEBI^TER'S 

for Weft-In^ta productions might be diromiOied ; thc»planta« 
tjons m the ifla nth would not need frefh recruits from Africa ; 
the plaatera would treat with humanity thcTr remainiRg blacks; 
the miMifiet for flaves would become le£a iaviting ; and the aa* 
ligation wiiicli is riow employed in the moft pernicious fpeeiet 
Qf commerce which ever difgraced humanixyi wt)tdd be turned 
into hme otLer^channel. ' 

20. Were 1 to form a picture of happy fociety, it would be 
a town confiftmg of a .ci:c mixture of hill , vaUks and ftreanst 
of water. The laaid well fenced atid cuUlvind ; the rci*ad» an4 
bridges in good repair | a decent inn for the refrc^.tnen^ oi 
traTellersy. and for pubHc cnteriaia4»eiit«k The xahabitafits 
moftly huftrndmen^ their wires and diugjbt«r« domtftic maiv 
vfjidlurers.; a fuitabR proptrtion o£ handicraft workmeity a«t 
two or three traders : a piiyfieifta and Uwyer,^ each of whomr 
Aould have a farm for his fupport. ' 

21. A dergyttan oi" good under(la«ding^ «^ a ean^d difpou 
iKtxoo and exemplary morala ; m>t » metaphyseal ftor » p«h" 
lenaoi but a ferious a^d prafibical preacher. A fchool.hiatter 
yrhp ihouM ujiderftand hia budnefsy aa^ le»cH his pupsla Iq 
govern themfelves, A focial library, anaaaliy tncrea^ng,^ aod , 
under good regtUotien. 

22. A dub of fenfible men, feckmg mutual improtemcoit* 
A decent mofical fociety* Ho iotrigoing poUticiaii« borfo 
jockey, ganabler or fot ; but ail fucb chara^cr treated witfr 
fOQtempt. Such afituadoa may be cOnfider as the mo ft hu . 
yorable to foci^tl happiae& of an^r which this world can a5b;Hi«. . 

CONlUGAL AFFECTION. 

S^ltOM HaLLEK on the X>EATn OF HIS Wiri. 

From " Curiofifies^ of Liierature," 

.»• QHALL I fing thy deaths Marianne^ ? What » theme f 

O When my fighs interrupt my word^, and one idea fiict 
before the other L The pleafurcs thou fl^dft bcftow on nrr, 
now augment my forrows. 1 open^he wounda of a heart that 
yetbleedsj and thy death is renovated to me. 

2, Butmypaffion was too- ▼iplent— thou didft. mew t k too- 
well : and thine image is too' deeply erjgravco on my foul, to 
permit me to be filent/ The exprcffiona of thy love revivify^ 
in lome degree, my felicity ; they afford me a tender ttcollec- 
tion of our faith/ul union, as a remembrance thou wouldfl 
Imvc left to md ' 

'^. Thefe arc not lines didtated by wit j the artifici<4 com* 



AMERICAN SELECTION. . 65 

pklrfti of a poet. They arc pcrtnbcd figbs which cfcape frpm V 
a heart not fuffieient M its aiigai(h. Yes I am going to paint 
toy troubled foul, affcaed bjr love and grief, that only occu- 
pied by the moft diftrefling images, war^dcra in a labyrinth Qk 
aiSidion. ' * ' 

4. \ fee th«e yet, fuch as thou waft at death. 1 approached 
thee, touched by the moil livtly dcfpafr. Thou didft call back 
ihy laft arength to exprefs one word, which I yet afked trom 
thee. O foul, fraught with the purcft fentiments, thou didd 
only appear difturbed for my affliaions ; thy laft cxprefiiona 
weie only thofc of love and tcndcrncfs } and thy laft adionsofv- 
}y thofe of refignation* 

5. Whither (hall. I fly ? Where (lull 1 find in this countryt 
an afylum, which only offers to me objefts of terror ! 'This 
houfe in which I loft thee : this facred dome in which repofe 
thy afhcs ; thefc -children —Ah ! my bloOd chills at the view of 
thofc tender images of thy beauty, whofe artlefs voices call for 
tUeir mother.— Whither /hall I fly ? Why cannot. I fly to thee ? 

6. Does not my heart owe thee the fincereft tears ? Here 
^ou haft np other friend but me. It was I who fnatched thee 
-from the bofom of thy family ; thou didft quit them to follow 
IBC. I deprived thee of a country where thou waft loved by 
relatives who chcrifhed thee, to conduft thee, alas, to the tomb ! 

7. In ihofe fad adieus with which thy fifter embraced thee, 
vrhile the country griadually fading from our eyes, (he loft our 
laftglancesf then witha fofiencd kindnefs, mingled with a tcr^i- 
der rcfignation, thou didft fay, I depart with tranquility ; 
vrhat can I regret ? My Haller accompanies me. 

8. Can I recoiled without tears the day^ that united me to ^ 
thee. Yet even now foftened pleafure, mingles with my for- ' 
rows and rapture with my afflidion, ^ H©w tenderly loved thy 
heart ! that heart which could forget every thing, birth, beauty 
SLud wealth ! and which, notwithftanding the avowal I made of 
iny fortune, only valued me for my. fentiments. 

9. Soon thou didft rcfign thy youth, and quit the world to 
be entirely mine J Superior to ordinary virtue, thou waft ouly 
beauti^l for me* Thy heart was alone attached to mine : care- 
lefa ofthy fate thou waft alone troubled with my lighcft for- 
rows, and enraptured with a glance that exprc (fed content. 

lo- A will, detached from the vanity of the world, andrc- 
fijTQed to heaven : content and a fwcet tranquility, that »€itb«n 



ti ' ■ WEBSTER'S 

5«3r nor grief eoold difturb ; wifdom \n\ht cdncanon of i?»y 
children \ a heart oyerflowing wkh lendcrnefs, yet free from 
weakncfa ; a heart made to foot he my forrows ; it was thrs that 
formed my pleafurr9, and that forma my gtfcffl. 

II. And thus I loved thee — more than the world could b(-- 
liei^e'-^more tlvat I knew myfelf* How ofien^ in embracing 
thee with ardor, has^my heart thought, with irembhUg, Ab f 
If I fhoiild lofc her \ How ofren have I wept in fet^ei ! 

1 2t Yes, tnj grief will laft, even when time ftiall have drfed 
my tears ; the heart knows other tears thsrn thofe which cover 
the face. The firft fiame of VKf youth, the fadly pTeafing rccal- 
k£lioD of ihy tenderncCs, the admiration of thy' virtue^ arc a& 
eternal dpbt for my heart. 

13. In the depth of the tWckeft woods, «ndcr the green 
Ihade of the beach, Wiere none WiUwitnefs my complaints, I 
will fcek for thy amiaole image, and nothing ftial diftra£l my re- 
coUeaion. There I fhalJ fee thy graceful' mien, |hy fadocft 
when I patted from thee, thy tcndcrnefs when I erhbraccd tbce> 
thy joy at my return. 

14. In the fubhmc abodes of the cclcftial regions 1 will fol- 
low thee i^will feek for thee;beyond the ftar* that toW beneath 
thy feet. It io there that thy innocence will (hine in thefpttfr- 
dor of heavenly light ; it is tliere that Vith new =ttrcngth*ehy 
foul fhall enlarge its ancient bonndarice. 

15. It is there th&i accuftoming thyfelf to the light of divF* 
»ity, thou findcft thy felicity m its 4:ouncil8 ; and th«^ thoB: 
kningleft thy voice with the angelic choir, and a prayer in my 
favor. There thou learneft the utility of my aflidion, God 
unfolds to thecj. the voluoie of fate ; thcu readeft his defigns 10 
t)nr feparation, andthe clofe of my career. 

16. O foul ofperfe6^ion, whi<:h I loved witk fnch ardor*, bat 
which I think I loved not enough, how amiable art tWou in. 
the celettSlfpIendor that environs thee ! A lively hope elevates 
ntc: refufe not thyfelf to my vows ; open thy arms, I (ly tab* 
■Mnitcd ctern ally with thee, 

STORY or LOG AN,--A Ming o C»ief. 
I. 7N tjie ff^ring t^f the year 1774^ a robbery si* J murder were 
, A committed on an inhabitaftt of the frontier^ of Virgini^^ 
b/ two Indianij of the ^hawancfe tribe. The neighboring^ 
whites;^ according to their cutlom, -wi(iertook to punifti r\m 
outrage in a fummary way. Colowel Crefap, a mau.lBfaroou& 



AMtRICAN SELECTION. ^67 

for die many murders he had comraiitrd on thofc much injured 
people, collcded a party, and proceeded down the «Kanhaway 
in qndl of vengeance. 

2. Unfortunately, a canoe of women and cliildreo, with one 
inan onlyv was fceja coming from the oppoiitr (here, unarmed, 
and .txnfu/j>eding any hoftile attack from the whitei, Crefap 
and his party conteaied themfelves on the bank of tlie rfvef $ 
dnd the momert the canoe reached the fhorc finglcd out their 
object*, "and at owe fire killed every perfon in it. 

3. Tht» happened to ht the family of Logan, who had long 
been diliinguiflied at a friend of the whites. This unworthy 
retord provoked his vengeance. He accordingly iignalizcd 

. hi mfelf in ^h^ war whicti er.fued. ' 

«f. In the -<intumn of the fame year, a decifive battle wa» 
fought at the month of the great Kanhaway, between tht col- 
lei^cd forcea of ibe ShawancTe, Mingoes and Dclawarca, and a 
detachment of the Virrinia mih'tia^ The Indians were defeat^ 

'c4 and futfd for peace. " ' , ^ 

5. Logan, iiowever, difdamed tofee feen among the firppK^- 
anlr 5 but, kft the fincerity of a treaty (honld i-e difturbed, 
#rom which To di(lingui(hed a chitf abfented hirafrlf, he ftnt 
by a mcffcnger the following fpeeth, to be delivered to Loid 
l^unmore^ 

X 6. *v I appeal to any white rosn to fary if ever he entered Loi 
gRn'i cabin luingry, aud he gave him &o meat ; if ever he came 
c^!d and naked, and he clothed him not. During the laft long 

•and bloody war, Logan icmained idl« tfi bis cabin, an advocate 

'ifor peace. 

7. " Such was my lore for the whitea, that my countrymfB 
pointed as ihcy pafiVd f>y,. and faid, Logan is ihefrund tf nsshitt - 
imfir* I had even thought tp have lived with you, had rt not 
been for the Injuries of one man. Colonel Crefnp, the laft 

Tpring, in toM blood, and' »npTov«k6d, murdeted all the relSir 
lions of Logen, not even Jpariag my wohien and children. 

8^. " Tlvere runi^ noj a drop of my bldod in the telns of-aay 
living creature. This called on me for revienge. I have fonght 
it J 1 have kliJccI many ; i'hav^ fully/ giultH lHy vengeance,^ 
Y^t my country { rejoice at the heams of peace ; but do not 
barber, a thought that mine i« the joy of fear, Logan pcvcr 
fch fear. "He will not turn on his heel to favc his life* Wh» 
o ilierc to taoum^or Logan 2 Not one/' 



a WEBSTER'S 



•K 



S?F.tCH of a Scythian Ambassadou to AiIexakhsr* 
t. ^A/W^N ^^* Scythian Ambaflkdors waited on. A1cm». 
V V dcr the Grcatt they gazed on him a long time witL 
cut fpcaktng a ward, being very probably furprifcd, at th«y 
formed a -judgment of men from their air and ftatnrcs Jo fiiui 
that his did noi anfwer the higii idea they entertained of bin 
from his fame, 

2* At lad the oldefl of the AmbaHadort addreffed him thoK 
<* Had the gods given thee a' body proporttonable to thy am- 
bition, the whole univerfc' would have. been too Kttle for ihcc. 
With one hand thou wouldd toach the £aft, and^with th^olb- 
cr the Weft ; and, not fatistied with tbis^ thou wouldd hlkw 
the fun, and know where he hides himf^lf, 

3, But what have we to do with thee ? We ncvier fct foot 
in thy country. May not thofe who inhibit wooda be aJiowfd 
to live, without knowing who thou art, and whence thou com-' 
eft ? Wc will neither command over, norfubmit to any roao. 

4, And that thou mayeft be fenfible wbat kind of-peopk 
thee Scythians are, know, that we received from heaven, as a 
tich p'refcnt, a yoke of oaen, a ploughihare, a dart, a javtlin 
and a cup* Thefe we make ufe of, both with our fnends aai 
ligainft our enemies* 

5, To our friends we give corn, which we procure by the la- 
bor of our oxen ; with them we offer wine <o the gods in oar 
cup ; and great regard to oar enemies, we combat them at 4 
diftance with our arrows, and near at hand with our javelins. 

6* But thou, who boafteft thy coming to extirpate robbers, 
art thyfclf the greateft robber upon earth. Thou haft plundered 
all nations thou overcameft ; thou haft pofteifed thyfelf of hy^ 
bia, invaded Syria, Perfia, and Ba^^riaima ; thou art formings 
defign to march ftSfaras India, and-nbw thou ccmeft buher 
to feize upon our herds of cattle, 

7. The great poiTeflions thou haft, only make tiee covet tht 
jnorc tagerly what thou haft not. If thou art a god, tho« 
<)ughteft to do i^od to mortals, and not deprive thera of their 
pofleflions. ~ , \ , 

8. If thou art a mere man, rt^6t always on what thou strt* 
They- whom thou (halt not moleft will be thy tn|e friends *^ 
ftrongeft fricndlhips being contracted between cqu^la-; ^^ 
they are eftccmed equals who have n«t tried their ftrcAgth »• 
gainft each other. But do not fuppofe chu thof^ whom lh(^ 
conijucreft can love tbe^'i 



7? AMERICAN SELECTION' ^ 

SurcfuxAt Adtenturi oi Gr)Ibra.l Putnam, 
!• "^IXrHEN Geueral Putnam firft moved to Pomfret, in 
Y V QonnectiGUt^ in the year 1739^ the country was n$yif 
and much infeft-cd witl^ Wolves* Great havcc w^a made ^ 
mong the ih«ep by a fhe wotf, v^bich viriih her annual whelps^ 
had for fever a I. years continued in that vicinity. The youn^ 
ones were comqrioolydeitro)&ed by the vigilcncc of ihe hunteri| 
b^i the old ofi« W0S too Tagaciou^ to he (mfnafed by them. 
f'Z^ This wolf a( length, brcamt fuch an intolerable nuifancef 
tkaY, Mr« Piatnam Qnt^r:cd. into 9, combinaxion with Ave of ki* 
^ neighbor* to htiot aiiUfn^tely uodil tb«y could d^ftroy hcr.*-«» 
'Twoi by rotationiA Mrere ta bre conftamly in purfuit. It wja 
knowDt, tH^t having; loft tho tocf fr^m^. qn^ fopti^ by a ftechrapi 
(he made one track (hortcr th^n lb« oiber. 

3. &y thia: vcftlge, the pjiirfu<H*i recognifed, lA «: light fiomr, 
the j:oute qf thia pernicious anin^al. Having followed her tQ 
Qoan«cfcicui^ n«er,.a>n4 found flit had returned back in a d.ireQ 
(ourf^ towfardf) Pomfert^ they immediately returned^ and by 
i tifin o'clock. ^h/e next morning (he bloodhounds bad drLven faiev 
: into a deOf abov^ thrte milea diiLani horn the b^ufe of Mr# 
f ttinaai: 

> 4* The peppl« fo^ colle^d with doga, guns,., ftrav,. 6r^ 
aad iulpliiir ta attack the^ commoA enemv. With thie app^*^ 
1 »tua« CeWal upfmccefiftfalr eSortg were made to force her from 
; the d«n» The* hounda camfc back badly wounded, andt refufedt 
[ tc^ return. Th« fmoke of hlaaing draw, had no offe^t. .Not 
did th^ fuoaes of burnt biimdone, with which the cavern was 
i &U<d, ^om^pei her, tp quit the retirment • 

•, 5, Wearied ivith iiKh fruitlefa at!tempt3 (which had bro^ 
"" the time t6 ten o'clock at night ) Mr. Putnam tri6d oncemor^ 
to Biak< hia dog ente^r, but in vain ) he pro|>ofed to his negr€| 
f man to go down into the cavern and Ihoot the Wolf. The net 
I gro declinedvthc hazardous fctvice/i _ - ' 

I 6« Thc^n it was that their mailer, 'i^g^y ^^ ^"^ difappoint'* 
^ menc, and declaring that he was aihamed of having a coward 
V in his family^ ret'olved himfcl/to dcflray the ferocious beaftf 
I left (he (hould efcape throfome iink^own fi-«rc of the rock. 

7. His neighbors ftrongly rjsmonflrated againft the perlloM 
:; cnierpriife i bat he, knowing that wild animals were intimidated 
by fire, and having provided fevcral ftrips of birch hark, the 
\ only combuftibk material which he could obtain,^ which would 
I offord light in thia deep and darl^fiojae cave, prepared for hia 
' 4rsceac, 



8, Having, accordingly, divcftfcl Kimfclf of his coat Ani 
waiftcoar, and having a long rope fattened round bis legs, bf 
which he might be pulled back, at a concerted fl^nalj lie ch- 
tercd, head forcmoft, with a blazing tcych in his hand, 

9, Having groped his paffage till he came td a horizontal 
part of the den, the moll tcrriiyfng darknefs appeared in f'-ont 
of the dim circle of light afforded by his torch. It wasiileol 
at the houfc of death. None but moofters of the defcrt h^ 
ever before explored this folitary manfion of horror, 

10, He cautioufly proceeding onward, came to tn nfce/^f/ 
which he (lowly roo\inted on his hands and knees until \t dSi* 
covered the glaring eye^balls of the wolf, who was ^tling at 
the extremity of the cavern. Startled at the fight of fire, fiitf 
gnalhed her teeth and gave a fullen growl. 

11, As foon as he had maJe the ncceflary ditcovcry, ht 
licked the rope as a figoial for pulling hi(o out. -The people 
at the mouth of the den, who had liftened with pafnfnl anxietyf 
hearing the growling of the wolf, and fuppofing their friend 
lo be in the moft emminent danger, drew hinn forth with fuch 
celerity, that he was ftrippcd of his clothes, and feverely brulfed* 

12, Afier he had adjufted his clothes, arid loaded hit gun 
Isriih nine buck (hot, holding a torch in dnt haild and the 
tnuflcct in the other, he defcended a fecond time. When he 
drew nearer than before, tl»c wolf affuming a ftiH mdre fierce 
and terrible appearance, howling, tolling her eyes, fnap{>ing 
her t«th, and dropping her head between her legs, Was ev^ 
dcntly in the attitude and on the point of fpringing at hitif* 

13, At' this critical inftantj i^e levelled and fired at hef 
head. Stunted with the fhock and fuffocated wiili theTmokcf 
he immediaijely found himfelf drawn out of the cave. But . 
having refreftied himfelf and permitted the fraokc to diffipate, 
he went down the third time. 

14, Once qjore he came within fight of the wolf, who ap- 
pearing very paffive, he applied the torch to her nofe ; and 
perceiving her dead, he took hold of her cars and then kick- 
ing the rope (ftill tied round his legs) the people above, with 
no fmall exuUatioB, dragged them both out together-* 

% .. .,.,,.,„ , , 

The AGtT> pKiSOHtK re/eafe J frvmiltg Ba/liie* 

l.l^^O where elfe on earth, perhaps, has human mifcry , 

JL^ by human meant, been rendered fo lafting, fo com^ 

plcte, or fo remed.ilefs, as m that difpotic prifon, the baitile- 

This the following case may fuificcto evince ; the pavticular* 



^-^ AMERICAN SELECTION, 7« - 

pf which are tranflaipd.from that elegant and energetic writer, 
Mr. Mercer* ^ - 

2. The Vnious offence which merited imprlfcnqient fur. 
-palling torture, and rendering de^lh a blcCIng, was no n^.orc 

than Ibme unguarded expreffions, implying difrefpedt towards 
the late Gallic monarch, Louis fifxrenth* 

3. Upon ihc acceflion of Louis fixcecnth to the throne, the 
pQlnillcrs then in office, moved by humanity, began their ad* 
mfniilration with an act of clemency and juRice. They in^ 
fpeded the regifters of the ^(lilei and fet many priioncia aC 
liberty. - . 

4. Among thofe there was an old man who had groased m 
, confinement for forty-feven years, between four thick and cold 

ftonc walls. Hardened by advcrfity, which.ilrengthens both 
. the mii)d and ponftitution, when they are not overpowered by^ 
' it, he had refifted the horror of his long imprifonmcnt with ao 
Invincible and manly fpirit, ^ ' - * 

5, Hislocksj white, thin and fcattcreil, ha J almoft acquire^ 
^' the rigidity^ of iron ; 'whilft his body, environed for fo long a 
L time by a co:Sn of done, had borrowed from it a 6rm and coix^- 

pad habit. The narrow door of his *tomb, turning lipon ita 

grating hinges, opened not as ufual by halves, and an unknowijt 

voice announced his liberty and bade him depart. 
Y 6. Believing tbts to be a dream he hefitated ; but at length 
r rofe up and walked forth with trembling fteps, aipazed at the 
^ fpace he trayerfed. The ftairs of the prifon, the halls, th« 
E ppurc feemed to him vaU^ immenfe, and almoft without bounds. ^ 
\ y. Hp flopped from, time to time, and gazed aroiind like ^ 

bewildered irayeller. Jiis yifion was with difficulty rcconciV 
[ jfd to thp ^lear light of day. ^ He contemplated the heavens a? 
^ ^ new objeflt His pyes remained fixed, and be could not cvca 
[ weep* 

8. Stupified with the ijetvly acquired power of changing . 
Jiis pofitioB,* his limbs like his tongue tefufcd, in -fpfic of his 
efforts, to perfgrm their office^ A^ length he got through the 
formidable gat^e. 

9. When he felt tbe motion of the carriage, which -waa 
prepared to tranfport him to his fornrjcr habitation, he fcream- 
«d put^, and uitered fome inarticulate founds ; and as he could 
not bear this new movement, he was obliged to defeend. Sup- 
ported by ^ ben.e»o}ciit arm, he fopght ought the ftreet where 
he had formerly refidcd } he found it, but no trace of bis houfr 
remained ; one of the pMblic edifices occupied the fpot where 
it hadilood. ^ " 



*!% "■ WEBSTER'S- 

10. l^coow fawnoihinj^ U'fiich'troirglit toKh rccnllefttofi, 
either that particular qiiaitcr of the city ilfclf, or the objcdi 
IV.ilh which he wai forinctly a(?quaintcd. Tfcc boufm of fait 
rcaVf ft ticiglibor8,*\ihich were ffeft in bia nictnory, bad •fiinred 
3 new iippearaTicc^ • - 

11. In vain were hi* looks dlrefted to all the otjeAs aroDtrd 
TiiRi J he couM' cJilcover n6ihingt>f which he had rbe ftnallcft 
remembrance* Terrified, he ftoppcd and fetched a deep ffgh. 
To hiiu whit did it import, that the city wa3 peopled with lu 
Tvirig cteatuiicB ? Noue of them were ahVe to hina-; he w;)9«n* 
^nown to air the world, and he knew nobody; and wbil£t he 
Wept, he regretted his dtingcon* 

12. At the namie of the Baftilc, which he often pronoutieed 
and'even claimed as an afylum, and the fight of hta clothea, wfiicfi 
Itarked hja tortiier ^ge, the croud gathered around him ; curi- 

; ofity, blended with pity, excited their attention. Tlic m«ft 

^ged afl^ed him many quclUons, buthad nc^ remembrance of 
the circumftances which he r«capituhiled. ^ 

. 13. At Ipngth accident brought tD his 'way an aticient Ho- 
iDeftic,,novi a fuperanuu^red porter, who confined to his lodge 

•for fifteen yeais, had barely fufficint ftrengih toopen the g^te« 
^ytn^h did not know the maftcr he had ferved : but informed 
him tjiat grief and misfartuiu'shad brought his wife to the grJivc 
thirty years before ; that his children were gone abroad to dif- 
taut climesi and that of all his relations and fritnds^ none now 
remained. 

14. This recitpl was made with the indifference which people 
idifcoycr, for events lung paffed and aloaotl forgoiten. The mif- 
eiablc man groaned, and gro^njCd alcne. The croud. around, 
offering only unknown features, to hie view, made hfm feel the 
exccfs of his calamities even more, than he would have done in 
the dreadful foliludc which he hgd left. 

15. OiLCrcome with forrow, he prefcnted hijnfglf before the 
ninider, to whofe humanity he owed that liberty which waa 
•pqw a bntden to him. . "Bowing down, he faid, ♦* Reftorc me a- 
gain to that prifon from. which you have taken me* I cannot 
furyivc thelofs of my nearell relations ; of my friends ; and in 
one word, of a whole generation. Is it pbfiible in the fame mo. 
ment to be informed of this uuiyerfal deftrpdtion and not to wi(h 
for death ? . 

16. ** This generahmortality, ^vhich to others comes flowly 
and by dtgrees, has to mc been i^ftantaneous, the operation 
of qf moment. Whilft fccludcd from focictyjl lived with fajm . 



%1 



AMERICAN ^ELECTION. ^^ 



fclf only ; b^it here I can neither hVc with reyfclfi flot Afich 
this new race to whom my anguiili and ^defpair iappear <}n)y 
as a dreatn*" 

17. The minifter waa melted ; he caufed the bid domeftic 
to attend thia unfortunate per£oh| aa only he could talk to hiai 
of his family. 

^8. This difcourfe w^s the fingle conlblation vhich he re- 
ceived ; for he ihunned intercourfe with the new race^ l^ra 
finjce he had beeii exiled from the world ; and he puffed Uis 
time 19 the mtdft of Paris in the fame folitude ^^% he had 4on< 
whilft confined in a dungeon for almoft half a^cn(ury. 

19. But the chagrin and morti^cation of meeting no per- 
£00 who could (ay to him ** We were formerly kno^ to 
^gb otber«'' foQp put an end to his exigence* 

Dtfertptm of the Falx,i f^f NuoA^aA. 
\p A MONG the many natural cunofici^s ijvbiqh tbiacotiit« 
^^\ try affords, the catarad of Niagara is lafinjtdy the 

Seateft* In order to have a tolerable idea of this ftjupendous 
1 olF water, it will be neceflary to conceive that part of the 
cpumry ip which Lake Erie ib (ituated, to be elevated above 
that which contains Lake Qntarjo, abpat 500 feet. 

2. The (lope which fcparates. the upper and lower pountry 
18 generally very fteep, aad in many places ahnofl: perpendicular* 
It is formed by. horizontal ftrata of tlone» great pa.rt of which 
IS what we commonly calf lime-Klone. The flope may be traced 
from the north dde of Lake Ontario^ near the ^y of Ter« 
ontOf round the weft end of the lake ; thcQce its d{redion 19 
generally eaft, between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie ; it croffet 
the ftraight of Niagara ; and -me Chen^feco river r after which 
it becomes loft in the country towards the Seneca Lake* ' ' ^ 

3. It is to this flope that pur country is indebted, both for 
the cataraAof Nlagva and the great falls of the Chencfeco. 
The catarad of Niagara was formerly down at the northern 
iide of the flope, near to the place whi^h ie npw knowa by 
the niuae of the Landing ; but from the great length of time, 
added to the great quantity p£ water, and diftance which it 
falls, the folid ftono-is worn away, for about fevcn miles, up 
toward L^ke J^ne, and achafm is formed whichHia^rfon qa<, 
approach without horror. - ~^ 

4. Down this chafm the water rufhes with 4 moft aftoai/hi 
injf velocity, after it makes the great y':?h, In goipg up 

G 



74 WEBSTER'S 

the road near this chafm, ilic fency « eonftantly engaged in 
tte contemplation of the n\o{\ romantic and awful profpeds 
imaginable, until at length, the eye catches the falls, the ima- 
gination is inftantly arrcfted, and you admire in fileace ! The 
river is about one hundred and thirty five polls wide, at the fails, 
and the pcrpcnth'cular pitch one hundred and fifty feet. 

5« The fall of this vaft body of water produces a found whicK 
js frequently heard at the diliancc of twenty milts, and a fen- 
fible tremulous motion in the earth for fomc polls round. A 
beavj-fog, or cloud, is eonftantly afcending from the falls, i»- 
vrhkh rainbows may alv.ays be feen when the fun ftincs. 

6. This fog, or fpray, in the winter feafoo, falk upon the 
ntighhorifjg trees where it congeals, and produces a moft bean* • 
tiful chryilalline appearance. This remark ii equally appli-,* 
cable IB the falls of the Chciiefeco. 

7. The difficulty which would attend levelling the rapfds in 
the ch^ffD, prevented my attempting it ; but I conjefture the 
water nuilt defcend at leaft fixty-five feet. The perpendicular 
pitch ^t the cataradt is at leaft one hundred ar.d fifty feet 5 
to thefi: add fifty-eight ftct, which the water falls in the lafl 
half mje, imm.cdiately above the falls, and we have two hun« » 
<!red and fcventy-three feet, which the water falls in a diftancQ ; 
of r.boot fevcn miles and a half, 

8. If either ducks, or gccfe inadvertently alight in the 
r?pids, ^bove the great cataract, they.aie incapable of getting- 
on the wing again, and are inrtantly hurried on to deftruftion. ' 
There is cbc appc?.T&nccat this cataract, wotthy of feme atten- 
tion, and which I do not remember to have fecn noted by any- 
writ er. 

9. Juft below the great pitch the water and foam may be ^ 
fecp puffed up in fpherical figures nearly as large as common 
co^ks of hay ; they burft at the top, and projeS a column of 
fpray to a prodigious height i,thfy then fublide, and are fuc-s 
cetdtd by othersj which burfl in like manner. This appear- 
ance IS moft confpicuous about half way between the filand 
that divides the falls and the weft fide of the Ihait, where thp 
lar£,^e(l column of water defcends. 

I^nrrathe af the Captivity of Mrs. Jemima Howt, taken by 

the Indians at Htnfdaky Ntw^Hampftitre^ July 27, 1755. 
J. A S MeflVs. C?leb Howe, Hilkiih Grout, andv Benjamin 
' x\ Gafiicid, who had been hoeing corn in the meadov?^-^ 



AME1IC.\N SELECTIOxV. 7^ 

weft of tjac river; were returning homp a little before fuiffct to 
a place called Bridgman'? Fort, they were fired upon by twelve 
ladianS) who had amhiifhed (heir path* 

2. Howe vras on hoifeback, withNtwo young lada, his chIL 
drcn behind hJn). ' A' ball which broke his thigh, brot him to 
the ground. His horfe ran a few rods an^ fell like wife, and 
both tlie Igda were taken. The Indians in iheir favage man- 
nerj coming up to Howe, pierced his body wiih a fpcar, lore 
offhia fcalp, ftuck a hatchet in his head, and left htm in this for- 
lorn condition- 

3. He was found alive thd niorning after, by a party of men 
from Fort Hinfdale ; and bcidg oikccl by one of the party whe- 
ther he knew him, he anfwcrdii, yes, 1 know you al), TUcCc 
were his laft worda, though he did not expire until after his 
friends had arrived with him at Fort Hinfdale, Grout was fo 

* fortunate as^to efcape unhurt. 

4. But Gaffield in attempting to wade through the river, at 
a certain place which was indeed fordable at chat time, was un, 

. fbrianately drowned* ' Fluflied with the fucccfs they had met 
with here, the favage* went direAly to Bridgman's Fort, There 
was no man in it, and only three women and fome children, 
Mrs. Jemima Howci Mrs. Submit Grout, and Mrs, Eunice 

^ Gaffield. ^ 

5. Their hufbands I need not mention again and their feel- 
ings at thisjundure I will not attensnt tod^fcribe. They had 
heard the enemy's guns^ but knew not what had happened to 
their fi lends. 

6. .^Extremely anKious for their fafety they (lood longing to 
embrace them, until at length, concln icd from tlie noife they 
heard without, that fome of them wcrt come, they unbarred 
the gate in a hurry to receive them ; wlien lo ! to their inex* 
prefiiblc difappointment and furprife, indead of their hnfbands, 
in rufheda number of hedious Indians, to whom they and their 
tender offspring became an eafy pray ; and from whom they 

I had nothing to expcti, but cither au immcdialc death, or a long 
and doleful captivity. 

7. The latter of thefc, by the favor of Providence, tuniod 
oat to be the lot of thofc unhappy women, and their llill more 
unhappy, becaafc more helplefs children* Mrs. Galiield. h-v\ 
but one, Mrs. Grout had three, and Mrs. FIowc feven. The 
elde.ft of Mr». Howe's Was eliven years old, and the youngcik 
but fix. months, 

B. The two elded were daughters, which (he had by hr 



76 WEBSTER'S 

firft hulbatid, Mr. Willmm Phipps, who was alfo (Iain by tltc 
IiKjianSy of which I dodbt not but you have fern an accotsot a 
Mr. Daolittle's kiftory. It w«a from the mouth of this woosan 
that I lately received the forrgoiog account. She alfogave inCy 
I doubt not, a true, tho to be fure, a very brief and impcrfe^ 
history t of her captlviry, which I here infert for your perofal. 

9. The Itidtans {(he fays) having plundered ^and put fire co 
the forty wc marched, aa near aa X could judge, a onle and a 
half into the woodsy where we eucamped that night. 

10. ^When the next morning came» and we had advaoced^sa 
much fartheri ^x Indians were fent back to the place of oiir 
late abode, who coUeAed a little more plunder, and deftroyed 
fome ctbcr eflfc^a that had beetv left behind ; but they did hoc 
return until the day was fo far foent, that it was judged beft to 
eontinue wbtre we wcx« through the night. 

XI. Early the next morning we fet off for Canada, and Cbo* 
tinned our march eight dayv lucceffively, until we had reached 
the pkcc where the ladianr had left their cMoet, about fiftecaa 
miles from Crown Foiot. This was a long and tedious march ; 
but the captives, by divine alGftanc^, were enabled to andiM« it 
with less trouble and difficulty than (hey had reafon toecpefic. 

I2t Vrota fuch favage mafters, in iuch indigeftt circunaftaw- 
CCS, we could not rationally hope for kinder treatment than we 
rectived. Some of us, it is true, had a harder lot than others $ 
and, among the children I thought m^y foa Squire had tbe 
hardeft of any. 

13. He was then only four years old, and when we topped 
to reft our weary Hmbv, and he fet down on his niafter^s pack» 
the favage ihonfter wou4d often knock him off ; and foanetimtfa 
too with the handle of hi» hatchet. Several ugly marks, indented 
^1 his head by the cruel Indians, at that tender age are ftill 
plainly to be fcen. 

14' At length we antved at Crown Point, and took up our 
quarters there, for the fpace of near a week. In the mean ttroc^ 
fome of the Indians went to Montreal, ^nd took feveral of tbc 
weary captives along with them, with a view of felting them to 
the iFrench. They did not fucceed however, ia finding a mar* 
ket for any of them* 

15. They gave my youngeft daughter to the governor, de 
Vandreuil, had a drunken frolic, and returned again to Crow a 
Point, with the reft of their priionere. From hence we fet off 
for St. John's in four or five canoes, juft as night wss coming 
on, and were foon funounded with darkneifi. 



AMERICAN SELECTION^ 77 

16. Ahez^ ftorm hung over us, Tlic found of tliftrplliM^f 
thunder was very terrible upon the waters, which at eircry flalb 
of expsinfive lightning Tpemed to be all in a blaze* Yet, to tin's 
We were indebted for al) the h'ght we enjoyed. No bbjcd could 
W^ difcern ajiy longer than the flafheslalbed. , 

i^. In this poftui*e we failed in ouf open tottering canpet, 
almortlhe whole of that dreary nrght. The morning irxleed 
had not yet began to dawnj when vvc all went afliore j and h^* 
^ vtng colleded a heap of faod and gravel for'a pillow, I laid my- 
^frlf down with niy tender infant by my fide, not knowing ivherc 
aihy of my other children were, or what a roifcrablc condition 
fhcy might be in* 

-18. The next day however, under the ^in^ of .that erer 
prefent and all pcjwerfnl Providence, whirM had preferved us 
.through the darknefa and imn^i'nent danger of the preceding 
tiight, we all arrived in fafety at St, John's, 

19. Our next movement was to St. trancoia, the metropo- 
lis, if I m^yfo call it, to which the Indians who led us captive 
belonged.* 'Soon after our arrival at the wretched capital, a 
touncil confiding of the chief fachem, and fome principal war- 
fiors of Che S.t. Fi'artcois tribe, was convened : and after tji!: 
^'cremoniea ufual on fuch occafionnwere over^ I was condudlcd 
at)d delivered to an old fquaw; whbm the Indians told me I 
iiA»(l ciaU my mother* * - 

-20. My infant ftill cpntirtucd to be the property of its origi- 
iial Indian owrncry. I was neverthelefs permitted to keep it 
with me a while longer, for the fake of faving them tjic trou- 
ble of looking after it* When the weather began to grow cold, 
fhuddering at the profpedl of approaching winter, I acquaint- 
ed my new mother, that I did not think it would be poOiblefor 
'tm to endure it> if I mutbfpend it with her, and fare as the In- 
diana did, . 
• 2t, Liftening tp itiy repeated and earned folicitations, that 
T might be difpofed of among fome of the French inhabitants 
5f Canada, (he at length let off with me and my infant, attend- 
ed by fome male Indians upon a journey to Montreal, in hopba 
3of finding a market for me the^e* , But the attempt proved 
unfuccefsfulj and the journey tedious indeed. 

22. Our pTovi^ons was 60 fcanty as wel^as inlipid and tin^ 
favory j the weather was so cold, and the travelling fo very ba4> 
that it often feemed ds if I maft have periled on'the way, 
* 23; While we were at Montreal^ wc went into the houfe 
of a ccrtaia Frcocb gentleman, whofe lady being fentfor, an"* ' 

G 2 



7* WEBSTER'S 

coming^ Into the room where I wai, to txaminc me, feeing I • 
had an infant, exclaimed wkb an oath, ♦« I will aot buy a wo- 
man who has a child to look after/' 

24. There was a fwill-pail (landing near me, m which I oh. 
ferved forac crofts and crumbs of bread fwimmixjg on the fur- 
face of the greafy liquor it contained* Sorely pinched with 
huoger, I ikimmcd thcoi off with my hands» and ate them } 
and this was all the refrefhroent which the houfe afforded me. 
z^. Somewhere in the courfe of ihi« vifit to Montreal, my 
Indiai> mother was fo unfortunate as to catch the fmalLpox, 
of which diftcmpcr fbc died, foon after o«*r return, which was 
by water to St. Francois. And now it came on thi feafon 
when the Indiaas began to prepare for a winter's hu«t. 

26, I wa« ordei'cd 10 return my ppor child to ihofe of them 
who ftill claimed it as tlurir property- This w«s a fevere trial. 
The babe clung to my bofora, with all its might ;- but I was ob- 
liged to pluck it thence, and deliver it, (bricking btkI fcreira- 
ing, caough to penetrate a heart o( done, into the haads of thofc 
unfeeling wretches, whofe tender mercies may be termed crMcl. 
ZT* It was foon c?rried off by a huating "pftrty of thofe In- 
di^na, to a pjace called Meffiiltow, at the lower end of lake 
Charoplain, whither in about a month aftei, it wap my. fortune 
to follow them. And here I found it, it is true, but in a con* 
dition that afforded me no great fatisfaftion. 5 it being greatly 
rnaaciated, and almoft ftarvcd, 

:?S. I took it ia my arms, put its face to mtne, aod it ind^^otlf 
bit me with Cuch violence, that it feemed as if I mufthavc par- 
ted with a piece of my che«k. I was p^rn^ilted to lodge with 
it that, and the two following nights ; bnt every morning that 
irttervcaed, the Indiana, I fuppofc on purpofe to tortwrc roe, 
fcnt me away to anoth^t wigwam, which ftood at ji lUtle didanee, 
though not fo far framr the one in which my diftreffed iefant 
wai> confined, but that! could, plainly hear k^ ioceffaat cries* 
aad heart reading laoFientatioRe. 

zg. In this deplorable condiiioii, I was obliged to take tt^f 
3cave of it, on the morning of the third day after my arrival at 
ihc pl?ce. We moved down the la!?c feveralmiles l.he fame day J 
and the night foIlowir>g was remnrkaMe o« account of the^r^^l^ 
tnrihqmis which terribly Ihook tVtat howling wilderpers. 

30. Among the iflands hereabouts, we fpent the winter U^.* 
fon,.&ften (hming our quartern, ami roving about &ampnepb<:< 
to anoth&r j pur family conHfting of thrge per:fofla m\^x t^!*^^ 



AMERICAN SELttCTION. 7f 

^yfclP, v\z. noy Uu niQthcc'a dattgkter, wltoia tbcrefofe I caU 
led n>y /jftcr, hcp fanl^op, ^nd ?i pappoofc, 

3U Tlvey pace Wft me alone tvvo di^msi n?ght5.; and whcA 
ih^y returaffd to ine agab, perceiving them fmile at each other, 
i %(kfid what 16. the injtt^r .? They r^pV^cd that two of my chil- 
dren were no more, prie of which thcy/aid, die^d of 8i natur* 
^l jl^tl), aBd, the othffp wa^ knocked on the b^ad* 

32. 1 did not LHtev many ward?* but the hpart waa forely 
pa^cd witMn K^e, and my xj^ind e)(ceedingly Jroisbred with 
ftrfng! nd awful idta?, I oftca lowgincd, foriaftance, that 1 
pUioly faw the naked carcafes of my deccafed children hanging 
ufoa the liml>« of tlie tree^ as the, lndia{»«;(rp wo^t t^ haag the 
j-aw huie^ of thofe beafts v^hieh they take-in h4]atjng» , 

33, It waa not Ion;!, howcveir, bei^Qre-i.t was fo ordert3 by kind 
Providence, that I fi\auld be rdi<:vc4 if* a gpod meafare - from 
tbofe horrid ioaaginaupcsj fo» ^ i w^alking one day uppn the 
ice, obferwiiig a On^k? j^t Tome diil^oce A>pon the land, it muft 
propeedj thought I, frqtn the fife Ptf?'?^ ludiatn hut ; andwhp 
kn«iw8 but fome one ot my poor childveri may be, there, r 

S4. My curipilty tl^us ^i^cited, led me tp tht place, an^ there 
I^fwnd my foa C^Uh, a )i^tJe boy between tv^o and three ytara 
old, whom I had lately buried, ip f?v>iiment at Icaft or rather 
ia\agiQcd to haye be^n deF'^^d of lif^, and perhaps alfo denied 
a decent gr^ve . 

*. 35« ^ foufld him Ilkwife in tQlcvable health and elrcumftaiu 
CC8, under the proie^S^ion of a fond Indian mother ; and more* 
oifer had the happincfs of lodging with him in ray *rm9 one joy-- 
fttl night. Ag^in w^ (hirt«do<,»r quajrter^, au(d whcp we l^ad tra- 
^^lled eight or ten miles upon t^le fnow aivj ipe, came to a place 

■ \^bcre the Indiana n^^uuf^durj^d (agar which th.^y txUaftcd 
from ^le maple trees. 
. 36. Here an Indian came to vifit ii.s,, whom I ko^Wj and who 

. cou^d fpeak BngHfh, He ^fked npe ^iy J did not go to fee my 
fon Squire* I replied that j hai^ lately been informed that he 
wai dead.. He allured tafi fchat he waa yet alive, and but two 

' ©r ihrec railefi oflVoH tljie 9p|)9ike fide of the Lgicc. 

57/ At my rpqjijeft, he gave me the beft dlrcdigns he could 

to tbe place of his abode. I refolved to embrace the ijrft pppof- 

* tunvty tL^t offered of «n4eAyoriug to fcfireh.il#Ottt. Wtrilc 1 waa 

hnfy in contenapU%ting xhl^ affair, the Indians, obtained a little 

br«f.td 0/ vhicK they ga^e me a fn>^U ,fhare. 

33t I did mt tal^e ^ morfcl of it myfelf^ \i^i fav^d it all for 



8d WEBStEit^S' 

ftiy pooir cWld, if I fhould be fo lucky as to find Kim, At Ungtfi 
(laving obtained my keepers lieave to be abfent for one day. 1 
fct off early in the morning, and ilccring as well as I could, ac. 
cording to tjht diredions which the friendly Indian had gim 
tne, I quit;kl§ found the place wliich he bad fo accurately roaib 
ed out* » 

39. I beheld a« I drew nigh> my little fon withcTit^hc camp; 
but he looked, thought I, like a ftarved and mangy puppy, that 
had been wallowing in the afhes* 1 took him in my armiaod^ 
he fpoke to me thefc word, in the Indian tongue : " Mot^Aft j 
are ybu come ?'* 

40. I took him into the wigwam with me, and obferving i 
number of Indian children in it, I diftributed all the bread 
which I had relervcd for my own child, among thtm ail j otb* 
erwife I fhould have given great offence. 

41. My little boy appeared to be very fond of his tiewme. 
ther, kept aa near me as poflible while I fta^^ed ; and when I 
told him I mud go, he fell iii tho he h?d been knocked down 
with a club, ' ' 

'42. But having recommended him to the care of him who 
inadc him, when the day was far fpeni j and the time would per* 
mit me to d^y nb longer, T departed, you toay well fuppofe. 
\^ith a heavy load at my heart, "The tidi^^gs I had received 
of the death of my youngeft child had a fa'ttle before been coii- 
ffirmed to me beyond a doubt ; but I could not mourn- fo 
heartily for the deceafcdj as for the living child. ~ 

43. When the winter brt)ke up we removed to St. John**,' ; 
and through the cnfoing fumroer,'our piineipal r^fidence was at J 
tio great diftance ffom thtf fort at that jdace. In the mean time, 
however, my filler's hufband having been out with ^ fcoutiirj 
party to forae of the Englifh fcttlementa bad a diunken frolic 
at the fort when he returned- 

44. His wife, who never got drunk, but hai dften expcricri- 
ced the ill efFefts of her huMand's Intemperance, fearing wl/at 
the fconfequcrices might ptove, if helhould comt home ih a mo- 
rofe and turbulent humor to avoid his infolcnce, propofcd that 
Vc fhould both retircj and keep out of the fCach of it^ until 
the ftorm abated. 

45. We ahfconded aecotdingly ;but fo it happened, that I 
returned, and ventured into his prefence, before his-wife had 
prcfumed to come nigh biro. I found him in his wigwam aril 
in ' i furly riiobd } and not beifig able to revenge upon his 
Vfik bccaufe fhe was not at home; he laid hold of me 9^^ 



AMERICAN SELECTION, « 

iiarried me to the fort ; aodfor a triflng coarnkritioDi fold mc 
Mo a French gentleman whofe name was Saccapee. 

46. It Z8 an ill wind certainly thatt blows nobody any good* 
.1 had beeawlth the Indians :a year lacking fonrteea days ; and» 
df not for my liiler, yet for mc, it was a lucky cjrcumftance ift- 
deed, wh^ch thus at laR in an unncpe^ed moment, fnatchcd 
.me x>tu of their cruel hands, and placed me beyond the reach of 
their infolent power, 

• 47« After my Indian mafter had dLfpofed of me in the man- 
w related above, and the moment of fober reflexion had ac- 
TiYed, perceived that the man who bought me had taken advan- 
Cage of him ia an unguarded hour, hia re&ntment began to 
tkindle, and his indignation rofc fo high that he, threatened to 
kill me if he fhould meet niie alone ; or if he could not revenge 
himfelfthiig, that he would fet iuc^to the fort. 

4^. I waa therefbre fecreted in an upper chamfact, and (te 
fort carefully guarded, until hit wrath had time to cool. 
- My fervicr in the family, to whichrl was advanced, wftft pe»> 
k6t freedom, in comparifoa witb what it had been ^mong the 
4>arbarous Indians. 

49. My new.mader and miftrefs were both as kind zni gen«« 
fou8 towards mc as I could reafooable e«pe6L I £eldom aih- 
ed a favor of aither df them, but it was readily granted. Ill 
confequence of whicrh I had it in my power, in many inftancesr 
to adminiller aid and refreihment to the poor prifonene of mf 
own nation, who were brought into St. John's during ,my abodie 
in the family oi the above meatioaed benevolent and hofpitabfe 
SaA^capee. 

50. Yet even in this family, fueh trials awaited me at I hsti 
little reafoA to exped ; btit flood in need of a large ftock of 
prudence, to enable me to encounter them. In this, I. was 2viskU 
ly affiftcd by the governor, and Cot. Schuyler wb» uraa then a 
prifoncr. 

5T. 1 wai moreover under unfpeakable ohligatiow to th< 
governor on another account. I had received intellig^uce 
from my daughter Mary, the purport of which was, that there 
was a profpeS of her being (lidrtly married to a young Indian 
of the tribe of St. Francois, with which tribe (he had continu.* 
ed from the beginning of her captivity. Thefe were heavy 
tidings, and added greatly to thfi poignancy of my other aSic* 
•tions. 
\Sh However, not long after I had heard thia mefanicholv 
news, -an opportunity prcfcnted of acquainting that hum- 



h WEBSTER'S 

fend jvcncroin gentleman, the commander in chief, and my ilf^ 
Muilrioiifl beiicfactor, with this afFali* alfo, who, in compafiioi 
for my fi^iTeriii^a, and to mjtijrate nay forrows, iCTucd his orders 
in good time and hid my daughter taken away from the In. 
dtaus, and convoyed to the fame nunnery where l»cr fiiter wai 
tlien lodged, with his exprefs injun(Sion, that thty flidiild bolh^ 
of thefn together be well looked after, and carefully educated, 
&l hie adopted children. 

53. In th'3 fchool of fuperftition and bigotry, they cojitiniu. 
cd while th>; war in thofc day between Fiance and Greai-Bii^ 
tain laded. At the conclufion of which var, the governor went 
home to France, took my tldcil daughter along with him, and 
married her there to a French gen.leman, whole name is Croa 
Lewis. 

54. He was at Bofton with the fleetmnder Count dc Eaft,mjf> 
f 1779] and one of hia clerks. My other daughter dill conttn^ 
uing in the nunnery, a confiderable time had elapfed after my 
return from captivity when I made a journey to Canada, rc- 
folving to ufe my bcil endeavours not to return without her. 

55. I arrived juft in time to prevent her being fent to 
France. She was to have gone in ihe next vcfTel that failed for 
that place- And I found it extremely difiicult to prevail with 
her to quit the Runnery and go home with me. 

§6. Vea, fhe abfolutely refufed ; and all the perfuafion and 
ergumenta I couid ufe with her were to no effert, until after I^ 
had been to the governor, and obtained a letter from him to 
the fuperintcniaiit of the nuns in which he threatened, if my 
daugliter fhould not be delivered immediately int© my hands, or j 
could not be prevailed with to fubmit to my parental euthority, 
that he would fend a band of folditrs to ailKl me in bringing 
i)er away. 

' 57. But Co extremely bigoted was (lie to the cuftoraa and, 
religion of the place, that after all, (he left it with the grcateft 
reludanc^, and the mofl bitter lamentaiions, which fhe conti- 
nued aa we pafTed the ftreets, and wholly refufed to be comfort- , 
cd. My good friend, Major Small, whom we met with on the 
way, tried ail he could to confole her ; and was fo very kind 
an«i obliging as to bear us company, and carry my daughter be- 
hind hiiTi on horfeback. 

58. But I have run en a little before my ftory ; for I have 
not yet informed you of the means and m -inner of my own re- 
demption : to the accompIi(hing of which, the recovery of 



\9B 



AMERICAN SELECTION, 83 



|»y daughter juft mentioned, and the ranfoming of fomc of my 
;fliiier children, ftvrial gentlemen of note ceulribyted not ilit- 
[lie I to whofe goodocfs, therefore, 1 am gfreatly indebted, and 
[fincercly hope 1 dial! never be fo ungrateful as to forget it, 
I . 59. Col. Schuyler, in particular, was fo very kind and ^tvtm, 
i rouias to advance 2700 litres to procure a ranlom for my feli and 
' thrfcof my children. He acconr.panied and conduced us from 
, Moatrcal to Albany, and entertained us in the nioft fiiendly 
|2£dliufpitable manner a confidcrable time, at hie OW41 houfe| 
ilfid I believe entirely at his own expeoce* 

The whistle. 

.TTTHEN 1 was a child, at feven years old, fays Dr; 
' ' Franklin, my friends on a holiday filled my little 

ncVets with coppers. I went diredly to a fliop where they 
tld toys for children ; and being char«med with the found of ^ 
SVhirtie, which I met by the way, in the hands of another boy, 
% voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one, 
; 2. I then came home, and went whiilling all over the hoiife, 
^Qcb plea fed with my Whiftle ; but difturbing all the family-' 
*"/ brothers and fitters, and coafins, underftanding the bargain 

had made, told me I had given four times as much for it, as it 

^as worth. 

5. This put roe in mind of what good things I might have 

ught with the reft of the money. And they laughed at me 
much for my folly, that I cried with vexation ; and the re* 

^ion gave m? more cLagrin than the Whiftle gave me pleaf- 
Ire, ^ 

4. This however was afterwards of ofe to me j the iraprcf- 
on continuing on my mind, fo often that when I was tempted 
> buy forac unneccffary thing, I faid to royfelf, DonU^ivc to9 
mchfortJyc fwJMk. And To I faved my money. 

5. As I grew up and came into the world, and obferved the 
^ions of men, I thought I met with many, very .many, Wh9 
nve too much for the nvhi/lU', 

6. When I faw one too ambitious flf court favors, facrificing 
is time in attendance at levees, his repofe, his liberty, his vir- 
le, and perhaps his fritnds to attain it, I have fgid to myfelf, 
his man gives too much for his <whi/i/e, 

7. When I saw another fond of popularity, conftanily em* 
loying hirafelfjin poHtical bufllcB, negle^ing his own affairs. 



14 WEBSTER^S ^^• 

and ruining thiexn by tha: neglc£i« lU fcys indaJMd I £00 totr^ 
/or hit vihTftUj, ' 

8. If I knew a mifcr, vtho g^ve up every kind of comfortable 
living, all the pleafure of doing good to qthers, all the e&taa 
•f h'JB fellow citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendfhip for 
the fake of accumulating wealthy Poor man Uid If jou do iadeed 
pay Ho much for the Wki^k' 

9. When \ meet with a man of pleafure, facrificing eyery lau- 
dable improveroeat of the mind, or his fortunes to mere corpo- 
real fenfationsy and ruining his health in theputfuit ; MifitJketi 
man) fay I, you are providio/r pain for yourfelf inftead of plea- 
fure J you glvf too much f^ryo^-, . Whtftk, 

10. If I fee one fond of fine clocbte, fine furniture, fincKoufes ; 
fine equipage^ all above his fortune, for which he coatrads 
debts, and ends hia career in prifoH ; AUs ! fay I, hi has pad 
dcar^ very dear for his WhtJHe» 

11. In fl)brt, I conceived that great p^rt of the mifcriesQf 
mankind were brought upon them by the falfe eftimates they 
bad made of the yalue of thiogSi and by their giving too much 
{or their midles. 

HISTORY or POCAHONTAS. 
I. TjERHAPS thcy,'who arc not particularly acquaintei 
AT with the hiftory of Virginia, may be ignorant that Vfy- 
^hontas was the proteilrefs of the £ngli(h» and often fcrceoed 
them from the cruelty of her. father. 

2« She ]K^a8 but twelve years old, when Capt. Smith, tbc^bra* 
Tcfty the moft intelligent and the moil humane of the firft qqL 
i^nifts, fell into the hands of the favages.^-He already under- 
Ibood their language, had traded with them fevcral time, and of* 
ten appelated t^he quarrels between the Europeans and them. 
Often had he been obliged alfo to fight them» 9Qd puniih tbcir 
jcifidy. 

3, At length however, under the pretext of comtnet-ce, be was 
lirawn into an ambufh, and the only two companions who sic- 
companied him fell before his eyes ; but though alqne, by bis 
dexterity he extricated himfelf from the troop which furrouad- 
^d him ;- until} unfortunately, imagining be ^oiild fave himfelf 
by croiling a mbrafs. he (luck fail, fo that, the favages agaii^i^ 
vvhom he had no means of defending himfe]f> at laft| took and 
fc^o^ind him and condudcd him to Powhatan. 

^- The king was fo proud of having captain Smith in bil. 



'^ .V 'AMERICAN SELECTION. > 85- 

-power, tliat Uc fent Inra in triumph to all the tributary princes 
and ordered that he fhould be fpltndldly treated, till he return- 
ed to fufFtir that death which was prepared for him. 

5. The fatal moment at lail arrived. Captaiu Smith was 
l&id upon the hcatth o/the favage king, and his head placed up- 
on a large Hone to receive the ttroke of death ; when Pocahon- 
ttis the younged and darling daughter of Powhatan; threw her- 
feJf upon his body, dafpfcd him in her arras, and declared, that 
ifthc criiel -fenteacc was executed, the fird blow (hould fall oa 
jber. 

6* All favages (ablolute f overeigna and tyrants not excepted ) 
arc invariably more affc£led.* y the tears of infancy, than the 
voice pf humanity. Powhatua could not rcGtl the tears and 
■ prayera of his daughter. 

7, Captain Smith obtained his life, on condition of paying 
for his ranfora a certain quantity of muflcets, powder and iron 
uteofils ; but how were they to be obtained ? They would nei- 
ther permit him to return to JamcftoWn, nor let the Englilh 
kflDw where he was, left they fhodd dcma»d* kim fword ia 
hand, 

•8. Captain Smith, who was as fenfible as courageous, /aid, 
that if Powhatan would permit one of his fubjefts to carry to 
Jameftown a leaf which he took from his pocket book, he fliould 
fMi under a t.re<: at the day and hour appointed, all the arti- 
cles demanded for his ranfom. 

9. Powhatan' confented ; but whhout having much faith in 
his proraifes, believing it to be only an artifice of the Captain ta 
prolong hia life. -But he had written on the leaf a few lines, 
fufficient to give an account of his fituation. The mcfTcnger 
returned. The king fent to the place fjxed upoft, and wa^ great- 
ly aftoaiihed to find every thing which had been demmded. 

- 10, Povrhaian could not conceive this mode of tranfmitting 
tboughta ; and Captain Smith was henceforth looked upon as 
a great magician, to whom they could not (how too much rcu 
fpeft. He left the favages in this opinion, and haftcred to rc^ 
tttrn home. 

n , Two or 1 hrec years after, (ome frefh differences arifing 
amidll them and tli« Englifh, Powhatan, who no \ong;4r thought 
them, fwcerers, but. ftill feared their power, laid a horrid plan 
to get rid of them altogether. His proje£l was lo aiixck ihcizi 
in piofjound p^acc, and cut the throats of the wliole cobuy. 

H 



^6 WEBSTER'S 

12. The night of this intended confpJracy, Pocahontas t^ok 
advantage of the obfcuriiy ; and in a terrible ftorm which kept 
the favagcs in their tents, efcaped from her fa^her'a houfe, ad- 
vifcd the Engh'fli :o be on their guard, bnt conjured them to 
fparc her family ; to oppear ignorant of the intelligence Ihe 
had given, and terminate all their diifercncea by a new treaty. 

13. It would be tedious to relate all the fervices which this 
angel of peace rendered to both nations^ I fl^all only add, that 

, the Englifli^ I know not from what motives, but certainly q- 
gainfl ail faith and equity, thought proper to cany her off, 
Long and bitterly did Ihc deplore her fate ; and the only con-» 
folation fhe had was Captain Smithy in whom (he found a fecon^ 
father. 

14. She was treated with great refpeft, and married to a plaa« 
tfr by the name of Rolfe, who foon after took her to England, 
This was. in the reign of James the firft ; and it iafaid, that ihc 
monarch, pedantic and ridiculous, in every point, was fo inTat* 
iiated with the prerogatives of royalty, that he exprcffcd hi^ 
difpleafurc that one of his fubjcdts fhould dare to marry thp . 
daughter even of a favage king. 

15. It will not perhaps be difUcult to decide en this occafion^ 
wUcther it waa the favage king who derived honor from finding 
himfelf placed upon a level with the European prince, or the 
Englifh monarch, who by his piide and prejudices, reduced him^ 
fclf to a kvel with the.chltf of the favages. 

16. Be that as it will, Captain Snrith, who had ret-urncd toe 
London before the arrival of Pocahontas, was extremely happy 
to fee her again ; but dared not treat her with the fameiamiU 
iaiity as at Jameftown. As foon as (he faw him, (he ^hrevv her-. 
felf into his arms, calling him her father ; but finding that he 
neither returned her careffeswith equal warmth, nor the endear-, 
ing title of daughter, fhe turned afide her head and wept bit. 
reily ir and it was a long lime before ihey could obtain a fingl^ 
word from her, 

17. Captain Smith enquired feveral times what could be the 
caufe of her afflid^ion, *^ What ! faid (he, did I not fave thy 
life in America ? When I was torn from the arms of my father, 
and condufted amongft thy friends, didil thou not prpmife tQ 
be a father to me? Didft thou not alTure me, that if I went in* 
to thy country thou wouldft be ray father, and that I (liould 
be thy dattgbter ? Thou haft deceived me, and behqld me, no>y 
here, a ftrangcr and an orphan.'* 



39^ 



AMEraCAJ^ SELECTION. ?!? 



l8*tt was not dtfHcult for the Captain to make his peace vclih 
this charming creature, whom he tenderly loved. He pre- 
feiited her to feveral people of the firft quality ; but never dar- 
ed to take her to court, from which^ however (he received fevc- 
ral favors. 

19, After a rcfidence of feveral years in England, an tx* 
femplc of virtue and piety, and attachment to her husbamJ, (he 
died, a» (he was on the point of embarking for America. - She 
left an only fon, who was married, and left none but dai7ghtcr» ; 
iuid from thefc arc defctnded fome of the principal charadter^ 
I'a Virginia* 

; EMiLiXiBi or Dome/He NaffHttefs. 

h 'T^HE goycrnmeiit of a family depends on fach variatti 

Jk and opposite principles, that it is a matter of extreme de* 
licacy» Perhaps their h no fituatian is life io which it is fo 
difficult to behave with propriety, as in the-conteik bctweeo 
parental authority and parental Jvo€% This ia Undoubtedly the 
reafon why we fde f& few happy families. Few parents ate both 
loved and refpe^ed, becaufe mo^ of tliem, arc citber the dupet 
or the tyrajih of their children. 

3. Somt parents, either from a natural weaknefs of roind^ 
f>x an cxcefs of foiidnefs, permit and even encourage their cfiilr 
dren, tn'a thoufand familiarities, whfch render them ridicu- 
lous, and by diminiihinff the refpe£l which is due to their ag< 
au^ fbtion, dcftroy all their authority. 

, ^. Others, ruled by a partial and blind affediony. which can 
^eny nothing to its objed, isuiulgo their children in all t}ifir 
roaia^itic wifhes, however trifling and fooli(h ; however degrad* 
iBg to their dignity or injurious to their welfare. ; 

4. Others, foured by misforcunes, o» grown peevKh and jeaU 
00s by the lofa of youthfnl pleafures, and an acquaintance with 
the deceit and folly of the world, attempt to reftrain tht ideas 
attd enjoyments of youth by the rigid maxims of age. 

5; The children of the firft clafs often offead by filly man- 
ncrs and a kind of good natured difrefp6<ft. Thofe of the 
. fecondare geaerally proud, whimfical a»d vicious. Tboltofthc 
third, if they are fubdned, whcR youag, by the rigor of pircn* 
taldifcipline, fore «>er remain morofe, jllibcral and unfociable ^ 
^r if, as it commonly happens, they find means to tfcape froia 
r«ftraiat, they abandon thcmtelvesi to every (pecies of liceh* 
ti^ufncf*. 



88 WEBSTER'S 

6. To parents of tlicfc dcfcnptfons may be added another 
clafg, whofe fondncfs blmds their eyes to the mofl glaring vi' 
ceb of their children ; or invent fuch palhationa, as to pireveut 
the mod fahitary corrediions. 

7. The tallc for anjuftn^ents in younjr people, h the moft 
AifHcuIt to regulate by the n\axinia of prudence- In thia ar- 
ticle, parents .are apt to err, either by extreme indulgence oa 
the one hand, or immoderate rigor on the other. 

8. Recollefting the feelings of their youth, they g'*rc tnu 
hounded h'cence to the inch'nationa of their children ; or hav- 
ing loft all relifh for amufements, they lefufe to gratify their 
mod moderate deQres. 

9. It is a maxim which univerfally holds true, that the bcft 
method of guarding youth from ^rimintf/ pleafures, is to inu 
dulge them freely in thofe that at^ innocent, A perfoo who 
lias free accefs to reputable fociety, will liave little incILna;t{o« 
to frequervt that which is vicious. 

10. But thofe, who are kept under conftaat reilraint* who 
- &re feldom in amufements, who are perpetually' awed by iIm 

frowns of a p:»rcnt, or foured by a difappoitilment of their 
mod harmlefs wiihes, will at times break over £11 bounda to 
gratify their tafte for pleafure, and will not he anxious to dif- 
criminate between the innocent and the ciiniinal, 

11. Nothing contributes more to keep youth within the 
limits of decorum, than to have their fuperiors mipgle in their 
•ompany at proper times, and participate of their amufements* 

12. This condesceniion flatters their pride ; at the fame time, 
that refpe£l for ag?, which no familiarities can wholly efface, 
iiaturaHy checlcs the extravagant fallies of mirth, and i|ic in- 
delicate rudenefles which young people are apt to indulge ia 
their jovial hours. , 

15, That awful diRance at which fomc parents keep their 
children, and their aljhorrance of all juvenile divcrfions,: which 
compel youth to facrifice their mod innocent defires, or veil the 
gratification of them with the moft anxious fccrccy, have ns 
direft a tendency to drive young perfons into a profligate life, 
ds the fbrcc of vicious example. 

14. It ia as impofiibl© to give to the age «f twenty the feel- 
ings or the knowledge of, fixty, as it would be folly to wiih 
to clothe a child with grey hairs, or to ft^mp the fading afpe£l 
of Autumn on the bloom of May* Nature has given to every 
age fame peculiar paffions and, appetites j to moderace aad 



AMERICAN SELECTIOK, ' ^^) 

. tc&aethefe, not to (li(!c and d^ftrof, is the bv;finefs of com- 
mon prudence and parental care, 

> 15* I was led into thi« tram of rcfle£\ions by »n acqitaint- 
ancc with the family of Emilius, whicli is a rate inrtcnce ©f da- 
nscftic felicity. Parents indulgent to thtir children; hofpiiable 
to their fricrids, aad univerfally rcfpedtcd ; their Tons equally 
generous, modeft and manly. 

16. Emilia, an only daughter, the pride of her parents, pof- 
fefFed of every accomplifhment thr.t can honor herfcif, or en- 
dear her to her friends ; an eafy fortune, and a difpoi'iiion to 
lenjoy and improve it to the purpose ofhamanfty ; perfcdl har- 
mony of domeftic life, and unaffc6ttd faiisf^dion in the pica^ 
Aires of fociety* Such is the family of Emiliwp, 

17. Such a family is a little paradifc on earth ; to envy ilicfr 
happineTs is almoft a virtue. Conjugal rcfpe<5^,'p&rcKial tend^r- 
ntfs, filial obedience, and brotherly kindncfi are fo feldom nni* 
ted in a family, that when I am honored with the friend(hip 
orfuch, 1 am equally ambitious 10 participate their happinefs 
^nd profit, by the example* 

18. Emilia's filuation mud by peculiarly agreeable. Her 
: parents delighted to giatify her in every amufcment ; and con* 

tented with this, fhe. knows no wiHi beyond the facred bounds 
of honor. While by their indulgence flic enjoys every rational 
pleafure, (he rewards their generous care, by a dutiful behavior 

/.and unblemifhed manners* 

15^* By thus difcharging the reciprocal dutirs of their ref- 
pe&fve ftationf, the happinefs of e?ch is fecured. The folic- 
iiudaof the parent and the obedience of the child equally con* 

. tribute to the bh'fs or the little fociety : the one cnliing forth 
every a6t of tcndernefs, and the other difplayed in all the filial 
virtues, 

20. Few families arc deftined to be fo happy as that of Em- 
ilias. Were I to choofe the fituation where 1 could pafs my 
life with moft fatisfadion, it woidd be in this domellic cir- 
cle. My houfe would then be the rcfidence of delight, unrnfo^ 

. glcd with theaxieties of ambition or the regret of difappoint^ 
ment. ' 

21. Every a£l would be dictated by love and rcfpeft 1 
every countenance U'ould wear the fmile of complaifancc ; and 
the little unavoidable troubles, incident to the happieft iitua^ 
liOD, would only ferve to increafe our friendihip and improve 
?ui; felicity, by making room' for the ejcrcifs of virtoe* ' 

' . . Hi. 



9« * WEBSTER'S 

deviste from lliat dignity and propriety oF condu6V, whicliii 
any fitnation, will ffciire the good will of her friends, and pfc- 
vent the bluftics of her hufband. 

15. A ^ondnefs for company and amtiCemcnc is blamealAc 
only when it 19 indulged to cxctfs, and prcmitted to abforb 
more important concerns. Nor is fome degree of flattery zU 
ivays dangerous or ufeLfs. The good opinion of mankind we 
are all ddirous to obtain j and to know that wcfioffe/s it, often 
makes us ambitious to ^/i^rr^ it. 

16. No pafFion 18 gi^c^ to us in vain \ tlie befl ends are j 
fomctimes cfFeftcd by the worst means } and even fen^ale van- \ 
ity, properly managed, may prompt to the motl meritonotis ' 
adlioiis, I (hould pay Emilia but a very ill coropltmeut to af- : 
cribe lier virtues to her local (ituation : for no perfo» can claifn^ ^ 
as a virtue, what fhe has been in no danger of to^ng. * ' 

17. But there « no retirement beyond the reach of tempta- 
tion, and the whole tenor or her conduft proves, that her «in« 
blcmidied morals and uniform delicacy, proceed from beUer 
principles than neceffity or accident. 

18. She is loved and flattered, but fhe is not vain ; her co«- \ 
pany is univerfally coveted, and yet (he has no airs of haisghti- 
nefs and disdain. ; 

19* Her chectfulnefs in company, (hows that fhe has a re- 1 
lifh for fociety ; her contentment at home, and attention to do- ! 
roeftic concerns, are early fpecimens of her happy difpofit ion ; ^ 
and her decent unafFcd^ed abhorrence of every fpceics of licen- 
tious behavior, evinces beyond fufpicion, that the innocence of 
her heart is equal to the. charms of her perfon, 

JUIJANA. A REAL CHARAC.tES. 

1, TTIiLlANA' is one of thofc rare women whofe pcrfonal at- 
J) trra£tions have no rivahj but the fweetnefs of h«r temper 
and the delicacy of her fenUments. An elegant. perfon,^ regular 
features, a fine complejcionl a lively expreffive countenance, art 
cafy addref«, and thofe blufties of modefty that foften the foul 
of the beholder ; Thcfe are the native beanties, which fender 
her the ohjeft of univerfal admiration. 

2 9ut when we converfe with her, and bear the melting ex- 

preffions of unaffected fenfibility and virtue that flow from her 

tongue, her perfonal charms receive .new luftrc, and irreriftibly 

engage the affedions of her acquaintance. ^ . 

3. Senliblc that the great fource of, all happincff, w pttriij' 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 9J 

*C>f nnorals and an eafy confcicnce, Juliana pays condant ind 
fin cere attention to the duties of religion. S^he abhors the in- 
famous, but' fafhionablc vice of. deriding the facred inflitotioa 
of ix-ligion. 

4^. She coitTiders a lady wiilmut virtue as a mor.fttr or\ earth.; 
and every accomphthmcnt, without morals, aa poliie deception. 
She it neither a hypocrite nor an enihufiad ; on the contrary, 
fhe minglea fuch chcerfulnefa with the religious duties of life, 
that even her piety carries withjt t charm which infcnfibly aU 
iuves the profligate from the arms of vice, 

5* Not only the general tenor oC her life, but in particular 
Kcr behaviour in church, evinces the reality of her religion. She 
eftcema it not only criminal in a high degree, but extremely un- 
polite, to behave with letity in a place confecratcd to ibe folcmn 
parpofe of devotion. 

6*: She cannot believe that any perfon, who is folicitous to 
treat all mankind with civility, can laugh in the temple of Jeho- 
vah, and treat their great bcnefa£tor with hecdleis negled. 

7,^In polite life, the manners of Juliana are peculiarly enga- 
g^r^g* To her fuperiors, (lie fhows the utmoft deferetice and re- 
ipc&,- To her equals, the moil^odeftcomplalfancc and civil- 
ity ; while every rank experience her kindncfs and affability. 

8* By this condudl (he fecures the love and frienddiip of all 
degrees. No perfon can defpife her, for fhe does nothing that 
la ridiculous : ftiejcannot be hated, for fhe does injury to none $ 
and even the malevolent whifpers of envy are filenccd, by liev 
naodeft deportment and generous condirfcenfion. 

9'. Hercon^crfation is lively and fealimental ; fre^ from falfe 
vrit, frivolou8;*ifiinutencfe, and afFedtation oi learning. Although 
her difisourfcvta; always under the diredifon of prudcrw:c, yet ft 
appears unftiidicft; forher good fenfe always furnifhes her wiih 
thoughtj fuitei to-. thefubje<^, and the parity of her mind rcn* 
dcrs any cautiott iti'^exprefiing thera> almoHunnccefuiry. 

lo. She will not lead the convfrfation ; much lefs can fhe 
fturi the ears of company with perpetual chat, to interrupt the 
difcoiJrfe of other?. But when occafion offers, fhe acquits her* 
felf wTth eafe and grace j without the airs of pertnel?^ or the. 
confufion of baflifulflefft. . . ' v 

I K But if the converfation Happens to turn upon the foible* 
of either fex, Juliana difcavers her goodnefs by filence, or by 
invc^liug paliiatioaa. She detcfl every fpecic? of flander. 



5+ WEBSTE&^S 

12. She is fenfiblc that to ptiblrfli and aggravate Karoaii tt- 
row II not the way to corre£l,thcm ; and reformation, rathrr 
than infamy, 18 the wi(h and the ftiidy of her life. Kcr own 
fiminble example is the fcvereftof all falires upon the faults and 
the follies of heriexj and goes farther in dircouiitenancing bolb, 
than all (he ccnferes of malicious detra£kioD« 

13. Although Juliana poffcfTcs every accomplffhment that 
can command efteem and admiration ; yet (hr has pelt her vam- 
•ty nor oftcntation. Her mmt is cafily difcovercd without (hovf 
and paradci 

14. She confidefs that haughtincfe, asd cotitctnpt erf others, 
always proceed from meannefs j chat true greatpefs is cverac* 
■ceffiblc J and that fell recommendation and bluftering prctep- 
fions, arc bnt the fflittering dtporationa of empty head« aad tn» 
fling hearts. 

15. However lir.ong rtiay be berdeiirc ofulefui information, 
or Irowever lively her cariofity, ytt ftie retrains thcfc pafiloBi 
within the bounds of prudence and good breeding* She deems 
it iajpertinent to the highell degree to be prying into thecofli 
ccrna of other people ; much more impertinent and cri«inal doci 
(he deem it, to indulge an oficious inquidtiveaeCa^ for the f^U 
cf gratifying private fplecn in the propagatioir o£ iwift«ouf2bl€ 
truths. 

r6« So exceedingly delicate la flie inker ircatm^ntofto 
fcHow cetacures, that fhe will not read a paper noc h«ar a wh»- 
per, which a perfon does not wi(h to have known^ <Tcn whcit 
(he is in no danger of detedlion. 

17. The fame delicate attentiott to tlie feellnga of othera re* 
guVatea her conduft ia company. She weuld not for tbe prkt 
of her reputation, be found laughing, or whrfperiug vrith ovt 
in the company. AH nods, gf imacea, fly looks^ and half fpeecfe* 
es, thccaufe of which is not known, ate carefully avoided by 
her, and reprobated as the height of ill breedingj aadlke gr^S* 
eft infak to the company, . 

1 3, Wheaever this happens between two perfons^ the^T«ft<'f 
the company have a jud right to confidcr themfelves the ofejc^s 
of their^ridicule. But it is a maxim of Juliana tbatfuch/coa* 
duft is a breach of politenefji, which no oddiues or-miftafecJ 
that happen in- public coBapany,'can cxcnfe or palliate^ 

19^ It is very coaimdn for perfons v ho are deftjtute ofcer-* 
tain actomplifliraents wiiich. tb«y admire Ja other people, ta 
endeavour to imitate them. This is the fourcc of affc£latiaSt 



[ . AMERICAN SELECTION- fs 

f af^uluhat Infallibly expofes a pcrfon lo ridicule. But the or< 
aaiDMtsof the heart, the drcf« apd chc manners of Juliana aro 
equally csfy and natural. 

20. She peed not to affuinc the appearance of good qualiut^ 
vhicb Die poffeflcs in reah'ty : nature has given too many beau* 
licstoherperfon, tp require the ftudied €nr*belli(hrocnt8 of faih, 
loojaodfuch are the eafe apd gracefuUicfs of her behaviour^ 
that any attfpipt to ioiprpvc lUcm would Icflcn the dignity ot' 

21. She is equally a granger to that fupercllious inaportancc 
y^^^^\i affeds to defpife the inial], but neccffary concerns of life | 
'Qd ibit Xqeami(h falfe delicacy which is wounded with everf 

triile. ^ ^ • • V 

22. %^ tirill fiot negle<^ a fcrvant in ficknefa becaute of the 
rawDDcfs of his employnaent ; (he will not abufe an animal for 
'|f''o»7ipleafuTf and amufcment j nor will fhe go into iitt at 
tflediilrcfs of a fayon'te cat. 

H- Hei'gfnile feul is never dlilurbed with difcontcnt, envy, 
^Tcfentment ; thofc turbulent pafltona which fo often deflruyr 
, ^kpcace of focipty as well as of individuals, Tlie native firro^ 
"5**80(1 fercnity ofraind forbid the intrufion o£ violent enoo*- 
|w^S;»uhe fame time her heart, fufceptiblc andi kind, is the 
wft refidence of every virtuous .affcAion, 

I 24. She fuftaifis the unavoidable (hocka of adverfity, with.a 
I^QJQffs that indicates the fupeiiority of her foul ; and with the 
p'^e of joy or ihc.tear of tendernefo, (he participates the plc»» 
'ifes or the forrows of a friend. 

2f, Eut^tbe difcfetion and generofity of Juliana, arc pattic- 
'3% diftiDguirtied by the number and ficcerity of lier attache 
BCQtt. Her friendships are few, but they are all founded on the . 
!"8c^le« of. benevolence dnd fidelity. Such confidence do hec 
^Cfi^ty, her cqnftancy and her faithfulnefs infpire, that her 
ncnds commit to her bread their moft private coacerna with., 
I«fufpiclcn, ' - ' 

26* I(j4hcr favorite maxim, \hat a neccflity of exaflfng prom^ 
"offedrecy, is.a burlefque upon every pretenfion to friendfhip^ 
Scliii the ehara flex of the yoiuig,. the amiable Juliana. 
?7' If it is^ poflible for her to find a man who knows hec > 
?fth,afld has a difpofition and virtues to reward it, the .luiion 
^ their hearts mutt fecurc that unmingled felicity in life, 
i^'cluis refervcd for^ genuine love, a paflion infpircii by fenii^ 
^>a.id improved by a perpetual .inttrcouife of kind offices. 



loy 



96 WEBSTER'S 

RULES FOR BEHAVIOR, 
J, TVTEVER let your mind be abftnt in compzrty. Com* 
jL nI mand and dircdt your attention to the prcfcnt objc6^, 
and let dilbnt objc"£l9 be ban if bed from the mind. Theie \i 
time enough for tvtry thing in tlie courfe of the day, if you do 
but one thing at once ; but there is not time enough in a year, 
if you will do two things at a lime, 

2. Never attempt to tell a ftory vvich which you are i^ot well 
acquainitd ; nor ffliigueyoiir hearcta with relating liitlc \x\&\ng 
ciicumftances. Do not interrupt the thread of difcourfc wnU 
a thoufcnd hems^ and by repeating often ydrj'x he^ aud/atJ /. 
Relate the principle poinii with clcarnefa and prccifion, and you 
will be heard with pleafure. 

3. Th«re is a difference between modefty and baflifnlneff. 
Modefty Is the chara£tcriftic of an amiable mind ; baftifulDcis 
difcovcrs a degree of meannefs. Nothing fiuks a young man 
into low company fo Purely as baflif ulneis* 

4. If he thinh heftiall not pleafe, he moft furely w/7/not. — 
Vice- and ignorance arc th« only things we ought to be ailiamed 
of; while we keep dcarpf them we may venture any where 
without fear or conccin. 

5. Freqaenjt good cgmpany— copy their manners — insitste 
their virtues and accomplirtimerta. 

6. Be not very free in your remarks upon chaTa6^.ers, There 
may be in all companies, more wrong heads than rJo/ji ones-'— 
more people will de/trve than who will Sear cenfure, 

7. Never hold any body by the button or the h^^ind, in order 
to be heard through your (lory ; for if the people areTiot wiU 
ling to hear you, you had much bttier hold y our '/oi»fiflp that 
hold t/jttfj* 

8. Never whifper in company. Cotiverfation h common 
(lock, in which all perfons prefcnc have a right to claim their 
Ibare. Always liften when-you are fpoken to j and never in- 
tcrrupt a fi)eaker. 

9. Be not forward in leadlfig the converfati9n— ^this belongs 
to the olueft perfons in the company. Difplay your learning 
only on particular occaiions. Never oppofe the opinion ofano. 
ther but with great modefty, 

10. .On all occaiions avoid fpeaking of yourfclf If it is poilf. 
ble. Nothing that we can fay of ou kfelves will varni(h 6nx tic* 
feiis^ or add luftrc to our virtues ; but on the contrary, it wiU 

oficu feakc the fowncr more vifihk^ and the latter ohfturu 



AMERICAN SELECTION. . J7 

ti. Be Trawk, open and ingenuou?', in yottr be1i4vioar*j tnd 
always look people in the face when you fpeak to them. Never 
receive nor retail fcandal. In fcandal, asm robbery, the receivii 
€t- » as bad arthc ihief. 

12. Never refleiSl upon bodies of men, ehRef clergymen tlawii 
yers, phyficians, or foW iefn ; nor npon nations and focietiei* 
There are good aa well 'as bad^ in a!l orders of men, and in all 
countries. ' * ' 

jrj. Mimickry is h comrnon and favorfte amafemcnt of iovit 
minds, but fhonld be defp?fed by aU great ones. We fttould nei- 
ther praftice it ourfelveff, nor praife it in others. Let yonr ex< 
pences be lefs than your tncomc. 

\ 14. A fool fqnanders away. without credit or advantage td. 
bimfeif, more than a man of fenfi trends with both.^A. wife 
man employs. his mpney, as he .does his time ; he nq^ fpendl 
,a ihiHing of the one, nor a minute of the other, but in fomc!* 
tiling thsic is either ufeful or rationally p}eafing« The , fool 
buys what he does not want, but does not pay for what he 
ftand in need of. 

15. Form no frrendfhTps haflily. Study a charafier well b©»* 
fore you put confideucje in the pemn. Every perfon isentitled* 
to chnllty but very fe'w to tonfidente^ The Spanifh proverb 
fays, « Tell me whom you live with, and t will reTl you wjio 
yoai ar^,*' The Englifh fay, ** A man is known by the com* 
pauy he keeps." 

1^. Good breeding does not confift in low bowl ap4 forqi- 
al ceremony ; B6t in anirafy, divil, and fefpeftful behavior* 

17. A well bred man is polite to every perfon, ijut partic- 
ularly to ftiangcrs. In mixed companies tvtyj p^i^fon who is ad- 
mitted, is fwppofcd to be on a footing of equality with the reft, 
and co^vfcquentiy claims very juftly every msjik of civility. ' ^ 

t8, 'Be very ^attentive to neatnefd. ^he hands, nails Jm4 
ttelh fhould be kept clean , A dirty- mouth is not only difagree- 
ably, as it occafions an offenfivelircath, but almoft infauibly 
caufes a decay and lofs of tejedr. 

19. Never put your fipgcrajn youf nofc^or cars— it is a aaftr,' 
V vwlgar rudencfs, and art affront to company, 

20. Be not ^ floven in drefs ; noi* a iop. Let yoar drefs bc" 
neat, and as faHiionable as yonr circumftances and convenience 
will admit. It is faid that a man who is neghgent at twenty 
years of age, will be a floven at forty, and intolerable at fifty, 
^ 21. It is necejary fomctimes to be in hafley but Jjway^' 



9a WEBSTER'S ^''^ 

ivreng to be in. 8 Lurry ^ A man io a hurry perplexes htmfelf j 
he W3nts to do everv tbiDg at once, and does norbing at alF. . 

22* Frequent and loud laughter is the chara6^eriftic of fol 
tj and ill manners — it is the manner in nfhich filly people ex- 
cels their joy at fiHy things. 

23. Humming a tune within yoqrfelfy drumming wnh yoof 
fingers,/ making a nolle with the, feet, whiftling ^nd (uck 
. .awkward habits, are all breaches of good manners, dpd indi- 
cations of contempt for the perfops prefent. 
/ 24. When you meet people in the tercet, or 1^ a pubSx 
pUcei never ftarc them full in the face. 

25 . When you are in company with a ftranger, npvcr hcgk 
to» queftion hinr about his name, his place of reikfence, and 
bia bufinefst This impudent curioiity i^> the height of ill map- 

«V3. „, , . * / ' - ' 

. . 26. Some pcrfons apologue, in a good natqrcd manner* for 
t]xtir inquifuivcncfs by an, * If I may be-fo bold ;' * If I may 
take the h'berty j* or, * pray fir, excufe my freedom.* ^hcfe 
-attempts to excufe one's felf, imply, that a man thinks him- 
dfelf an impudent fcUow-?-and if ^he does npti other people 
^nk he is, and treat him as fuch^ _ 

^7. Above all adhere Ip morals and religion^ with immovft* 
^ble firn^nefs. Whatever cflFcd outward Hiow and accompliflu 
merits may have in recommending a man to ethers^ ngne bqt 
t)ic^5pJ is really happy in himfelf. 
' • '• • V .- ■ ., ■ 

Foimtfy P if agreements the frequent caufti of Iwmoral Condu3y 
I.:' A FTEK all our complaints of the uncertainty of humaq 
' X4. afFafrs, it is undoubtedly true, that mote mifcry is 
prociuced among' us by the irregularities of our tempers, tbaq 
By real misfortuncF. 

: z^. And it is a circnmftancc particularly unhappy, that thefe 
irrpgukritics of the temper arc moft apt to difplay thcmfelvf^ 
ix pur fire fides^ w}i?re every thing ought to be tranquil and 
iercae. . ^ . 

. 5« But the truth is we are awed by the prefcnce of (lrangcrS| 
^na are afraid of appearing weak and ill natured, when W9 
ajjb in fight of the world j and fo vciy heroically, rcferve all 
our ill humor, for Qur wives,. children and fervants. We arc 
meek, where we might meet with oppofition ; but feel our? 
felvfcs undauntedly bold, where we arc fure of no effeSiualrc* 
fij^ance. . ^ ' 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 99 

4. The pcnrerfion of the bed things converts them to the 
^^opftr Home ia certainly well adapted ta rcpofe and folid en* 
joymenN Among parents and brothefs, and all the tended \ 
charities of private -life, the gentler afFcAions which are alw^^s 
intended with feeling purely and permanently pleafurable^ Hnf 
tin ample fcope for proper exertion, 

y. The experienced have oft'^n declared, after wearying 
thc^felvds in purfuing phantoms, that they haVe fouad a fub^ 
fiautial happinefs in the domedic circle. Hither they have re^ 
turned from their wild excurfions ia the regions oF dtflipattan; 
Ita the bird, after fluttering^ in the air dcfcends into her nest| 
to partake ffnd increafc its genial war/nih-with her young ones# 

6. Such and fo sweet are the comforts of home« when n'ot 
- j)€TVcrted by the icFlly and wcaknefa of man. Indifference* 

bnd a carlefsnefs on the obje6fc <yf pleafmg thofe whom it ia 
our beil intcrtft ta plearei often render it a fcene ei dttinefa 
aad infipidity. 

7. H^ppy if tlic evil extended no farther, Bnt the transi* 
lion from the iKgative ilate of not being pleafed, to pofitive ill 
kttmor,,it"'but too eafy, Fretfulnefs and ptcvifhncfa arlfe ai 
nettles vegetate, fp'onfaneoufly, where, ivo falutary plants are 
caUivated. One unkind exprellioo infaUibly generatcii many 
ethers. Trifles, light as air| are able to kindle the blaze of 
contcntiott. ' . ' < / 

8. By freqitetit eotifli£ld and unrcferved familiarity, all that 
mataal refpett which is neceffary to prefcrvc love, even in tht 
flaoS intimate connexions, is entirely lo(l ; and the faint affec- 
tion which remains, is too feeble to be felt amid the furious op- ^ 
eration ot the hateful paffions* . *^ 

9. Fai*ewcll peace and tranquility, and. cheerful converfe, 
.and all theboafted comforts of the family circle. The neft^ 

whfch (hbuld preferve a perpetual wamiHi by the conftaiA^y <»lf 
paternal atid' conjugal affedion, is rendered cold and ioylefs* 
In the place of the foft down which fhould cover it, arc fuyfti-* 
t4ited thorns and briars. 

10. The waters of ftrife, to make ufe of the beautiful alhu 
fion of f^ripture, rulft^ in with impetuous vblenc^, and rn^^ 
and difcolour that flrram, which, in its natural and unditlurb^^ 
(Jurrent, devolves its waters all fmooth and limpid. ' ij 

11. But it is rvot neceffary to expatiate on the mifery of fan** 
iiy difTsjnfion. I mean more particularly ~ to fuggcft. family? 
^^flcnfion, beiides, air its own immediate evils, is thctruiifii 
parent of moral raifcoada^« r^TZ^^ 



lOo WEBSTER'S 

X2. When the fcvctiil partfly which compott a familri fi*i 
tbemfelves uneafy in that home whicb i« naturaL'y th« feat of 
mutual enjoyment, th«y are tempted fraixi^the (Irafght road 
of common prudence, to purfue -their happiaefs through a dc* 
vlotis wild of pafliaii and imagination. 

. 13. The fon arrived at years of matUFity, who is treatid 
hat&ly at home, will fehdom fpend his cveninga at the doncf* 
tic fire fide* If he lives in the city, b« will fly for refogc to 
company, and in the eod, it is very probably he wilt fona 
fomf unhappy cennexion, which camiot be coaiiaued wltheM 
a plentiful fupply of money. 

14. Money, it i^ probable, cannot be procuted* Wlmt tkm 
remains, but to purfue thofe xnlithods which tmprraeipied in. 
genuity has^ in vented y^ and which fooner or liter, lead to ibefr 

* proper pUftifhmenti, paia, ihame and death I 

15. But though the conaeqaencc^ are not alwaya fuchaa 
the operation of human lawi produce, yet they- are alwaya to 
rible, and dedtu^livc of happinefi and virtue. « 

I (5. Mifepy h todecd the necefTary refult of all 6tvktkm 
ftom redftude ; bat early debauchery, early d^fe^fr^ early pro^ 
l^acy of aU kitidSfv ape peculiatly fruitful' oC wrctchedrieft^ 
SB they fow the fctfdi of mifery ia the fptii^g qF hfc, when »W 
that il foW>n tak^a d^ep root, and buda aiid blbljbms^^atid 
brings forth fruit in prpfufe abundance. ' ^ ^ 

17. In the di^grkecDeots lictwcen ehildreir and parents, iM U 
eert^o tliat the chUds^en are ufu^y med culpable. Their vi<^ , 
lefit pi^ons and defrdive expeFieace^ render tliem dtsobedicat 
and undutiful* Their Jove of plcafupe operates fo viorcirtiya* 

* ©ften to dcftroy the fource of filial alFedtion, 

18. A parent is ftung \o the heart by the ingratitude of a 
^h^ld.^ He checks hi* precipitancy, and perhapa with too lit' 
Be command of temper, for who can always hold the reins ? 
Afperiiy pr6dttCC8 afpcrity^ ^ But the child was the aggreiToff 
and therefiarc dcfcrves a great part of llie mifciy whkh cnfuet. 

19. It is, however, certain that the parent ia pfreif impru- 
dcrir, as weH as the child undutifu). He i2iio>uld endavor. (0 
fender hoihe agreeable, by jjentlcnefs and reafonablc indtfl- 
geuce : For toan at every age, fecks to bepkafcd, but more par- 
ticularly at the juvenlile age. 

. 30 He (hould indeed maintain his authority ; but it /hould 
be hke the mild dominion of a limited monarch, and not the 
ikoQ rule of an aallcre tyraot. If home b rendered pled^i^gi 



AMERICAN SELECTION^ ioi 

It wiW not be long dcfcrtcd^ Th€ prodigal will* fooarrlnm 

^yhed h}« father'f houfe if always ready to rccicve^Hira with joy 

j^i. What 19 laid of the confcqacnccs of domcftic difunian tc 

ton9y h equally to be apph'cd to daughters. Indeed ait the miT 

conduit of daughters is more fatal to family peace, though per. 

' harps not more heinoiiS^in a moral Tiewi particular care fhould 
be taken to reader them attached tcrthe comforts of the fami 
ly circh?. ' , 

22, When their home ia difagreeaWe, they wjU be ready tc 
make any exehange $ and win often loCe; heir charaden, virtue 
and Kappinefsi in the purfuit of it. Indeed the* female charac* 
ter and happinefs-arc foesfily injured, that no folicitude can be 
too great m their prefervation* But prudence u neceflary in 
every good c?«fe as well as zeal ; and it ia found by experience 
that the gentle ft method of governn^enTi if it is limited and di- 
reded by good fcnfc, is the bed. 

2 J- It ought indeed to be fteady, but not rigid ; and efery 
plcafurc which is innocent in itfcLF, and in it* conlVquences, 
ought to be admitted, with a view to render lefs difagreeable 
that unwinking vigtlence, which a delicate and fenfjblc parent 
will judge neceflary to be uied in the care of a daughter. 

24. To what wjckednefs as well as wretc^iednefs, matr]mo« 
nial difagrermcrtts lead, every day's hiftory will clearly inforui 
us* When the hufband is driven from hishon^e by a termagant^ 
he will feek enjoyiaient, which is denied him at home, in the 
haunts of vice, and in the riots of intemperance : Nor can fe« 

, male corrU]>jtou be wondered )^,though it mu(l be greatly piti* 
cd and regretted, when io the heart ofabufband^ which love 
and friendfhip fhould warm, hatred is foun<} to^rankle. 

2^. Conjugal infelicity not only renders life moft uncomfort* 
ab!e« hut leads to defperate diiToIutelefs and careleflhefs in man* 

ners, which terminates in the ruift of health, peace and fortune* 

26, But it avails h'ttle to point out evils, without recommea* 
^ogarrcmedy. One of the firft nrfes which fuggefti hfelf it, 
^hat families fhould endeavor by often and feriouHy reflc&ing 
on the fubjed, to convince themfelves that not onlr the enjoy* 
nents, but the virtu^ of every iodividual, greatly aepende oa a 
cordial union* 

27. When they are convinced of thie, they will endeavor to 
promote it 1 aod it fortunately happens, ttut the v^ry wiib and 

.'la \ 



1U 

102 WEBSTER'S ^ ■ 

attempt of every individual muH infallibly fccerr facccfs. It 
may indeed be difficult to reftrain the occaiional fallies of tem- 
per ; but where thctc is, in the more difpadionate moments, a 
fettled dcfirc to prcferve domcilic union, tbc tranfient violence 
of palfioii will not often produce a permanent ropture, 

23. It 19 another moft excellent ruk» to avoid a grofs family 
lan'ty, ev^n when tbc coime^ion is moii intknate- The humao 
heart is fo condituted as to love refpe£^. It would i»deed be. 
unnatural in very intimate friends to behave to eadi other whh 
ftiffncfs ; but there ia a delicacy of manners and a (lattcnng <i«* 
ference, that tend to prefcrvc that degree of eftccm, which is ne* 
cefTary to fupport a£Fedion, and which is lod in contempt, whea 
it deviates into exccffivc familiarity. 

29. An habitual politenefs of manners will prevent even ia* 
difference fiom degenerating to hatred. It will refine, exak 
and perpetuate afFedlion. 

30. But the bed and mod eScacious rule is, that we /hould 
not think our moral and religious duties are only to be pra^L 
fed in public, and in the fight of thofe from whofe appiaufe we 
rxpedl the gratification of our vanity, ambition or avarice ; But 
that we (hould he equally altcniivc to our behavior among thofe 
who can only pay us by reciprocal love. 

21* We muft ihew the fincerity of our principle^ and profeC 
iions by a£ling confident with ihem, not only in tbeJcgiilaturej 
in the Held, in the pulpit, at the bar, or in any public -aflismblyt 
tut at the fire fide* 



Self To*menti»g. 
jON*T meddle with that gun, Billy," faid a carefu( 
f mother 5 " if it ihould go «ff, it would >ill you.** 
« It is not charged, mother,'* fays Will, *< Well ! but may 
be," fays the good old woman, ♦* it will go off, even if it isu!t 
charged," " But there is no lock on it, ma'am," " O dear 
Billy, I am afraid the hollow thing there, the barrel, I think 
ypu call it, will fhoot, if there is no lock." 

2< DonU laugh at the. old ladyr^ Two llairds of our fear* 
aod apprehenfions of the evils and nxifchiefs^of Uiia life, arejuft 
as well grounded, as her'a were in this cafe, 

3, There are many unavoidable evils in life, wljjich ft be- 
comes us as men andthtidians, to bear with fortitude; aoxl 
there 15 a certain jpcriod aflignid \q us all, aod yet Hrcadid hf 



^ ' AMERICAN SELECTION, laj 

moft of irt, wher^m ^e muft confli£l with death ind finally lote 
conni6\fOir with all things beneath the funt Thcfe things arc 
be/on d our utmoA power to refill/or fagacjty to evade. 

4, It iaourwlfed part, therefore to prepare to encounter 
them in fiich a manner^ as. fhall do%onor to our prpfeiTion, and 
tnamfeft a pcrfe6l conformity to-that*drrc6lory on which our 
profedion ilandn, ' Bij^t why jieed- we anticipate unavoidable 
its'iXiy and ** fiel 9k thoufaud dcjufis la/earlng «ne." 

5; Why need a woman be evcrlaftingly burying her childrei% 
in h^r imagination^! and fpetid her whole time in a fancied coutfe 
of bereavement, bccaufe they .are noortal,. and n>o(l dk fom« 
iinie or other ? A divine teacher fays, *« fuffici^nt for the day 
-IS the evU thereof i" but we put new and unnccefTary gall in-aU 
the, bitter cupa we have to drink mlife, by artfully mixing, fipi 
.ping) and fmelling beforehand $ like the fquear&iih patient, witOp 
by viewing and thinking. of liis phyfi<i> brings a greater diftrcii 
and burden on his ftoma^h, ^.eforc lie takes it, than the ph/« 
fie it'fclf eonld have done. • 

6. I would have peoph W mdre careful of fire arms thart 
they arc : But J dont take^a.gun barrel, unponnededwitb pow* 
der and lock, to be more dangerous than a broomftick. 

7. Sergeant Tremf^le aud his wife, during a time of general 
heaUh, fbelas.eafj and. fecvre aa if their children were immovta]« 
Now *aud then a neighbor drop* off with a confanQplion, or aq 
apoplexy ; bvU that makes, no itnpreflioB, as all their children 
are plump and hearty.- . . , , 

, 8, if there arc no cancers, dyfeotaries, fmall-pox, bladderf 
in the throa|, and fuch like things to be heard of, they almoft bid 
defiance to death ; but the moment' in formation was given thafi 
a child fix miles ofF>had the throat dLftcmp€r,aJl comfort bade 
adieu tt>thc houfe ; and /the mifery then endured, from dread* 
fu'l apprehenfions, led tlfedifeafe (hpuld enter the iamily is un« 
ipeakablc, - - , -^ 

9* The old fergcant thought; that wlieQ the wind Wcw frptft ' 
that quarter, he coul^ fmcU tkc infcAion, and therefore OYder* 
<d the children to keep houfr -aud drink wormwood and runa 
as a prcferrativc'agaioft contagion. As for Mrs. Tre^SIe he* 
mind was iu a-ftatc of never ceafing agitatioa at lha<t time : ? A ' 
ipecimen of the copirapn/riiuatioD of the family, is as foilow.s ^ 

10. Su/y^ your eyes look heavy-, you dont feel a for? throal». 
io you ? ii-ulband, £ heard Tjpin^j cougte in the J)?d- room juft 



.pD4 ^ WEBSTER'S > i 

Dotr. Pm afraid the diftcmpcr h iiegrnnitig in hi€ titalf > let Qs 
^ct up and liffht a candl«. You doifi begin to fee! any fore on 
your tongue or your rooath, do you, my dear Intle ciiidicai 
It feeois to nx MoUy did not eat her breakfaft with fogeoda* 
flomach this morning as fhe^ifed to do. I'm in'difireh for for 
}h« has got the difteoip er coming on. 

H. Ihc houfc waa one day a perfcifl Benlani ; for bavtnjf 
beard that rue and rum was an excellent gnard in their prdcot 
danger^ fht good lady difpenf<ed the catholicon fo* IjberaUf.i* 
mong her children one morning that not a foul of thcmcottld 
<at all day; Tom vomited heartily > Sue looked aa red as fire, 
mod Moliy as pale as death. 

12.0! what terrors and heart aching, till the f<^ce of tk 
medicine was over! To be (hort, the child that had the dif. 
temper died ; and no pther child was heard in thol^ parts N» 
liave it ; fo that tranquility and fecurity wat rcftofed to Mr. 
Trembie^^ family, and chcir children regarded as formerly, )pro<>^ 
againft mortality. / 

13. Mrs. F^rtfight keeps her mind in a continual ftatc of dlf- 
trefs and uneafine^y from aprofpeft of awful difafters that the 
is forewarned of by dreams, (igos and omens. This, by tl»« 
way, is afFrontiog behaviour to ^common fenfei and iropHei a 
greater refledion upon fome of the divine pcrfieftiona, than fomc 
Well meaning people are aware «f. 

14. The good woman looked exceedingly tridarnchdly »* 
breakfaft, one day laft week, and appeared to have loft her ap- 
petite. After fome enqmry into the caofe of fo mournful a vif* 
$t^t^\ft were given to underiland that fat forefaw the death of 
fome one in the family } having had warning jn the night by a 
certain noife that fhe never knew fail ; and then ftic went on i<^ 
tell howjuft fuch a thing happened^, before the death of bcr&.r 
iher^ mother, and fifter, &c. 

I J, I endeavored to argtYt her out of this whimfical, glootnjf 
ftate of mind, but in vatn j (he iiififted upon it, that though the 
, noife lafted feared a minnte, it began like the dying fhriek of an 
iofanti and went on like the tumbling clods upop a coffin^ and 
|(nded in the ringing of the bell. ' . \' 

i6k The pbor woman ^cpt bitterly for the lofs of the child" 
Aat was to die ; howevcrj (he found, afterwards occafion for 
uneafiQcfb on another atcoont. The cat unluckily (hat up h 
the, buttery, and> dtfTatisBed .with fo long confinement, g^ve 
iocth that dying ilHricki which &ft produced the good 



ih 



AMERICAN SELECTION- to5 

^cfman^s confternatkin ; aod then by Tome fuddcn effeft to get 
out a grate at the upper part of the room, overfet a large 
'wooden' bowl full of niLl^; and botH together in their way 
knocked down a white doae difk of falmon, which came witti 
tbem into a great brafl kettle that ftood upon tVc floor. 

17. The noil'c of the cat, might calily be taken for thacof 
a child, and theioaiKi of a iflmon upon a board, for xhat of 4 
cjod 5 and any mortal may be fltcu fed for thinking ihsfX a 
pewter platter^ and a great earthen difh, broken in fifty piecea^ ^ 
Voth^tcimbliQg into a brafs kettle, found like a bdl. 

Hi/lory of Columhus, 
X* Tp VERY ctrctliniftartCff relating to the dHcovery and fet- 

JCLi tiement of America, u an interefting objed^ of eaq^airyt 
Yee it \s prefumed from the prefent ftate of literature in this 
eountryr xktt mar«y peribna arc but fiightly acquainted with 
lh« chara^er of that man whofe extraordinary geniu» led hrm 
to the difcovery of the; Gamment, and whofe (ingular fttfFerin|^a 
ought to excite the indignation of the world. 

2r The Spanflh hlftbriaaay who treat of the difcowei^y and 
Attlemgot of South America are very little known ih the tJ; 
tttted SiateaV «ad Dr. Rob<rtroit'8> hiftory of tliat country, 
ti^ch, as i$ lifual in works of that judicious writer, contain* 
aill that \% valuable oa ihe fui:jed, is not yet reprinted in Amer« 
ira, asid tl^refore camiot he fuppofed to be io the hands of A« 
merican readers in general ; and perhaps no other writer in the 
£iigli(h laikguage has given a fuiScient account of the life of 
Cofumbu), to enable them to gain k competent knowledge of 
the biftory of the 6xicoytry of America. 

3. Chriftophcr Columbus was born in the Republic tA Gc* 
aoa, about the year 1447 ; at a lime when the navigation of 
£uiH3(pe was fcarcely extended beyond the limits of the Medw 
iterrauean. 

4. The mariner's compafa had been invented, and in coipmoa 
jnfe, far more than a century ; yet, with the help of this furc 

guide, prompted by the moft ardent fpirit of difcovery, encour- 
aged by the patronage of prince^, the mariners of tlwfc daya 
rarely' ventured from the fight of land, V 

5. They acquired great applaufe by failing along the'cbaft 
of Africa and difcovering feme of the neighboring iflands ; 
and afier puAIng their refearches with th* greatctt indallTy 
ttnd pe^everaace fdv' mote thaa half a century, the Porta 



to« ' WEBSTER'S 

gaefe, whcj were the moil fortunate and cntcfprifiog, eittende^ 
llieir difcovericB fouthward no fahlicr than the equator. 

6. The uch commoditica of th^ eaft had for fcfcral sg« 
been brought into Europe by the way of the Red f?a and- ttid 
Mediterranean ; and it had now bccomd the objeftof the Pora 
ttigiicfc, to find a paffagc to India by failinr round the fbuthern 
extremity of Africa, and then taking an eaftern course* 

7. This great objedl engaged the general attention of man' 
Jtind, and drew into the Portuguefc fervicc adventurers from 
every maritime nation of Europe. Every year added to thei* , 
experience in navigation and feemed to promifc-a reward \o 
their induftry. . 

8. Tlrt profpeft ho?;ircver of arriving m the lodiea Was exi 
tremely diliani ; fifty years pcrfeverancc in the faafie. track, had 
-brought them only to the equator, and ft was probable that ai 
many more would elapfc before thcf could accompli(h their par« 
pofe. But Columbus by an uncommon exertion of geniuSf 
formed a defign no lefs aAonifliing to the age in* which he lived* 
than beneficial to pofterity. 

.9. This defign was to fail to ladia by taking a weftem dt* 
fedtfon* by the accounts of travellers who had vifiied. India, 
that country feemed almod without limits on the eaft : and by 
attending to the fpherical figure of the earth, Columbus drewr 
this conclufion that the Atlantic ocean muCl be bounded on the 
weft cither by India itfclf, or by fome great continent not faf 
diftant from it* • f 

; 10. This ei^raordinary man, who wJis ttow about twrenty-iev* 
to years of age* appears to have united in his charadter every 
trair, and to have poflcfFed every taleni requifite to (orm and 
execute the greateft cnterprifes. 

. 1 1, He was early educated in all the ufcful fciences that wcfr 
taught in that day. He had made great proficletMjy in geo-' 
graphy, aftronomy and drawing, as they were neceffary to hi» 
favorite puffii it of navigation. He had now been a- number of 
years in thefervlce of the Portuguefe, and had acquired all the 
experience that their voyages and difcoycrics could afford. 
i i^. His courage and perfeverancc had been put to the f^ever- 
efl.teft, and the exercife of every amiable and heroic virtue, ren- 
dereaiiim univerfally known and refpeAed. : He had married 
a Portuguefe lady, by whom he had two fons, Dicge and Fcr-; 
dinand ; the younger of whom is the hiftorian of his life, 
' I3» §ucb was the fituation of Columbus, when he formed 
"rtfi thoroughly digetlcd a plan,^ which in its opctation and 



A MERICAJT SELECTION. 107 

ffpntequences, unfolded to the view ofinanktnd, one half afehe 
globe, diffufed wealth and dignity over the Qther> and extended 

i commerce and. civilization through the whol^. 

14- To corroborate the iheory which he had formed ofih^ 
Kxiflkcnce of a weftern cootment, his diCcerning mind, which al- 
vrays knew the application of ev^ry circumftance that fell in hifi 
yray» had obfervcd feveral fads, which by others would have 

' paired unnoticed* In his voyages to the African iflands he 
bad found, floating afhorp after a long weilcrn dorm, pieces of 
ivood^ -carved in a curious manner* canes of a fize unknown in. 
that quarter of th^ world, and human bodies with very frogu^ 

H;ir features. .... 

15. Fully confirmed in the opinion that a condderable por« 
lion of the earth was ftill undifcovered^his e^enius was too vig^ 
orous tnd perfeverin'g to fqffcr an idea of this importance tared 
pnerely in fpecqlation, as it had donej'u the minds of Plftp and 
^eneca, .who appear to have' had coojedlpres of a fimilar nature^' 

16. He determined, therefore, to bring his favoKjte theory tq , 
the U& of aAiial experiment, But an objejSl of that magnitude 
required the patronage of a prince ; and a defign fo extraordina*. 
ry met with ^U the obftrui^ions, delay and difappointmentt, 
^hichau age of fuperftition could lAvent, and which perfp^al^ 
jealoufyaijd malice could magnify and encourage, 

17. Happily for mankind, in this inftance, a genius capable 
ef devifing the greatcft undertakings affociated in itfclf a degree 
of patience and enterprize, modefty and confidenpe, which ren» 
dered him fuperior, not only to thefe pii^fortune% but to all thp 
future calamities of hfs life. 

18. Prompted By the moil ardent enthuiiafhi to be the diT^ 
«;ovcrer of new continents ; and fully fenfible of the advantages 
that wopld reCpit to n^ankind fr(>in fuch difcoveries, he htd the' 
mortification to wade away eighteep year? of his life, after hi> 
fyflcm wap well e(labli(he(li» his own mind, before be poqld ob^ . 
tain the .means of executing his defigns, -: 

19. The greateft part of thiV period was fptnt in fuccei&ve 
9Jid fruklefs foilicit^tions, at Geopa, Portugal and Spain. A« 
a duty to his native country, he ma^e hi^ (ivli propofal to th^ 
Senate of Genoa ; where it ifvas foon rcjeded. 

20. Confciouapf the ;ruth of bisithpory and pf hi» owxi 
ability to execujte his dei^n, he retired without dejedtion 
^rom a body- ci »epi; whp w^rc- inpapabW Pf forming any juft 



fo8 ^ WEBSTER'S , 

ides's upon the fubj^r^ $ and i'ppH^ With fpcili confidej|ce i0 

John ihc fecond, King of Portugal #h6 had diftiogiaflicd 
imiVIf as 1 great patron of n^vigatiop, and ib whote fcrvice 
Coiumbira head acquired a- rrputatioo which entkkd'hitn aod 
hifl proje£l to general confidence and approhauon. 

21. But here he fuffered an infult much greater thaa « di^ 
' Tc€t refnfaU Attei referring the cxamfDation of hia fchcoie to 

the council who had the diredting of naval aiJ^ira ; and dnw* 
jfig from him his general idea^ of rhe length of the roj^gc 
and t-he courfe he meant to take, that gre>at monarch had ihs 
meannefs tot coofpire with the coqbci] to rob Colunribus of i\xe 
glory and advantage he expeded to derive from bia tinder* 
halting.. -^ .,.,... 

22. Willie Columbos wai amu&d with this DegoefatioOa is 
bopea of having bia Ichetoe adopted aitd patronized-, a refifel 
w«a fecretly difpatched, by order of the King*, to make the 
intended difcovery. Waot of flcill and pcrfeverancc in the pi- 
le t rendered the plot unfuccefsful ; and ColumboBi en difcoF- 
cring the treachery, retired with an ingenuoua indignatkm 
from « court capable €>f fuch -dtiplicky. • 

23* Having how pefformed what wfts due to the coantry 
that gave- hio) "birth, and 'to the one that adopted him as 
9 fubjed, he was at liberty to court the patronage of a&y prince 
who fhouM iiate the wifdom atid juflice to accept his propofala; 
♦ 24. He had communicated his ideas to his brother Barcho- 
\emevff whom he fent to England to negociate with Henry the 
f<:venth ; at the fame Wmt that h^ went himfctf jnto Spain to 
apply in perfpn to Ferdinand and Ifabellaj who goretned th« 
united kingdema of Arragon and Caftfle, 

25. The circtimftanee of hts brother's application in Eng« 
lafld, wllich appears to ha^e been unfdccefsfrtl, it is not to tny 
pjurpofe to relate ; and the hrcits preitribed ti> this fkctch, Will 
prevent the detail of *aU the particulars relating t^'his cwntie» 
gociationin Spain. / 

'. 26. I^l^ thia negocfatioft 'Colatwbtre fpent ei^h years m t?ie 
' yariouft^gittttiofls of fBfpenfe^ ^xpettiaticfn flhd difappointme»t ; 
till at length his fchcme Wa* adopted by Ifabelki, who under* 
took, as Qncen- of Coftrfe,t0 ^defray -tlie expctices of the expe- 
dftioik 5 anS^decfercd htirfeif, everkftcr, the friend and patron 
of the herb who projc^ed^ft.' 

27. Columbu8> who during aHhis 111' fuccets An the negocif 
avion, never abated. any thing of the honor? and emolumems 



. AMERICAN SELECTION, lS> 

^iich -'he expected to ftc4ttire tn hts expvdition ; obtained 
^froin Ferdinand and 'IfabeHa a full flipulation of every article 
contained 4n kiB^irft propofaU. 

28. He was conftitated high Admiral and Viceroy of all 
4^e Seas, KTand^BaodCootiiifats which he (hould difcover, with 
.power to receive one tenth of the proRta arifiog from their 

ptodudtipns and commerce. Thefe ofices and emoluments were 
ta lie hetedit^ry. in •his family* 

29. Thefe articles being adjnftcd, the preparations for th6 
v^oyage jwere brought forward with rapidity, but they were by* 

..no' means adequate to the importance of the expedition. Three 

^piall vei&ls, fcascely fuftcienc in fizc to be employed in the 

^coafting bufmefs^ wei'e appointed to traverfe the vaft Atlantic i 

,^d to encounter the ftormsand currents that might be expe6t« 

.cd in fo lengthy a voyage, through diftant and unknown feas* 

' ^Q. Thefe veiTds as might be capered, in the infancy o£ 

' 4iavigatioii^ were ill conftrudled, in a fioor condition, and man* 

.lied by feamen unaocuftomed to diftant voyages. But the tc^ 

dious length of time which* Columbiis had fpent 10 foHcitation 

aiid fufpenfe, and the profpe6l of- being able foon to obtain the 

obje^ of his wiAies, induced him to overlook what he could 

Dpt eafily remedy, and led htm to difregard thofe ji^rqumftasi* 

^s which would iiave intimtd^tted any other mind. 

31. He iiceordingly equipped his fmall fquadron wi^ af 
;much expedition as poffible^ manned with ninety men, and 
^^ualied for one 7^'* With thefe on the third of Auguftii 
4492, amidst a vaft croud of ailxious fpedators, he fet fail on 
a^n entecpvife* which, if we con£der the ill condition of his (hipa^ 
the ine;xperiefice of his failors, the length and uncertainty oE 
kis voyage, and the confcqu^aces that lowed from it, was the 
^oft daring and important that ever was ujidertaken. 

52. He touched at fome of the Portuguese fettlements in 
the Canary lOes, where although he had but a frw^days rtntf 

' be found his veffela needed refitting* He foon made the ne« 
ceifary repairs^ and took his departure from the wefternmoft 
ifiands tltat had been hitherto difcoveied. Kere ^letilhe 

^ former tr^ck of navigation, and fteered his coui?£e due weft. 

53. Not vDA^y day after he had becQ. at fea, lie began to 
<»iperienyee a new fcene-of difficullf* The failors now began 
to cpmteniplate the dangera and uncertain ifliie of a voyage^ 
ti« nature and leng^ oiF which was left entirely to conj^^ure* 

34. Befidei ficJOcncft and timidity^ natural to men tta^^ 



Ctt&omc4 to the difciplinie of a fe^laring life, Ceyeral cfrcuinr 
fiances cQQttibut^d to mfpire an pbftinate and mutinoua dif* 
pofition which required the moft coafvmniatr a^ as well af 
fortitude in the adroital to control. 

35. Jiaving been three weeks, at {ctL^, and experienced tht 
uniform courie of the trade winfls, which alwaya blow in -^ 
wefttrn dirc^ion, they contended^ that ftould they eoDtinuc 
the fame courfe for a longer period^ \kfi >Mie wifid 9<pJ^ ncy^m, 
tt^ permit them to return to ii^pain. 

36. The ma^ctic aec^e b^eg^a to vary itp ^'re6iu>i^ Thif 
being the fir ft tin^ thatj}henomienoa was every difcowed, it , 
ipras vienyed hy Uie failori ^ith afioni/hmenty aad ccuiiidered. 
as an iodicattop ^bat nature itfelf had changed^her courfe* and 
that providence was fdeterpined to punifted their audacitjj ^ * 
venturing fofaix, beyoi^ rhe ordinary hoondiB of man. 

37. They deckred that t^ qprnmandspf their (ovcrtiga 
had been fully pb^ye.d^ in t)ieir proceeding fo many' days i^ 
the fame dife6lio4Fi, and Jfo far £urpaii|ng tfc^ itttempta of t& 
former navigators, in que £L of fi^w dilcoTC^rft^^ Evory talent* re^' 
quifit for governing, toothing and tempering the paiG^dRSof mca, 
is canfpicuous in the Qoodui^ pf Coljumbus jcyi this occafioita 

28. The dignity and a^abih'ty of ^is manners* his lurprifing. 
knowledge and experience in na^al affairs, his juaw^sajried anl 
Hiinj^te attention to the di.tties of hi^ coniimsuuly ga^c Kim a 
complete ^fccndeBcy oyer tiie minds of his men* and ij^fpired 
that degree of confidence whjeh yrppM Iolvc inarntained hif 
aut,horicy in almoft any pp.0ible circumftanees. 

39, But here* from the njKut£ of the undertaking^ every 
man had leifure to feed hi* imagination wkb all the globmineis 
and uncertainty of the profpc^* They found, e^crj day^ 
that the facQe ficady gales carried th^m with g^^at rapjdit^ 
ifrom their native country, and ind^d fro^i aU couetries of 
which ih«y had any tnbwlegde. '2^ 

^^ Noiwith^anding all the variety of ^anagepeat with 
wi>ich Columbus addVe^sd hjimfelf t^ t^eir paffioas, YometbDea 
hy {podHM^them with the progtipfties oi difcoyering land;; hm^ 
timej i>y flatt«i^ their ammtion and feafting th,etr avarice^^ 
\5^'Ui,ifee gJoi^y aiS^jegJUh they would acq^^i re from -difcover-, 
ipg thofe rich countrics1S>>yoi^the -Atlantic, and' ibmetitnes 
by threatening .the«m with tbe^ipla*Inre of their foveteigii^ 
ihoiild ttmidtty and d jfobedienoe defeat io^ii^tan obje.^ i^etr 
uncaiincCs ftill increafcd- ' * - 

41 « From fecret whiTpering 'ft arofe to open IH^Hiny 9ad ; 



AMERICAN SELECTION. itt 

d^wgerom confpiracy. At Ifcogth tKfy ' d^tctmmc* to tM 
tbemfelvcs of the rcmoftftrafncca of Columbus, iyf throwmg 
htm lAto the f«a. The kifcftign fptead from fWp to (hip, and 
in volvcd: officers as well as ^common failofs. / 

42* Tlicy Rrtally loft all fenfe of fut>ordinatiVn^ afnl addvelF* 
♦d their tomrnander in a» inibleivi fnanni?r, demanding t^ b« 
tonfdu6led immtdfalclytback to ^pain j or, ihey aiTured htnif 
ihty #ot»ld feek their ovm fafety by taking away his life. Co, 
hrrfibi^, whdh fegaclty and penetration had difeovcred etrry 
' fympttt^of the diTorder, waa prepared for the lad ftage of it^ 
»Ad wi$ fufllcierttly apprifed of^ the danger that awaked him^ 
-He found i^ kt ^van to coatcod with pailkma he could no lunger 
ma^ir^h ' ^ ■ 

4§. H^ tWefot'e propofeif iti^at they fiitoali obey hh ordfrra 
for three days longer | and ^atd they jffoC difeo^r land in 
that tinre^ he would »h«n dire€l' his* e'ottrfe for Spam. 

44. They eottplitd with hia pvopofa! j »nid> happily for 
^ankiiidi iif three d^yft df8COTei4d la^aid; This war ft ftnall 
Kland to which Cblumb^la^ vga'^ the nafM'of S»» Salvador* 
Their ^ft interview ^th ihe rmtttres waa a ktm of soiufentent 
and iomparffiow 04) the one part, and of aiftoaithmeot and ador«- 
aition on the inhere ^ 

45. The rtatlveti #^eefl«^^fcly naked^ iim(»le a«d timttrooa ; 
itiidchey iriewed the Spai^iards ajs a fuperior order of behig% 
defceiided frofn the fun, which ift that ifiand, and intx>6ft parti 
cff America^ «<Fat #orfhipped a» a deity < By thia it was eafy 
fbt^ Columbus to preccive the line of condb€t prc^v t^ be ofau 
fcrved toward that frmple andjaolfen^ve people* 

^ 4^.' Had ht8 companions and fucce^ors^ of the Spamih wu 

If6ii, poffefied the wifdoAand ht»man«ty of that difcoverer, the 

^ t)«nevitleRt miad would f^el 00 feafatiotis i^f regret, in con* 

templating the <exten(ire, adfantages arifing to mankind from 

the difcovcry of Anrerica. * 

47. In this voyage Coin nabus difce^ereci tbe-ift^nds of Cu* 
ba and Hifpanio^ ^ on the latEer of which he erc<^«rd a fmaU 
fott ; aod having Wft a garrifoA of thirty- eig4)t cnea, Uftd^r. 
the command of an officer by the name of Arada, he fet.fail 
£(^ Spaift. Returmog acrofs the Atla&tic, he wss overtaken 
by a Woleot ftoroi which hiled feveral days, and increafed to 

Jiich a degree tis bafHed sli hU naval ikill^ and thrtateQed im* 
mediate deftradion« . ' / 

48. la this iltuatioiiy when alt were in a ftaite of defpair, aiid 
it was expe^ccd that evevy fes wo«il4>fwftllow itp the crary Tef- 



BI2 WEBSTER^S 

fcl, he manifeded a fcrenity and pr«cncc af mind perBctp^ jjc- 
ver equalled in cafes of like extremity*. He wrote a (hort ac« 
count of his vojage^ and of the diCcoveries he Iiad naacW^ wrap^ 
ped it in- an oiled clathi cnclofcd it int a cake of wax, put it im- 
an empty cafic, and tlircw it overboard y in hopes that fomc 
accident might prefer ve a dcpoOt of fo ouich import acee t<i 
the world. 

49« The. (^orai however abated^ and he at leagth wriwtd 
in Spain ; after having been drived» by ftreb of weather,, into- 
the port of Lifbon, where he had an opportunilyy in an inters 
view with the King of torlugal^ to prove the truth af his £yt 
teoH by argumcnta mote conviocing tttaa thole he had before ad-^ 
vaneed in the char after of an humble and unfuccefstul fuitotv 

50. Hi was received ever^ where in Spam with royal hon- 
or^ ; hift family was ennobled, and hit fbrBi» ftipulation, re« 
lpe£ling his offices and. emoluments, was ratified in' the nroft 
folenm maaoer^ by Ferdinand aad Ifabella s while all Europe- 

^ refounded his prai fes and reciprocated their joy and congrato^ 
lationa on the discovery o^ a new world* 

51. The immediate confequcnce of this wa« aiecond voyage f 
10 which Columbus took eharge of a^ fquadroir of feVehteea 
fhips of confiderable burthen. Volunteers of all ranks and con* 
di^ions folicited to be employed in thts-expedition^^^He caM'- 
cd over 150a perfbnr together with all the ncceSaries foreftab^. 
li/^ing a eolony, and extending the discoveries^ 

52» In this voyage he explored moft of ihe Weft-^dia ifl- 
ands ;. but on his* arriYal at Hifpaaiola,. he found the g&rrifon> 
he hsrd left there had been totally dcdroycd by the native^, ao^ 
the fort demolifhed^ He however proceeded in the planting 
of^hi» colony ;. and by his prudent and humane conJu^ towi 
ards the natives, he effe^ually eAabh'ihed the Spaniih autho- 
rity in that ifland^ ^ » / 

53. But while he was thus layfng the foundation of their < 
future grandeur in Souths A merf^a, fome difeontented perfons, 
who had returned from the colony to Spain,, together with hi^ 
former eneaaies 10 that kingdoaoi confpired to accompHAi hia 
tuin^ __, > 

54, They reprcfentcd his cond«A in f«ch> light at courtr 
as to create uneafmef* and'diftruft in the jealous mind of Fer» 
dinand, and made it neeeffiiry for Columbus again to return iof 
Spam, in order to counterafl their machioationa and to ob* 
tain fiich fuither fupplics a» were neeeifarj^^to his great politic* 
al and benevolent pur poles,. 



AMERICAN SEtECTION- ii 

. ' . _. ■ •■■ ' ' ,N 

if j. Oa hi9 amv^l M c6urt, iind ftating with hit ufual dlgn 
-tj and confidence the whote hiilory of his tranfadtion abroad 
every thing wore a favourable appearance. He lyas receive 
wjtii ufual honors, i^nd again folicited to takecharge of anc 
ther fquadron, to carry ^ut further fupplies, to ptirfue hia difcov 
<deiy and in every refpcft to ofc hia difcretion iaentending th 
Spanifli epftpire m the new virorW* In this- hia third voyage h 
-dcfcdtrered America^ atthe mouth ipf the river Oronoke. 

56v He rc^ified m^my disorders ki his government of Hi( 
'^niola, which had happened in hi9'abfenc<e ^ and every thin^ 
^a« going- on in a profp^roaft train, when aa event was aii 
ftouCTced tobitn, Which completed his own ruiti:, and gave a fa. 
tai tarii to the Spaniih policy and condudt in America. — Thi 
Was the Arrival of Francia'd& Bovadillfty, with a commiflion t( 
fapercede CoItHabus ia his government \ and with power to ar 
raign h^n>aa^ cirimia«t)^iaBd to judge of his former adminiHra 
tion, 

. 57* It feems that by this twftc the encmflcs orColufnbas, def 
l^airing to complete his overthrow b,y groundlefs in&n nations o' 
mifcondu'^, had taken the mdre ^fl^Saal method of excitii^ 
4lhe jealotify of iheir fovereigris. 

58. Fr<|m :the promifing famplea of gold and other vs^uabK 

eommodities broi>ght fro naF America, they took occa(ion to re 

frefent to the king and queen, that thie prodigious wealth and 

4rXrteiit of tba c»t>nti^es he had difcovered, w;oald foon thron 

foch power into tb^r hands of the Viceroy, that he !^ould tram' 

pk on the rayal aathority, and bid (|^nce to the Spanifb 

|K)werv . •. ~ ' * \ . . 

'^ 59* Thefc arguments wcfc well oafcuiated for the coM and fuf 

^picioiM temper of Ferdinand, ^d they mi^ have had forae effe^ 

* npon the mtad of Ifabella. The eoBfcqUenoe waa the appoint 

meni of firovadilla, whcr had b^en-^he inveterate enemy of Col 

, limbos^, to ts^ the government From bis hands.— rThis firft ty- 

rant of the Spanifh nation in America, began his. adminillratior 

hf ordert^ Golumbui to b« put in cbama on |K»avd. a &jps anc 

fcndiiig him prifoner to Spain* ^ 

60^ 'By relaxing all dtfcipHne, he introduced dlforder an^ 
ficemiouffner* throughout the colony* Re fybje^ed the ma. 
tfves to a moft mifcrable aervittide, and apponioned them out 
id large mimjbert among his adherent^. Uoder %hiM feven 
treatmearperifixed ift a fliort time many tkoufaads of tMc i9S» 
C€ntpco|le,t 



ir4 WEBSTER'S ^ 

6t • Columbua trae ctrried in hit fetters to ll)e SpaniHi eoiHrt^ 
where the kki^ and queen cither ftigned or fek a Efficient r«-^ 
grcft at the condudi of Bovadilia towar^ds the inaRfioa& priibficr«. 
lie was not only releafed from coofiQemeiit|.but treated with iJk 
imagiaable refped.. 

6z. Biu» ahho the king endeavored to expatiate the4)fiFeiiG<i^ 
by cenfurfng and recalling BtftadiUa, yet we may jiudg^ oiJbU' 

'irncerity from his appointing Nicholaa dt Qvaoddy another bit^ 
t«r en«niy of Columbua, to fucceed in the goverojoneoC, Bodf 
from hia ever afier relufingt»r«iaftate Coluttbu9».or to. fulfill 
any of the conditions on which the difcoveries>were andertakcn.. 
63% After two years folicitation for ihis or fome other cnu. 
pluymcnty he at length obtained a fquadron of four- fmailv.e£b 
ids, to aitennpt new difcoveries. He now fc\ out, with the- 
ardor and cnthufiaftn of a young adveoturep, in qjiicft of what 
was always his favorite obje(^, a paflage into tks South Sea^ 
by which he might fail to India. He touched at Hispanloia*. - 
where Ovando, the governor, refufed him adinit-tance on fliore,. 
even to. take ilielttr during a hurricane, the prognoftics o£ 

* which his experience had taught him to difcern.. 

64. By putting into ^ fmall cTeek,.he r-ode out the fliMmiy, 
and then bore away for the continent » Several months in ike. 
mod boifterous feafon^ of the year, he fpent in exploring tbt 
coaft rouivd the gulf of Mexico,, in hope> of finding the intend- 
ed navigation to India.. At length, he was (bipwreckcd,, andi 
driven aHiore oh the iflandof Jamaica^ 

65. His qup^of calamities feemed now complatelyi full. He- 
was caft upon an-iiland of favages^ without prcvifions, without 
any vcficl, and thirty leagues from any Spanifii fettlereent. 
But the greateft providential misfortunesLare <.apable of being ' 
embittered by the jofults of our lellow crcatnres. 

66* A, few of hi« hardy companioniB gtnerouilly offcradi in- 
two Indian conOies, tosattcmpt a voyage toldifpaniola, in hopM^ 
of obtaining a^v^ fit I for the relief of the unhappy crew. Af* 
ter fuffcrlng every extremity of danger and hardihfp, ttiey arri« 
vcd at the Spanlfti colony in ten days. Ovando, thrbiigh pcR» 
fbnal malice and jealoufy of Columbus, after having detained' 
thefe mt^flbngers eight month, dlfpatched^a viiTcl to Jamaica^iv 
in order to fpy ouj: the condition of Columbus and hijs crew, 
wnh pofitive indrud^ns to the captain not to aSord them aay . 
relief^. , ^ 

76, This order was .punctually execated. The csptain agn. 
. jirQaohcd. the (liore, delivjCjed^lcUct Qf empty com£lica«nf frmas 



a^ 



ANTERICAN SELECTIOtT. ^ jty 



<hitil0 to the admiral, received ht«^ an fwer aad'teturned. A« 
bout fauV fnaath afterwards a v^lTcl came to thciV relief ; and 
Ci>lami»uB» worn out witb fatigues, and broken, wittv* mt»for« 
»iHie»> rctorded for the Uft time to Spaio«> 

6S»^ Here a new diftreffr awaited him, which he confidercdj 
vSS one of the greateft he had fulfered in. his whole, life.. Thfs^ 
vfz$ the death: of queen ir»bcila,.hi& lall and grcatcft friends 
- €91^. He did not faddealy abandon htmfell to defpair. He 
calied tipcMk the gratitude and j;UUce of the king^ and in ternu 
ef dignity demanded, thecal Biiaent of the former contra^. 

70;. Noiwithliatidmg h« age andiMlrmittcs, heeven foh'ciV 
•d ta be further etviployed in* extending the career of difcover)s». 
without a profpedi of any other reward bat the cofcioufdefs of 
doing good to-mankind;^ ^ Eut ^end^naad, aold, ungrateful, and) 
timid^ dared, noti to eompl,)^ with » fingle propofai of this kind,. 
left he fhould increafe his own obligations to a man whofefeiU 
%icc9^ he tbooglit h da«g€rou« to. reward., , 
. 71.. He therefore ddayed and ;ivoide.d any declfion on theffe 
fubje^, in< hopes^ that the declininghealth of Coiumhus would* 
foon rid the courts of the remonftrahce of a inan whofc'extraov x 
dihtary merit was,. iA' Uietr. opinion^ a £uf{icient o^alloa of de& 
^treyiog hin^. 

72'^ In thi» ihiy were not diliippointedL Columbus laiu- 
guiihedji (hor>t time, and glac^Iy reiigned.a Hfe^twhich had beenf' 
worn out in the nooft effenual fer^vices that perhaps- were evec 
iiender<6d,.b^ aoyi human chara6ier, to anrungjratoful world.. , 

A Sktetch , OP th*e; ITistohv of xna lats: War imi 

America^. 
t, 'T'HBattcmptaiof the Britf(h.p*rli?roent to raife a rcve- 
Jl JHie in. Amencai without her confent,. occafiqned the 
late war, which fepai^atisdvthi» country from GrcauBritain. ^ ' 

t^ The iiril. attempt of confec^enee was the famous Stamf^ 
^5,Mareh» I7t>5# JBy thisj^the Amewcans. vftrt obh'ged tp 
Riake ofe^f damped paper, foF all notes^ bonds and other legal 
ffifbruments..!. on. which: paper a.duty was to be paid*. 

5, This-a6t occasioned fuch^ general uneafinefs in Anjerictj, 
tbat the parltameot thought propur to repeal it the year after it 
wavmade- 

4. BiH the next year (.1767) the Tm- ^^ was framed, by 
which a^hc4ivy duty was laid upon tea, glafs, paper, and many 
other articlesY whic)i were, much; ufed» in, America^ Thf" 
Uxrcvr the coloaies ifito Gi»QfuiroS|,^ud equated iucli rc&otaieB 



tt6 WEBSTER'S 

tmongth^ people, tkat the parkisto^, (biee yeafs-cfeer, teofc 

' 0^ three fourths of the dotf. 

5, Theduty ^asftiildiCagreeabletothe AmericaiM^ whocn^ 
tered mto refobtront not ta iaport and eoafuaie firni& maiuH 
ftAarctk 

6w A few yean after (in 1773) the pvople.of ^Aea, wb# 
Were deterraioed not to pay duties on tea, went on board fcnac 
'ftips belonging to the Eaft- India eoinpany* which !ay in the 
harbor, and t^Kw all the tea overboard, in; other paru of JH^ 
menca violent oppofirtion was mode to Britidk tastation, 

J* This oppofltion etikimiled the refemment of the ^rkidb 
parliament^ which they ezprefledthe next ycftr (177^1) by Chnt^ 
ting the port of Bofton which l^ined the trade of that flouriflKi 
ing town. This a£t was followed by others, by which the ceiw 
ftitutton of Mafiachuktts was sew isodelledi ami the liberties oi 
the people -wifringed* ^ 

8' Thefe rafh and cruel meafures gate gfcac and miiver&l m* 
Urm to' the Americans* General Gage wasfent to Boftov^to 
ehforce tU!f new laws ;; bat hf waa received with x^ldness, aad 
eppoied wkh fpirit in the execmiorf of his ComniiffibD.' 

9« The aflenvhlres tkrosghout America' remonftrated and pe^ 
titioned. ^ At the fame time many contriboiions of money anil 
•provifions from erery ^iMftery were fent to the iiihabitaola of 
Bofton who ware fuffering m conle^uence of the port biJI. 
\ * 10, The iame year troops arrived m Bofton to enforce tbt 
Wicked and nojiiftadsof the BritiAi paHiansenU Fortificationa 
^ were ertded on Bofton neck^ by order of General Gage ; and 
the^fmnmmicioftand ftores in Cambridge anl Ckarlef^wa w^M 
feized and fetured^ 

t z« In SeptiBiiiber, depfRies firom ittoA of theeotonka met in 
Congrefsat Philadelphia^ Thefe delegated approved of th^ 
condu^ of che people of Ma^chufetts ; wrotea letter to Oen« 
■tral Gage I published a dedaration of rfghui fi^caned An ai!bct» 
atton not to i^pprty or tsfaJSrilifh goods ^ §exA a petition to tke . 
King of Great. Britain ^ an addrefs t« the Jfihabitanta of ^at 
kingdom ; another to the inhabitasta of Caiada >aiid a«oth<« 
^the tnhabitanu of the c#k>mes« 

• ti. In fhe beginning of the next year ( 1775) was'pafled the 
■ ^ifi^y ^(^9 by which the norther colonies were forbid to iA* 
•a the banks of Hewfonndfond, for a certain time, Tbis bore 
k*rd upootbc commeree^bf thefe colvaicii wllich ms^Ulli greidt 
i»€af«»e fupported by lh« iiftw3> 



AMERICAN SELECTION-. n*J 

f J, Soofaafter, awtothcr bill wn paffed, whicli' rcftrefncd'ih^ 
trade of the middle aod fouthern* cpJofiiet', to Great.Bmaio) 
Irelahd and the Weft- Indies*, cjecept under ce/tain cotiditions; 
Thefe repeated a^s of oppixflion on the part of Greac-Britaioy 
alienated t]ie aifed^iona of iVeneiica from her parent and fove- 
rei^» aild prddac«d acocnbiued op-pofttido' to the \¥hole fyff 
tern o|g|^ation«^ 

j«PlHiparatiem9^ begafV to be aiade> to oppofe by^ forcci the" 

#3^^t|da^f thefe a<^8 of parh'ament. The militia of the coun««= 

. %r^wcpe trained tO' the ufe of arms^* ^reat encoturfgement wraf 

gi^n for th»manufa^iire of gunposirder, aod ineaCtfres werJ 

lakfeh to obtainh all kinds«bf military flores;., 

ly, liv February^ Colonel Lcflie waa feat with »<ktachmenl 
W troopt from^ B<^fton^to tak« poflidlioo of fome caoDOa at Sa» 
lein. But the people had intelligenoeof thf dcfign-— took up the 
drawbridge ifv that t^iMnvaad pr^ven-ted th« Uoopa from paffingi/ 
until the cannon* were fecared^;' fo- that the expedition- failed.: 
-l^. In April, Colonel* Smith and Major Pitcairn were fenC 
with a bod y^troops, to- dcftroy the military -ftorea which had- 
l^een colle^^d ^ CoAcord^ about twenty miles from Bofton*' 
At Lejringtort' the mliitia' wefe^colfc^d on* ar green; to^oppofo 
#ht incuriion' of thts Briu{h forces.- Thefe were fired on by the 
Brittfh troops, and eight- men killed on^ the fpot.- 

17. The militia^ wierc difperCed, and- the troops proceeded orti 

00 Concord)^V^hefe thfry deftroyed a few ftores.: But on their 

return they were inoeffiintly harrafled by the Aniericans, whofr 

. idfiamed' withjtift refentment,- fned upon^thcov from heufe«-aad 

fences, and pmfued them' to Bt^ftonj- ~' , ^ \ 

l8v Here.waa ipilt the^/^^/oo^/ in the late Wiw: ; a war which^ 
fevicred America frotwthe BritiJh' empire. Leimgtpn opened^ 
the firfe fcenc of the great dvama,* which, mits* progrefs, exhib* 
' ifed' the moft iiluftriooa chara&ers aad ?v€nts,.and clofed wjth a 
revotntion, equally glorious foi* the ador8,^and important in itdc 
aonfequencc»»tO'the htim^n raac,r - 

19, TWs' battle rouf^cd all America; The militia' collefled 
hotx^ alt cjuaf ters, and BoAon;^ wai. ia a few daya belieged by 
twenty thousand meo» A ftop^ was put to all" intereourfe be< 
twemtha town and cowitr^^fa^dthoinhabitanta were reduced- 
lo great want of provifipnSk' 

20» General Gage promifed to let the people departyif they 
would' deliver up theit arms*- The people complied'; but whea 
gienerai had obtainedah<ii? aTm«);the perfidioua wretcli reirii* 
*a let the people £pr 



Iig tlTEBSTEft'^S: 

21. In tiie fnean tioie aTflfi^n numbef of lAets tAidef tfie cdi^ 
tMod oi Colonel Allen and Colon tl Eafton, without any pnb^ 
lie erdcrsy fiiq>rifed and cook the BrkiAi garrifon at Ticoiidero> 
g9f without the \oU of a mati. ' 

. 2U tn Jane following, O0rtro6p^ aftwthjted tbfcrilfy fiunj 
Iter's hill, which lies in Charleflown^ and 'but a mile an'd ao half 
from Bo&on. They had, during thenrght thrOwp ^Mfc^fa^BJI 
breaft work, which fhehered them from tie' ftre sf f^fjff^ 
canHonr* . • . ~ . . ^ V ' •'^ " 

a 5. lift ihe nejtt mofnlng th« l^rttift irrtiy wat fei?rto^r?v€ 
tt^crn ^fOm thehill^, and laikling mtder cover of tieir camiion^ 
Chcyfct tire to Charleftowni whicb-wayconliiihed* and marctitd 
to attack ovr troops, rn tile kicrenehinentvi A ttvtrt rnga^e^ 
mrnt mfoedi ht wbfdi tkr BiHiftft Cu&rcdavtry great km 
keih of o£fitera a«d f»rvvaie^ 

34. Th*y wire rejMirlfed at ^rft, and throw* into> AforAr f 
Wth^.^Qally carried the fort ificattbn ^kk the point 0$ the 
ba]f^rt€t. The Americans kificred a fmall lo&yconl pared with 
ffhe Brki^ ^ hot the death of the brave General Warren^,' wh^ 
fcli in the asaiotl, * niaflj^r i<3 the catffe of fciAottOtry, waa fe 
ttrtly fek and uoiverfaUf lamented^ 

f 5. Abe^ tbk ti«rtc<j the Continetrtalt Congfefe ap|w>iAte* 
George Wafhiii^tdn, Etq. fl hatt^e ef Virginia, to, thech^f 
eoHMttand of the AriierJ^an arifef w This |;ctttl?maa had beefi * 
diftiftguiibed and fuccefsful bfficef in the preceding war» an^htf 
feemcd deftiited by hwaven to be the faviotir of 'hi9 eoiMiCnrrf 

tSw fie accepfed the uppomtmetit with a diffidence wkecb 
♦ras a proof of his^pradeace-aod his greditaeft.' Re tefiifcd any 
^y for eight years? lahoTiotis itnd arduoiH ferVice ; and b^ hia 
iitatchlcfs ifcill,* fortitBde and perfeverance, codu^ted Ametrca 
khro indefcribable dif^cnltie's to iodepctidence and peace* 

47. While tr^e merit iseftecttfcd, or virtue honored, mattkfnd 
will net cr ceafe to re«ere the mettiory erf this BerO'' ; and while 
gratitude renmins b the hhman bicaft, tl^e prkifes of Wa5im 
lifOTOtt fhali dwell ort cVcry American tongue* 

-a^. General Waft>iffgton^ wkh other officers llppointcd hy 
€^Qgrefs, arrit^d at Cambrtdgd^ and took command of the A- 
takiiestn arnvy, in Jaly, From thi& time the af&irt joi Atnerier 
Began to afTume the appearance of a regtilar and g0»eral Oj^oJ- 
fit ton to the forces of Great- Bmaia* 

^9. (n fiiitamn a body of troopa, timkr the tf^miliaftd of' 
Geocul Moflig^^mefy,. bafieged aad cook the garrifofi at St« 



AMERICAN SlLpenON. M« 

ll'obn^d mYiph iCpinmnadl tbe emwi.ce jnto Caotda. The prif^ 
oners anipunted ib abouc feven handr<d. GeoeraJ J^omgoip^ 
erf purfu^ j^U Jf^ccera snd looi^ I^OA^real ^ and defigoed to 
pufh his fi^orie« to Quebec. . 

50. A body of JLTo^ps commanded hf ArDQld, wa^ ordered 
jto inarch to Canada, b^ th^e river j^enQebe^ck, andtliro the wil^ 
^cmetlsu A^tcrXu^er^nge^ery bardjihipy 9Bd the moft diftrcfs* 
Jng hunger^ they arrived ifi Cm^dftanjd ,wer^ jotnpd by Qcnw 
fipyj MoRtgomeir^ before Clpthc^ T^jus city, which. was com<» 
mftBded by Goveraor. Oirletbo^ «ras immedijitely befieged* 
)Biit,|here being Kctle hcpe of uj^ing the towA by a i^get i^ • 
^at dctertoimed to ftorm it« 

^u Tiie aitack waa made on tjhe laft day of Dtcemb^r^ but 
prpved^^nfairjcereful, and fatal to the brave gtneVal| wh^y ^itb^ 
%i9 ajd» was Jki'Ued in attempting to fcale the walls. 

32. Of the three diviiions which attacked tHe towSj onf 
4Da\y entered, and that v^aa oj^liged to fi^rt^endfr to fuperior 
Jofjct* After this defeat, Arnpld,ybo.n<>w commanded th^ 
troops cpntinued ibme montlj^s before Quebec^ although hiji^ 
trpops £uffcred^iB^ediibly,by cold and ikknels« J^ut ithe ne^tc 
Ipiiiig the Amencaas vv^ere obliged to retreat fro^ Canada. 

g5 Aboet this time the largpe and ilourilhittg town of Nor- 
folk, in y>rginia^ v/$a w^QJtonly b.ur«t b^ prd,er of ^ord D|iiT# 
iBorey the roiyal governor. 

> 34. General Gage wfini to ^nghnd 19 September^ aivi W9$ 
Succeeded in the <:<im«n4nd by general ^owe. . ^ 

^^^ Fa^pouth, aconfidcrablc town in thee pro woce of^aH>e|. 
in MafFachuiett^, ihattd c!ke jfate pf K|9r£olk ; i^<^Pg lai4 i<V 
afhpi iby o^dei" of tfe? ♦?>riti(Jt adipiraU ^ ' 

36. The British king entered u)totr<^tie0 with fome of (he 
peimdn princes fpr abo^ feventcen thbufand men, who were 
io be feut tp Amerip% ttie nest yeavj to a^3l| m juhdning the 
colonifa. The Briti|k parliament alfo palTed an ad» forbid* 
ding all intercpjirfe with America j and while they repealed 
tht.Boftpn port and $(hery bvH^y they de.clared all Axneric^a 
property on tl?iehig^ fcja^, f4rfeue4 to tlbe captprs* 

37 » This d^&, induced Congrefs to phangje the mode pf cai>, 
ry>^ QR ihic war : and mcafures w^re talked to apQoy the en-i. 
emy in Boftpo. Fpr this piirpofe ^tterigi w^re opened oa 
fe¥«i^l iuUi^ irasc whence ^t epd b^^bs j^^re tl^rovn into 
the town* B|it tite .b^tt tries which were ppeiied on DotcheC^ 
ter point had the b^& dOFed^i ^nd fooa obliged General How^ 
to abandon the towB» . In March^ l^^6, the j^ritiib troops 



4^0 . ' W'EBSTER^S 

embarked for Halifax^ and General Wafklngton rntcrcd ^ 
,tt>WD in triumph. 

28. In tke enfittng fusimer, a .fmall fquadro.a of Alps, com- 
manded by Sir Pticr Parker, and a body of troops under the 
OrneraU Clinton and CQrnw'|i.lli8, attempted to take Cliarleflonj 
the .capital tff South -Carolina. The fhip5 made a violent at tac|^ 
.npon the f rt on^uilivaof's I^and, hut were rc»u^d >rit;h grc^ 
jofs, and the expeditioa was abandoned* 

39. In July Coagrcfs publi^ed their declaration ollndtpea^ 
di^nce, whidti fore^ver feparated Amenca irom jGrcat-Bikain^ 
This great event took place two -hundred and eighty.four y^rar^ 
afier the firft difcovcry of America by Columbus 1 one hundred 
find fcventy from the firft effedual fettlemcnt in Virginia ; and 
^ne hundred and fifty-Gx from the firft Settlement of Plymouth 
in Mafi*achufett8| which yrere the earlie^ £ngl^ feUleineots-tQ 
A<herica, 

40. J'uft after t^is declaration, General Howe with a power? 
fill force, arrived near New- York ^ aad landed the troops upoa 
JStatcn-lfland, Genera! Wa(hington wasTn New- York ; wiiji 
about thirteen tkoufand meji, encimpcd eitiicr in the city or th^ 
neighboring fortifications. . 

* 41. T*hc pperationB of the Britifh 4}egan by^e aft ion on 
i,bng-I{land| in the month of Auguft, The AmericaBS were 
defeated, and General ^ujHvan and Lord Stilling, .with a large 
body of men, were nude prifoners* The night after the en* 
gagement, a retreat was ordered and executed with fuch lilence^ 
t;iiiat the Americans lelt the i^aud wjithouc. alarming their ene^ 
mies, and wither )ofs. 

42. In September th^ city of New- York was a;baaddned^y 
the American army, and taken by the Britifli. 

43. In Noyember^ Fort Wa(hington, on York^Iiland, was tai» 
ken, and more than two thousand men made prifoners; Fort 
jLee, oppofite to ^ort Waftiingion on the Jeriey ftiore^ wm 
foon after taken, tut the garri.foa efcaped. 

^ 44^. About the fame tim9, Cenejral Clinton was'(ent witha 
body of troops to lafce jpoflcffion of fthode-I^and ; and fo<;. 
cecdcd.. In iaddnioB toallthefeloffesand deCejitS, the Ameri- 
can army fufiPered by ^ferticua^ and niore by ficjbjieU, which waf 
epidemic, and fery mojrtal* 

' 45. The norihfern army at Tli^pnderoga, was in a dilagj:#«r* 
ble fituatioB, particula^rly after the battle <hi Lake Champiain^ 
Ui which the Ajntxiffok force oonfiftiog of a few light yc&k^ 



• American selection. 12 

voder the cotnmtnd of Arnold and General Watcrb»ty, wa 
iotally difp^rfcd. • ^ , 

46, But General Carleton, inftead of purfaing hk wi^ot] 
landed at Crown^PoIat^rcconnoitered our pofts at Ticondci 
pga and Motsnt-Inde^eadeact:, and rctarned to wioter-tj^aa 
tcrs in Canada* 

47. At the cJofc of thaa^year the Awerfcan array was dwii 
died to a handful of meo ; and General Lee was taken prifo 
Mr in New^ Jerfey. Far from being difconraged ac th«fe lolTe 
Coflgf efa took meafures to raiG? and eilablifk a9 army« 

^ . 484 In thia critical futoatlony General Waihmgt^n furpn£i 
and took a hrge body of Hcffians, who were cantoned at Tre 
ts>fh ftAsd foooi after another body of the Britiih troopt a Frinc 
Jon, 

49^1 The addrefa in i^annuig and executing thefc enterpnC 
ireAeded the biigHel^ honor on the coounander, and the fv 
^fs revived the difpoudiBg hopei of America. The lofa 
General Mercer, a gallant officer at Princeton, waa the pri 
fiipal circttmftancc that allayed the joya of ?i6lory, 

50. Th^foUowing year (1777) was drftinguilhed byre 
mccnorable erents i& favor of America. On the opening 
tKe caropaignt Governor Tryon waa fent with a body of troc 
%Q dcfttiPy ihe "ftorcs at Dftoboryt m Conne6liciit. This pi 
waa cifCCMtcd, and the town niollly bornt« \. The enemy U 
fjEjred in their retreat, and the Americans loft Geneia^l Wo( 
tpr^ .^bir^w^ and csrperi&aced officer; 
• 51, General Pr«fcot was taken from hta q(iarterfx>o Rlioc 
{£Uad| by the addTeiTa and enterprife of Colonel BartoUi » 
jCPEiveyed prir^ncr to the continent. 

5a. Gcuewl Burgoyae» who eoo^anded' the oortltetn Br 
iik %iftay^ took pofTeSion of Ticonderoijrj, which had been abs 
doned by the Americana. He pufhed his fuccefies, crofl 
Lake G.earg;e«. and encamped on €he baoksof the Hudfc 
near ,Saf ato^. I 

_ 5g. Hia piogrtfo, howeveti was checked by the defeat 
Colooel B^un, ntir Bennin^on^ in which tti^ undifciptin 
m^lricta of VeroBont) under General Stark, difpiayed unt^xai 
pied ibraviery, and captured almoft the whole detachment. 

54* The mtlitki, afTcmbled from aiU parts of New.Englan 
to ftop the progrefs of General Burgoyne. Thefc, with ti 
reguW troops^ foriBcd a ixspedlable aropyy commanded by Ge 
cc^^Gatei. 



12Z WEBSTER'S 

. §$, Alter two fevcreadiona/ in wliich the Generals Lin^ 

^ coin and Arnold behaved wiili uncommon gallantry, and were 

* vbunded, General Burgoyne found btmfelf enclofed with brave 

troops, and was forced to furrender his whole army, amount^ 

ing to tea thouland men, into |he hand? of the Americanst 

This happened in Odober. 

§6. This event diffufcd a univerfal joy 6ver Americay aii<J 
laid a foundation for a treaty with France, 

$6, But before thefe tranfad^ions^ the main body of the 
Britifl{ forces had embarked at New- York, failed up the CheC 
apcaki and landed at the head of Elk-river. The army foon 
began their march for Philadelphia, General Wafhingion 
had determined to pppofe tticm, and for this pnrpofe made ^ 
Aand upon the heights near Brandy wine- creek. 
. 58. Here the armies engaged, and the Americans were over« 
powered, and fufFcrcd great lofe. The enemy Toon purlued 
their march, and took pofreSii}p of Philadelphia towards the 
clofe of September. 

59. Not long after the two armies were again engaged^at 
Germantqwn, and in the begmning of the a6iton tjie Ameri- 
cans had the advantage ; but by fome unlucky accident,, the ' 
fortune of the day was turned in favor Qf*thc Bfitifti« Both 
fides fufTeredxcnfiderable lo (Tes ; on the iTde of the Ameri^ 
^ans, was general Naih. 

60. In ao attack upon the forts at Mud Ifland and Red 
JBank, the Hcflians were unfaccefsful, and their commander. 

Colonel Donop, killed.' The Briti/h alfo lod the Augufia, a 
fhip of the linip. But the forts were afterwards taken, and 
the navigation of the Delaware opened. General Wafhing^ 
ton was remforccd', with part of the troops which had compof- 
cd the nothern army, under peneral pates ; and both armies 
retired to winter quarters. ^ 

61. 1« OftobeV, the fame month in which General Bur* 
goyne was taken at Saratoga, General yaughan,-with a fmaH 
ffeet, failed up Hudfori's fiver, and wantonly burnt Kkigftoa 
a beautiful Dutch Icttlement, on the wpft ildc of the river. 

,62% The beginning of the next year (1778) wss diftin, ' 
guiihed by a treaty qf alliance between France and America | , 
by which we obtained a powerful and generevis ally. 

63. When the Engli(h miniftry were informed that this trea<» 
ty. w^s on fopt, they difpatched commiflioncrs tq -America to 
attempt a reconciliation. But America would not .now ac- 
^•t)t ttieir ofTcfB, Early in the Spring, Colmt d'Eftaiug^ with a 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 123 

ftcft offiftcfn fail of the line, was fent by the court of Ftancc 
toaffift America. 

; 64. Gencial Howe left the army arid returned to England ; 
the command then devolved upon fir Henry Chnton, In Jiinc 
the Britiftv array left Philadelphia, and marched for Ncw-York. 
€$• On their march ihcy were annoyed by the Americana j 
and at Monmouth a very regtilar atticn took place between pari 
of the armies ; the pnemy was repulfcd wiih great lofs ; and 
had Geoeral Lee obeyed his orders, a fignal victory mull have 
been obtained. General Lee, for his ill conduit that day, was 
fufpended, and was never afterwards permiitied to join the army. 

66. In Auguft, General SuHivan, with a large body of troops, 
Wtempted to take polfefiion of Rhode-Ifland, but did not fuc. 
ceed. Soon after, the flofes'ahd (hipping at Bedford, in Maf- 
facbufetts, were burnt by a party of Bricifh troops. The fam€ 
year, Savannah, the capital of Georgia, was taken by the Brit, 
iih, under the command ofCjolonel Campbell. 

67. In the following year (1779) General Lincoln was ap- 
pointed to thc*command of the fouthern array. , * 

. 68, Governor iVyon and fir George Collier made an incur- 
iioQ into Connedkicut, and burnt^ with'w^ntpn barbarity, the 
towna of Fairfield and Norwalk. 

69. But the American arms were crowned with fuccefs in a 
bold attack upon Stony-Point, which was furprifed and taken 
by General Way.ie, in the night of the ijih of July. Five 
hundred men were made prifoners, with a fraall lofs on either 
fide. 

7Q. A party of Brittfh forces attempted this fummer to build 
a fort on Penobfcot river, for the purpofe of cutting timber in 
the neighboring forcfts. A plan was laid by Maffachufctts t6 
diflodge them, and aconfiderable Heet collected for that pur« 
pofe. But the plan failed of fuccefs, and the whole marine force 
fell into the hands of the Britiih, except' forue velicls, which 
were burnt by the Americans themfelves. 

71. In Ortober, General Lincoln and Count d'Eftaing made 
an affault upon Savannah ; bnt they were rcpulfed with confid- 
crable lofs. In this aftion, the celebrated PoliHi count, Pu- 
lafki, who had repuired the reputation of a brave foldier, ^as 
mortally wounded. 

73. In this fummer, General Sulh'van marched with a body 
of troops into the Indfan country, and burnt and deftroyed-ail 
their provifions and fcttlcmtnts that fell in their way. 



rt4 WEBSTER'S 

73. Ob tt« cpfDing of the campcign tlic iwxt year (fft^) 
iht iSritiib troops left Rhode- Ifland. An cx{)ednion und<f 
Ctocril CUntoti and Lord Cornwallit, was underta&eii^ again (I 
Cbarleiloni South- Carol tna, where General Luicola comcnafict* 
rd. Tkii town, after a clofe fiegt of about fix weekt, wasfur^ 
l-ettdcred to the Britifh commander ( and Gef^ralLincoln^'and 
Ihtf whol< AmcnVftti ganlfon^ t^^i-re madi prifonem 

74. Oen(?ial Qau» wag appoH)tt>d to the commud inxha 
louthero de)HirtiBcntB and anoihet army eoUcfted* In Auguft^ 
Lord Cornwallii attacked the Americftn trocpa at Catudcoy in 
S>Oi»thCaroliQ8| and touted tUem with confiderabie loht He 
nfttrwardi marched through the fouthern Satea* and fopp^ed 
ibem caiirclj (ubduod, 

7j, The fume famineri the Brittfli troops made frequent hi^ 
CQruQt)S from Ncw< York into the Jerfie 1 1 ravagiflf und plunder* 
ing tht cotintry, la one of thefe defcenta, the Kc^ Mr* Cald* 
wSl| a r^fpe^table clergyman and ««arm jpatriot, and hit ladyi 
ver« Hihaiiiaiily murd«rcd by the fmvage toldiery, 

76. In July, a French -tett, under Monficur de Ternay, wfeb 
« Irody of laad lorcest commanded by Count dc Rochambeau^ 
arrived it IUiodc«lfliiidt to the great joy of the Aatfricani* 

77. TWs year was alfo diftingoiflied by the tofamoui tveafen 
of Arnold. General Waihingiotr bavmg fonae ba fi nef$ Jto tranf* 
96. at Weathevsfield in Connedicut, left AriKsld to comniand 
the important poft of Wed^Point, which guards a pafs io Hud* 
ipo's river, about fixty miles from Ncw.York* Arnold's cor* 
dii6t in the city of Philadelphia, the preceding winter, had been 
Oenfured | and the treatmetit he received in confequence^ had 
•iven him offence. 

78* He determined to take revenge ; and for thia purpoTei 
he entered into a oegocmtion with fir Henry Clinton to deliver 
Weft-Point and the army, into the luinda oi the Britifh, While 
GeneralVVaihingtonwaajrtjTctit, he difmounted the cannon tii 
iomc of the forta, and took other ftcps to render the taking of 
ihe poft eafy for the enemy. 

. 79. But by a providentiai difcovery, the whole plan waa de» 
{eated. Major Andre, aid to General Clinton, a brave oiiicer, 
who had been fcnt up the river aa a fpyi to concert the plan of 
operations with Arnold, was taken, condemned by a court-mar- 
tial, and executed. 

So, Arnold mad« his efcape by getting on board the VuU 
ture, a Britifli veflely which lay in the river. His conduA' 



AMERiOAH SELECTION- * izj 

li28 ftamped biin mih infamy ;aod like aU traitor sy be is dcfpi 
fed by all mankind. General^ Waftiingtpri arrived in campjuf 
4fter Arnold had made his cfcapc, and retlored orders tn^thi 
garriroiK J . , - 

8 r. After the defeat of General Gates in Carolina, Genera 
Greene was appointed to the ccmmaod in the fouthern dcoartl 
ment. From this period, thiags in that quarter wore a men 
favorable afpc6l. Colonel Tarlclon, the adive commander o 
tibe Britifh legion, was defe^ed by General Morgan, the intre 
pid commander of the riflemen.* , 

.82. After a* variety of movements, the :wo armies met a 
Guilford, in North- Carolina. Here was one of tire belt fouglii 
a<ftion« during the war. General Greene aad Lord Cornwa^ 
lis' exerted themfelvesat the bead of their refpeftiye armies, am 
atltbo the Amerijians were obliged to retire from the field o 
battle, yet,^tbe Britifli army fuffcred an iramenfe lof?, and coulc 
not pnrfue the vidory. This a^^lion happened on the 15 th o 
March, 1782. -> 

83. Iir the foring, Arnold, whb was made a Brigadier gene 
ral in the Ikltim fervice, v^ith a fmall namber of troops failec 
for Virginia, and plunc^^red the country. This called the at 
tention of the French fleet to that quarter ; and a naval engage* 
ment took plac^. between the Englifh apd Freech, in whfcli 
fome of the Englifli fliips were much damaged, and one entire- 
ly difabled. . ' . 

84. After the battle ^t Guilford, General Greene moved to. 
wards South-Carolina, to firive the Britifh from their pofts in 
that ftate* Here Lord Rawdon obtained an fticoniidbrable ad« 
vantage over the Americans near Camden. 

85. But General Greene^morc than recovered this difadvan- 
^*S^f by the brilliant and fdccefsful adion at the Entaw Springs; 
where General Marian, diflinguiflied bimfelf and the brave Gtf- 
loncl Waflyngton was wounded and takenjprifoner. 

* 86. Lord Cornwallis finding General Greene fuccefsfnl in 
Crfolin^, marched to Virgiiya, collected his forces, and fortified 
himfelf in Yorktown. Invffec mean time, Arnold made an in- 
curfioTi into ConncAicut, bufnt a part of Netv.Londcn, took 
Fort GrifwoJdby ftorm, and put the garrifon to the fword. 

87. The garrifon coufiftcd chiefly of men fuddenly coli£<^- 

cd from the little town of'Grojoni which, by the favage crii; 

eltyofihc Britifli officer who commanded the attack, loft, in 

^ one how, almoft all ita heads of families. The brave Colonei 

h 2, \ 



J2« WEBSTER'ff 

Lec^/ard, who cdmrnanled th« fartj wss- fl«ia with hk owmiM 
fwoijd, after he had (urrcnderfd. 

88. The Marqitn de la FftyeU«^ tW l»vftve aod j^eAsrous o^^ 
blcman, whoic ferviccs command the gratitude of every Anaeri* 
can, had been difpatched from th« mam army, to watch thv nao^ 
tlofift' of Lord ComwaI^'8 m Virginia. 

89. About thciaft of Augoftt Co«iat d« Grafib amicd whh, 
a large fleet in the Chefapeak, and blocked up th« Britiffa troof* 
at Yorktnvrn. Admiral Greaves, with a Btitifli ieet appeared 
off the Capes, and an adion fuct}eeded, huttt wae noc decifive*^ 

90. General Walhington had before this tiui#, oMved the 
main body of his army, together with the French: ti^ops, to. 
the Southward ; and as f'X)n as he heard of the arrival o# ihe^ 
French fleet in th« Chefape^k, he made rapid mare bcs to the 
lead of Elk, where embarking the troops, he fooa awivcd at 
Yorkto^'n, 

91. A clofe fiege immediatety commenced, and was carried 
en with fuch vigor, by the combined forces of Anferica acid- 
France, that Lord Com^alli^ was obliged to fnfrend^r* Thift 
glorious event, which took place on the i9thof06tobirr, 1781^ 
<!ecidcd the contcft in fevor oi Americsh, and laid ihc founds^ 
lion of a general peace. 

,92. A few months after the furrender of Gornwaljis, tlie Bri*^ 
tiih evacuated all their poft» in Soiuh-Carolii^ and Georgia, 
£od retired to the main army in New- York. . 

93. The next fpnng(i782) Sir Gi?y Carleton arrived in 
Kew-York and cook command of the BriiiA> arnny in America*' 
1 mmediattly^fter his arrival, he acquanted General Wa(hing« 
tort and C^ogrefs, that negociattons for a peace had^ been com*- 
menced at Paris, ' 

24. On the joih of November, 1782, the provifional-artichsi' 
of peace were figned at Pari?, by which Gre»t. Britain acknow^ 
[edged ihe ijidependdnce and fbvereigniy of the Ufljied Stat-c^r 
of America, 

. 95. Thus ended a hong and ardooug conflli*^, in whidh Gvtirt, 
Brjtain expended near a hundred milHons of* money, with an 
hundred thoufandjiv^s, and won noihfng. A mcpica endured 
rvtry cruelty end diftrefs from h^r enemies^ loft many h'ves and 
much trcaArrc— but; dtJivercd^lierfcH fronv a fbveigtv dominioa^ 
h4 gsined. a rank s^mprg the nations 'of the earUu 



HTM U^ 

AMERtCAM SELECTION, . tjf 
LESSONS m SPEA,KlNa 



ORATION^. Mtvtrf^ af Baftoii, Mekrch 5, 177^, hy Dr^ 
JostvH W A R R EN ; /« commeffn^foii^n cf Phe evtMng ef ihejiftk 
of Marchy 1770 ; *when a number of cit'tzms *ivere itlUtnl Ly a 
party, of Britilh h'oo^y quartered amoti^ them^ In tma^ ofptuce^ 

'♦ X)S jTHEN we turn over th« biftonc p«ge,.sfid trace the 
• VV ^ J-ife a4K} fall of ftates and empirts ; the mighty rcvo«. 
letion** whK:h'h«\re To qften varied: liie face of the world, ftn'kc 
r>ur iB!od« witih fokittti furpFiff, and w^ ai'.r naturallj led to 
fearch for the cftHrc&ofXuch' aftcxilftifmg chacfprs*^ 

2. Tt>at mao is foyaicd io^facMkf*^ is an ebfcrvation, whicb 
t»poi» oap firft er>q«jVy, preR'«t» itwlf ftOiOttr wicw. Gaverni» 
TTK^t ha^ it8 origin fn ihi?- ^umiiintfa of iitdividuals, and haik for 
il8 €^)d^ th€^#*mg/4 a«.fl fipH-tky of all 5 atid fo»lo*<g as th^ m^ana) 
of cffVt^Ing thia imponant t ad, are thoroughly knovr(i« and re* 
ligioufly »tte»<kd i», govertimcm 1» oh< oFtU* viehefh bkffwjgi 
to mankittd, an*] oiij»ht trO b'e-lKld'ift the hig«ft. f eoeratiom 

J. _ In ymmg^ aftd new fcM-med commiuiitidey the gi ai>d dtfigtt 
of thi« iaftitution, ic md4l gfioeraUy wfldcrft^d, ami r]^i ftrid* 
ly r«gArded\5 the mtKite* <*«hich.«i»g«d to^h^^foeJal compaft^ 
■canoot be at once forgotten, and thai equah'ty ivhich is remcra* 
bered^ to have fulfilled k> lat&fy amo«g »hem, prevents thofe 
who are e}oa*hcd- with authority from attempting to invade the 
fi^dom ortkcir brethren ; or, if fttch an attempt id made, it pre* 
venct the ^om-muBity from faffering the offe&dier to go^npaik« 

ifiicd; 

4. Evei»y member feefe ft t© fee h fa int^reft, and knewe it to- 
Whia diity, to prefervd inviolate the eontiitution on which the 
public fafety dijpeftds, and is- equallj^ ready to affift the magifi^ 
intern th6^*3^vation'#f theiaw*, and thcfuh^eS in the defence 
of His right'* 8a lo-ngaa t^e noble attachitient to aconftiiu^i 
lion^ founded on free and benevolent principles, eseift* ift fnil wig* 
cry in any ftatc, that ftate muft be flottriih-tog amJ happy^ 

5« It wiaa this noble at>t-achment to- a free coRdiimio^ which 
raHcd ancient Rooje from thefmalkft bcginnrogs^ to that height 
fummk' of happineO a^d- g1u^< to which (h« am v^-^ and it yvas 
the iofs of this which plii<^geil Unv from-l^<f jfiuiumtt^ into the 
black gulph of ii»faHiya«d^ifa>'r*ryv 

1, ft wa*/M "attachinMi4' wlitch- iafpirpd her fehatora with 
(iomf it wM tka whick glowed ia- \ht bi:«iii^ of )k{- h«ro«» |^: 



MS ♦ . WEBSTER'S ^ '< 

h was this which gtiardcd her hl^rties^ and extended ber dc* 
minions, {^ave j^eace at home, and commanded refpei^ abroad ; 
and whc:u thh deoayedi her magistrates loft their reverence £31 
judice and lawa, and degenerated iototfrants and, oppre flora— 
her fenator* forgetful of their dignity, and (educed by bafe cor- 
ruption, btt rayed their country-^her foldiers, rcgardlcfs of their 
relation to the commumty and urged only by the hopes of plun- 
der and rapine, unfeelingly committed the moil flagrant enuraxU 
ties ; and hired to the trade of dcatbi with retentlefs fury they 
perpetrated the moft cruel murders ; by which the dreeta of. 
imp/erial Rome were drenched with her nobieft blood. 

7« Thus this emprefs of the world loft her domioioDS abroad, 
and her inliabitants, diflelute in their maonera^at length became 
contented Jlaves ; and fhe' ftands to this day, the (corn and dc« 
rifioM of nationft, and a monument of this eternal truth that.^ii^ 
lie baffptnefi depend* on a viriuous and ,un/baken attachment , to a 
free CBnfthution* 

- S. It was this attachment 'to a CQDftitutien founded on free 
and benevolent principles, which infpired the l&rft fetUers of chi» 
country : thev faw with grief ijie daring outrages committed oa 
the free coniitution of their native, land — they knew that no- 
thing but\ civil war could at that time reftore its priftine pu« 
rity, 

9. So hard was it to refolve to embrue their hands in tb« 
WW of their brethren, that theychofe rather to quit their 
fair pofTi^fiions, and feek another habitation in a diilarit clime^ 
When they came to this new world, which they fairly porcha- 
fed of the Indian natives, the only rightful proprietors, they 
cultivated the then barren foil, by their ince flan t labor, and 
defended their dear bought poiTtfllons with the fortitude of the 
chriftian, and the bravery of the hero* . 

10. After various ftruggles, which^ ^dun'og^he tyrannic 
reigns of the houfe of Stu^^rt, were conftantly maiptaincd be* 
tween right and wrong, between liberty and flavery, the conncc 
tion between Great-Britain and this colony, was: fettled in the 
reign of King WiHiam and Queen Mary, by a compa^^ the 
conditions of which were expreiTcd in a charter ; by which all 
the liberties and immunities of Britifli fubjeds, were fecured to 
this province, as fully and as Abfolutely as they poflibly iQould 
be by any human inftrument which can be devifed. 

11. It ta undeniably true, thai the greatell and moflt iin# ^' 
jortant ri^ht 9I a Driiiih fu^|e<S^ is^ that ht M h governed § 



AMERICAN SELECTION. ti^ 

itd faiOjf hut thofi to tvbkh he\ t'ther in perfjn nr hy^U rtfrefin^ 
^lih-tf kath giwn Ms tmfint j and thi« 1 will tcntiue to i^L^'xtf 
I* thegraufi haiiiof Britiih freedom ; it is ititer woven witt the 
c:onllitution ; aird whenever thb is lott| ihc conRkutiofl muft be 
idtftrciycdr ' 

tl. Let u^ tiow allovr oilrftWf3 t fe«r' rtidtfteflU to exaraintf 
Wiehti d^i of ike Bnilfh parliament for ta»mg America , I^et \Xi 
V9\xh c«n4pr judge whetlier ihcy are canftitiuionally binding up* 
fm u« ; if theyare, h iki name 9/juiitef Ux ui fubtnit to ihcni 
>chhout one murmdrm^ vford. 

IX. Firft, 1 wt9uVd alcy whether tiie iDembers ^f the Briti(fa 
boule of comraans, are the dcmoct9Vfo( ihk pfotin jc ? If they 
Mte^ they are eithcip thr peo^e of tht» pro^ioce^ or «re efeO;ed 
by the people of thn provmcev 10 reprefeitt them, a^d havt 
th'trefore a coh^tcvrtioira rigtit to origioate a bill for taaing 
them f 11 11 moft eefcakily they are neither i snd thrrefore no- 
fhinf done'by tbm eat) be faid to be dome by the domocratte 
.brtnoh of oar coAditnttoRr 
• 14., I wo^ld iie*t a(k, whetlwr »h«* lordi, who compde the 
«riftocratfc braoeb of the kgifiatarr, are peera of Anofcrica ? I 
never heard it was (even in ihrfc extraordinary times) fb yuch 
«% pretended ( and if shey are noi, certainty no tSi of tJkirt can 
be faid to be* the a^ of itic arift^cratw branch ©f our.conftita* 
tion. 

1 5', Th« po'jvcr of the monarrhi* branch we with pleafarc 
ackuawledge, refidfe* in the kiflg^ who^ may st€t eieher in perfoB 
or by hi^ reprefentative ; and I freely con fcfi^ that I can fee n« 
jrcafan why a PROCtAMAtiONy*^ ralfing money in Amefv:a^ if- 
iaed by the king'^/».^ aathority, would nat be equ-ally conSftent 
with our conftkutioa, and therefore cqnally binding upon wi 
with the latt u&s of Parliament for taxing us, )^ot it is platni^^ 
that if there is any validity in thofc aSfr^ it muft afife altogeth- 
er from the monaixhical branch of the I-cgiflature. And 1 fofJi 
ther thmk, that it would be at lead as eqnit*blc ; for 1 do not 
conceive it to be af the Icaft importance to u» by whom onr prop* 
crty is taken away, fo long a» it is taken away wxthout^nr con* 
fent. ' ^ 

16. I am very much at a lofs to know by what figu« of 
yhetoric, the inhabitants of this- province can be called fre^ 
JuljiSUi ^hcn tlvy are obliged to obey implicitly, fuch lawi 
a» are made for them by men three thonfand mika ofFy wham 
they know not, and whom they never hare empowered toa^i 
for thcns ; pr how they can be faid to have propertyf when a 



I^o WEBSTER'S 

hcdy of men, o^cr whom they have not ttieleaft control j an^l 
Vrhoare ndt m any way accountable to (hem, malloblig'e themi 
to deliver up any part, or the whole of their fubftancc> ivitbout 
tven ailcing their conltnc, 

17. And yet, whoever pretends that the late a As of the fikrit. 
ifh paHiamcni for taxing America, ought to be deemed blad- 
ing upon U8, muft admit at once ihat we are abfolut'e^/^<t3T>^/i 
and have no property ©four own ; o> elfe that we may bc_/>^^- 
tfitfit and at the lame time under tke ncceflity of obeying the ^z*- 
hltrary commands of thojt over whom we have no control or 1114 
fi uence ; and that we may have property of our own^ whicli iff 
■entirely at iie Jispo/aJ of another^ 

i 18. 'Such grois ahfurdities, I tielieTej will not be reltdied in 
this enlightened age ; and it can be no great matter of wonder, 
tiiat tbe people quickly perceived, and feriouHy complaiced 
of the inrQads which thefe ads mud unavoidably make upon 
their liberty y and of the hazard to which their ivhsie property h 
by them expofcd ; for if they may be taxed without their coo* 
f cnt, even in the fmalleft trifle, they may aWtiJ4vithout their cpo* 
fcnt, be deprived of 'every thing they poife&y aiiho ever fo vaL 
uabl^, ever fo dear, 
: 19. Certainly it never entered the hearts of our anceftot0# 

< that after fo many dangers in this then defelate wtldernefs, their 
hard earned propcity (hould be at the difpofal of the Bririfh par- 
liament. And as it wasfoon found that thisstaxation couM not 
be fupported by reafon and argument, it .feemed neceffary that 

* one a<^ of oppreffion (hould be enforced by anot)ier ; and thjere- 
forc> contrary to our juft rights, as poffefiing, or at leaft having 
ajuft title to poflTefv, all the liberties ^siA immunities oi ^nxiih 
^fubjed^s, a Itanding army was eftabhTned among us in time of 
{>eace, and evidently for the purpofe of cffcdting that which it 
was one principal defign of the founders of the cftnltitution to 
prevent (when they declared a ftanding army in time of peace 
to be againQ la^w) namely, for the enforcement of obedience td 
a6ts, wRich upon fair examinationi appeared to be UBJud and 
Unconflirutionah x 

20. The fuinous confequences of ftanding armies to free 
Communities, may be feen in the hillories of Syracufe^ Rome^ 
and many other once flourifhingT?^^^/ ; fomc of which have now 
fcarce a name I Their baneful influence is moft fuddcnly felt^ 
when ihcy are placed in |>opu]o»8 cities ; for by a corruption of 
Ipotals, the public ha ppinefs is immediately affcd^cd. 

21; That this is one of the cffeds of quaneting troops .in a 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 131 

^p\il<Ji!9 City, I's a. trutb, to which many a mourning parent, 
*&atij a loft def pairing child in this roctropolis, muft bear a very' 
aaclancholy tcftimony. . goldieri ar€ alfo taught, to confider 
riirnas as the on^y arbiters by whfch every difpute i« to be de» 
elded between copending ftatea 5 they are inftrq6ted ImpUsiily 
lb obey theirconimandcrsj without enquiring into the juffice 
of the caufe they are engaged to fupport. Hence it is that 
they are ever to be dreaded as the ready engines of tyramiy 
aa4 ^ppreffioo, ; 

22., And it 18 too obfervable that they are prone to intro- 
cluce. the fame mode of dicifion in the difputes of individnaU, 
and "frona thence have arifen great animofities bctwec^n them 
and the inhabiiants^ who whilft in a naked dctcncelcfs (late, 
are frequently infuhcd and abufed by an armed foldiery. And 
^ this will be more efpecially the cafe, when the troops are in- 
fbrmed that the intention of their being ftationed 'in any citr 
J8 to overawe the inhahttanU^ - 

25. That this was the avowed dcfign of ftatFonir^g an armed 
fore m this town, is fufficienely known 5 and fwf, my fellow- 
citizens, have fecn, we have telt the tragical cfFedls ! The fa* 
TAL FIFTH OF March, 1770, can never he forgottm f The 
horrors of that dreadful ^Ight are but too deeply impreffed on 
eur heart 8— Language .i? too feeble to paint the emotions of 
our fouf«, when our ftreets were ftaincd with the blood of our 
hretbren-^when our cars were wounded by th^ groans of thqr 
dying, and our eyes were tormented with the fight of the 
mangled bodies of the detid, 
' 24. Whe» our alarmed imagination prefented to our vfew 
our houfes wrapt in ^ame8--our children fubjed^ed to the bat- 
barous caprice of the raging foldiery — our beauteous virgins 
expofed to all the infolencc of ' unbridled pafOon — oUf virtuous 
wives, eodered ro u^by every tender tie, falling a facrafice to 
worfe than brutal violence, and perhaps h'ke the famed Lucre- 
tid^ diilrat^'ed with auguifh and dcfpair, ending their wretched 
lives by their own fair hands, ^ " ' 

' 25, When we beheld the authors of our diftr^'fs parading- in 
pur dr cets, or drawn up in regular battaHa^ as tho in a hoftile 
city, our hearts beat to arms ; we fnatchcd our weapons al- 
moli refolved, by dtie decifive ftroke, to avenge the death of 
onr Jlaifghtered brethren^ and to fernre from future danprer, all 
that we held mod dear ; but propitious Heaven forbiade the 
bloody carnage, and faved the threatened viftims of pur too 
jictn tefentmcnt j ftotby- their difcipline, not by their rcgu- 



f}t WEBSTER'S : 

lar array-— noy it was royal Qtorgt^s Iwery 4bat |>roirc4 tli«ii 
fliicld — ic was that uhichr tttrntd the poixtt.cd ^f^g\xim% qI ^ 
firu6lIoj3 Crom thcjr bfealls* 

46. Thotfgkts of vengeapc^ ivf r^ G:K)n bu/ifd i|i om* inbrej 
9^t4^ion to Grrat Britain, and calm reaibo dij£iat$d a mietboti 
of retDoying the troops, giori: mild than aa immediate rccourfj 
to ibc fwoid' With uaited efforts you urged ti^ imnie^iatf 
-departure of ibc troops from the tbwa'«-yoti urged it yi^iih 9 
resolution which iu fared fuccefs*— jou obtained jowp wilheSf 
aod tJAf removal of the troops ivas eS«£ied« without one drop 
/of their bloed being fhcd by the inhabitants. 

27. The immediate ador« ip the tragedy of that n'igkl were 
furrcndercd. to juftice. It is not mioje to liay how far they 
VPcre guijty ! They have been tried by the country aud ap» 
QuirTED of murder ; and they are not again to be arraigned 
at an earthly bar ; but furely the men who have pror&ifcuosiSf 
ly fcattered cfeatb amidA the innocent iobabitants of a poptiloui 
£ity» ought to fe.e well to it« that they be prepared to (lasd 
ax the bar of sg^ omaiCcieot Judge [ and >tH who contrived or 
encouraged the Rationing of troops in thit place, have Keaibn^ 
of eternal importance, to reiledl with deep contritioc, pn their 
bafe deiigns ai^d hxunbly to rep^ut of %^it impious macbiua^ 
tions. 

28. Tlie voice of your fathers' blood criea to you from the 
greund ; My foiu^ Jhorn /& he SLdrfs I In vaiti^ we met thfi 
Jrowns of tyrantsr^m* vain we croS^d th^ boiftcrous ocean, 
found a new world and prepared it for the happy reiidexise 
of Liberty — Jo vaia wc toikd-r- in- yain we fought 9— we bled 
in vain^ if you, our oiTspring, want valor to rcp^l the aHaukg 
pf her invaders { Stain not the glory of your worthy auccG 
tors, but like them resolve never to part withyonrbirthrigbt-^ 
be wiCg in yoyr deliberations, ajrid dptermintpd in- your cxenioui 
for the preferyatiflin pf your liberty, 

29. Follow not the di<:^jt€S of paflian, biit irfift yourfelycn 
jindcr the facred banner of rcafons f ufe every uiethod in your 
power to fecure your rights ;-atJeatt prcvcni the curfes of 
poiltrify from being heaped upon your mcmoriea.. . 

30. If you with united steal ajod fortitude, opp©fe the ion 
rcRt of oppr^(fiop— rif. you feel the true fire of patrJjE)tiO|i burn- , 
ipg in your br^aftn-rif you from your (bula diJpire the moft 
gaudy djefa that Slavery can* we^r— ij you really prefer tl^c 
lonely cotta|»,c (whiltl bJeft with liberty) to gilded palaces 
furrounded with tfefi cof^a^ua. of flavery, you mull h»¥C thp fuU 



iM% 



9^ i 

AMERICAN SELECTION. 133 

Uft affurance that tyranny, with her whole accurfed train, will 
Jii'dc her hideous head, in coufafion, (harac and defpairw 

51. If you pefforfia your part, you mud have the ftrongcft 
:Confidence, that tht fame Almighty Being, who prote6led your 
pious and venerable forefathers, who enabled them to turn a 
l>arren wUderQefs- into a fruitful field, who fo often made hare 
Mi arm for their falvation^ will (lill be mindful of yoU their 
offspring. c " 

32. May this Almighty Beinc gracioufly prcfidc in all 
ctur councils-* may he diredl us to fuch meafures as he him^ 
felf fhaM approve, and be pleafed to blcfs, . May ive ever he 
J^vored of Gou. May o^x land be a land of liberty, the feat 
of virtue, the afyluna of the opprefled, a name c^nd a pralfe In 
tie <t»hok earikf until the lafl fhock of time (hall bury the cnu 
|>ire8 ef the woHd in undiftinguifhed ruin ! 

• ORATION, delivered ett Bofton, March 5, 1774, hy the honor^ 

^ ahle John Ha.ncock, Efq» in commemoration of the evening 

4fthe pb xif March ^ ^TJO, when a number of the citizens wcri 

^tilled by a farty tf Britilb' troops^ quartered among them in ^ 

> time of peace, 

M eUf Brethren^ Fathers and Fellow^Ceunfrymen I 
*• TpHE attentive gravity — the venerable appearance of this 
X crouded 4iudfence— the dignity which I behold in the 
.countenances of fo many in this great alTcmbly-— the folemni- 
4y of the occafion upon which we have met together, joined 
to a confideration of che part I am to take in the important 
(bufinefs of this day, fill me with an awe hitherto unknown f 
and lieighten the fe rife which Ihave ever had^ of my unwor- 
^hinefs to fill this facred dcik. 

2, But, allured by the call of fome of my refpeded fellow-' 
citizens, with whofe reqvicft it is alway my greatcft pleafurc 
to comply, I almoft forgot my want of ability to perform what, 
they required* In this fituation I find my only fupport in ait!* 
furing myfelf that a generous people will not feverely cenfbre 
what they know was well intended, tho its want of merit (tmiid 

. prevent their being able to applaud it. And I pray, that my 
fincerc attachment to the intcreft of my country, and my bear- 
ty deteftation of every defign formed againft her liberties, may 
be admitted as fome apology fo» my appearance in this place. 

3. 1 have always, tiom my cailieft youth, rejoiced ia thi( 

M 






ij4 'WEBSTER'S 

ftlicity of my fellow men j • and have ever confi<!ered it as th^ 
indifpen fable dufy of every member of focicty to promotCj a4 
for as in him \m, the profperity of every individual, birt more 
efpecially of the community to which he belop^^s ; and also^ as 
a faithful fubj^d of the (late, lo.ufe his titmoft endeavors to 
detedl, and having delc£icd, ftrenuoufly to oppofe every trai^ 
tprous p!«t, which its enemies maj^ devlfe for its deftru^ion* 
. 4. Security to the perfoos and properties of the gov^rnedi 19 
fo obviouHy thp defign and end of civil government, that Co 
attempt a logical proof of it, would be li^e burniog tapers 2\ . 
noon day, to a(Gft the fun in enlfglitening x]ic world. It can- 
not be either vfrtuous or honorable^ tp attempt tp fupport a 
government, of which this 1$ not the great a|id principal bafis i 
and it is to the lad degree vicious apd intamous to attempt tq 
fupport a government, which nasnifeiUy t^ds tp render the 
pcrfons and properties of the governed iiifecurev • 
* ^- Some boali of h^'wg Jfiiodj to ^overnmeat ; I^ am a frien^ 
to r'^lUous government, to a government founded upon the 
principles of reafon apd jufticc ; but I glory in publicly avow<», 
ing my eternal enmity to tyranny. Is the prefept fyftem which 
the Britifh adminiftration have adopted for the govcrnmept of 
the colonies, a righteous governmeBi ?•— Or is it tyranny hrr^ 
Here fuffer mc to aik (and would to Heaven there could be 
an anfwcr) what tenderoefs, what regard, rcfjcft, or ponfid- 
eration has Great Britain fbewn, in theit late tranfa^ions^ for 
the fccurity of the peKons or properties of the inliabiianta of 
the colonies I pr rath^r^ >'vh3t have iliejr. omitted doing tp dcj^ 
ftxoy that fecurity f ; ' 

6. They have declared thgt Uiey have, ever had, and of. 
Tight ought ever to have» full power to make laws of fuificien| 
Validity to bind the colopies in all cafes whatever: They have 
cxercifi^d this pretended right, by impofipg a tax upon us with^ 
out our confent ; and left we n)ouid /hew fome relu^ance. 
at parting with our property, her fleets and atmics are fent tq. 
filpport their nfvacj pretenGops, 

7. The town of Bpfton, ever faithful io the Britiih crown'^ 
has been invcfted by a Britifti fleet 4 The troops pf George the 
llld. have cioiTcd the wide Atlantic^ not to engage £n epemy, 
kiit toafiift a band of ttaitors^ in trampling on the rights and 
liberties of his moft loyal fubjefis in America^r-thofe rights 
and liberties which as a father, he ought ever tP regard, and 
as a king, he is bound, in honori to defend from violatiopj 
«vea at the rifle of his own life. ^ 



AMfiRtCAM SELECTION- ^ ^5 

^^ J. Lei hot the liillory of theillaftrioa«\hjoufc of Brunfwick 
-'•- inform pofterity, that a Kihg, defccnded from/ that glorioua 

'•^ mpnarch George the I Id* once fentbis Britifh fubjc£ls to con* 
^ i^uer and enilave his iubjeda in America ; but be perpetual infa*, 
— -my entailed Upon that villain who dared 16 advife his mafter to 
~* fuch execrable meafures n for ft w^aa eafy to forcfee the confc* 

-- ^ueacea which fo naturally followed upon/ fending troops into 
' *. America, to enforce obedience to ads of the Britiih parliament, 
':s:\irhich neither Ged nor man ever empowered ^hem to make. . 
^-i^' 94 It was reafonabie' to expedt that troops, who knew tlic er« 
^■cilraad the^ were fent upon, would, treat tjic people wham they 
ciwere to fubjugate, with cruelty and haughtirfcfs, which too 

T=: often buries the honorable charader ofayo/dfc^r, in thedifgrace- 

,s .. ful uatne of an unfeeling ruffian. The troops, upon their tirft 

i^.TjunVal took pofTeffion of our fenate houfe, and pointed their 

cannon againft the judgment hall, and even continued thenj^ 

.: iKere, whtlft the Ripreme court of judicature for this province 
^ - was adlually- (ittiqg; to decide upon the Hves and fortunes of the 

-_^. king*sfubje<a8. , 

^'i' ' 10. Our ftreets njghtly refounded with the noife of jiot an<! 
.^debauchery ^ our peaceful citiaens were hourly expofed to* 

'. ^Ihameful infultt, and often felt the effects of their Violence an4 

■£.: outrage. But this was not all ; as though they tlibughc it noc 
^: tUDUgh to violate our civil rights, tbey endeavored to deprive im 
I^ of the enjoyment of our religious privileges; viciate our mor^ 

.^ab, and thereby render us deferving of deltrufkion. Hence the 
^ ^ rude din of arms, which broke in upon your fotemn devotions 
* "" in your temples, on that day hallowed by Heaven and fct apart 
, ^; by God Kimfelf for his peculiar worlhip, 
^./ il» Hence, impious oaths and biafphcmics ^o often tottured 
^ •^ jrour unaccuftomcd ear. Hence, all the arts which idlcnefs and 
^; luxury could invent> were u fed to betray our youth of one fexj^ 
^j, into extravagance and effeminacy — and of the other, into ia- 
^g- famy and ruin ; and did they not but fucceed too well I Did 
not a reverence for religion fentlbly dec^y ? Did not our infants 

y almoll learn tolifp ourcurfes before they knew ihclr horrid inr- * 

ii poj^^ • Did not ouc youth forget tfi^y were Americans, and, 
/;/ 'fegardlefs of the admoaiiions of the wife and aged fervdely 
\ '-i eopy from their 'tyrants, vices which finally mufti overthrow the^ 
Z\ *8Jpire of Q^reat- Britain ? and muft I be in; pel|cd xo acknowl- 
^' ^*?8«> that even the noblelt, faireft part of all the lo vc'r creation, 
'^'^ did not entirely cCcape the curfcd Inare ? Wlxcn virtue has once 



136 WEBSTER'S 

crefted )ier throne withls the female breaft, it i«upoa (d fblij 
s bads that nothing is able to expel tlic heavenly inhabitant. 

12. But have tlicre n6rbccn forae, few indeed, I hope, whofe 
yoaih and inexperience have rendered ibcm a prey to wretches, 
whom upon the Icaft rcflc<fl'on, they would have defpifcd and 
luted, aa foes to God and their country ? I fear there have 
been fome fiich unhappy iiiilances ; or why have 1 feen ao^hoR* 
eft faihfr clothed w;ih ihamc ; or why a virtiiouB mother droivn^ 
ed in tears i 

13. But I forbear, and tome reKi6lantIy to the tranfaftion* 
of that difmal night, when in fach quick fucceffion wc felt the 
extremes of grief, aftonilhment and rage ; when Heaven in an- 
ger for a dreadful moment, fuffei^d KeU to take the reiire ; when 
latan with his chofcn band, opened the fluiceB of New-England'* 
blood and facriligioufly polluted our land with the dead bodin 
of her guiltlefs fons* 

I4» Let this fad tale of death never be told wichoot a tear : 
Let not the heaving bofom ceafc to burn with a manly indigna- 
tion at the barbarous ftory, thro the long track of future time : 
Let every parent tell the (hamdy ftory to his liftening childrea 
till tears of pity gliften in their eyes, arvd boiling paffion (hake 
their tender frames ; and whilft the anniverfary of that ill fated 
night is kept a jubilee in the gHm ^courc of pandemonmm, let 
all America join in one common prayer to Heaven, that the ift- 
buman, unprovoked murders of the fifth of March, 1 770, plan- 
ned by Hillfborough, and a knot of treacherous knaves in Bof- 
ton, and executed by the eruel band of Prefton and his fanguin* 
ary coadjators, may ever (land on hiftary without a parallei. 

15. But what, my countrymen, withheld the ready arm of 
▼cngeance from executing inttant juftice on the vile affafOn^.? 
perhaps you feared promiicuous carnage might enfue, and that 
the innocent might (hare the fateof thofe who had performal 
the infernal deed. But were not all guilty ? were you not too 
tender of the lives of thofe who came to fix a yoke on your 

^neck I but I muft not too fcvcrely blame a fault, which gieat 
fouls only can commit, 

16. May that magnificence of ipirit which fcorns the low 
purfuitSDf malice ; may that generous compaffion which often 
preferves from ruin, even a guilty villain, fortver aduate the 
noble bofoms of Americans ! But let not the mifcreant 
boil vainly imagine that wc feared their arras. No, them we 



AMERtCAN SELECTION. ijr 

iefpifed, *f we dread nolhiwg biit (livery. Death fs tbx crca- 

urc of a poltroon's brain ; \h imraortality to facriiice our- 

[felvca for the (alvation of our country. Wc fear not deaths 

• 17. That gloomy night, the pale faced moony and tht af^ 

frighted ftart that hurried thro the flcyt can witnefft that wc 

f'fear not death» Our heart »» which at th6 rccollcdtion glow 

t with a rage that four revolving years have fcarcely taught uaf 
to reftrain, can witncfe that we fear not death ; and happy it 
fa for thofi who dared, to infaU, that their naked bones arc 
not now piled up an everlalling mopumcnt of Maffachufetta' 
bravery. But they retired, tliey fled, and in that flight thtf 
found their only fafety. * / 

iSm We thea expcdcd that the hand of pubh'c juftice would 
loon inflict tltat puniihment upon the raurdcrers^ which by 
the lawa of God, and man, they had merited. But let the ua«, 
biafled pen of a Robertfon, or perhaps of (bme equally famed 
American, eonduffl this trial before the great tribunal of fuc« 
ceeding generations ; and tbo the murderers may efcape the 

^ jiift refentment of an enraged people ; tho dfowfy juftice, in« 
toxicated by the poisonous draught prepared for her cup, ftilt 

- nods ttp^n her rotten leat, yet be aifared, fuch complicated 
crimes wilt meet their juft reward, 

19. Tell me, ye bloody butchers I ye villains high and Jow ! 

A ye wretehes who contrived, as well as you who cxecatedthe 

L' inhuman deed I do you not feel the goads and ftings of con* 
fcious guilt, pierce thro your favage bofoma I Tho fomc of yoii 
may think yourfclves exalted to a height that bids de&anoe 
to the arm of human juftice, and others fiiroud yourfe]?es bc« 
aeath themaik of hypocrtfy, and build your hopes of fafety 
on the low arts of cunning, chicanery and falfehood ; yejt' do 
you not fometimes feel the gnawing of that worm which 
sever dies i Do not the injured (hades of Maverick, Gmjt 

)■ Caldwell, AttackS) and Car,^ ^ attend you ia your f^litary 
. wi^ks, arreft you even in the mid ft of you debaochericst aod 
Ell even your dreams with terror I 

; ap. Btxt if the unappeafed manes of the dead (hould ooC 
difturb their murderers, yet furely your obdurate hearts muft 
Ihrmk, and your guilty blood muft chill within your rigid 

1:^ teins when you behold the miferable Moak, the wretched 
ii£timof your favage cruelty. Obferve hit, tottering kilCC% 

' * Pifiwi Mn 9n ihi fifth of Marshy »770| r 

Ma 



I . 



rja . WEBSTER'S 

which fcarcc fuftaiti his wafted body ; look on hi* hagg^ti 
Cfcs r mark well the d«athlike pakncfs of liis faUcn check, 
and fell me, iocs not the fight plant daggers in your foals ? 

21, Unhappy MonkJ cut off in the gay mom of manhood 
from all ihe joy^ which fweetcn* HFe, doomed to drag on a pit- 
iful exillence, without even a hope to tafte the plcafures of re- 
turning health ! yet Monk thou livcll not in vain ; th^ni lived, 
a warning to thy country, which fympathizes with thee in thy 
fufferings ; thou liveft an affefting, an alarming inftance of 
the unbounded violence .which lult of power, afiifted by a 
ilanding army, can lead a traitor to commit, 

22. For U8 be bled, and now langui/hes. The wounds by 
which he is tortured to a lingering death, were aimed at our 
country ! Surely meek eyed charily can never behold fuch fuf. 
ferings Vith indifference. Nor can her lenient hand forbear 
to pour oil and wine into thefe wounds ; and to afTuage at 
leaft what it cannot heal, 

2^. P;»triolifm is ever united vith humanity and compafiion. 
This noble sfTedion, which impels us to facrifice every thing., 
dear, even life itfelf, to our country, involves in it a common 
fympathy and tendernefs for every citizen, and muft ever have 
IX particular feeling for one who fuffers in a public caufe. Thor.. 
oughly perfuaded of thie, I need not add a word to engage 
your compnlTion and bounty toward a fellow-citizen, who 
with long protraded anguifh, falls a vi£lim to the relentlefa 
rage of our common enemy. 

24. Ye dark dcfigning knaves, ye murderers, parricides I 
how dare you tread upon the earth, which has drank in the 
blood of (laBghtercd innocence ihed by your wicked hands I 
IHow dare you breathe that air which wafted to the car of Hea* 
Ten, the groans of thofe who fell a facrific to your curfed 
ambition. But if the laboring earth doth not expand her jaws j . 
jf the air you breathe is not commiffioncd to be the minifter 
of death ; yet bear it and tremble ! < 

25, Thi! eye of Heaven penetrates^he darkeft chambers of 
tHe fou1> traces the JcsdtDg clue ihroRll the labyrinths which 
your ind'uftrious follies had dcvifed ! and you, however ybu - 
might have fcrerned yourfelvcs from luim^^ eyes, mud be 
arraigned, mud lilt your hands red with the blood of thofe 
y^hofc death yen ha<»e procured, at 'the tremendpjus bar of 



h^U 



AMERICAN SELECTION, \ii 



4^/1 ORATION, deVtvtred at the NoHh Church In Hartford, at 
- ib£ meeting, of the -ConneQlcut Society of the Cincirmatt^ Jufy 4, 
1 787, in commeMoration 0/ the Indvpendente of the United States^ 
By Joel Barlow, Efq, Pujblijhed by dejire of f aid Society ^ 
Mr, 'Prefident^ G^ntltmen %f the Society f and Fellotv-Citizens^ 
Xw ^^\^ t^^c annivcrfary of fo grcat^an event as the birth of 
\J the empire in which we live, none will que (lion the 
propriety of paffiag a few moments in contemplating the va- 
rious objc(fl8 fuggdted to the mind by the important occafion. 

2. But at the prefent period, while the bleiHngs claimed by 
the fword of vidory^ and promifed in the voice of peace, re- 
main to be comfirmed by our future exertions ; while thenour* 
ithment, the growth, and even the exiftcncc' of our empire, 
depend upon the united efTdrta of an extcnfive and divided 
people ; the dutie? of thia day afccnd from amusement and 
CpngraVtilatlon, to a ferious patriotic employment* 

3. We are aflcmbled my trfcnds, not to Ijoaft. but to realize j 
not to inflate our national vanity by a pninpous relation of pait 
achievements in the councH or in the field ; but from a mod^ 
eft retrofped of the truly di^niFied psrt already a£^ed by our 
countrymen, from an Accurate view of our prefent fituation, 
and from an antictpation of the fcenes that remain to be un^ 

" folded ; to difcern zind familiarize the duties that (lill await ua 
as citizens, as foidierf^ and as men, 

4. Revolutions- in other countiies have been effe6led by ac«» 
cidsnt. The faculties of human reafon, and the rights of hw^ 
man nature, have been the fport bf chance and the prey of am^ 
bition. And when indiarnation has burft the bands of flavery^, 
to th^ deftrudion of one tyrani, it was only to impofe x)\^ 
manacles of another. 1 

5. This arofe^fronn the imperfe£lion of that early ftagc •£ 
focicLV, which neccffarily occafioned the foundatipn of cm^ 
pires, en the eaftern continent, to be laid in ignorance, and 
which induced a total inability of forefceing the improvcmenta 
of civilr^itibni or of adapting the government to a ftate of fo^ ' 

• ^fal refinement, 

[ 6. I ftiall but repeat a common obfervation, when I remsnfc^ 
. tbat on the weftem continent the fccne was entirely different, 
^ amd a new tafk, totally UBl:nown to the legiflators of other 
\ qatione, was impofed upon the fathers of the American empire^ 
^ 7. Here was * people, thinly fcaftered over an extenGvc' 
I territory, lords of the foil on which they trod, commanding a 
L|n-odigioa8 length of cpaft^ and an e^ual trcjidU* of frontier | 



14a . : , - WEBSTER'S ,.' ,, 

t people habitQited to llhtnjf profeffiiig a mild and beoe^ 
lent religion, and highly advanced in fcience and civiHzacioD. 
To coadu6k fuch a people m a revolctton, the addrefs mult be . 
tBadc to reafon as well aa to the paffions. And to reafoh^ to 
the dear undetflanding of thefe varioasly affcded colooi^ the 
•olcmn addrefe was made. 

8. A people thus enlightened and capable of difccmiog 
the coonedion of caufes with their remote ft effeds, waited 
not the experience of oppreflion in their own perfons ; which 
ihcy well knew would reader them lefs able to condud a Teg« 
ular oppofition. , 

.9 But in the moment, of their grcateft profpcrity, wbea 
every heart eapanded with the iocreaftng opulence of the 
BrUifh American domioionf, aad every tongue united in the 
praifes of the parent iiate uod her patriotic king, when many 
circumdances concurred which would have rendeted an igno. 
rant people fecure and inattentive' to their future intcrefts j ixi 
tbis moment the eyes of the American Argus were opened to 
the firft and moft plaufible invafion of the colonial rights^ 

10. In vain were we told^ and perhaps with the greatcS 
truth and finccrity, that the monies levied in America were 
all to be expended within the country, and for our benefit ;-— 
Equally idle was the policy of Great Britain in commeBctog 
her {)ew fyftem by a Imall and almoit imperceptible doty, and 
that MpoQ a very few articles. 

' ]i« Ir was not the quantity of the tax, it was not the 
iRMie of appropriatioiTy but it was the tight of the demand, 
which was called in queftion« Upon this the peo^ple deliber-* 
ated ; this they difcufled in a cool and difpafi^onate manner | 
and this they oppofed in every fliape that an artful and fyftCiA 
*uatic miaiftry coald devife, for more than tea years, before 
they afluroed the fword. 

12. This fingle ctrcgmflancey afide from the magnitude of 
Itrhe objed, or the event of the conted, will (lamp a pecctliar 
glory on the American revolution, and mark it as a diitin. 
guifhed era in the hiftory of mankind : that fober reaibn and 
xeAedion have done the work of eathu&i&n, aod performed the 
xiiraclet of gods. 

. 15. En what otlier age Or nation, has a laborious am] agrrt* 
cultural people, at eafe upon their own farms, fecure and <iif- 
fitant from the approach of ffeets and armies, tide waiters and 
^amp mafters, re»foned before they had felt, and from the 
^i^atei of imy and coafckncci encoaotereil daa|^ers| diitreit 



American sELEtTiON' r|ir 

incj poverty, for the fake of fccuring to poftcrity, a govcra* 
Sc^^ent of independence and peace ? 

14. The toils of s^^es, and the fate of milHao*, were to b6 
Villaiaed by a few liaais. The voice of unborn nations called 
Ji-pon thena for fafety ; but it was a ftfll, fraall voice, the voice 
of rational refle(!'^ioD. Here was no Cromwell to enflame the 
|&%Dple with bigotry and xeal, no Caefar to reward his foJiowera 
with the fpolla of vajTqaifhed foes, and no territory to be aC- 
i^uircd by couquctt. 

15. Aaibition, fuperflitrott and avarice, thefe univerfal torcli* 
C8 of war, never illumined an American field of battle. But 
1. he -^ permanent principles of fober policy fprcad throir^h (he • 
.<:olonies, roufcd the people to aflert their rights, and condu^w 

cd the revolution. 

1 6. Whatever praife is due for the tafic already performed, 
-It is certain that much remains to be done. -The reyolutioa 
is. but half completed. Independence and government - were 
the two objada contended for : and but ©ne is yet obtained* 
*I\> the glory of the ntefent age, and the admiration of the fu^ 
ture, our feverencc from the Britifh empire was conduced up- 

. on principle* as noble as they were new and unprecedented ia 
tiue htflory of human adions. 

17. Could the fame generous v principles, the fame wJfdonl 
*and unanimity be es^ertcd in effecting the eftablifhmcnt of a per- 
manent federal fyftem, what an additional Iti litre would it pout 

• upon the prefeot age 1 a' luftre hitherto unequalled ; a difplay of 
i magnanimity for which mankind may never behold another o£r^ 
port unity. 

18. The prefent is juflly conSdcred an alarming cnTis ; per^ 
^ haps the mo ft alarming that America ever faw. We have con* 

tended with the moll powerful natiqn, and fubdued fhc: bravc(t 
and bed appointed armies : but now we have to contend with - 
biirfelves snd encounter paffions and pi^ejadices m:)re"powerful 
.. than armies, aiul more dangerous to our peace. It ia not fou , 
glory, it is for exillencei that we contend. 

19. The firft great 'obje^fl is to convince the people of the 
importance of their prefenc tituation ; for the majority of a great 

?eople, on a fubjedl which they underlland, will never adt wrongi 
f ever there was a time in any a^^e or uatioa, when the fate of 
niilHons depended on the* voice of '^ne, it h the prefent period 
itt thefe dates. Every free citizen of the American empire ought 
jiQW to confider himfdf as the iegifldtor of half mankind. 



«4i WEBSTtH'S 

,fto. When tie Viewa the amasing extent of territoty, f^ti 
,tttid to be fettled under the operaiion of his laws ; when, 1 
ft wife politician^ he Contemplates the population of future agi 
the changes to be wrought by the poffible progrcfs of arts^j 
agriculture, commerce and tnautifa^ufes ; the inCrcaling eonn/ 
Ion and intercourl'e of tiations, and the ef&dl of one tatioi _ 
t>oIitical fydem upon the genet al bappinrfs of mankidd, U 
mind^ dilated with the great idea» will realite a liberaliij offc^ 
iag which lead* to a reftitude of condu& . -' 

ai. He will fee that the (yftcm to be eftabli/hed by \ii8CuJl 
trkgc is calculi^ed for the great benevolent piirpofea of emcA^ 
^ing peace, ha ppinefs, and progreilive improvement to a larg< 
proportion of hit fellow creaturei • As there ia a probabiiicfl 
that the fyftem to be propofcd by the convention may anfwai 
tiiis defcriptioQ, there is every rea-fon to hope it will be viewed 
by the people with that caAdour and di(paifioQate refpe^ which 
is due CO the impottaiice of the fubje^* 

aa. While the anxiety of the feelnig heart is breathing thi 
perpetaal figh for the attainment of fo great an objed, it ht* 
comes the ftrongeft daty of the focial connexion, to enlighten 
and harmQnijbe the minds of our fellow citizens, aiid point theai 
to a knowledge of their intereds, and an extenfive federal paoti 
p!e, and fathers of increafing nationi. 

23* The price put into their hands it great beyond all cons^ 
pariloq ; and as they improve it, they will entail happioefs or 
mifery upon a Urger proportion of human beings, than could 
be efikAed by the condu^ of all the nations of Europe united* 

24. Thofe who are pofiefied of abilities or information in any 
degree above the common rank of their fellow eitizena, are 
called upon by every principle pf horoanity, to dilFufea fpirit 
of candor, and rational inquiry, upon thefe important fubje^sw 

z^. The prefent it an age of ^hilofophy and America the 
empire of reafon* Here, neither the pageantry, of courts, nor 
the^glooms of fuperftuion, have dazzled or beclouded the mind* 
Our duty calls us to a^ worthy of the age and the country 
tlUic gave us birth. . Though iuexpcriciKe may .have betrayed 
\ia into etrors ; yet thefe have not been Fatal ; and our own dif> 
cernmcnt wiU point us t,o their proper remedy, 

26. However defcAive the prefent contederated fyftem msy 
appear, yet a due coiilideration bf *thc circumftances under. 
%hich it was framed^ wilt teach us rather to andmire its wifdom) 



Ill^j 



1M) 

AMERICAN SELECTION. 145 

flan to mxxtmxxT at its faolta. T^ie fame political abiUtiet 
^hich weri: dif played ifi that iaftitation, united with the ex* 
perieqce we have had of its operation, will doul^tlefs prodiice 
d fyfteoi, which will ftand the ted of age& in forming a power* 
fttland happy p<*9ple. 

'27. Ekvated wiih this cxtenfive profpe^, we may confidec 
prefent ioeoDvenicncies as unworthy of regret, Ac the clofe^of 
the war, aa uiicommon plenty of circulating fpccie, and aa 
liniverfal palBon for trade^ tempted many individuals to involve 
themfejves in ruin> and injure the credit of their country* 
^jat thefe ate evils which work their own remedy. 

;?8. The paroxifm is already over. Induftry is increafing 
faftcr than ever it decHned ; and (with fome exceptions, where 
legiflative authority has fandioned fraud) the people are ho.» 
neftly difcharging" their private debts^ and increafing the re« 
Jourc^s of their, wealth. ^ 

29« Every poffible encouragement for great and generoui 
tsertions, is now prcfented hefpre us. Under the idea of a 
permaneat and happy goTcrnment, every point of view in 
y^hicL the future fituation of America can he placed, Blls the 
l^ind wiih a peculiar dignity, and openi an unbounded field' 
Ipf thought, * , 

I go. Th^ ;iatural refourcca of .the country arc inconceivably, 
tarious and great. The enterprifino" genius of the pebpUj 
protnlfpsa mo ft rapid improvement in all the arts that ein)3eL 
'fiiji human nature. The bleffings of a rati^aal government 
i^jll invite enwgrations from the reft of the world, and fill the 
«»pire with .the Worthieft and happicft of matikind ; while, 
^he example of -political wifdom and felicity here to be dif. 
lr'?yed, will excite emulation through the kingdoms of the 
facfchj and n^^liorate. the condition of the human race. 



<< DECLARATION hy /i&^ Representatiyis of tU Uni. 

W Co f sniff of Norib-zim^rtca^ fi^itng forth the eaufesand nel 

^^^y of their taking up armft Juh 6, 1775. 
?• jF it were peffible for men, who exercUe their reafon, to 

-**•. believe, that the divine author of our exiftcnce intend* 
*d a part of the human race to hold an abfolute property, and 
.SB unbopnded power over others, marke:d put by his infinito 
iF^dHefs and wffdom, as the objcfts of a legal dorowation, 
Jcverrighily refiftablr, however feirere and opprtfiive, the inha-. 
PUaats of thofe eoloai^s might a^t leaft require from the parii^ 



(4. WEBSTER'5 

ent of Creai BrUaln feme evidence, that tliis dreadfal autliot 
J over them has been granted to thst body. 

2. But a rcvefeijce for onr great Greater, principles of hn 
anity, and the didlates of common fenfe mnft convince a] 
lofe who r^fleft upon the subjed, that government was in[ti 
ited to protn6te the welfare of mankind, and ought to be 2& 
liniftercd for the attainment of that end. 

3. The legiflaturc of Great Br'ifah^ however, dimulatcd hi 
1 inordinate pafflon for a power, not only unjutlifob/e, but 
hlch they know to be peculiarly reprobated by the very coaJ 
itution of that kingdom, and defparate of f uccefs in atty tnodd 
f conteft, where regard fhould be had to truth, law or right,] 
ave at length, deferting thofe attempted to effcdl their crncl 
nd impolitic purpofe of enflaving thefe colonies by violence, 
id have thereby rendered it necelfarv for us to dofr with their 
ft appeal from reafon to arms, 

4. Yet, however blinded that aflcmbly may be, by their io« 
mperate rage for unlimited domination, fo to (light juftice 
id the opinion of mankind, we efteem ourfelvea bound by oU» 
rations of refpe^ to the reft of the world to ndake known ih; 
It ice of our caufc. 

5. Our forefathers, inhabitante of the ifland of Great Brhakif 
t their native land, to feek on thefe (hores, a rcfidencc fot 
il and religious freedom. At the expence of their blood» it 
: hazard of their forU'.nes, without the leaft charge to the 
mtry from which they removed, with unceafing labor and 
unconquerable fpirit they cffefted fettlements in the diC 
t and inhofpitable wilds of J^merica^ then filled with numep 

and warlike nations of barbarians. 

. Societies or governments, vefted with perfedi legiflatiires^ 

e formed under charters from the crown, and an harmoni* 

intercourfe was eftabliHied between the colonies and the 

[dom from whicih they derived their origin. The mutual 

ifits of this uiiion became in a fhort time fo extraordinary 

► excite aftonifhment. It is univcrfally confcfTed that the 

ung increafc of the wealth, ftrcngth, and navigation of the 

1, ^rofe from this fourcc ; and the lininifler who fo wifely 

uccefsfully direftcd the meafurcs of Great Britain, in the 

var, publicly declared, that these colonies enabled her to 

[ph over her enemies. ; 

i owards the concluGon of that war, it pleafed our fove- 

Co ipake a change in his counfels. From that fatal mo- 

, the affairs of the Bntt/h cnnpirc pegan to fall into cpnfu« 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 145 

Hon, find gradually HiAng from tbe j^immit of. glorious prtG 
jperhy, to which ihey had been advanced by the virtues and 
abilhies of one cnan, are at length diftra^ted by the convu)- 
fions^ that now ihake it to its deepeft foundation8«-^Thi( new 
cniniftry finding the brave, foes of Britain^ though frequently 
^ <lfefeat^9 yet ftill contending, took up the unfortunate idea of 
granting them a liaily peace, and of then fuhduing her faithful 
fiends. 

^ Thefe devoted Colonies were judged tp be in fuch a date 
^8 to prefent vi6ioriee without bloodfhed^ and all the .eafyi 
^molunaents of (iatuteable plunder. The uninterrupted tenor oF 
Uieir peaceable and refpef^able behaviour from the beginning of 
colonization, their dutiful, zealous, and ufeful ferviccs during 
the war, though io recently and amply acknowledged in the 
meft honorable manner, by his majefty^ by the late king, and 
by parliament, could not fave thtm from the mediiate'd ianoTa^ 
tions« 

o. Parliament was influehced to adopt the pernicious pro^' 
je^,. and afiuming a new power over them« hav^ in the courfe 
• of eleveii years given fuch dccifive fpecimens of the fpirit end 
4Confeq|ience8 attending tfiis power, a 9 to leave no doubt con* 
iciering the effects 6l acquiefceoce under it. 
- 10. They have undertaken to give and grant our money 
without, eur confent, though we have ever exercifed an exclu* - 
live right to difpofe of our own property. Statutes have been 
palled for extending the jurifdi&ion of courts of admiralty and. 
vice.admiralty beyond their ancient limits ; for depriving ua 
pf the accuftbmed and ineftimable privilege of trial by jury, ia 
cafes affcfting both life and property ; for fnfpending the Ic« 
giflature of one of the colonies ; forinlterdiding all comtperce 
to the capital of another ; and for altering fundamentally, the 
form of government eftablifhed by cliarter, and fccured by a£ii 
pf its own legiflature, folemnly confirmed by the crown. 

II. For exempting the «• murderers" of colonics from legal 

trial, and m efFc^ from punifhment ; for ereding in a neigh.^ 

- bouring grovifice, acquired by the joint arms of Great Britain 

iknd Amerieq, a difpotifm dangerous to our v^ry exiftcnce 4 and 

for quartering foldiers wpon the colonifts in time of profound 

peace^ It has alfo been rtfolued in ParKamcnt that eolonifts^ 

charged with committing, certain offences, fhall be tranfported 

to England to h^ tried. ' 

^^2, But why (hottld we cnumerattf our iDJarics m dftaH i 

N 



146 WEBSTER'S 

By one ftatute it is declared, that parliament can •< of right 
make laws to bind "us in all rafes wbatfeevit:*^* What is to de* 
fend US againft fo enormus, fo unh'mited a power ? Not a Cm- 
g!e man of thofe who aflumc it is cbofen by us ; or \% fubfe^ 
to our controul or influence, 

13. But on the contrary, they are all of them exempt front 
the operation of fuch laws, and an American re venae, if pot di% 
ircrtcd from the oftenfible purpofes for which it is raifed, would 
actually lighten their own burden in proporiion as ifccy irtcrea/e 
ours. We faw the mifery to which fuph difpoiifm wouW re- 
duce us. We for ten years inceffantly and meffe^ually be-, 
feeched the throne as fiipplicants ; we reafoncd, we remonftrat- 
«d with parliament in the mod mild and decent -language. 

14, Admlniilration, fcnfiblc that we (hould regard thefe op^ 
prefTive meafures as freemen ought to do, fent over flceis and 
armies to enforce them. The indignation oi the Americans. 
was foufed, it is true ^ but it was the indfgnatif>n oF'« virtu- 
ous, loyal and affeftionate people.' A Congrefs of delegatt^ 
from the United Colonies was afflfmblcd ?t f*hi/aJe//>hia^ o^ 
theiifth day of laft September. 

I J. Wc refolvcd again to offer a humble and dutiful pet£* 
tion to the king, and alfo addreflcd our fellow fubjcds of Great 
Britnitt. W? haye purfucd every temperate, every refpcdful 
meafure ; we have even proceeded to break off our cocnroeR, 
cial intercourfe with ovir fellow fubjcfts, as the laft peaceable 
admonition, that our attachment to pp nation upon earth fi)aU 
fupplant our attachment to liberty. 

16. This we flattered ourfclves, was the ultimate ftep of the 
controverfy ; but fubftquent events have (hewn, how yain 
was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies. 
. 17. Several thrcatenipg expreffions againft the Colonlef 
were ihfcrted ia his roajcfty's fpeech. Our petition, iho wc 
were told it was a decent one, apd that his maiefty had been • 
pleafed to receive it gracioiifly,.and to proroife laying it before 
his parliament was huddled into both houfes among a bundle 
of American papers,. and there negleaed, ' 

18. The Lords and Commons in their addrefs m the month 
of February, fald that a rebellion at that time actually exiff- 
ed within itie piovince of Maffachujetis Bay ; and that ihofe 
' concerned in it had been countenanced and encouraged by utr« 
' lawful combinations and engagements", entered into by his 
Kiajefty's fubje^s in fcvcral of the other colonies ; and there* 
<Qrc th^y bcfought his majcfty to take the moft cfFcdual m^^ 



AMERICAN aELECTION. , .r47 

t\tttJA to enforce ddc obedience to the Uws *nd authority of the 
fiipreme Icgiflature* 

19. Soon afte^j the con^mercial int«rc<fur8e of whole, colo- 
bies, with forci";2fn countriesj and with each other, was cut off 
by an«<^ of parHamcnt. By another, feveral of chem were en- 
tirely prohibited from the,tifheric8 in the feas near their coaft, 

• on which chey always depended fur their iubnilence \ and large 
reinforcen^ents of (hips and troops were immediately feat over 
to Getieral Gage* 

20. Fruit lefs wttt all the efttrcaties, arguments, and elo- 
l^uence of an illa(iriou3 baud of the molt diilinguifhed peers a^d 
commoners* who nobly *«nd ftrenuoufly affcrtcd the jultice of 
T>ur caafe^ to day or even to mitigate, the hecdlcCa fury with •• 
which thefe accumulated aad unexampled outrages, were h^r* 
Hcd pd» 

• 21, , fiqiially fruitlefs Was the interference of the city of Lon. 
don, of Briilo), and many other refpedable towns in our fator. 
Parliament adopted an tntlJuons manoeuvre calculated to divide 
tss| to eftabliih a perpetual au^^ion of taxations, where Colony 
ihould bid againft Colony, all of them uninformed what ran^ 
fom would redeem their lives ; and thus to extort from us, at 
4he point, of thc1)ayoaet, the unknown fums that would be 
fufficiem to gratify, if pojjibh to gratify ^ rainiftcrial rapacity, 
yr'xth the mifcrable indulgence left to U3 of railing, in our owdi 
tnode, the prefcribed tri)ut-e« 

22. What terms more rigid and hutniliating could have been 
^iitiated by remorfelefs vit^tbrs to conquered enemies ? In our 
circumftances, to accept them would be to defervc them. 

23. Saon after the intelligence of ihefc proceedings arrived 
ton this continent, General Gage, who, in the courfe of* the lail 
year had taken pofTeilion of the town of Bofton, in the province 
of Maffachufem Bay, and Hill occupied it as a garrilon, 0:1 the 
19th day of /^priifXent out from that place a large detachment 
othis army, who made an unprovoked affault on the inhabitants 
of the faid province^ and the town of Lexington ; as appears* by 
theaffiiavits of a great number of perfons ^lome of whom were 
officers and foldicrs of that detachment) murdered eight of the 
inhabitants, and wounded many others* 

24. From thence the troops proceeded in warlike array, to i* 
^hc town of Concord, where ^they fet upon another party of the 
inhabitants of the fame province, killing feveral and woi^ndin^ 
mortif until compelled to retreat by the country people, fuddea- 

ly affcrabled to repel this cruel aggrcQioa. 



14?' WEBSTErS 

25. IfoftHitieg thug commenced by At Britidi troops, \an\ 
been fince profccuted by them without regard to faith or rcp-l 
iitatioi). The inhlbttants of Bofton^ being confined in thatl 
.town by the General their Governor, and haviug» io order laJ 
procure their difmiffion, entered into a treaty with him, it w«1 
^Itipulated that thefaid inhabitants having depofited their araQii 
with their own magiitraces, fhould have liberty co'depart, taking 
with them therr other effcds. 

26- They accordingly delivered up their armn ; but ib open ' 
Violation of honor, in defiance of the obligation of ueatk^, 
vhich even favage nations efteem facred, the Govertior ordered 
the arms depofited as a fore fa id that they might be prefiervtd 
for their Miners, to be feized by a body of foldiers } detained 
the greateft part of the inhabitaats in the town, and compelled 
the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their mod valiuh 
blc etfcas behind. • 

27. By this perfidy, wives are feparated from their hiifbands, 
children from their parenta, the aged and fick from their rek^ 
tions and friends, who wifli to attend and comfort them :— 
and thofe who have been nfed to live in plentyi and even dt» 
gance, are rdtluced to deplorable diftrefs. 

28* The General, further emulating hii miQiderial mallerl 
ty a proclamation bearing date on the 1 2th day of June, after 
Venting the groITed falfehoods* and calumnies againft the good 
people of thefe Colonies^, proceeds to " dechire them all, either 
by name or defcription, to be rcbeb atui traitors ;: to fnptrccde 
thecourfe of comiQon law, and inftead thereof to publifh and 
order the ufc and exccrcife of the taw martial."^ 

29. His troops have butchered our countrymen, hare wan- 
tonly burnt Charleftown, befides a confidcrable number of 
houfes in other places ; our (hips and veffcls arc fei«ed ; the ne. 
ceffary fupplies of provifions are intercepted, and he ia^ exerci. 
fing his utmoll power to fpread deftru^lion and devaftation a- 
round him. 

30. We have received certain intelligence, that Gen. Carle- 
ton, the Governor of Canada, is infHgating the people of that 
province, and the Indians, to fall upon us ; and we have but t09 
much reafon to apprehcfld, that fchemes ' have been formed to^ 
excite domeft^c enemies againft us. In brief, a part of thefe 

tf colonies bow feel, and all of them are fare of feeling, as far aa 
the vengeance of adoiinidration can infiidt them, the complica- 
ted calamities of fire, fword and famine. V 
31^ Wc arc reduced to the aUcrnativc of choofing aa «u- 



AMEJLICAN SELECTION^ i^f 

CJOnvlit tonal fiibmlffion to the tyranny of irritated mimftcrs, of 
refill^wice by force. The latter is our choice. We have 
counted the cod of this content and find nothing fo dreadful 
«8 voluntary flavery. Honor, juftice and humanity forbid ua 
\amely to forrcnder that freedom, which wc received from 
-our gallant anceftors, and which our innocent pofterity have 
a right to receive trom us. We cannot endure the infamy 

and guilt of refignjag fucccding generationSi to that wretch* 
. cdnefa which inevitably awaits tliemi if. v/e bafcly entail he« 

reditary bondage upon them. 

32. Our caufe is jtift. Our union is perfe^« Our internal 
tefo»rcct are great ; and if neccflary, foreign affiftance is un- 
Hdoubtedly attainable. We greatfuUy acknowledge, as ^g^ 

nal intlances of the Divine favor towards us, that Providence 
would not permit us to be called into the fevere controverfy, 
until we wirte grown up t9 our prefent Urength, and had bcea 
prcvioufly excrcifed in warlike operations, and poffcflcd of 
. the means of defending ourfelves. 

33. -With hearts fortified with thcfc animating reflc6lions, 
wc moft fdemnly, before Goi> and the world, declare, that ex- 
erting the utmoll energy of thbfc powers, which our benefit 

. ccn Creatoi ha** gracioufly bcftowed upon us, the arras we 
have been compelled by our enemies to affume, we will ia 

• defiance'of every hazard j wiilKunabating firmncfs and perfc- 
verance, employ for the prefervation of our liberties ; being 
with one mind, refolved to dk frtemen rather than to Uvt 
Jlaret^ 

34. Left this declaration fiiould difquiet the, minds of our 
" friends and fellow fubjedU in any pan of the empire, wc af- 

fure them that we mean not to difTolvc thaP union which has 
fo long and fo happily fubfifted between us, and which we fin- 
trerely wifh to fee rcltorcd. NecefSty has not yet driven us 
into that defparate meafure, or induced us to excite any other 
nation to war againft them* 

35. We have not raifed armies with ambitious defigns of 
fepafaiiag from Great. Britain, and eftablilhing independent 
ftatcs. We fight not for glory^ or for conqueft. We; exhibit 
to mankind the remarkable fpedacle of a people attacked by 
unprov feed enemies, without an imputation or even fufpi- 
cion of offence. They boaft of their privileges and civiliza- 
tion, and yet proffer no milder conditions than fervitude oc 
deaths 



ijo WEBSTER'S ' 

3^. In oar own native Und, iq dcfcnce]of the freedom tbti 
it our birth rights and which we ever enjoyed till iKe late y'u 
elation of it ; for the prote^ion of our property , acquired 
(oldy by the honed induttry of our forefathers and ouridves, 
a^Jfainfl: violence a^ually offered, we have taken op arms*— 
We (hall lay them down when hoililitiet fhall ccafe on the 
part of the aggreifors, and all danger of their being renewed 
Ihall be removed, and not before. 

37. With an huhible confidence 10 the mercies of the fa J 
premeand impartial Judge and Ruler of the univerfe, we mo^ 
devoutly implore his divine goodncfs to protc6t u^ happily 
through this great ^odflidtj to difpofe ouradverfaries to vecoo. 
cih'ation on reafonable terms, and thereby to relieve the empifi 
from the calamities of civil war. 

ELOQUENCE. ^ 

Extract from Mr. 4mes* Spsesh in Cen^refs on the fuljeS cfexu 
cuting the Treaty between the United States and GreaSa Britain, 
1. 'TPHE confequeticcs pf refufing te make provrfion for the 
JL treaty are not all to be forefeen. By rejeding, vaft in- 
terefts are commitred to the sport of the winds. Chance be« 
comes the atbiter of events, and it is forbidden to bunaan fore, 
£ght, to count iheir number, or meafure their extent/ Before 
ws refolve to leap into this abyfs, fo dark and fo profound, it 
becomes us to panfe and re^e6t upon fuch oF the dangers as arc 
obvious aihd inevitable. If this afTtmbly fhould be raught in- 
to a temper \o defy the confequences, it is vain, it ia^ decep- 
tive to pretend that we can efcape them. It is woi-fe than 
weaknefs to fay, -that as to public faith our vote has already 
fettled the qucttion. Another tribunal than our own is already 
credcd. The public opinion, not merely of our own country, 
but of the enlightened world, will pronounce a judgment that 
we clmnot rcfift, that we dare not even affedt to cefpife, 

2. Well may I Urge it to men who know the worth of cha* 
raftef, th9t it is no trivial calamity to have it contedcd. Re- 
fufing to do what the treaty ilipuUtes Hiall be done, opens the 
controverfy. Even if we fhould (land jultificd at laft, a cha- 
rafler that is vindicated is fomething worfe than it ftood bfa 
fofe, unqueftioned and unqueftionable. Like the plaintiff in 
an aftlon of flandcr, we recover a reputation diafiured by in- 
•'^ive, and even tarnifhed b/ 100 rsygh hjDdhng, lo the 



^ *' . AMERICAN SELECTION* t^l 

^<lmbat for the honor of the natfottj it itiaf receive fome 
-Wiyundd/ though they ihail, heal^ wili leave fears* I need' 
viot fay, for furely the feelings of every bofom have aatici{>a« 
t:ed, that we cannot guard this fcnfe of national hdnor, thia 
«iverliving'6re v^hich alone keeps patriotifoi warm in the heart| 
"V^Iih a fenfibility too vigilant and jcalflUR* ' 

3. If, by executing the treaty, there 13 no poflibillty of 
difboRor, and if, by rejedling) there is fomc foundation for 
doubt and for reproach, it is not for me to meafure, it is for 
your own}, feelings to eftimate, the vaft diitance that dividea 
the one fide of the alternaiivc from the other* 

4« To expatiate on the value of public faith may pafs with 
fpme men for declamation— to fuch men I have nothing to fay* 
. To others I will urge, can any circum (lance mark upon a pe©< 
pie more turpitude and debafement ? Can any thing tend mbtc 
to make men think themfclves mean, or degrade to a lower 
point their eftiraatjon of virtue and. their ftanJard of adion. 

5. It would not merely demoralize mankind, ii tends to 
b^cak all the ligamtnts of /ociety, to diffolve that myfterioua 
charmr which at trad* individuala to the nation, and to inspire 
in its ftcad a rcpulfive fenfe of (hame and difguft. 

6. What is patriotifra ? ' Is it a narrow affe<^ion for the 
fpot where a man was born ? Are the very clods where we 
ti*ead eititfed to this ardent preference bccaufe they are grecQ'* 
er ? No, fir, this is noi the charad^er of the virtue, and it 
foars higher for its objed* It is an extended felf love, ming^ 

• ling with all the^ enjoyments of life, and twitting, iifelf with 
the minuted filaments of the heart. It is thua we obey the . 
law« of fociety, bccaufe they arc the laws ef virtue. In their 
authority we fee, not *the array of force and terror, hot the 
venerable image iS)f our country '6 honor. Every good citizen 
Biakes that honor his own, and chcrilhcs.it not only as pre* 
ciou3, but 'j% facred. He is willing -fo rifk his life. in its de-* 
fence, and is confdouf that be gains prote6iion while he gives 
it. . For what rights of a citizen will be deemed inviolable 

/ when a ftate renounces the principles that conftittite their fe- 
curity ? Or, if his life (hould not be invaded what would' 
i:s enjoyments be in a country odious in the eyes of ftrang- 
ers, and difhonored in his own > Could he look with alFedlioa 
and veneration to fuch a country as his parent ? The fenfe of 
having. one would die within him, he would 'bluih ^ for hig 
patriotifm, if he retained any, and juitly, for it would be « 
^ricci He would be a baniflicd zaaa inhia native kud^ 



7. I fejf Doexcfplion u the refped tlat ii paid ^rAoiif m^ 
t*on% to the hws of good faita. If th(.rcar^ cafts fa thisk.1 
lightened period, when it is violated, there «irc none whco 
h decreed. It is the philofiipiiy ot politicly the rellgioo «l 
goverofiicfitt* It is obferved by barbarians— a wh-ff of tobac* 
co-fmokc or a ftring of beac^s gives aoi merely binding force, 
but faiidity to treaties. Even in Algiers a truce may be 
bought tor money, btit when ratified, even Algiers is too wrifc] 
or too jutl to difovrn and annul irs obhgatioo, Tbas we fct] 
neither the ignorance of fava^t^ not ctic principles of an aCTo*. 
ciation for piracy and rapine, permit a nation to defpife its en* 
gagements. If, fir, their could be a refurreCtion from the foot 
cf the ^allows, if the vidims of jutl'ce cou^d live again* colled 
together and form a'focicty, they would, however loaih, fooa 
find themlclvcs obliged to make juitice, that juftice under 
\iliich they tell, the fundamental law of their llatc. They 
Vould perceive it was their inteiell to make others rcfped, 
and rhey wnuia therefore foon pay lomc rcfped thtmfclvea to 
the obligations of good faith, 

8. It is paiHful, I hope ii is fuperfiuous, to make even tli^ 
fuppofiiion that America fhotilJ lurnifh the occation of this 
opprobrium. No» let me not even imagine, that a republicaa 
government fprung, as our own is, from a people enlightened 
and ancorrupted, a government whofe original right, and whoiie 
daily difcipline js duty, can, upon fulemn debate, make its op. 
tion to be faithlefs^-can dare to ad what defpots dare not avow, 
what our own example evinces, the itates of Barbary arc ua- 
fu^pedcd of.' .No, let me rather make the fuppofition that 
Great Britain rcfufes to execute the treaty, after w'c have 
"done every thing to carry it into cfTedl. Is their any Ian* 
guagc of reproach pungent cnought to exprefs our com men* 
tary on the fad ? What would you fay, or rather what would 
you not fay ? Would you not iel« them, wherever an Englifh- 
man might travel, fhame would ftick to him— he would difown 
has country. You would exclaim, England, proud of your 
wealth, and arrogant in the polfefTion of power— blufh for 
thcfe diftindions, which becomes the vehicles of your difhon* 
or. Such a nation might truly fay, to corruption, Thou art 
my father, and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my 
fiflcr. Weihould fay of fuch a race of men, iheir nadte is a 
heavier burden than tht ir debt. 

9. The rcfufal of the pofts (inevitable If we rcjed the trea-. 
ty) is a meafurc loo dcgiAve in ii« nature to be Odtun^I ia ii« 



AMEIUCAN SELECTlO^f. tjj 

onteqtiencifA, From gtcat Gau(*cs wc are to look fot^reat ef^ 

'e€fcs. A plaiR »nd obvious one will be, the price of th« weft* 

^rn \aods ^vill fall. > Seuters will not chufe to fix their habitatioii 

ya a field of battle; Thofe who calk To much of the intefed 

of the United States fliould ealculatfc how deeply it will be af. 

feiSlcd by rejeftfng the treaty-*how taft a trait of wild la nl 

will altnoft ceafe to be property* This lofs, let it be bbfervedi 

'wiM fall upon a fund cxprefaly devoted to fink the national 

debt.* "Vyhat^hen are we called upon to do ? However tbc 

^orm df the vote arid the protcftations of many may difguife the 

proc^edio^y our refoli^tlon is in fubftance^ and it dirfervcs to wear 

the title; of a refolution to prevent the faleof the weftern landiy 

k»d the dtfchargc of the'public debt* 

lo. Will the tendency to Indian boftility be c6nteftcd bf 
%tvY one I 3Experience givea the anfwer. The frontiers were 
fcourgcd with war till the ncgociation with Great-Britain waa 
far advaaced, and then the ftate of hoftilitp^^ealed* . Perhaps 
the pablic agents ot boih nations were innocent of fomenting 
the iadiaa war, and perhaps they wete »»i» We^wglR i»^,fcr?r* 
tvcr to expe<5t that neighboring nations, highly irritated againft 
each other, will neglcS the fricndfhip of the favages, the tra* 
ders will guin an infiarnce« and will abufe it-^and who is igtio^ 
I rant that their paffions are eafily raifed and hardly retrained 
■ from violence ? Th^ir fituation will oblige them to chufe be- 
tween this country <nd Great-Britain, 'iii cafe the treaty ikould 
be vejeded.-— They mil not be our friends and at the lame lioie 
the friends of our enemies. 

ri. If any, againil all thcfe proofs, fho^ild maintain that the 

peace with the Indians will be ftablc without the pods, to thcoi 

1 will urge another reply^ From arguments calci^lated to prou 

_duce convi6tion, I will appeal 'direftly to the hiarts of thofe 

who hear* me, and afk whether it is not already planted there ? 

I refort efpccially to the coavidlion of the Weftem gentlemen 

whether, (uppofing no pofts and no treaty, the fcttlera will re* 

main iii Ccgarity ? Can they take it upon them to fay, that aft 

Indian peace under tlrefe circumllances, will prove firm ? > No, 

: , fir, it will not be peace but a fword ; It will be no better than 

a lure to draw vidiima vithm the reach of the tomahawk. 

12. On this theme my emotions a r^ unutterable : If I could 
find^ words for them, If ray powers bore any proportion to my* 
zctV, I would fwcll my voice to fuch a note of remonftrance, it 
fhovild reach every log-houfe beyond the mouataina. I would 
i^ay to the inhabitants, wake from your faife fecurity. Your 



cruel dangers, ybar iporc cnid apprchcnfions are food tow 
tic wed : the wounds, yet unhealed^ arc to be lorn open agaii 
In the day time, your path through tbc woods will be ambcf 
\ed. The darknefb of midnight will glitter with the blaze 
your dwellings. You are a father — the blood of ^onr foul 
iUnW fatten on your corn-field — You arc a mother-^thc wal 
Ivhoop flnll wake the fleep of the cradle* 

13. On this fubjetft you tiecd not lufpef^ any dtceptwaoi 
your feelings. It it a fpe^lacle of horror which pannot b^ofer* 
drawn. . If you have nature in your hearts^ they willipaWt 

• language compared with which all I hatre faid or caa fay, wiU 
be poor and iriffid* 

14. Who will accufc roe of wandering out ofthcfubjeft? 
Who will fay that I exaggerated the tendencies of our mra* 
fures ? will any one anfwer h^ a fneer, that all thia is idk preadu 
ing ? will any one deny that we are bound, and 1 would hop« 
to good pur{)ofe, by the mod iolcmn fandkions of duty forth^ 
tote we give ? Arc defpots alone to be reproacTicd for.unfcdi 
ing ittdifcrcncc to the tears w bioticl of their fubjeds,? Ar« 
republicans unrefponGble ? Have the principles on whicii joi 
ground the reproach upon cabinets and kings no prafticalin. 
fluence, no binding force ? Are they merely themes of iScdtc^ 
lamation, introduced to decorate the morality of a oewfpapcf 
cifay, or to furnifh petty topics of harangue from the windowj 
of that Hate houfc ? I truft it is neither too prefumptuoiis nor 
loo late to aflc, can you put the dcareft intereft of focicty at 
rifle without guilt, and with6ut rethpvfe f 

15. By rejecting the poils we light the favage fires, we bind 
the vidiras. This Jay we undertake to render account to th< 
widows and orphans whom our declfion will make, to. fftc 
wretches that will be roafled at the (take to our country, and I 
do not deem it too fcrious to fay, to .confcience and to God-^ 
We are anfwcriihle— and if duty be any-thihg more than a word 
of impollurc, if confcicnce be not a bugbear, we arc preparing 
to make ourlelvcs as Wretched as our country. 

16. There is ito miilake in this cafe, there can be nSne* 
Experience has already been the prophet of events, and the 
cries of our future vidlims have already reached usi The 
tveftern inhabitants are not a filent and uncomplaining facri. 
ficf. The voice of humanity ifTues from the fliadc of thcii* 
^vildernefs. It exclaims, that wfiile one hand is held up to 
reject this treaty the other grasps at a tomahawk. It fummous 
«ur imagination to the fccncs that will open. It is no great 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 155 

effort of -the imagination to conceive that events fo near arc 
already begun. I can fancy that I liftcn to the yells of favage 
vengeancje and the fhricka of torture* AIre«idy they fccm to . 
ftj^h in the weft wind-— already they mingle with every echo 
from the moanialns, 

■ 17. Look again at the ftate of things— On the fea coaf^^ 
vaft loffes uncompenfatcd-«-On the frontier, Indian war, ac^ 
tual encroachment on oiw leniiory. Every where difcontcnt 
-r-rrefent meats tenfold more fierce becaufc they will be impo^ 
$ent and humbled. National difcord and abafemenf, 

18. The difputes of the old treaty of 1783, being left te 
jrafikle, will revive the almoft extingnifhed animofities of 
that period. Wars in all CQuniries and moft of all in fuch a» 
ar^ free, arife from the impetuofiiy of the public feelings. 
The . dcfpotifm of Turkey is often obliged by chimor to un* 
Ihcath the fword. War might perhaps be delayed, but codd 
pot be prevented. The caufes of it would remain, would ba 
aggra^rated, would be multiplied, and £bon become intolera^ 
ble. More captures, more impreffments vould fwell rhe lift 
pf our wrongs, and ""the current of our rage. I make no cal- 
culation of the arts of thofe'whofe employment ii had beet) 
pn former, occa^ons, to fan the fire. 1 fay nothing of the for, 
■cign money and emiflaries that might foment the fpirit of hoft 
tility, becaufc the ftate of things will naturally run to via, 
lepee. With lefs than (heir former exertion, they would b^ 
fiaccefsfui. 

19. Will pur government be able to lemper and^eftrain the 
turbulence of fuch a crifis ? The government, alas, will be in ^ 
po capacity to govern. A divided people j and divided cQun, 
pils! Shall we cherift) the fpiril of peace or ftirw the energies 
pf war ? Shall we make our advcrfary afraid of our ftrength, 
ordifpofe him,' by the meafures of refentment and l^okea 
faith, to refpeft out rights ? Do gentlemen rely on the ftato 
of peace tfecaufe both nations will be worfe difpof^d to keep • 
it? Becaufe injuries and infults ftill harder to injure, will 
be mutually oftered, 

20. Such a ftate of th'ngs will exift, if we fhould long a« 
?Qid wa), as will "be worfe than war. Peace without fecurity, 
accumulation of injury withopt rcdrefs, or the hope of it, re* 
ftntmen\ against the aggrcflbr, contempt for ourfclves, i^ttf- 
tire difcord and anarchy. Worfe than .this need not be ap- 

fiehended, for if worfe could happen, anaichy would bring it. 
8 ibis the peace gentlemen undertake with fuch fearlefs con< 



I5« WEBSTER'S 

fiflencf, to maintain ? Is ih:i tbc ftatioti of Araerica»-dFgTjH 
which the high fptrited chamjitoos of our national indfpend 
and hBnor could crdure-*na^» which they are anxious and % 
incll violent to fcize for the coyntry ? What \b there in < 
treaty that could humble ns fo low ? Are they the men 
fwallow their refentmtnts, who fo lately were cboaking ^vA 
them ? 'If in the cafe cor trtr plated by them, it (houid 
peace, I do not hefitate to declare it ought n6t to be pesccs, 

2 1 • I« there any thing in th« profpe£k of the interior f!a(e of 
the country, to encourage us to, aggravate the dangers of ^ 
nar ? Would not the Ihock of that evil produce another, anj 
Ihake down the feeble and then unbraced ftru6l'urc of our gof- 
ernment ? Is thie a chimera ? Is it going off the ground of 
matter of fa6^ to fay, the rejef^ion pf the appropriation pro. 
ceeda upon the dofirinc of a civil wir of the departments ! Tt?o 
branches have ratified a treaty, and we are going to fet it afidf| 
How is this difoider in the machine to be re^ifitd ? While i| 
exids its movements muft ftop, and when .we talk pf a reme* 
dy, is that any oiKer than the formidable one of a revolutiouary 
ihtciyofition of the people ? And is tbis, in the judgment evai 
pf my oppofcTS, td etc^cufe, to preferve the conftitutioo, and thf 
public order ?.Is this the ftate of hazard, if not of ctinvulfioH^ 
which they can have the courage to contemplate and tp btavc# 
or beyond which their peeetration can reach and fee the i(fue ) 
They 'feem to believe, and tbcy aft as if they believed that 
eur union, our peace^ our liberty are invulnerable and imaiorf, 
tjal — 18 if ^ui happy f<%te wzs not to be diil|irbed by pur diU 
' fention, and that we are not capable of falling from it by our 
unwortbinefs. Some of them have no dppbr better nervef 
aod better difccrnment than mipe. They can fee the bright 
afpcds and happy confequcitccs of all this -array of horrors. — 
They cart fee mtcftine difcords^ our government disorgam'su 
ed, our wrongs aggravated, multiplied and utiredrciTed, peace 
with difhouor, or war without juftice, uniop or refources iu 
<* the falpt lights of mild philosophy,*^ 

2?. Let me chcet the mind, wpary no doubt and ready to 
defpond on this profpc6:, by prcfcnting another yi^hich it is yet 
in our power to realise. Is tt poflible for a' real American to 
look at the profperity of this countiy without fomc dcfire for 
its continuance, wiihont feme refpe^ for the meafur^s which 
many will fay^ produced, and aH will confefs have prefervtjd it I 
will he not feel fome dread that a change of fyftem will rcvcrf<f 
he fcenci The wcH ^rpundcd fears of our citizen» in 179^ 



' ^ _ AMERICAN SELECTION. i57 

w^re removed by the treaty, but are not forgottcp, *Tbcn 

they deemed war neatly fnvmpiblc, and would hot ihis adjuft- 

mcnt have been conCdered at that day as a happy efcape from 

the" calamity f The great intered' and the general- de fire of our 

peopk was to' enjoy the advantage of neutrahtji vThU inftru- 

fnent, however mifrcprefented, affords America f|at inefUma- 

ble fecurity. The caufes of our diTputes are either cut up by 

the roots, or referred -to a new ncgociation, after the end of 

^ the European war. This was gaining c^ery thing, becavife 

it confirmed our neutrality, by which our citizens are gaining 

<very thing,. This alone would jullify the engagements of the 

government. For when the fiery vapors of the war lowered 

in the flcirts of the horizen, all our wifhcs were concentrated 

in this one, that we might efcape the defolation of the dorm* 

This treaty like a rainbow on the edge of the cloud, marked 

to our eyes the fpace where it was raging, and afforded at the 

fame time the fure prognoftic of fair weather. If wc rejed it 

the vived colours will grow pale, it will be a baleful meteor^ 

portending tempeft and war, . 

23. Let us not hefitate then ^o agree to the appropriatida 

to carry it into a faithful execution. Thus we ftall favc the 

faith of ou^ nation, fecure its peace, and diffufe the fpirit o£ 

confidence and epterprilc that will augment its profperity* 

The progrefs of wealth and improvenaent Js wonderful, and 

fbme will think^ too rapid. The field for exertion is fruitful 

and vaft, and if peace and good government fhould be preferv- 

cd, the acquifitions of our citizens are not Co pleafing as the 

proof of their induftry, as the inftruments of their future fuc» 

ccfs. The rewards of exertion go to augment its power.— 

Profit is every hour becoming capital. The vaft crop of our 

neutrality is all feed wheat, and is fown again to fwell, almoft 

beyond calculation, the future harveft of profperity. And in 

this progrefs wha^ feems to be fidtion 19 found to fall (hurt of 

(Experience, 

24. I rofe to fpeafc under impreiCons that 1 woul3 have rcj 
lifted if I could. Thofe who fee me will believe that the re- 
duced date of my health has unfitted roe, almoft equally, for 
much exertion of body or mind. Unprepared for debate by' 
^0!»J tefleftion in my retirement, or by long attention here, 
J thought the refolutiou I had taken to fit filcnt was imppfed 
by nccclfity and would coft me no effort to maintain. With » 
mind thus vacant of ideas and finking, at I really ami under 9 



ij8 * WEBSTER'S //^ 

fcnfcr/ wenknefs, I imagined ihc tery defire of fpcaking was 
cxlliiguinud by the pcrfuafion llut I had nothing lo fay. Yet 
whcQ I come to the momeni of deciding the YOte5 1 ^^rt back 
with dread (irom*the edge of the pitinto which we are plunging. 
In my view, even the minutes we have fpent id e^poftulatioa 
have their value, bccaufe ihcy protraA the crifis, and the ftort 
period in n^hich alone we may refol^e to efcape it, 

25. I have thus been led by my feelings to fpeak more at 
length than I had intended. Yet I have perhaps as little per^ 
fonal intereft in the event as any one here. There is, I believe, 
' no member who will not think his chance to be at witoers o( 
the confpqviences greater than mine. If however the vote 
ihouid pafs to rejei^, and a fpirit Oiould life, as it will, with 
the public diforders to make . confufion worfe confounded, even 
I, ilender almofl broken as my bold upon life is, may outlive 
the gowernment and ceqftilution of my couniry^ 

From Cicero's Oration a^atnfi Verres, 
I, nr*HE time is come. Fathers, when that which has long 
JL been wi{hcd for towaw'ds allaying the envy your order, 
has been fubjed to, and removing the impmations againft tr/, 
als, is (not by human conirivance but fuperior direftion) effec- 
tually put in oqr power. 

2. An opinion baa long prevailed, not only here at hoire, 
by likcwife in foreign countries, both dangerous to you, apd 
pernfcipus, to the ftatc, vi?. that in profccutions men of wealth 
»re always fafe hovyever clearly convidled, 

3. There 18 now to be brought upon his trial before you, to 
the conlaiion I hope of the propagators of this {landeroiis impui 
lation* one whofe life and adiona cojidcmn him in the opinien 
of all impartial perfons, but who according to his own reck- 
ooing and .^<:lared dependence of bis richep, is already ac^ 
tiuittcd'*-Irne.an CaiusVerres. 

4. If that fentence is pafTed.upon him which his crimes de- 
fcrvc, your autho! iiy, fanners, will be venerable and facred in 
the eyes of the puhlic* But if his great riches fhould bias you 

^k his favor I fhall ilill gain one point, viz. to make^it appar. 
«nt to all llie world, that w^hat was wanting in this cafe was 
not a criminal nor a pvofccutor, but juftice and adequate pun- 
ifliment. 

5 . To pafs over the* (hameful irregularities of his youth, what 
docs his qujeftorlhip, the firft pubk'c employ roeBt be held, whal 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 159 

docd It exhibit,, but one continued fccnc of viHaniCB ? Cneus 
Carbo plundered ot the public money by hla own trtafarer, a 
L conftfl (Irippedahd beuayedj a;i army delerted and reduced tok 
want^ a province robbedj thrf civil and religious rights of a peo- 
ple violated. 

6. The employment he held in Afia Minor and Pam.phylia, 
what did It produce, but the ruin of thofc countries, in vrhich 
houfes, citic3 and tcmplea were robbed by him/ Wh*t was his 
qondu(5l in his proetorlhip here at home ? Let the plundered tern* • 
ple'd, and the pubhc works, neglcded, that he might embezzle 
the money fniended for carry iy^ thrm on, bear witnefs. But 
his. prasiorihip in Sicily crowns all his work$ of wickedneffl, and 
furqilhcs a laliing monument to his infamy. . 

7. The mifchieft done by him in that .country, during the. 
three years of his iniquitous adminltlraiion, are fuch, that many 
years, under the wifell and bell of praetors, will not be fuf&cicnt 
to rcftorc things to the condidotji ia which ht found them. 

8. For it is notorious,' that during the time of his tyraaay* 
the Sicilians neither enjoyed the protection of their original 

' laws, of the regulations made for their benefit by the Roinaii 
feaate upon their coming under the proteftion of the commoa- 
■wcalth, nor of the natural or unalienable rights of men, 

9. His nod ha» decided all caufes in Sicilly thefc three years ; 
and his decifiong. have broken all law, all precedent, all right. 
The funw he has by arbitrary taxes and unheard of impofitioiw 
extorted from the fnduftrious poor^ arc riot to be computed* 

The moft faithful allies of the commonwealth have been treated 

as enemies* • 

i^ I©. Roman citizens have, like flavss, been put to death 

f with tortures. The moft atrocious criminals, for money, have 
, b«cn exempted frorp defcrved punishments ; and men of the 
f moit unexceptionable characters condemned and banifhed un- 
heard, "^ ' . 

I !♦ The harbprs, though fuiSciemly fortified, and the gates 

of ftrong towns, opened to pirates and ravagcrs ; the foldieiy 

and failors belonging to a province under the protection of the , 

\ commonwealth, itarved to dtath ; whole fleets, to the great 

detriment of the province, fuffercdto perifli ; the ancient tnon- 

► uments of either Sicilian or Roman' greatnelV, the ttatues of 

heroes and princes, carried off; and thejteroples llripped of theic 

images. 

J2t The infamy of his lewdnsfs has beeaTuch 0^ decency 



i6o WEBSTER'S 

forbids me to dcfcribc ; nor will I, by mentioning part icrularSi 
put thcfc uiifortiinaic pttfons to frcfh pain, who have not been 
nblc to hfc their wives and daughter? from impurity. 

13* AifJ theff his atrocious crimes have been committed iti 
fo piibh'c a manner^ that there 19 no one who has heard of his 
l^aisei but coaUl reckon op his aftions. Having, by iiis iniquf- 
lou* feotences, fi led the prifon^a wiih the moft induftrious and 
dtltfrvmg of the people, he then proceeded to order numbcM 
of Roman citizens to be (Irangled m the goals ; To that the c&- 
damation, ** I am a citizen of Rome," which has often, in the 
mod diftant regions, and among the mod barbarous people, been 
a protedtion, was of no fervice to thein, but on the conirary, 
brought a fpeedter and more fevere punilhment upon them. 

14. I a(k no\7, Verres, what you have to advance againft 
this charge ? Will you pretend to deny it ? Will you pretend 
that any thing falfe, that even any thing aggravated is aUedg- 
ed againd yoa ? Had any prince,. or any (late committed the 
fame outrage again (I the privilege pf Roman citizens, (hould 
ve not think we had sufficient ground for declaring immediate 
war again ft them. 

15 • What punilhment then ought to be infli£lcd upon a ty- 
rannical and wicked praetor, who dared, at no greater, diftaRce 
than Sicilly, within fight of the Italian coad, to put to the lu- 
Jamous death of crucifixion, that unfortunate and innocent citi- 
zen, Publious Qavious Coianus, only for his having alTcrted his 
privilege of his citizenibip, and declared his intention of appeal- 
ing to the jullicc of his country againft a cruel oppreflor, who 
had unjuftly confined him in prifon, at Syracufe, from-w^cnce 
he had juft made his efcape. 

1 6* The unh:»ppy man, arretted as he was going to embark 
for his native country, is brouglit before the wicked praetor. 
With eyes/3artfng fury, and a countenance diftorted with cru- 
elty, he orders the belplefs vi£lim of his rage to be dripped, 
and rods to be brought ; accufing him, but without the lead 
Ihadow of evidence, or even ot fuipicion, of having come to Si« 
cily as a fpy 

17. It was in vain the unhappy man cried out — ** I am a 
Roman Citizen — I have fervcd binder Lticius Pretius, who; 
« now at Panorraus, and will atteft my innocence," The.' 
blood ihirfty praetor, deaf to all he could urge in his own de- 
fence, ordered the infamous puoifhment to be infllfted. Thus 
•"^ther^ was an innocent Roman citizen publicly mangled with 



-n3 



AMERICAN SELECTION. i6i 



fcourgmg ; whilft the oaly words be uttered amidH his Cruel 
fufFeriiigs, w(?re, *' I am a i<onaan cirtxen !" 

l8. With thefe be hoped lo defend himfe^f from violence 
and infamy : bat of fo little fervicc waa this privilege to hinn> 
that while he was thus affertiug his citize»l(liip, the order was' 
given far his cxecnlion-rfor his executign upon the crofs ] 

I9* O liberty !—0 found, once delightful to every-^omaa 
car ! — O facred privilege of Roman citizenlhip I once facred, 
now trampled upon ! But what then ? Is it con»e to thia ? 

20. Shall an inferior mggiftnite, a governor who holds hfa 
own power of the Roman people, in a Roman province, \yilhin 
light of Italy, bind, fcourge, torture with lire and red hoi plates 
of iron, and at lall; put to the iafamoilis deata Of the crofs a Ro- 
man citizen ? 

21. Shall neither the cries of innocence, expiring in agony, 
nor the tears of pitying fpeftators, nor the majelty of the Ro«- 
inan commonwealth, nor the fear of the juftiec of his country, 
reltrain the licentious and wanton cruelty of a raonftcr, who In 
confidence of his riches^ iii'ikes at the root of liberty, and feta 
mankind at defiance? 

22. I conclude with eXprcffing my hopes, that your wifdom 
and jultice, fathers, will not, by fuffering the atrocious end Un- - 
cxampled infolence of Caius Verres to-cfcape the due punHh- 
ment, leave room to apprehend the danger of a total fubvcr- 
fion of authority, and introdu£lion of general anarchy and con« 
fufiotu 

Speech (j/'Canules, a Roman tribute^ iothe'ConfuJs ; in whicb 

he demands that the Plebeians may be admitted into the ConfuU 

jhip i and that the Law prohibiting Patrkians and Plebeians 

from infermacryingj may be repealeJ% 

I. /J^M THAT an infult upon us is this ! If we are not for icF» 

VV as the Patricians, are we not citizens of Rome as well 

&8 they ? inhabitants of the fame country ?. members of the 

fame community I The nations bordering upon Rome and eveti 

ftrangcrs more remote, are admitted not only to marriages with 

us, but iQ what 13 of much greater importance, the freedom gf 

the city. ^ 

2, Are wc becaufe we are commoners, to be worfe treated 
than ftrangers ? and when we demand that the people may be 
free to b^ftow their offices and dignitift on whom they pleafe^ 
do we afk any tbing unreafonahle or new ? Do we claim more 



. i6z WEBSTER'S 

than their original inherent right ? What occafion then for all 
this uproar, as if the univerf^ was falling to ruin ? T]hcy 
were juH going to kiy violent haiida upon one in the fenatc houfc. 

3. What ! mud this empire then, be unavoidably overturn* 
cd? Mud Rome of neceifity finkatonct-, if a Plebeian, worthy 
of that office, Hiould be raifed to the coniulUn'p ? The l:*alrL 
ciarT3, I am perfuaded, if they could, would xleprlvc you of the 
common light, 

4- It certainly offends them that yon breathe, that you fpeak, 

that you havg the ihapea of men* Nay, but to m^ke a cojn- 

. miner ^ conful, would be, fay they, a moll enormous thing. 

Njima Pompllius, however, without being fo mucli as a RoAian 

citizen was mide king of Rome, 

5. The i'lder Tarquin, by birth not even Italian, was never- 
ihelefs placed upon ihe tnione. Servius TulJlus, the fon of a 
captive woman, (nobody knows yvho his father was) obtaineii' 
the kingdom 0,1 the reward of his wi/dom and virtue- 

6. In thofcdays, no man, in whom virtue (hone conrpicuou?, 
waj rejected or defpikd on account of his race and defcent. 
And did' the Hate profper the lefs fot that ? Were not ihcfe 
ftrangers the very bed of our kiugs ? And fup^ofmg now, that 
a Plebeian (hould have their talents an(^ nxerit, mult not he be 
fuffered to govern us ? . 

7. Bui *< vre hind, that upon the -abolition of the regal pow- 
er, no" commoner was chofen to the confolate." And what of 
that? Hefove Nnma'sjime, there wtre no pontiff* in Rome. 
Before Servius Tullus' day^-ihere was jioccjifus, no divifton of 
tBs people into claP/es and centuries. Who ever heard of con- 
fills before tj»e expuliion of Tarquin the proud ? Dilators, we 
all knot\', are of modern invention "; and foare the ofiiqts of iri- 
buniT, jsdilcs, quKjore, ■ , * 

8. within thtf^e ten years we have made decemvirs, and we 
have unmade ^them. Is nothing to be done but 'what has been 
done before? That very ]aw, forbidding marnages of Pat? f- 
c'iaus and Plcbsiuns, is not th^it a new thing? Was there any* 
fuch law before the decemvirs cniicled it ? And a moft^amefui 
cnc it is in a free llaie. 

, 9. Such marriages, It feems, will Jaint the pure blood of the 
nobility ! . \Yhy, if they think so, let Litrn take care to maich 
tbt^r fifters and daugliXers vviih men of their own sort. Na 
•l*lebeian will do violenLt to the daughter of a PatriciE.n. Thofe 
ai« cxploitii for our priire nq,b!es, 

10. Thcr^.Id riQ need to fcur th;.t wc fuull force anybody 



. - ^ ArrIERICi\N SELECTION, ' 163 

Into a contrail of marriage. But to make ap exprefs law to 
prohibit marriage of . Pain'cians with Plebeians, what is this 
but to (how the ucmoil contempt of us, and to ueelaie one 
part of the fcommunity to be impme and uncleaa ^ 

I 2, They talk to us of the cdnfuOon there will be in fanal* 
lir» if this ftacute flvjuid be repealed. 1 wonder they don't 
^ake a law againil a eomiT>nner*s living near a nobleman, or 
going the fame road that he ia'goiug, t>r bc'nrr prcfent at the 
iame feall, or appearin*r at. the- lame market place, y, 
" 12. Tlley might ai wcW pretend that thefe things make 
eonfulion in families^ at tliHt intermarriages will do h*. Doed 
pot everyone know ihit ihetr children wiil be rarTked ac- ' 
cording to the qnaliiy of the father, let him be a PaCriciaa ' 
''orsa, Plebeian ^ Iii-Jhorc it is maaif^A enough that we have noth- 
1n^5 h\ view 'but to be treated a's men and citizens ; nor caa 
they who oppofe our demand, have any motive to dojt, but 
tiie love of 'domineering. , * .^ 

13. I*vvoj!d fain k low of you, Co'tfi.ls and Patrician?, 19 
"the lovereiga povvtr \rt iht: people of rlomc, or in you ? I 
hope yo;> -vw.il allow, that the people can at tLw:ir plcaiure, ei- 
ther md^t a lav^' or repeal one. 
l- 14. And will you, then, as fobn as any laiv is propofed to 
,^'them, preleu-il^ii^em i.nuicdia'.ely Uv the v/ar, and hinder 
( them from givn^^^w lulh-Jges by leadkig them into the field ? 
15, Here me Confuls. Whether the nA^wsofthe war yoii 
: talk of be true, or whether it only be afaife rumor fpre^d abroad 
: for nothing'but a coloar to fend the pc'ople out of the city, E 
i; declare as tribune, that fliis people who have already fo oftea 
. fpilt their blood in our country's caufe, are again ready to arm 
* for it3 defence and its glory, if they may be redored to their 

natural rights, and you will no longer treat ui hkc grangers ia ' 
K. our ov/n country, 

;• 16. But If you account us unworthy of your alliance by in- - 
:' termarruge9, if you will not fuffer the entrance to the chief of- 
f^fices in the ihte to h« open to all pcrfons of merit indifferently, 
[but will confine your choice of magidrates to the fcnar« alone ; 
[ talk of wars as much as ever you plcafe ; paint, in your ordina- 
i vy dilcouri'es, the league and power of cnr enemies, ten times 
^ more dreadful than yon do now, T declare, that this peopjc 
i whom you fo much defpifc, t® whom you are nevenhelefs in- 
debted for all your vtdtorisi?, fnall never more enlirl themfclve^; 
: ngt a man of them (hall take arms ! not a man of them fudt 



t54 - WEBSTER'S "' 

TExpofc lu8 life for impel iou9 lords, with whom he can mk 
(hare the dignities of the ftate^ nor in private life hive alluui 
by marriage* 

SfEECH of PUBLtUS SCIPIO tO the RoMAH ArMY, ^^flf* li 

battle oj the Ticin. 
I. "^J 1^ TERE you, foJdiera the fame army which I had witii 
VV me in Gaill, I might well forbear faying any thing H 
you at iliistima: tor what occafion couid th«rre be to oieei; 
©rtation to cavalry that had fo fignally vanquifhed ihclquad* 
rops vif the enemy opon the Rhone ; or to legions, by vhoo 
the fame enemy, flying before them toaVoid a battle, did in e& 
fed courts themlclvt? conquered ? 

2, 13ai, as lleie troopB having, been enrolled for Spain Jrtj 
iherc with my brother Cneius, making war tiodej my aufp'cd 
(as wa< ilie will of the Senate and people of Rome) I,thatjol 
ini'^hc have a Conful for your Captain againft Hannibal aoa 
the Ca^rlhaginiana, have freely offered mylelf for this war. YoE 
then have a new Genera: : an*! I a liew army. On lhi8 accouif{» 
a few words from roe to you will be nii^ithcr improper nor unrea* 
fonable. • 

3. 1 hat you may net be unapprifed of what fort of eneiwd 
you are going to encounter, or of what is to be feared iroa 
them ; they are the v^ry fame, whom in1f*former war, yonvtJ^ 
qoilhed both by land and,fea ; the fame from whom you took 
Sicilly and Sardinia, and who have been tbefc twenty yeafl 
your tributaries* 

'4. You will not, I prefume, mardi againft thefe mcnwitt 
only that courage with which you are wont to face other enf* 
xnks ; but with a certain ani^er and indignation, Aich as^oa 
would feel if you faw your Qdves on a fudden rife up ag-' inft yo"' 

5. Conquered and enflaved, it is not boldnefs, bat occcBj 
that iirgcs them to batile ; unlcfs you can beheve that thoK 
who avoid fighting when their array was entire, have acqu"W 
better hope by the lofs of two thirds of their horfe and fool by 
pafling the Alps. 

6. But you have heard perhaps, that though they arc fe»"*j 
autpbers they are men of ftout hearts, and robuft bodies ; nf»j 
roes of fuch ftrength and vigor, as nothing is ajo^e to refi»'"^ 
Mere effigies I nay, fhadoVs of men t wretches ewac/atca 
with hunger, and benumbed with cold ; bruized and battf^* 
ed to piccca among the rock$ and craggy cliffs 1 ihtic v^eapoo) 



AMERICAN SELECTION. iCjf 

roken, and their horfes weak and foundered! Such are the 
avalry, and fuch *the infantry, with which you are going 10 
ontcuci ; not enemicbbui the hagments of eiicnsiei. ^ 
.^. There is iioihmg which I mote appiehcad, than that it 
nil be thought Hannibal was vanquKhcd by the Alps before * 
sTe had any conflid with him* i>at, perliaps, it A'as filling it 
^ould be Co { and thar, with a p^'cipie and a leader who had ?i« 
4ated leagues and covenants, the god*, tliemfelves, without man's 
elp, (hauid b^gia the war, and bring it to a near conclufiun ; 
nd that wc, vihOf next to the gods, have been Injured a(^d of« 
ended, (hould happilv finifh what they have begun. 

8. I need not be in any fear that you (hould fufped me of 
aying thefe things merely to encourage y0U| while inwardly I 
uve diStrent fentimeuts. What hindred me from going to 
>pain ? That waa my province, where I (hould have had the 
effi dreadful A^drubal, not Hannibal to deal with. 

9. But hearing, as I paffed along the coalt of Gaul, of thit 
l^emy'a march, I landed my troops, fenc the hor{e for\7ardy 
Uid pitched my camp upon the Rhone. A part of my cavalry 
tncountered, and defeated that of the enenty. My infantry^ 
lot being able to overtake theirs which flc^ before ua, I tctorn- 
fdto my fleet ; and, with all the expedition I could ufe in fo 
long a voyage by fea and laud, am come to meet them at the 
foot of the Alpg. 

10. ^as It, then, my Inclination to avoiji a conleft with-tlns 
lremeiiduou3 Hannibal ? and have I met with him only by ac^ 
cident and unawares ? or am I come on purpofe to challenge inm 
to the combat I 

. II. I would gladly tr)^^ whether the earth, within- thefe 
twenty years, lias brought .forth a new kind of Carihagenians ; 
pr whether they be the fame fort of men who fought at the 
JEgales, and^'kora at Eryx, you lutFeredto redeem them f elves 
.at eighteen denarii a head : whether thia Hannibal, for labors 
and journi^S be as he would be thought, the rival of Hercules ; 
or whether he be, what his father kft him, a tributary, a vaflalf 
a flave of the Roman people. 

12, Did not the confcioufnefs of his wicked deed at Sagurv 
turn torment hip and jpiake him defperate, he would have fomc 
^regard, if not to his conquered country, yet furely to his own* 
family, to his father's memory, to tiie treaty written with Amil* 
car's own hand. We might have llarved him in Eryx ; we 
might have paffed into Africa with our victorious fleet ; and itt 
• kw dAj's have dedroyed ;Carthagc, At their h^-nabk fu^pli- 



1 6(5 WEBSTER'S 






i 



cation, we ^ar^oned ibcm, n^^c rdea fed them y when they 
clc/ftly fhut up without a poiribiliiy ofefcaping |^wc make 
with i\itn\ when ihcy were conquered. , 

15, Whca ihcy were diftrcfled by the African war, wee 
iidcred tlicin, vvc treated them,, as a people^ under our ptoi 
lif ri : Ar.d what is the return they made us for allthtfe favi 
Uadtr iliccondtidof a hair-braiiicd yourig man, ihcy come h 
cr to o\crturn our flat^*, and lay walle to our country* 

14. I coiiii widi, indeed, that it were not (b ; and that 
war we arc,no;v engaged in concerned only our ownglory,i 
Dot our prefervailoD. But the contell af prcfent is not ton 
poffeflion ot^iciliy ar^ Sardinia, but of Italy itfelf J nor is 
behind U8 another army, which, if we fliould not prove 
qucrors, may make head againft our vidorious ctiemies. I 
IS* There are no more Alps for them to pafs, which mlpl 
give U8» leifure to raife new forces : No, foldiers ; here yoi 
ma (I take your (land*, as if you were juft now before the wiB 
of Ronne. Let every one reflect,' that he ia now to defend na 
his own perfoQ only, but his wilci hia childreo, his belpkfi iii' 
fduts. 

1 6. Yet let not private con fi derations alone poffcfs pur vmi^ 
let us rcmcnaber that the eyes of th^ Senate and people of Roiw 
are upon us ; and 'that, as our force and courage (hall 00^ 
prove, fuch will be the fortune of that city and of the Ro»*' 
empire. 

Caius Mahixjs to the Romans ; Jbe<wing the ahfurdlty of thA 

hefitating to confi'r on him the rani of Genera/^ merely on 9t 

count of hit extraQion, 
i» 1|T ia but too commgn, my countrymen, to obfcrvcai8> 

A terial difference'between the behavior of itiofe who feO' 
candidates for places of power and truft, befo?e and after ihci 
obtaining them. 

2. They folicit them in one manner, and execute themi 
another. Thty fet out wfth a great appearance of adivi^) 
humility, and moderacipn ; and they quickly fall into flotfe 
pride and avarice. ' 

i 3, It is, undoubtedly, no eafy matter to difchargc, to th 
jE^encral fatisfatUon, the duly of a fupremc commander in trot 
blefome times. 

4. To carry on, with c£Fc6^, an eTcpenfive*war, and yet b 
frugal o£ the public money ; to oblige thofe to ferve, whof 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 167 

t may be delicate to ofFcnd ; to conduft at the fame time'a 
}om plicated variety of operations ; to concert rocafures at 
lomCf gnfwerable to the date of things abroad ; and to gain 
:very valuable end, in fpite of oppofition ffom the envious, the 
adieus, and the difaffcfled. To do all this, my couotrymeu^ 
5' fnore difficult than is generally thought. 

5, But befidcs the di fad vantages which arc corennon to mc 
iriih all others in eminent flations, may caie is, in this refpedl, 
icculiarly hard ; that whereas a commander of Patricia? 
isuak, if he is guilty of a negle6l or breach of duty, has bis 
|Teat connexions, the antiquity of his family, the important 
xrvices of his anceftors, and the multitudes he has,, by power, 
^Ogaged I'n^is fntereft, tq screen him from condign punifhment 
jy-my whole f^^ety depends upon myfelf, which renders' it tbd 
bore indifpcnfibly ncceflary for me to take care that my con- 
Juft be clear and unexceptionable* 

6. Betides I am well 5\ware, my countrymen, that the eye of 
tlie public is upon me ; and that, tho the. impartial, who pre* 
fer the real advantage of the commonwealth to all other con* 
idcratioas, favor my pretcnCons, the Patricians want nothing 
!b much' as an occaiion again ft me, 

^- It is therefore my filled refolution to ufe my beft endeav-. 
ns9 thpt you be not difappointed in me, and that their indirect 
hfigns againft mc may be defeated. 

8. I have from my youth been famtKar with toils and with 
Jaagera, I was faithful to yourintercft, my countrymen, when 

I feryed you for no reward but that of honor. It is not my ' 
3erign to betray you, now that you have confcYred upon me 

II place of profit* 

9. You have committed to my condu.61 the war againfl Jugur-, 
|lha. The Pacricians arc offended at this/ But where would be 
the wifdom ol giving fuch a command to one of their honor. - 
jble body-? a perfon of illuftrious birth, of ancient family, of 
Innumerable ftatutes but-^of no experience. • 

■, I o. What fervice would his long line of dead anceftors, or 
[lis multitude of motipnlcfs ftatues, do his country in the day 
of battle ? Wliat could fuch a general do, but in hisjtrepidatioii 
8mi inexperience, have recomfe to fome inferior commander for 
^'rediou in- difSculiies to/which he was not hJmfclf equal ^ 
Thus, your Patrician general would in fa<^ have a general over 
tim ; fo that the afting commander would, ftiirbe a Plebei?n. 
II. So true is this, my countrymen, that I have myfelf 
tnowB thofe who have been chofcn Confuls^ begin then to rea^' 



168 • WEBSTER'S 

the hiftory of ihcir own country, of which Uil that times i1ict| 
were totally ignorant ; thai is, they fii it obtained the cmfVAt 
ment, and then J)elhon^^ht thcmftiveB of the qualilicaiionscfr 
CcfTary for the proper d'fcharge of I'r, 

12. 1 fuhmit to your judgment, Romans, on which fideik 
advantage lies, when a coirpauTon is made between Patiicin 
haughiinefs and Plebeian experience. The very aftions whici 
they have only read, I have paiily feen, and part'y myfelf d 
chieved. What they know by reading, 1 know by a(9iofl.H 
They arc pleafed to flight my mean birth ; I defpife their mfffl 
thara^ers. Want of birth and fortune is the objcftion agaiLl 
pie ; want of perfonal worth againft them, 

13. But arc not all men of the fame fpe'cJes ? Wliatcai 
Bnake a differcrce between one man and anotb#r, but the (» 
dowmentfi of the mind ? For my part, 1 fhall always look n^ 
on the bravtll man as the nobleft man, Suppofc it v/ercth 
quired of the faty;.erg of fuch Patricians as Alh»nii6and BtftiJj 
whether, if they had their choice, they woald de/ire fofls fl 
their character or of mine ? What would they anfwer, bet tfl^f 
they (hould wifh the worthieft to he their fona ? If the Pat"' 
cians have rcafon to defpife me, let them like wife defpife th«f 
anceftore, whofe ncybility was the fruit of their virtue, f^ 
they envy the honors btfftowcd on me ? Let thVm envy ''»* 

. wife my labors, my abftinence, ai)d the dangers I have under* 
gone for my country, by which 1 have acquired them. 

14. But thofe worthlefs men lead fuch a life vf ina6ii««yt 
as if they defplfed any honors, you can deftow | whilft tM 
afpire to honors as if they had deferved them by the tnol 
jnduftrious virtue. They lay claim to the rewards of afli^'^!i 
for their having enjoyed the pleafurcs ^f luxuiy, yet nonecaj 
be more lavifh than they are in praife of their anceftors, Ad4 
they imagine they honor thcmfelvcs by celebrating their fo^" 
fathers ; whereas they do the very contrary : for, a* "^^'^ 
as their anceftors'wcrfi diftinguifhcd for their virtues, fo ^^^ 
arc they difgracedby their vices. 

15. The glory of anceftors cafts a light i»decd, upon ^^^^ 
|X)Ilcrity ; but it only ferve« to fhow what the defcpp<J2n« 
are. It alike exhibits to public view their degenerary^^^ 
their worth, I ow!i I cannot boaft' of the deeds of my i^^'' 
fathers 2 but 1 hope I may anfwer the pavilp of the Paitriciao* 
by (landing up in defence of wh?»t I have myfelf done. 

16. ObfeiTve now my countrymen, the injufticc of tW 
Pairiciang. They arrogate to thcmfelvcs honois «a accountw 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 169 

^Aieciploitt done by their forefathet$» whilft tfacy w31 not allow 
me the due praife for performtog the very fame fort of a&ioat 
ha my own perTon. He has no Satuety they cry, of his family. 
He can tfdce no veneraUe line of anceftors. What then? It 
It matter of more praife to difgrace one's illuftrious anceftoc«t 
tlian to become illuftrioas by one's own good behavior. 

I7« What If I can (how no ftatocs of my family ? I cat 
ihow the (landardsj the armor, and thetrappmgt^ which I have 
tbyrelf taken from the vanqnKhed : I can fhow the fears of thole 
wounds which I have ;cceived» by facing the enemies of mir 
eoantry. Thefe are my ftatuet, Thefe are the honors I boaft 
of* Not left m^ by inheritance, as theirs ; but earned br tofly 
by abftinence, by valor ; amidft cloads of dnfti and Uas of 
1>food ; fcenes of aifUon, where thofe effeounate PatricianSi who 
endeavorei by indiredt means to depreciate «u in your cftcCBf 
^avt never dared to (how tbcir facefn 



DIALOGUES. 

IScwe hetwetn Qen« Satagb mi Mifs WAtstMdSAM ; Ai 

nvbich the courtjhip it emniii ^ injuch an awthhuous mtmrnt 

jiai the General m^dket Ur iofpM 19 marr^ Ik fin ^ Cajpt« 

Satage, for gon/iiU /a md^rjr himfiif. 

JUift IVal. f^ ENERAL Sat^, your ikwft komble fervant. 

\jr Gen. Sav^e. My dear Mttt Walfinghanii 

it is rather cruel that you (houU be !eft at home by yourielf^ 

and yec I am greatly rejoiced t9 find you nt ^cdenl without 

company* , 

tilftWal. Ican^ but think myfelf tnthe beft e^mpaaf^' 
. wbeil I have the honor of your converfation^ Cencral. 

Gen. You flatter me, too muck madam \ yet t am come to 
talk to you on a ferious affiur | an. affair of importance to me 
and yourfclf. Have you leifure to favor me with a fhort an* 
£eBce if I bett a parley ? 

iHj/i Wai. Any thing of importance to you> Sir, is atwaii 
(uffiacnt to command my leifort . 

Tit as the Captain ivi(^t6LtA^Ti^iek 
^sm. You ti;cmble my lovely girl, but don^ttit i^rlM I »» 
thoagh xnj bufincfs is of aftJiiiporUiit imtf^ 1 him HMu^ 
. be of n difagt<ceable one^ 

I* 



i:6 WEBSTER'S 

Mi/f Wat. And yet T am grtfatly agfitafcd— f^^^JSr- 
Getu SoMitrfi, MiTs \VaIfirigham, sfrc fa id to be grtierarffj 
favGred by the kind protedtion of the ladfes, 

* My] fVal. The ladles arc not without grati^ucftf, Sir, e 
thofe who devote ihcir Hves p^uliarly to the fervicc of their 
country. 

Cen. Gfneroi)fly faid, Madarft, TKcii give me leave wftht 
out any mafked battery, to alk, if the heart of an honttt foldicf 
18 » prj;.c v^olth your acceptance ? 

Mtp WaL Itpdn liiy wpfd, Sfr, rhefe i«.nQ m'afked battery 
'Jp ihffi ^ucfi'iop, 

(?;7». I ait) as foiid^ ofa cdup*d^Ri^in, itfadam, id loveasiji 
w*r, and li^tc the fedi'ous picthbd of ft))ping yfoW'ii^ 'when iVvcr^ 
js a ^ofTilJirily of f hftrf iVg it fwofd in hand. 

Hitfs Wdl 1?f'hy TeaTly, SJr,.^ ^<'Mna|i may as well thow 
her own mind when fhe 'ri fifft fdftiifioYJcd by the tfuthfSet ofa 
lover, aft when Hie i wdeiy^ c CTaU tlic tmibpoe formality oft 
ficge. You fee ;I kty^cajjglilyoiir'pwii mode of converfing^ 
General. 

Gtn. And a very grea! cOmplTm'cnt J conCder it, Jfizdsm. 
But n6tc tfi^yeiii'nayecendjd!y cbriftffcd lifraeqiiaintancewith 
^irV ot^ff mfriff, ^nf^'frtti^ vt'Jtnthat ffatifcn^ft for w-hich every 
hiidj arfrtireB ^tr ft> ftnniieh, Jiaveybu any ptjeftidils ttf change 
the name pf W4lfingh»iri ? 

M^^ ^^l* VVt^ ^^^ fi'»til<1y', Gfiier*J, f (?iy.nd. 

p-eH. Trh tliPuia-prd thanks t6y6ii for this kfnd declaratioa, 

Wfs IVaJ, 1 hope yo^ i^m' tjiink it ar forward ope. 
• €ftf, "I'd fooner' fee m'y f^rt rtm aw>y in th6 diy of batf?£*^ 
IM fqpncr think Lcfd RufTel w^s bribed by JLewiS XlVth j 
^d foc^TTcf Vflifj* fire ftrc^nory of Algernon $rdftey. 

Mi/j iVal. Vto^ erijuft ft f^i ever l<i ftippofe the Ctncrali^ 
'lVf3nn?t<>"?-fafth^T J- r^^i/jf, ' 

'* • Chtn, Tt\\ fe&\^:'to!d ttie ct&ndefretidSrglf, MiTs WilfingfonJ, 
*t^at yh^i \^ iw oi'jeftfoQjf to ehan^e yojfr nape M have bnj 
one oueftiqn mere to afk. 
*'v Mifi Wah Tr^ propoftit, Sxr; - 

Cett, Would the name cf 'S^i^gt, ^ir^dlfaj;teeable tb jcsuj 
Ij^eak frankly ;}gain, thyjSeiafgrrK .'',•• 

* ^^ * Whyi tlrcrt Rgaihr I fifaiikly fay, 00." " 

1^ *• • Girtt, Yow *retp!o-'good fo D(ie*»*-Torringtoii thdught I (houU 

-ect Willi a vcpulfe. — [<?/?</? ^ , ' f Captain, Si/? 

Ji^ifs WaL Have you conii^unicatcd this bufincfs to the 

ii(tt. No, my dear madam, I did not think that at all »f» 



AMERICAN SELECTION- ' ;i7| 

fcfeffarr. t prbpofe thit he fhall be njarrfed ia a fe\y day*. 
Mf/j. IVaL What whether I will pr not ? 
^Gen, O, you can have no obje^ion \ 

Mifs IV aL t muft be confulicd, however, about the dajr> 
Jpeneral ; but nothing io my power (hall be waiu«d to make 
jbim happy* 

Gen^ Oblxgfog lovelincrs \ 

Mifs WaU You may imagine, that if I had not beca pftf* 
Viouily: impreH in favor of^our propofali it would npt have 
tnet my concurrence fo readily. • 

f^en^ Then you own I had a previous friend in thf {;jirriron« 
Mlfs JVm^* I don't bludi to ackiiowledg? it. Sir, when I 
.^oalidcr the a^ccompUflinjents of the objcft. 

Gcn^ O, this ia too rauch> Mad»na J the pilncipftl laerii o^ 
^^ oble£t ia hid paQioa for MilisWalii ogham. 

iAifs WaL Don't fay thajr, Qen«:^al, I J>cg of ypu \ fpr J[ 
: doD't . think there are many women in Uie kingdom who 
,.^o\^l4 behold hipi with iftdiSkrenpe. 

Gcum Ah, you pattering angel ! apd yet, by ^hc pacnapry 
pi Marlborough^ my lovely giS, it wjm the idea of ^ prcppC* 
• £eiBoi^ pn your pare, whlc.h encoi^raged m^ to hope for a fa« 
j'-vorable ^ecepjtion* 

^^ M'ifs WaU Then I mnft have been very indljfcrecJt, for I 
,. labored to conceal tliat prepo0jeiBon as much as pplibb. 

, ^ G<«* You tcould not conceal it frpm me j ihc /cmalc hcajt 
. i»^ field I am thoroughly acquainted with. 

Af^s WaU 1 doubt* not your knowledge of the fepiale 
, he^rt, General f but at we now uudcrftaud one jan(>iher fo 
jpetr£c.£)tly, you- will give me leave to retire. 

Gen* One word my dear creature, find no more ;. J. |hall w^^it 
' on you fomettme to-day about the neceflary fettlement* 
V Mifs Wal^ y^QW .ln^ft do avyou fi.caCe, Generat^j' yoM are 
invincible ici -every thing. . . • ", . * 

(r^/i. And if you ple^fe we ,wiir.keep eyefy tWn^ ,a pro* 
\ found fecret, ;^ill the articles. arc all fettled, and i^K dcfiq^- 
tive treaty ready for execution, 

, . MifslVal. You may ,be fure-th^t ddicAcy wilUnpt fuffcr 
,., .Rie tohe cpa?m«miqative o;i ;bc fubjed, Sir. 

Oen. Then you leave every thing to my m^nagemcnf, . 
Mifs WaL I can't tri^ft a mbfe noble negoclaiqr; \j^oes ot4t» 
i G/«. The day is my O^a, (S'lr^sJ Biilona, ftnke..hopc ; 



I7« WEBSTER'S 

ScmeteitviM GennillSATAGE> Captain Savage, Mlfft Wkt« 

siNGHAMtfM/ToiLRiMCTOify ala^cr^ iniviich the Geneti 

dtfcovers hit m/laie* 

€a^* Sav, TVT AY, but my dearcft Mif» Walfingham, ihf 

X^ eKtenuatioo of my condud to Bclvflfc 

^i&dc u abfolotdy neceflary f»r me to.diTcovtr my c^ngage- 

tticiits >%^[ih you : and as hzjifptnth is now fa fbrtuo&trly wtthia 

our read), 1 flatter myftif you will be prevailed upon to for* 

give an error whkb i>roi:eeded only from tbe ittftkSAQ^nct of 
>ve. ^ ' • 

Mi/t IVal. To tbink. me ciDabk of fticb an ifiion, Cvptaia. 
'Savaarc 2 I am terrified wkh uie idea of a union with you ;. add 
It is better for a woman it any time, to facrifice an iofoleirt 
loTCT, than to accept of a fufpiciout buftand. 
« Ci^. In the bappieft union, my deareft creaturfi tbene 
iDuft alway be fomcthing to ofcrlook on both fidea* 

Mi/s WcL Very civily, tni!y« 

Cafu Pardon me, my life, for thit fraoknefi ; and recoL^ 
teft, that if^the lover has thro mifcooception^ been unhappily 
guiltr, he brings a huftand altogether rctprmed to your haoiil. 

JUyi Wah Well, I fee I muK forgive you at laft \ fo I may, 
as well make a merit of neceffity, you provoking creature, 

Capi. And n^ay I indeed hope for the bhffing of this hand. 

Mifs IVetL Why, you wretch, would you have me fofre it 
upon you ? X think after what 1 hav« fsid, a fbldier migSt 
vesture to take it without further ceremony. 

Capi. Angelic creature ! thus 1 ftfzc it as my bwful prize. 

Mifi WaL Well, but now yon have obtained this inrfti- 
xnable prize, Captain, ^ive me leave to aflc^ ii you have had 
a certain explanation with the Generals 

Capl» How can you doubt it ? 

Mifs Wdh And is he really impatient for our marriage 1: 

Capt. 'Tis incredible how earned, he is. 

tflft /Ttf/. What I did he tell yoii of Ws irtervlew wiih 
iRe thir evening when he brought Mr« Torrington I 

Ca}U He did. 

Mijs Wa!^ O, then I can have no doubt*. 

C^/. If a (hadow of doubt rematos, here he comes to re* 
move it* Joy, my dear Sir, joy a thoofand times ! 
Enter General' Savage and Torrington.. 

Gen. What my c'car boy haVe you carried the di^ ? 

Mif4 IVaL J have beeu week eaoo|j[h to endnlgc faim wirk 

a^ory, kideecUGenciadiL ' 



^Ghl fonuDc favora the brave, Torrin^tQUw 

Tw* 1 congratulate you heartUy on thw decree,. General. 

. Gr». This had nearly proved a day of difappomtment, but the 
liars have fortunately turhed it iu my favofi and now I» reap the 
ilchj'cward »f my vi6ioryr 

€apu And here I take her from you* ar' the greateft good 
-which heaven can fend me. 

/fj/j Jl^tf/. O Captain !. 

Gin. Tofi.take her as the ^freateil' gtood which Heaven can 
fiend pu Sirrah I I take her as the gteatefV good which Heaven 
xan fend mt : And now what havejwiMO fey to her I . 

Mi/} ^a/. General Satajgc i 

Tor. Here will be frefh injjo^ion to ftop procerdingi. 

Mi/s IVaU Are we never to be <i|one with miftakjes ? 

Gen. What miftakes can- have happened now, fweetell i yoti> 
"dehVered up your dear hand this mooient ! 

Mifs Wai. Truci Sir ; but I thot you were going, to bellow' 
my dear hand upon this dear Gentlepaaa^ 

Gtn* How! that dear Grivtleman^' 

Capt. lam Thundetditicfe! 

-Ton Fprtunekvors the brave».Genenil». none but tEebrave* 
X.Laughingiy.y 

Odtt. So the covert vHj 19 cleared' at laft jand you have all' 
^leng imagined that I was negociating. for this fellow, whca* 
i was gravely folicitiog. for myfclf. 

M0 H^ah No other idea, Sir, ever eAtered'my imagination. 

Tor. General) noble minds %)Y}ld never* defpair—- ^ 

: Gen, Well j- my hopes are- «u blown up' tothe mooo at once^ 
«tid I (hall be the laughing ftock of the wfeole town, ' "^^ '■ 

Scene ietweeif' Mrs. BitLVitLa, M^fii VWal^ingh'a«', ^aiJ^ 

Lady RACHti: Mili>-e W y r ^^ h . (yj, Duelliii^,^-^. 
li^rf\ Bel. "t XTHERE is the gener^fuy, wherej^ the fcniPcJ' 
l^ahneS^ V V where it tWe (hame of men, to STnd pl^afure 

iDpurfttiu w4itch they cannot remember withool the deepeft' 
horror; whicbthey cannot follow without the lysine* fraud $* 
and which they cannot effs£t without confequences the moft 
dreadful ; the great^ft triumph which* t Ubertine can ever exi< 

^crieace, is too dcfpicable to be envied ; *tis at^beft a^thing. 
but a viAory over humanity ; and if he is a hufSandi Ke muftP 

^<ioobl; tortured oa the wheel of recoUcAioOf* 



17+ WEBSTER'S 

Enter \fifg Walsingham and Lady Rachj^l Milbev* \ 

Mi/s IVaK M7 dear Mrs, Bel? iUr| I am cxtrcan^if qajhi^ppf 
lo fee you fo dillrcilcd. 

Lady Rach, Now I am extrcfliely g?ad to fee hpr fo ^ jfor if 
fijc were not greatly dlftrcffcd, h would be monftroudy ^jouat- 

Mrs, BtL O Matilda.! my huiband I my children I [yra?. 

MifiH'^all Don't weep, my dear, dorPt weep ! pr*y be com- 
forted, all m?y end happi!^'. Lady Rachel hcg ai her pot to 
cry fo. . . 

Lady Rach, Why, yoii arc crying yourfclf, Mifs Walfio^- 
ham, Aud tlio I think it oot of charadcr to encoi^rage Vicr 
tears, I cannot help keeping you company. 

-3/rx, Beh O, why is not foipc effediial metho'J contrived 
to prevent this horrible pradice of ducHing. 

Lady Rach, l*ll cxpofe it on the ftage, fincc >hc iayir now. 
a-days kindly leaves the whole cogniziance of it to th<: theatre, 

Mlfs IVaL And yet, if the 1?.W5 againll ii were^es well en- 
forced as the laws againft dcftroying the game, perhaps it wou]d 
be equally for the benefit of the kingdom. 

Mrs. BeL . No law will evci be efFe'ftual, till the Ciiflom w 
rendered infamous. ' V/ivcs fmift {hriek ! matbtrs wuft ^ago^ 
nize ! orphans muft be rnuhiplied ! unlefs fome bkffed hand 
llrip tfic fafcinating glare from honora?l)le murder, aqd bra^vely 
rspofe the idol who is worfiiipped thus in blood* WWc it is 
dlfrcputable lo obey the laws, we cannot look for reformatio n» 
■ But if the duelijft is once feani/hed fjom the prcfenoe of hi» foV. 
f reign ; if be is for life t^xckided the cooftdeiicc of bis cjmntry • 
if a mark ofindcliable difgracc is llamped upon him, the fword 
of public juftice will be the fo}e chaftifec of wiongs j tnBea 
will not be punifhed with deiath, and oifences reaiUy mtirttiivg 
- fuch a punifliment will tc refer vcd for the only proper revenger, 

the comtnot executioner, ' 

y -'iiitf^j Siach, i could not havc^KprelTcd my felf better on thfa 
, fubjef^, $y dear ; but till fuch a haiui, as yoji talk of, i^ foancJ, 
the bell Will fall into the error of t-hc times. 

Mifi ^'^-Yc?, and buteheir each other like 'Caiuia\€9L, for 
fear their co%) age ftiould befufptded by foois, 

Cafonei Rivers and Sir Harry., 
Sir Har^ /0*OLON*EL, your moll obedient,: I fwi govoic 
* Vy open, the old buriQcfi ; iot imleis I am allowed 
to entertain hopes of- Mifs Rirers^tihallic the moil mv&iat>lQ 
of all human bcingsT * ■ • " 



AMERICAN Sf:j[/ECTION.. ,^75 

-R}^, Sir Harry, I b^P ^Uwdy told jfou by letter, «nd I. 
Wf>w tcH yon 'petioa^Uy;, I cj^nnpt liilcn tQ grpurpropofaU ? 

iSi-r ///i/-.'No Sir.> ' . \ 

lii'v. No Sir ; i;h»Te prppaiftd ixnjp ,<Jaught;^r to Mr • Sid-. 
iicy ; <Jo yoa know t^£,>Sir ?, 
; ^<> ff «r, I do ; but wb4t tbcn ? £i^ga'gcmcotS pf ibb^ind, 

^-k?. Svo then you kop'W J^ ivp-vepfomined b«r to M^ Sidney ? 
• Sr> ffar^ I do ; but L^lfp know ^hatxnatters are not finally 
fcUlcd between Mr. Sidney and. you ; and I moreover knoW, 
that his fortufue ij by nawcatJS ff|ual.t.o.minc, tberefore — 

A/V* Sir Harry, let jgr^c *(k you one qupdi^n before you 
tnake yout coufex^weiiae. 
' Sir I/ar. A.lliOufandif yoy -pl^afr, Sir. 
Rti*^ Wtiy tbcn. Sir, let me aflc you, wbat you have c«<r 
-dbterved la mc or my co'ndu^f t^af yotn defijrc mc fo famlliaily 
to break my jword i I tho;jfght, Sir, yo.tt conri4cr€d line a| a 
' -m^ of hoo6r» . * 

Smt Har. And fo I ?de, SiT, ^ .ip^ of tl^c njceft honor. 

Rlny, A«d yet, Sir, yoii a/knae tp vyol^te the fandilty of my 

»'Word : and tiell m€ jdiceiSiJy fta^H is my inUreft ip be a rafca^ 

^Ir Hoar, \ reaily don*i 'Upderflaad j^ou, colonel : I ihot I 

was talking toa man iwho^klkeiiy ib^ w^odd^^ atiid ais youhaye 

- not figncd-** " 

^ Rfv. Why this is mending matters wilb a witnejfs : And 
. . fo you thihk ibecaufc \ .ftoi ^lojt {^«Uy bound, 1 iwn upd«r no 
ncccfiity of keeping my \roid ! Sir Harry laws were (lever 
made for men erf" honor ; \hw^ y^V^X no bo ad but the re^iiiud© 
of tb^k.owft fentimotu& $ and Utrs/^^e pf .op/Ufe bjDi |o bind the 
'viWams of fociety, 

Blr Ha/r^ !W*U,v Hut nay.4eftr Colpi^et, if you have do re- 
gard for rae, fhcw feme Uttfe rfcgard/pry^pr daughter, 

Rl^,' I .ftieMT the g«;e^tfft .?i:gar4, fpr my ^ftu^ht^, by giv- 
ing her to. a 'man of bonor, and I rhufl not bt laluitcd with 
any fuVtUcrirepetTticknof vow propQfalf. . ' 
, ^ •$!> Har^ Iftfujt you, ColQ^iel ! is 'the ojicr of my ajliancc 
an infult ? is my readincfs 10 make \^^t (pttlcpeate ypn ^hink 
•pr0p';:r-i^ : . ^ s • . " • ' 

\ ^ Jkiy^ Sir Harry,:! (hould copJidGr tfecofffr<>fa)^jrfgdo,m ^n 
; - iflk\^y >£::it Ausere i o jbc ^.vircb.aCe^. by the- ylojation of .my ,word. 
/ Befrdep,^ tFio my daughter fiiall ntvcr go a beggar to the a^ri^a 
-^i her hulband, I- wpuld ;;;atli«3:ike her b«iBP7 ^^^^ ^^^^^ j. aad 



if ftt kat cnnugb fo'pfovide hiodfomeljr for « yomig hsA 
afid fomcthiag'Co fpare for the cngeodes of a worthy fneoi 
i (hall think her as afflocnt as if«lhe was miftreft of Mexico. 
SirHgr. Well Colonel, i hate done ; but I^ belies— 
Riv. WeD> Sir Hanyi *^ >*^ <>ttr cosfiefcace is doaei < 
wtili if yoa pleafe, retire to the ladtn ; I' fliaU be always glad^ 
your ac^tiaiataocet too I cannot receive you as a fun .in«lf» 
for a union of intereft I* look- tipoo us a unton of diihonor, » 
cobildcr marriage for money, at belt but a kgal proftitm^o^ 

Sfy. TTOW now Tubal ! what newt fn^m Genoa ^ Hn 
HL yoo heard any thing of my backiQidiog daugkec 

Tu^^ I often came where I heard of het, but coiUid iM 
liodher. 

SJjr. Why there, there, there, « diamond gone that coft^n 
two thoufind ducats at Frankfort ! The curk never fell apoi 
n nation till now ! I never felt it before ! Two thoufanddo* 
cats, in that and other precious Jewels I I wi(h flic lay dead a 
^my feet 1' No news of them ! and 1 know not what fpedt ia tk 
fearch* Lofs upon lofs. The thief gone with fo moch, aai 
fo much to find ^he thief $: and no Utisfadton, so reveBg( 
BO ill luck ftirrfog but what Ilghu on my fiiouMeis. 

TtiB^ O yes, other men have ill luch too— Antonioi lal 
beard in Genoa-* 

Shj. (^ntmrupimg Km) What, has he had ill luck i 

TuK Has had a (hip caft away coming from Tripoli.- 

Shy. Thank fortune ! Is it true I is it true ? 

Tff3. I fpoke with fome of the fiiiloia that efeape4 froaf 
the wreck. 

Shy. f thank you good Tubal. Good newt ! Good dcwi ! 
What, in Genoa, you Tpoke with them. 

Tu^. Your daughter, as i heard, fpent twenty dacafs k 
one night. 

Shy* You ftick a dagger in me, TubjiT. I never fiiall fee 
my goU again; Twenty dttcata in one n^ht i Twenty da- 
cata !' O father Abraham !' ' 

7ai. There came feveral of Antonio^a creditors in my coli* 
J^any to Venice, who fay he cannot but breaks 

SJty^ I am glad on^t ; Pll plague him ; Vti tortttit lum f I 
*m glad on*t» ■ - ' " " 

*> Sfyhci had^fitti Tuhi^Mjkr bi^ dmughury who had dofft 



AMERICAN SELtCTlOM. tff 

Ttt^» One of them fliewcd me a ring he Iiad of your dangh* 
Ur for a moakey. 

&5/. Oat upoa her ! Iten torture rte> TubaJ. Jl was my 
ittby, I would Aot have gjvea u for, as maay monkeji a* 
could ft and together upoD Kealtb* 

Tub* Antpnio ia certainly undooe*^ 

-Skj^t Ay, ay,.\hcpe is fome comfort in. tfeat* Go, Tabaf, eiw 
gageaa officer* Tell hink to be ready j I'lf be revenged on A«- 
looia. Vi\ walk mf haqda to the elbowi in his h«ari'ii bloods 

JuiA and Sy>hax. 
Suk QYPHAX, I joy to meet thee thus alooci: 

O I have obferv'd of late thy looks are fali^, 
O'ereaft with gloomy caret and difcootent | 
Thaa, tell me, Syphaz, I coojure thee, tell me 
Wha( are the thoughta that knit tliv brow in frowai^ 
Aad tm*n thy eyet thua coldly on thy prince ? 

^b. 'Tss not nrf talem to conceal my thooghtSi, 
Or carry fi^lIes or funflune in my face. 
When difcoatent fits heavy at my heart ; 
I have not fo much of the Roasan m me. 

yt^. Why do(i thou cad out fucb uogenerons teirmlf 
AgainS the lords and fovercifirns of the world t 
tlio&. not thim iee mtfikin^ fall down betbrc tfiem^^ 
And own the force of their fitperior virtue i 
is their a motion in the wilds of Afric 
Amift pur barren rock? and burning fands, 
That does ff5t tremble at the Roman name i 

Sypb. Gods 1 Whef^'s thewortH that &ta thiapeojple vtp^ 
Above your own Numidia's tawny fons t 
Bo they with tougher finews bend the bow f . 
Or flies the javelin fWifter to its mark, 
Laonch'd '^tth the vigbr of a Roman arm i 
Who like our a<^ve African inftru^s 
The fiery Reed, and trains him to his hand i 
Or guidea in troops the embattled elephant, 
Laden with war ? Theft, thcfc are arta, my princef. 
In which your Zama <loea not ftfoop ro Rome* 
^aii. Thefc all are virtues of a meaner rank, 
. ^^erfedions that are placed in bones and nerves | 
A Roman fouf is bent on higher views ; 
v^O civilize tke rude unpolilfe'd world j; 



47S WEBSTER'S 

To lay It \3ndef the reftranat of bws ; 

TTo mnkc man mild, and foctable to man | 

To cultivate the wild liceotioua favage 

With wifdom, diTcipline, and liberal arta ; 

The cftablifhmcnlfl of life : Virtuea like ihefc 

Make human nature (hinc, reform the foul^ i 

And hroak our herce barbarians into men. ' 

Sy/>h, Patience, juH Heavens ! Excufc an old man's wartnl^ 
What arc thofe wondVouf cfriJizing arti, . 
Vhis Roman pblifh, and thi^ fmooth behavior^ 
That renders man thus tradable aiid tzme ? ' 
Arc they not only to difguifc our pflipnp, 
To .f et ouj looks ;it y wiance wiih aur thpughif ♦ 
To check the ftartp .and fMHcf of thf fonlj 
And break off ^11 its commerce witji i^e toj^uc? 
In fhorl tp change us into other cr^ajtures, \ 
Than what our natures and the Gpds defign'd U» ? 

Jub, Tp ftrikcthec dumb, |uru m> ibme.cra ;p Cat^ t 
There may'ft thou fee. to wh^t a ff^ydUk^b^ight^ 
The Roman virtues Kft up pior^ai mSJl, 
While good, and juft, find anxious for h]^ fpien.is, 
He's ftill fevercly bje^t ag?iinft himCelf ; 
Renouncing fleep, and reft, ^nd food, and ea,fe, 
He drives with ihix& find httiirer, loil.aad h^^c^ 
And when his fortune fets before him all J 

The pomp and pleafurc which hfs foul coul^ ^)fhf 
li is rigid virtues will Kcept of none. . ^ '^ * . 

Syp6, Believe me, prfnce, thtte's tvot an A&jcaia 
T^at trayerfcs out vaft Numidi^n deferis, ' j 

In queft of pray, and liv,e« Upon his hoyr, - j 

But better pradiicesthefc Ko^ftcd yiriucs : 
Courfc arc his mtals, the fortune of .t,he chafiy, 
Amidft the running ftreatns he {lakes hip ibirlt, - 
Toils all the day, and at the approach .of n.igjfet. 
On the firft friendly bank he throws him do.wn. 
Or refts his head upau a rock iUl raprn ; 
Then rifes frefh, purfucs the wonted game.. 
And if the following day he chance to fii)4 
A new rcpalV, or an.untafted fpriag, 
Bleffes his ftars and thinks it luxury. 

Jub, Thy prejudicejB, Syphax^ won't difcern 
^hat virtues grow from ignorance, and what from cl^ifiC; 



AMEB-ICAN SELECTION, • fyj 

>r h6w the, hero difFcra from tfccbrirte* 

It grant that others could .with equal glory 

M>k down on plcafurcs, and the baits of fcnfe; 

here (hall we find the raaa that bears affiidion, 

reat apd majcflic injiis giiefe, like Cato ? , * 

eavenft ! H/iih what [lrength> what fteadincra 6f mind| 

\t triumphs in the midft of all his fuffcrings I 

ow docs be rifft agaihft a load of woes, 

.tTd thank the goda^Hiat threw the weight upon him. 

Byph. 'Tis (>ride, rank pride, and haughtinefa of foa]| ;. 

think the Romans call it ftoicifm. • 

lad not your rbyaV father thought fo higlly 

If Roman virtue, arid of Cato's caufe, 

le had not fallen by a flave'^S hand inglorious j 

'lor would his flaughtercd army npwha«rc laioi 

>n Afric's fands disligured* by their wound* 

^"o gorge the wolves aiid vultures 6f l^iimidia, ■ 

' ^4. Why doft thou call njyforrows np afrefjt ? , 

fly father's nan>^ brings tears info my eyes'. 

^yph^ Oh, that youM profit' by pout* father's illg \ 
, jMh* What wotiidft" th6U Wvc nic do > 
\. Sypb^ Abatidoti Cato, . 

■ yuB, Syphax, I fhotild be more tKan {wicc an orphan \y 
I ^ypb. Ay, therc'^s the tic that' binds you 1 f juch a iosH 
jlTou long to call him father, Marcia^s charms 
Work in your hearf tinftenj and pfead for Cato. 
; J^o wonder you are deaf to all 1 fay. 

^u^m Sypha}^, yoiar zeal becomes importunate }' 

I've hit herto permitted it to rave, 

And talk at ferge 5 b li-tl^ar ri to keep it in, 

t, eft it (hould take Aipre freedom than I'll giv^ if, 
' Syph. Sif,yo\ir great falher 'never lisMihc thus. 

Alas, he's dead I but cin you e*er forg«t 

The tender forrows aiid the pangs of nature, 
' The fond embraces, and repeated bleflings, 

Which yon drew from him in your kft farewell ! 
Still muil 1 chcrifh the dear fad remembrance, 
At opce to torthxre arid io pleafe my fouT. 
^ The good old king at parting wrung ihy'^hand, 

( His eyes brim full of iears) then, fighing, cried,' 
- Prithee be'careful of niy fori I— His grief - 



t«Q WEBSTER'S 

SwdPd ap fo higlii he coiild not otttr more; 

Jub^ Alai the ftory melts away my foul X 
The heft of fathers ! how (hall 1 difcharge 
The gratitude and duty which I owe him ? 

Sypb* Bj laying op his councils in your heart. 

^0^. His councils bade me yield to thy dircdioBf } 
Then 9yphaS| chide me in fcvereft terms : 
Vent all tby palSonsy and m Ibind the (hocfc» 
Calm and unruffled as a rummer's Tea, 
y^htt not a breath of wind flies o'er its furface* 

Syfb. Alait my prince, I'll fuide you to your fafctfi 

Jfkh* I do believe thou woiddft ; but tcU me how« 

Sypi. Fly from the fate ofCzfar's foes* 

J^nb, My father fcom'd to do it. 

Syfi* And therefore dy'd« 
« jub» Better to die ten tbouland deathi ^ 

Than wound my honor. 

jf/A.' Rather fay your loTc. 

judj^ Syphax» I've promis'd to preferve my tedaper | 
Why wilt thou urge me to confefs a flame 
I long have ftifled, and would fain conceal ? 

Sypb* Believe, me prince, tho hard to conquer love^ 
'Tis eaiy to divert and break its force ; 
, Abfence might cure tt| or a fecond miilrcfa 
'Light up another flame and put out this, 
Theglowmg dames of Zama's royal court 
Have faces flofli'd with more exalted charms ; 
The fuQ that rolls his chariot o'er their heads. 
Works up more fire and colour in their cheeks : 
Were you with thefe, my prince, you'd fooa forget 
The pale, unripca'd beauties of the North, 

yub. 'Tis not a frt of features^ nor complcxioO| 
The tioftureof the flkin that I admire. 
Beauty foon growr/amiliaV to the lover. 
Fades in his eyes, and palls upon the fcnfe. 
The virtuous Marda toners above her fex| 
True, (he is Mr,rOh« how divinely fair i) 
But ftiil the lovely maid improves her charms^ 
With inward greatnefs, unaffcdcd wifdom^ 
And fandity of manners. Cato'afoul 
Shines out in every thing (he afis or fpeaks| 



AMERICAN SELECTION* i8< 

^STlide, winning mildnefs and attractive smiles 
I> vf ell in her look^ and with becoming grace, 
Soften the rigor of her father'^ virtues. ' 

Sypb» How does your tongue grow wanton in her praife \ 

WoLsay and Cromwell. 
Wbh T^AREWELL, a long farewell, to all my greatnefs I 

J? This isthe ftate of man : To. day he puts forth 
'Fhe tenders leaves of hope ; to-morrow blofToma 
An^ bears his blafhing honors thick upon hira ; 
The third day comes a froft, a killing froft, 
An4 when he thinks, good ealy man, full fnvdy 
lAis greatnefs is a npening, nips his (hoot ; 
And then he falls, as I do« I have Tcntur'd^ 
2^ike little wanton boys that fwim on bladders, 
Thefe many fummers in afeaof glory. 
But far beyond my depth ; my high blown prfde 
'At length broke under me ; and« now, has left mt^ , 
Weary and old with fervice, to the UMrcy 
Of a rude ftreani, that m«ift forever hide me. 
Vain pomp and glory of the world, I hate you i 
' I feel my heart now open'd* Oh I how wretched 

'Is that poor man that han?s en pnnces' favors ! 
'- Inhere U^ betwixt ihat fmile he would afpire to, / 

*rhat fweet afpe6l: of princes, and his ruin, 
., Mbre pangs and fears than war or wo'meQ haye ; , ' 

i And when be falls, he falls like Lucifer, 
• Never to raife again. (Entir Cf^nmelt, 

Why, how now Cromwell ? 

Cnm. I have not power to speak, Sir* ^y;^ 

WoU What, amazed 
At my misfortunes ? Can thy fpirit wonder 
A great man /hould dech'ne ? Nay, If you weepi 
^^m fallen indeed. 
Crom. How does your grace ? 
. Wol. Whyi wellj . 

Never fb truly happy, my good Cromwell; ^ 

I know myfelf now, and I feel, within me, 
A peace above all earthly^dignities J 
! A ftlll and quiet confcience. The king |itf cured mejl 
I humbly thinl;, his grace ? and from ibf fc HlOQlder^ 



ito > WEBSTER'S 

Thrfc rumM pillars, out of pity taken 
A load would (ink a n«vy^ too much hoBor^ 
0« 'tis a burdeni Cromwelly 'tis a burdco. 
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaTen 1 

Crom. I'm glad your grace has made that right, ufe of it^ 

Woh I hope I have : I'm able aow, oietbiBki, 
Out of a fortitude of fool I fed. 
To eadure more mifeties, and greater far. 
Than my weak hearted enejoiies darie offer,. 
What news abroad ? 

Crom. The beavieft and the worft. 
Is your difpleafttre with t^c jcing'^ 

JVoL God blcfa him ! 

Crom. The next 19^ that Sir Tfaoinaa Ifopre si clM{ci 
Lord Chancellor, in yoiir place. 

Wol That's fomewh^t fnddcn i . 
But he's a teamed man. May he conttniue 
Long in his, htghnefa' favor, aod do )ufticc 
For truth's fake and his confcience ; that his bonesj 
When he has run his courfc, and fkeps ia blefllnra. 
May have a toat^ of orjphanfp teara wept over bna J 
What more I 

Crom- That Cransier as retsru'd with welcome^ 
Inftall'd Lord ArcHbifliop of Canterbury, 

/Ta/, That's news indeed ! • 

Cr9m. Lafl: that the Lady Anne, 
Whom the kin^ hath in fccrccy lo«g marriedi 
This day vwia vicw'd in open, as the QueeB| 
Going to chapel s and the voice is noyr 
Only about her coronation. f well I 

JVoL There was the weight that pull'd me dow^ ^ 1!^^ 
The king has gone beyond me ; all my glories. 
In that one woman, J have loft forever. 
No fun (hall ever u(hcr forth my honors, 
Or gild again the noble troops chat waited 
IJpon my fmilcs. . Go, get thee from me, CromweS f 
J M a poor fallen n^an, unworthy now , 

Tobe ihy lord and toafter. Seek the king 
(That fun 1 pray may never fet) I've told him 
Whai> aim how true thoa art ; he will advance thcf j 

otne little memory of me will ftir him^ 
know his noble nature) not tp Uf 



American sfiLficTiON- 4«i 

?hy liopefttl f«rvice. peridi too. Go* Cfomwcll^ 
«leg1e6t him not ; make ufe bow, aBd provide 
^or Uiy own future fafetj^. 

Crom. O my Liord^ 
\Iuft I then leave you ? Miift I needs forego 
5o good^ fo . noble, and fo true a xnafter \ 
Bear witiicfis, all that have not Itearc^ of iroi?, 
^it\i yphat a forrow Cromwell leaves hie Lord 1 
The king fh^ll have mj fcrvicc : but, my prayeri, 
tor ever, and ^ox ever (hall be yours. 

- J^ol. CromWclli I did not think to fhed Hi teaf 
in all my ntiferies ; but thou had forced me» 
Out of thy honeft truth, to play the woman. 
*i.ct*8 dry our eyes ; and thus far hear me, Cromwcl!^ 
I^nd when I am forgotten, as I (hall be, 

Al»d iflecp in dull cold raiarbk?'^ where mention 

Of me muft no more be heard, fay then, I taught thee : 

Say, WoUcy that once rdde the waves of glory, 
^ And founded all the depths and (hoals of honor^ 

fouad thee away, out of his wreck, to rife in 5 . 
i A fure and fafe oae^ though my mafter tnffs'd it^ 

Mark but my fall^. and that which ruiri'd me : 

Cromwell, I t:harge thccj fling ai*ay ambition : 

^By that fin fell the aageU \ how can man theil ^ 

VlTho the image of his Maker) hope to win by it ? 

; JLove tbyfelf lad ; ckert^ thofe hearts that wait tliee I 

; Corruption wins not more thanhonefty* 
Slill in thy right hand carry geniW peace, 
To fileace envious tongues^ Be jull and (ear not# 

•; Let all the ends thou aim'ft at, be thy country's^ 
^ Thy God*8 and truth's.; then if iKdu fall^ft, O Crom^rell \ 

, Thou fall'ft, a bleflfcd martyr. Serve the king— 

J And prithee lead me m-^ 

; There take an inventory of all t hate ; 

H To the laft penny, 'tis the king's. My robe, 
• And my integrity to Heav'n IS all ' 

. I dare to call my own. O Cromwell, Cromwell ! 
Had I but fer*v*d my God with half the zeal 

^ I fcrv'd my kingj he would not in my age 
Have left me naked to mine enemies* 
Qrov^, Good Sir, have patience, 
Wol Sol have. Farewell 
The hopes of court I My hopes ia Heaircn do dwttt* 



f84 WEBSTER'S 

The parrel of Bftufus ami CAftsiu9. 

Qu» TPH AT you have wrong'd mc doth appear in thkf 

X You have condemnM and noted Luci'ua Fella, 
For taking bribes here of the Sardins ; 
Wherein my letter prayiog on his ftde , 
Becaufc I knew the man was flighted of. 

£ru. You wrongM yourfelf to write in fach a cafe. 

Cai, In (uch a time as this, it is not meet 
That every nice offence fhould bear its comment. 

Bru. Yet let me tell yon, Caflius, you yourfelf 
Are much condemned to have an itching palm 
To fell and matt your offipea for gold 
To undefcnrers. 

Cat. I an itching palm ! 
You know that you are Brutus that fpeak thia^ 
Or, be aflured this fpeech were clfe your lad, 

Mru: The name of Calfius honors this' corn]pticHi> 
And chaftifement doth therefore hide tU head. 

Cas. Chaftifement t . 

JBrv. Remember March ; the ides 6f March rememher ; 
iDid not great Julius bleed for juftice' fake? 
What villain touched his body that did ftab. 
And not for jullice ? What, fhall one of us, 
That ftruck the foremoft man of all tiiia world. 
But for fupporting robbers ? fkall we now 
Contaminate our fingers with thefe bribes ? 
And fell the mighty meed of our large honora 
For fo much trafh as may be grafped thus ? 
I would rather be a dog and bay the moon. 
Than fuch a Roman. 

Qat* Brutus bay not me, 
I'll not endure it ; you forget yourfelf 
To hedge me in ; I am a foldier, I, 
' Older in pradice, abler than yourfelf 
,To make conditions. 

Bru, Goto ; you are not, Caflius, 

*Cw, I am. 

Br»« I fay you are not* \ 

Cof. Urge me no more : 1 ftiall forget myfelf— 
Have mind upon youf health-^cempt mc no farther. 

Bru. Away, flight man ! 

Cat. Is it ^oflible f *. / 

Prir, Hear me, for I win fpeak, * ; 



i^uft I give way and raom to yaw ra(h ehc^cc i 
ihaU i be frighted wKett a madman Hares ^ 
Caii^Ntttft I endure all this? 

J3ru, ^\i thii ? aye more. Fret till your p road heart breafe$< 
Ba tell yoitr fet vanes ho»f choleric you are, 
Atid make your bondmeja tremble. Mnd I budge t 
MEud I oblerve you? Ma(l I ftand and crouch 
iJtidcr your tefly humor ? Be afiuredy 
You niall digcft the ▼coom of your fpleen* 
*rVv6 it do fplit you ; for from this day fi»rUi, 
t'll ufc you for my miitb, yea for my laughter^ 
When you are wafpifhi 
Casm la it come to this !. 
Bru» You fay you are ^ better feldier i 
\jkX \t appear fo ; make yottr waiintirtg true, 
And it (hgll pleafeme well.- For my 01*11 pait| 
1 fhall be glad to" learq of rtoble rfteir. • 

Cas» You wrong me every way — yoU wroirg uie, &rtftildi# 
t fatd an elder iJDidiery not a better $ 
ID^id 1 fay a better ? 

JSru. If yon ditf« t cafe" not. 
I Cas. When Caefar llv'd he durft not thua have moved me* 
£ru» Peace* peace I you durft uot io have tempted kimy ' 
Cai^ i durft &0I. J 

Bru^ No- . . 

Cas. What 1 ^urli not tempt him 1 
; Brtf, For your life you dur ft not. 

Cas. Do not prefurtic t^ much upon niy lotc $ 
' t may do w^at I /hall be forty for. 
: jBrii, Vott have done what you (hall be forty far* 
[ There is no terror, Caffius^ in your threats i 
For I am arm'd fo ftrong inhonefty. 
That they pafs by me as the idle vrind^ 
• Which I refpefi not* 1 did fend to you 
1 "tor certain fums of gold, which you denied me it 
For I can raife no money by vile mcanr, 
By Heaven^ I'd rather coin my hearty 
And drop my blood for drachmsi than to wring 
I From the hard hand of peafanta, their vik IraA^^ 
By any indireaion, I did fend 
To you for gold to pay my legiena 
\ Which.you denied me j was that done like CaSbft 1 
Should I have anfwered Caius Caffiiw hi 



i«6 WEBSTEU^S , 

When Marcus Brutus grows (o covetousi 
To lock fuch rafcai counters from bis friendsi 
Be ready, godf » with all your thunder boUs^ 
Safh him to pieces* 

Cos* I deny'd you B()t» 

£ru. You did* 

Ctf/. I did not*— he was but a fool 
That bro't my anfwer back. Brutus hath nved my heart | 
A fnend flionid bear a fntnd^s rafirffiitieS) 
But Brutus makes miae greater than theyare* 

Bru. 1 do not. Still you pra^ife them on mc« 

Cas. You love me notw 

JJrtr. I do not like your faults^ 

Cas, A friendly eye Could neTcr fee fuch faults. 

Bru, A Batterer's would not though they do 
Appear as huge as high Olympus. 

Cas, Come, Antony and young 0£taviuB come I 
Keveng'e i onrfclvcs alone on Caiiivsi 
For Caflius is a- weary of the world ; 
Jiated by one he loves ; braved by his brother j 
^eck^d by a bondman ; all his faults obfcr|^'d ) 
Set in a note book> learn'd and coRn'd by rote» 
T« caft into my teeth. Q I could weep 
My Ipirit from my eyes I There is my daggefy 
And here my naked breast*— within a heart 
Dearer than Flutus' mfne» richer than gold 1 
If that thoti need'ft a Roman's take ft forth. 
1 that deny'd thee gold» will give my heart. 
Strikci as then did ft at Caefar ; for 1 kno^y 
When thoo did ft hate him wot ft, thou tovd'ft him better 
Than ever thou Iqvd'ft Caflius* 

Brn, Sheath your dagger j 
Be angry when you wiil^ it (hall have fcope ( 
Do what you will) di/lionor (hall be humor. 
O Cai&us, you are yoked with a lamb> . 
That carries anger as it.e flint bears fire t 
Which much enforced, flic ws a hafty fpark^ 
And ftraight is <rold again^ 

Cas. Halh Caflius lived . , 

To be bat mirth and feug^teV to his Bfiit'ui> 
When grief, and Mwod ill tcmperM vcxcth him i 

Bru. When I fpolce that> 1 Wat ill tempered too* 

Cas. Do you copfefs fo much i Give me your hand. 



AMERICAN SELECTION. . 187 

i^i^. And my heart too, 

Cas, O Brums 1 

JBr». Whales the matter ? 

Cas. Have you nut love enough to bear with me^ . 
When that ra(h humor which my mother gave iaei 
Makes me forgetful ? 

Bru. Yes, Caffius^ and from henceforth 
"When you arc over earneft with your Brutui, 
He'll tliink your mother chides, and leave you fo« 

A DiAfcOOUE, ttvrUtentn the year 1776, ly Mr. AKDaufi, bf 

Tale College fjttue Jeceafed. 
■BlltSf^ T TTOW now, Mr. Hunks? have you fettled the 
XTL coatrovcrly with Baxter i 
Hunis. Yes, to a fra6iion, upon condition that he wotlld 
|>ay me fix percent, upon all his notes and bonds, from the 
date until they were difcliargcd. 

BTtthe. Then it feems you have brought him to your own 
terms? 
' , Hunts. Indeed I have ; I would fettle wiih him upon no 

oth^r^ Men now-a-days think it a dreadful hardship to p2y« 
' a little intereft ; and will quibble a thoufand ways to fool a 
^^ody^our of his jail property : But I've grown too old 10 be 
cheated in that manner. I take care to fecure the intereilaa 
■well as the principal. And ta prevent any difficulty, I take 
new notea every year, and carefully tXaA intercft «pon intcr- 
• eft, and add it to the principal. 

Blithe, You don^t exad interell upon intcreft 1 this k)oks a 
little like extortion; 

Hunkt. Extortion ! . I have already loft more than five hun^ 
dred pounds, by a number of rafcally bankrupts. I won*t 
truft a favthing of my money without intcreft upon intereft. 

Blkbe^ I fee I mull humor his foible, there's no other way 
to deal with hioQ. {^ofiJeA 

Hunks. There** no fecurity in me<)*d obligations, fn thefe 
limes. And if I've a fum of money in the hands of thofe we 
call good chaps^ I'm more plagu'd to get It than 'tis all worth. 
They would be glad to tyirn me off with mere rubbifh, if they 
Could. I'd rather keep my money m my own chefl, than let 
it out for fuch fraall intereft as I have for it. 

BTttbe, There*s foniiething, I confefs, in yonr obfervations. 
^e never know when wc ere fcciirci nnlcfs We have our prou 
fclrt^ in glir chtfte or in lands*. 



188 WEBSTER'S 

Hunh. That's trnc. Td rathnr have my property In hi 
at three per ceat^ than in the handt of the beft man fn da 
town at fix^it it a fad« Landa wtU grow higher wiien tl 
wars are otcr. 

£lkb€. YouVe entirely right. I bdiete if I'd a» mad 
money as yoa, I (hoold be of the bnie mind. 

Hunh. That's a good difpofitiod. We omft all kam ta 
take care of ourfelves, thefe hard times. Bot I wonder hoi 
it happens, that your diTpofiti'on h fo different from yoaT fod^ 
•—he's extrcnaely wild and profufe — I fhould think it watoel 
Hoffible for yoU| with all your prudence and dcxtertiy, to gtl 
noacy at faft as he would fpend it« 

BUikt^ Oh, he's young and airy ^ w6 muft make afiov- 
•nces for fuch things ) we iffed to do ib onrfelves wheats 
were yoong men. 

Hunks. Noy you're miftaken \ 1 nt^et Wore ai neekleth nftf 
a pair of fhoe.buckleSy on a i^eek day in my life. But tbtf 
18 now become cuftomary among the lowefl iranka of people. 

Biitke* You have been very lingular i there are few meaitf 
our age that have been lo frdgal and faving » you ha^* Bv! 
we muft always endeavor to conform ourfelrcs a Httle to tie 
cuftom of the times. My fon is not more extravagant tbf 
other young people of his 8ge< He loves to drink a gkifs of 
wine fometimes, with his companionsi and to appear ptetrf 
.ffaily dreft ; but this is only what is inatmia] and cnftotnary 
for every one. I underftand he has formed fotfte connexi^st 
with yonr eldeft daughter, and I fhould be fond of the fdk'anct^ 
if 1 could gain your approbation in the matter. • 

Huni$. The cuftom of the times will undo tts a!l— There^ 
no living in this prodigal a^e« The young people muft have 
their bottles, their tavern dmners and dice, while the old ontt 
Are made psrfe^ drudges to fupport their Inxuiy. 

BlUht^ Our families, Sir, withodt doubt, wt)uld be Very haj^ 
|>y in ftich a conneaiocb if you would grant ybur confcnt. 

Hunir, I lofe all patience when I fee the yonog bean^ anS 
fops, ilrutting about the ftreets in their laced coats and roil^ 
^(htrts, and a tboufand other extravagant articles of expenee. ; ' 
BMe. Sir, I (hould be very glad if you Would turn yonr at, 
tention to the queilion I propofed. 

.. Jiunit. There's one half of thefe coxcomical (pendthfiftt 
that can't pay their taxes, and yet they are conftantly r^niog 
into d«bt, and the prodigality muft bc fopported bypoor| 
^ weft, hbvrtng men« 



: AMERICAN SELECTION. 'i^ 

Blithe^ This 18 lAfuferable ; I'm tcxM at the old fellow's iou 
j>erti n^nce*— [ ^<£/ir. J 

Hunks. The world has \to\, to a ftrangc pafs, a very ftrangc 
paftt indeed ; there's no ditimgaifhiog a poor man from a r£h 
onC) but only by hia extravagant drefs ahd fupercilioua beha- 
vior. 

MHthei I abhor to fee a man all mouth snd no ears* 
Hunki^ All mouth atid no earg ! Do* you mean to infult cne 
-po my face ? 

Blithe* I allc your pardon, Sir ; but I've been talking to 
you ihishouri and you have paid me no attention. 

Jiunkf. Well, and what is this mighty affair upon whieh 
.-you want my opi nion ? 

: jBlitbe* It is fomething you have pat j very Uctlc attention to, 
at feems ^ I'm willing to be heard in my turn as well as you. 
:X ^as telling you th^ my fon had entered into a treaty of mar- 
riage with your eldeft daughter, and I defire your confent ia 
t.hematter« 

Hunts, A treaty of marriage ! Why didn't fht aflc my lib- 
erty before (he attempted any fuch thing ? A treaty of mar< 
«»»gc ! 1 Woii*t hear-a word of it. 

^ Miithu Theyoung couple are very fond of each other, and 
y ro^y perhaps be ruin'd if you crofs their inclination. 
' . Hrnihi Then let them be ruinM* I'll have my daughter 
to know (he (hall make no treaties without my confent. 

BVubei She's of the fame mind, that's what ^e wants i)ow. 
Hunks. But you fay the treaty's already made ^ ^wevef 
1*11 ftiake it over agiin. 

BUthtn Well, Sir, the ftronger the better. , 
Hunh, But I mean to make it void. 
Brtthe4 I want no trifling in the matter ; the fu]ije£lb i# not 
of a triilt'ng nature. I expe^ you will gi^t: me a dire6k anfi^er 
one wav or the other. 

Hunks, if thit's what you defire, I can tell you at once ; I 
, have two Very ftrong objections againit the propofal ; one is I 
,di(like your foo ; and the other. is, I have determined upoaaa« 
other match for my daughter. 
. J5/Wtf. Why dp you diflike my Ion, pray ? 
Hunks. Oh, he's like the red of mankind, running on in this 
extravagant way of living. My eilate was earned too hard to 
be trifled away in fuch a manner^ 

JBfUiu* Extravagant ! I am fure he's very far from defcrving 
that charadler. ^Tis true, he ap|>earf genteel and fafiuonable 



Sp3i . WESSTEt'ff 

jimong peopte^ but he*8 ui good bn&ncfty aad vi^tthcstrif^ 
that's fajficient fer any roaa. . 

Jiunh. 'Til Eafhioaablcy I fiq^fcy ta powder, and cetl tf 
tbe barber's ao hour or two, before he vifitt bis mtftnefs ; tfr 
pajr fix pence or ergla, peace for bruffaing his boots ^ to driol 
a glafs of wine at every tavern ; to dine upon fowls dreft m 
the rtcheft manner ; tfnd he ranft dirty two or three roffi^ 
fliirts in the journey. This is your genteel faihionaljle way. Is lu 

B'ithe. Indeedi Sir, it is a matter of importance to appciA^ 
decently at fuch a time if ever. Would yon have btnn go zr 
you ufed to do, uoon the fame bnlinefs, drefs'd iu «i long iff 
ihap^ntcoalf agreaiy pair of breeches^ and a fiap'd Imt; witk 
yout oats, in one fkie of your faddle.bags^ and your ^irner rn the 
•ther f This would make an odd appearance in the pretent age. 

Hunhs. A. fig for the appearance, fo long as T j^ain'd my 
point, and favM my money, and confeqnealfy ay crc^^ Thi^ 
coat yon mention h the fame 1 have on luiw* 'Tis not £b ve« 
ry long as you would reprefent it to ht-^[Meafurmg ih^fitrti 
^f one %. J See, it comes but j uft belovr the ealf* . Tkb is the 
coat that my father was marned in, and I after him. it har 
b€Cii ift the fafnion five timea fince it wa« ncw^iied ttevtr vni 
«Ucrcd, and 'tis a pretty good coat yet. 

BViihe* You've a wonderfuli^calty oflavtng your moacf ] 
luid credit^ and kotpioj^ in the £ai&io&>.at the fame tirae^ i ^p. 
pofe you mean by Oeivrng your credit, that oioaey and credit 
are infcparably conne6^ed« 

Hunkin Yes, that they are ; he thttt has one, need not fear 
the lofs of the other* For thisreafon, I can^t conicut to yonr 
fon's propofal \ he's too mnchcf a fpeadthrift to merit myap 
probation* 

- Bhhu If yo« call hima fpendthrin far \m g^fterofityw I d^ 
-fire be may 4ierer merit yoor ^probation* A reputation thacV 
gained by faving money in the manner you have mentioaed, if 
9t bed but a dsfpicable cbarafter.^ 

Hitnhi. Do you mean to call my char^der dcfpicable ? 

Blithe. We won't quarrel about the name, finoe yon arefs- 
well contented with 'the thing. 

Hunks, You're welcome to yoar opimoa ; I would not fifc 
ft fiddkfiick's end for your good or ill will ;: my idea & of repu. 
tation are entirely different from your's, or your foft's, vhicb 
arejuft the fame ; for I find yoo juHify him in: all his conduit* 
But as I have determined upon anpther match for my daugl^er, 
i Aiaa't troaWe myfclf about his behavior,. 



AMERICAN SELECtlON, igi 

' JMrfc. But perhaps your propofed match will be equalFjr 

• i&ni/. No, Pvc no ^pprehtnfion of that* He's a pcrfoiv 

;^f a fine genius and an excellent charader. 

3Hth<. Sir, I defire to know who this perfon is that is fucH 
i a genius and charafier, and is fo agreeable to your tafte. 
I Nimks, Tis toy young coufin Griffin. Hc*s heir to a great 
; ^eftate you know. H« difcovered a furprifiog genius almoft ss 

fopa as he was born. When he was a very chiTd^ he made him 

a box, with one fmall hole in it^ roto which he could but jul): 

cH>wd his moneys and could not get it out again without 
^breaking his box ; by which means h^ made a continual addi4 

itoii tin he tilled it, and-— >— 

; BUtke. Enough ! vnough ! Pve a fufBcient idea of his char* 
\ H^r, withotft hearing another word. Bfct are you furc you 
j^ftaH obtain this excellent match for your daughter I 
'' Hunh, Ohy I'm certain on't, I aflure you, and my utmoft 
^Vifhts arc gratified whh the profpcft. He has a large patri; 
\ mony lying between two excellent farms of mine j which are 
^iat leaft worth two thoofand pounds. Thefc tVe given to my 

daughter % and have ordered her uncle to take the deeds into 
■ iisown handi, and deliver them to her on the day of her mav* 

I -BUi&e. Then it feems youVe afmoft accompliflied the bufi- 
'. nefs. But have you got the confcnt of the youn|^ gentleman 
Intheal^ir. 

Hunis* His confent \ what need I care about his confent^ fo 
; long as I've his father's, that's fufficient for my purpofe. 

BJiibe. - Then yon intcjod -to force the young people, to mar« 
rjr, if they are' unwilh'ng ? 

Hunts. Thofe two thoufand pounds w31 foon give them a 
dilpofitiob, Pll warrant you* 

Blithe* Your fcheme«, I confefs, are artfuHy concerted. But 
: Tmuft teiiyoufor your mortification, that the ydung gentle- 
I man is ahxady married. 

Hunkti What do you fay i already married ? It can't be ! I 
don't beJicye a fyllable on't. 

Blithe. Every fyHalbh! is. true ! whether you believe it or 
not ; I recevied a letter this day from his father ; if you wont 
bejicto me you my read it. (Giv&s him the letter*) There's 
the account in the poftfcript. (Points to it*) 

ffunJ^e^ (reads) I had (dmoU forgot to tellyou^ that tall Thnrfda;- 
nyf&n 'Of as married to Mifi Cmrry Brentford^ and tht all j[^rf' 



f^t WEBSTER'S 

are very happy in the connexion. Confufioa ! (Throws' dawn tk 
letter, J What do<8 this mean ? Married to Clarry Brentford I 
This fscxa^ly one of cou6d Tom's Tilkinoai tricks. He promi 
iTed ICC that his.foii fhould marry my daughtcfyjipoa cooditioi 
that I would give ber thofe two farms ; but I can't imagioe 
/rom what ftapid motive he has altered his mindi. 

Blithe. Dilappointment is the common lot of idl meo^ e«es 
cor fur eft expcdations are fubjed to misfortune* 

Hunts. Difap point men t j this comes from a quarter froa 
which I leaft expeded one. But there's, the deeds, I'll tah 
care to fecarc them again ; 'tis a good bit that 1 .did oot 
give them to the young rogue beforehand. 

Blithe. That was well thought of ; you keep a gopd look 
out« I. fee, tho you cannot avoid fome disappointments* I fee 
nothing in the way/iow, to hinder my fon's proceeding ; ]fot 
NRrill eafily grant your confent pow you're cut off from yoi^ 
former expedlations. 

Hunh. I can't fee into this crooked afTair—Pm heartily 
vex'd at it. What could induce that old villain to decow 
me in tliis manner. I fear this was fome fchemc of my danglt- 
ter's to prevent the effeS of my defign* If this is her pla*^ 
if fhe lets fo Jight by two thoufand pounds, fiie Aau foa 
know what it is to want it, I'll promife ber. 

Blithe. If you had bellowed your gift without crofiing bff 
inclination 9 (he would have accepted it very thankfully* 

Hutth. 0» I don't doubt it in the leaft ; that would hue 
been a pretty (lory indeed ! but fincq fhe infifts upon gni' 
fying li fooliffi fancy, (he, may follow her own inclinations ad 
take the confequences of it ; I'll keep the favors I meant t» 
beftow on her, for thofe that knov^ how to prize them, and 
that merit them by a becoming gratituder 

Blithe^ But you won't rcjcd her, dcftitutc of a patrimoflj 
and a father's blcffing > 

Hunts. Not one farthing (hall fhe cTer receive from »f 
hand. Your fon may take her, but her perion is barelf A 
that I'll give him ; he has feduced her to difobey her faibff 
and he (hall feel the effeAs of it. 

Blithe, You're fomewhat raffled, I perceive, but I heft 
you'll recall thefe ra(h refolutioqs in your cooler momeats* 

Hunks. No never, I give you my word, and that'^ as fixcl 
M the laws oC the Medcs and Perfians. 

Blithe. But look ye, Sir, here's ai?other circumftaace ts W 
ittended to ; my fon has the deeds ahcady in his own bwdfi 



AMERICAN^ SELECTION. 19$ 

* Hunks. Deedi \ what deeds ! thofe I gave to my brother ^ 
Blithe, Yc8, the very fame. 

Hunhs, What a compofiuon of viilany aod witchcrafc ii 
b^rc ? What my deeds gi»ci! up to your fon ? 
- Blithe. Yea : your brother thought that my fon had an unj 
doubted title Xo them nowi, fiace his coufin was married^ andfo 
ke gave them up the next day. ■ ' 

Hunks » Thrs is iatoleiable ! I could t^ar the fcalp from my 
j^d brainleG fcall ; why had 1 not more wit than' to trail them 
.with hioi ?. Pm cheated every way! 1 can't truft a farthing 
with the bed friend 1 have on earth. 

Blithe^ That is ^hj true, 'tis no. wonder you can't truft your 
beft friend. The truth of the cafe is^ you h«ve no friend, nor 
can you cxped any» fo long as you make an id(^l ef yourfetf, 
and feail your fordid avaricious appetite upon the misfortunes 
of mankiod. YoU take every poffible advantage by the prefent 
calamities, to gratify your own felfifli difpofition* So Jong as 
: this 18 the cafe, depend upon it you will be an objed of untvei;- 
> fal deteftation. There is no one on earth that would hpt re- 

* joice tQ fee how you're brot In. Your daughter now has got 
a g<V^d inheritance, and an agreeable partner, which you were 

'. in duty bound to grant her ; but inftead of ibat, you were thea . 
; doing your utmoft to deprive her of every enjoyment in h'fe* 
f ^ Hunts futs bis hand to bis breafl.'] I don't wonder your con« 
L fcience Imiteayou for youi^ viilany. Don't you fee how jufb*. 
ly you have been cheated into yoar duty? 

Hunks, I'll go t|ii8 moment to an attorney, and get a war^ 
rant ; I'll put the villain in jail before an hour is at an end.~ 
Oh, my deeds ! my farms ! what (hall I do for my farms ! • 

Blithe, Give yourfelf no fart\|er trouble about them, there's 
fio evidence in the c^it ; yon muft be feafible thereforey an ac» 
tiou can't lie., I would advife you to reft contented, and leara 
from difappointments, not to place fuch an exhorbitant value 
upon wealth* In the mean time I fliould be very glad of your 
company at the wedding. My fon and his wife woiddbfi very 
» happy to fee you. 

Hunks. The dragon fly away with you, and your fon, inj 
your fon's wife. O ! my farms ! whiat (hall I do for my farmrt 

Bevil tfff</ Myrtls. 
Av. QIR, I am extremely obliged to you for this honor. 
O Jl^r/. The lime, the placei, our kmg ac^uainUsca 



f94 WEBSTER'S 

4nd many other eircmmftancea, wfatdi ^Sc€t me iki tliai ogci» 
fioii, oblige int> without crrcmpay or oo]i(ercQce« to defire^ tim 
you will comply with lh« requeft in my letter^ of wbtck jc% 
iiave already acknowledged tne receipt. 

3fv- Sir, I Imve KCciTcd a letter frotti you in a very aou* 
fual lly Ic. But ii I am coaCcioiis of ihe integticy of snjr beha- 
vior with refpefi to you, aud intcod . that f^ery thiagr m thtt 
«iatt«r (hall be your own feekin^. i ihall uadef^aod oothliig 
but what you are pleaied to con&cm face to face« Yoii sue 
j:herefore to take if for gnratcd# that I iiave forgot tiw coo* 
tent8 ofyourepiSle. 

jfifyrt. Yoiir cool irehaw^,, Mr, Bevii, n agreeable to the 
uaworthy .u£e you have made of mj funplicity and frMtikudi 
to you. Aod i fee your moderation tcrnU to yo^r owo ad« 
vaaia.^c, not mine i id your aim fafet^ , ifkot to ]4>ftice lor tkc 
Wf ongt y^u have done yoiir firi^Dd. 
. Bmu My owtt faCety i Mo Myrtle. 
,.Mytt: Yoiir own fafety, Mr. 3ciriL» 

/A(4f Mr, Myrtle^ thereja bo difguHinjT any IdsgEer tint ! 
uttderftand what you vwqiild force me to. ¥ott know tixf ptuh 
ciple upon that^ point ; and ^ou Ju^e often heard loe capreb 
my di&pprobatbn at t;hc lavage :fna|Qoer «f .deciding ^oarreli, j 
%vhich tyramiical cufhim hya introdoqed, to the breack of ai I 
}aw3, both diaine and himnan. 

ilfjrrf. Mr. Bevilj Mr. Bt^H ! It would be a rood £i« | 
principle, in thofe who have^fo tender a ,4;onfci^iice tltat waVj { 
to have, Mt ihuch idrhoccence at 4omg iivjarier»aa'**---^?«nv | 

^ev. As what? 
w Myrt* As fisar of aitf ceriff^ th0a>. 

. Bbv. Mh Myrtjp, I fcave no fear of atjfvi'efiflg iitty Ifejflfry I 
hasre done yoa ; becaufe I have meant yon none ; - for the truth 
of which I ant rea^y t# appeal to any indif&revrt; perfon^ even 
of your Qfom ^hoofing. But C own I am'af raid of^ddioga wici:> 
\ed aftiofi : i mean bi fiicddn^g jQur bloody or giving yoti^aa 
oppnvtunity of (hcdding jtilnCy cold. { am liCK afraid of yoa 
Mr. 3^%rtleii Jjot J cjrwn J awi afraid of U«n, who gave mc 
tlxiairfc in tru(l, pn .ottic^ jcqaditioas ^ad with oi^er de%a| 
than that I fhould h^azard/ €^r throw it away, bccaufc a rm 
inconfiderate roan is p^eaird to Ke ofirnded^ without knowing 
'heUver lifi f» injured or noti No, I will not for you or any 
Vi tefcimor,, pmmit a^o^a criinc^aiqrinic w>ich | .c«i- 



^ •, AMERICA* S'BLEtmON-. • ^^f 

W6t i^pafr, or whicli may in tbe ttrj aft, cut inc off from aU 
l^ollibUitf of repentance. 

Myrf, Mf. Bfwl, I mufl tell yoU, rfHVcoolncfa, ilnsnidral- ' 
jarng, tflisll not ch^at mc of my love. You may wiHi ta pre« 
fcrve your hTe^ ttett yoii my poffeff Lucinda. And T havr 
teafoiv to bi iodilfbrl^nt about ii, iF I am to Icfs all that from 
Wifiicb I etpe<5i any joy rn life. Birt I fl*aH firft try one mean' 
^^owardD rccoreiingfeler, I» meair, by fltewmg her what a^^auntw 
l«ii^ herO' ftie had cbofen for her protcAoT, 

ilfv. Shev^ rae bm the leaftgHmpCe of argument,- that I an* 
Amhef iited to^ c&ntend with you at the peril of the life of one- 
l»f Q9, *nd t am ready upor; yoor own temi8»*^f this wilt not 
fa^isf^ you> and' you will make a^ltwlefe aiTauU upon me, I will 
defend myfelf as againft a roAan,- There is no fiich terror, 
Mr. Myrtle, in the tngerof thofe \*ho art quickly hot «nd 
; ^uick)/ cold agaln» th^ knowKBOt how or why^ I defy yoa 
to thew wherein- 1 have wrong'd- yoiK 

Myri. Mr. Bet il, it ir eafy for you tO' talk coolly on thif oc- 
^ftfion. You Iviow not^l: fappoftfr what h i« to love, and from 
[ your Itrge fortUHc, aad your fpecioot pat ward carr«fje, havTs 
H irt your power to come^. wUI»out «ny trouble or an?«^cty, t6- 
[ the poiTtffion of a wonan^of Kotior j yon^kaow nothing of what 
[it iatolje alarmed,. dlRrad^^ with the tcrropof hfing what \% 
I ^arer iban Kfc^ You- arc hippy ;: your marriage goes on likt ■ 
; common bufinefa ; and in the fmerim^ yon hate for your fait 
, momeqt's of d«liianee, your rambling captiire^ your Indk'an prin- 
: tt«f^ your convenient,. your reardylfldkna; 

Bdw. Yoa ka?c touched me beyond the patience of a man > 
and the defence of fpotlefs innocence, will, 1 hope, txcufc my 
accepting your chafivngeK or at' leaft obliging, yoo toretra^ 
your infamous afperfionS' 1 will not If I can avoid k, f)iei 
*our Mood, nor fhaU yb» n%infe. But Tn^iaaa'S purity 1 wiU 
I iefeod^ Who waiu ? 

SemU Did you call,-Sir T ' 

-Brt^ Yet, go call a coach. 
i Servi, Sir— Mr.^ Myrtlc*--gcntkttien— *yoih arc, fricitdi— t 
— Irtn but a fervant-^ut— • 

. Buf. Gall a coach.. [£»#/ Servant. 

L/i long paufe» They nvaJk fuIhWy aloui tU room.'] 

? ' ^^AJfde]' S^\ I (though provokc;d beyond furf-Tincc) rccovw 
er myfdf at the entrance ot a ^hird perfon, and that my 
fcrvant too ;, and fhall I not have a du« refpcdi for the diSlatca^ 



19^ ^EBSTER^S 

of my own confcicnce ; for what I«wc to ilic beftof fathoi, 
and 10 the dcfcncckfs innocence for my lovelj Indiana^ wli€^ 
Tcry life depends on mine ? ^ ^ 

CT* Mr. Myrtle.} I have, thank Heaven,' had time to r^col. 
le^ m^felf, and have determined to convince you, by meam 
1 would 'wiUiiigly have avoided, but which yet are preferable^ 
to murderous duelling, that I am more innoccDt of noihio^ 
than of rivalling you in the affedionrof Lucinda. Kcud tii» 
letter and coniider what effedi it would have had tipon yout 
to have found it about the man you had murdered* 

Myrtle £readi»2 ** I hope it. is confifteot with the lawa a au 
man ought ro impofe tipon hcrfelf, to acknowledge, that your 
maiiner of declioiag what has been propofed, of a treaty of 
marriage in our family and deHring that the refufal might 
come from me, » more engaging than ttie SmitbfieM court, 
^ip of him whpfe arms I am in danger of being thrown into, 
xialefs your fiiend exerts himfclf for our common fafety and 
happinefs." — O, I want no more, to clear your innocence, 
xny injured worthy ^iend-— I fee her dear oamcjat the bottoia, 
— ;l fee that you have been far enough from de6gning any ob- 
Aacle of my happinefr, while I have been treating my btne- 
fadlor as my betrayer — O Bcvil, with what wards fcall I-:- 

JjCxu There is no need of words. To conviuce is more 
than to conquer. If you are but fatisfied, that I meant yoo 
no wrong, all is as it (hould be. ' ' 

Myrt. But can you-^forgive— fuch madnefs ? 

Bev, Have not I myfelf offended.? I had aUuoA been ai 
guilty, as you tho I had the advantage of you, by knowing 
what you did not know. 

Myrt. That I (hould be fuch a precipitate wretch. 
, At>, priihe no more. 

Myrt. How many friends have died by the hands of friendi) 
merely for want of temper ! what do I not owe to your fupe- 
riorlty bf undcrftanding ! what a precipice have I efcaped i 
O, my friend I — Can you ever — forgive — -xian you ever again 
look upon me with an eye of favor ? 

Bev. Why fliould I not ? Any man may miftalce. Any 
man may be violent, where his love is concerned. I was my. 

'f. . ^ - ^ ^ 

M>r/. O, Bevll ! you are capable of all that is great, all 

t is heroic. 



p o E T R r. • 

CoiaxxMPf o/'/fe^ff«7»o« Obje<;ts ©/"Pursoxt; 

MO NOR and IBame from no coftdttioK rife ; 
A£t well your part ; there all the honor Her. 
Fbrtdfie In men has iortt fatal! ^t^^ereno^ made } 
One ft^nnts in rags ; one tfuttcf s in brocade j 
The cobler apron'^d and the parfdn gowo'd j. 
The friar, hooded-, and the monarch cro\^n*d« - 
** What differ more (you cry) ihaa cfowi and cowl V* 
I*a tell you friend ! A wife mart and a fool. 
Y ouUl Ciod, if once the w4fc manadfc the moftk, 
Or cobler-like,' the parfon' will be drunk ; 
Worth makes the man, wtd want of it the fellow : 
The reft is all but leather or prorieHa; ^ 

Siru(5k o'er with tide* andTiongrotind with ftrrngf,- 
That thou mayd be by kings ; or w ■ ■ ■ "S of kings 5 
Boaft the pure blood' of an Hlnftrious race 
fei quiet flow from LiTcrece .10 Lwerece f- 
But by yourfather'l vtorth, if your's ydu rate, 
CouBt me thofe only who were good and greaSt. 
Go \ if youp ancient,«bot ignpbh^ bloodf, = ^ 

Has crept thro fcotmdreh ever fence the iood ; » . - * 

Go land pretend your family is TOtang ;■ > 

Nor own your fathers have beett fbok'la lottg« - ' / 

What<:an eni^oble fotff, orftaves^ Of c^awarda J *> . 

Alas t not all the Wood of all thV Howards. 
, Look next on greatneff; SKy vi^ere greatnefs^Ues?^ 
Where, but anKHig tlie heroes and the wiie,^ 
Heroes are all the fame It IS agreed,* 
From- Macedoaia'a madman to i he Swede;^' 
. The whole llrange pwjrpofe of theh" Hvcfr^^ findi- 
©r make— an enemy of att mtukiiid* » 

Hot one looks bsckward :: onward ^fB he goes ji 
^Yct ne'er looka forward farther than his Bofe. 
No lefs alike the politic and wHe; 
- 411 fly, fl6w things^ with circumfpe^lire eyetf : • 
Men in their loole ungnardedliotxrs they takt ;• 
Kit that themselves are wife ; biit others w«ak. ~ 
But grant that thofe can conqaer ; thefc ca&'Cksal^* 
ISs phrafe abf urd tQ call a tilhtin great.- ^ 



Who wic^kedl^ is wifct or madly brave* 
It but the more a foolt the more a knave. 
Who noble ends by noble meani obtainfj 
OCf falliBg, fmiles in eailet or in ckaias. 
Like good Aurelius let him reign ; or ))!eed' 
Like Socrates : that man is great indeed ! 
What'a fame ?a fancy'd life tn others' breath j 
A thing beyond us> e'en before our death* 
Juft what you hear*s your own ; and what's unknowo^ 
"The fame (my locd).tf TuJly'sor yourown. 
All that we feel of it, begins and ends 
In the froall circle of our foes and friends f 
To all bcfides as much an empty (hade. 

. An Eugene living, as a Cxfar dead { 
Alike, or when or where they (hone, or ftiine, 

^ Or on the Rubicon, or on the Rhine. 
A wit's a futher, aa^ a cbitPs a rod : 
An honeft man's the nobleft work of God* . . 
Faroe, but from death a ?ilIaio's name can fave^ 
As juftice tears his body from the grave ; 

. When what t' oblivion better were configa'd, 
lu hung on high, to poifon half mankind. 
All fame is foreign, but ofitruc defert ; 
Plays round the head; biit comes not to the heart. > 
One fulf approving hour, whole years outweigha . 
Of Hupld llarcr8,:and of loud huzzas ; 

. And more true joy. Marccllu* exil'd fccls^ 
Than Csefar with a fenate at his heels. 

In parts fujicrior what advantage lies f 
Tell (for you can) what is it to be wife ? 
'Tis but to know, how little can be known ; 
To fee a]l otVers hult^and feel (vjr own ; 
Condcmo'd in bufin^fs or in irris to drudge. 
Without a fecond, and without a judge. 
Truths -would you teach, to fave a finking Istndf 
All fear ; ntoe aid yui| ; and few undei (land, 
i'^inful pre eminence J' yourfelf to view 
Above life's weakners^ a^id its comforts too. 

Bring then the fe blcflsngs to a (lri£i accoant ; 
Make fair dedudtions ; fee to what ihty mount. 
Ho%vniach of other each is fare to ccft ' . ., .., 
How each for other oft is, wholly h& ; , x 

^How incoKfiftent greater gooj^ with thcfc |^ 



^ 



^^^ AMERICAN SELECTION. 199 

low fometinies life is rifle'd and ajwajg fafe ; ' . 
?hi«k 5 and if ftih fuch things ihy envy call, 
lay, would' ft thou be the man to whom t,hcy fail i 
To ftgh for ribbonds if thou art fo filly, 
vlatk how they grace Lord Umbra, or Sir Billy, 
.'$ ycMow dirt the pallion of thy life ? - ^ . 

Look but on Gripus or on Gripus' wife, 
Cf parts mikirc thee, think how Bacon (hInM, 
«rhe wife ft, brightcft—nftcancft of mankind : ,/ 
Dr, ravifli'd with the whilUing of a name, ^ • * 

Sec Cromwell dam'd to evcrlalUng fame : 
If all united thy ambition call, ^ . . 

From ancient (lory Icara to fcorn them all* 

VARiot;s Characters. 

•nr^ IS from high life high charadcVa are drawn 5 
JL A faint in crape is twice a faint iu lawn ; ' 

A jndge ia juft, a bhanc'llor jufter ftill ; 

A gownman learn'd ; a hi (hop-— what you will ; 

Wile, if a mitiifter ; but If a king, , ' 

More wifcr more jnft, more IcarnM more every thing* 
,fTis education forms tho common mind ; 
vjuft.as the twig is bent thetrec's inclined. 
.'Boaftful and rough, your fu^ fon is a fquire : 

The next a tradeiman, meek, and much a liar ; 
'^Wom ftr uts a foldier, open, bold and brave : . 

W^W fnecks a fcriv'ner, au exceeding knate, , 

Is he a Churchman ? Then ii^'s fond of power : "I 
j A Quaker ? Sly : A Prcibytc;rian ? Seur : v 
j A fmart freethinker ? All things In afi hcmr. ^ J 
'Manners with fortunes, humors tut-n with climes^ 
. Tenets' with books, and principles with times* 

Search then the ruling paifion. There alone, * 

The wild are conftant, and the cuanlng known* 
I* I * * 
^ TAf World eomftu-ed to a St AG^%. 

ALL the world's a ft age i 
And all toe men and women merely players, 
^ They have thcfr exits and their entrances ; . 
And one man in his time plays many parts ; 
Hi* ads bfing^ fevcn ages.— r At firft the infant^ 
Mewling and pukiog in the nurTe's arms. — . 
And then the whining fchool-boyj with his fatchcl. 



\ 



Aod (hinlng moruing face, creeping like foatf, 

llQwiIlin|;]y t» fcUool,— And then the loreri 

Sighing like furnace, with a wofiil btlfad < 

Made t© his miftrefs' e3nr-brow.*-*Th«i n fddier,^ 

Full of ilrange oaths^ and beardtd like the pard ; 

Jealous in honor ; fudden and quick in quarrd } 

Seeking the bubble rep.vtatiofl. 

Even io the cannon's mouth.*— Add then the jufttcc ^ 

In fair round bodjTf with good capon lined : 

Wiih eyes fcvcre, and beard of formal cut r 

¥vXt of Wife laws and iBoden» inHianc^t r 

And fo he ;»lays his part.— The fixth age Mh^ 

i4ito the lean and flipper'd pantaloon ; 

With fpe£lacle» onnofe, and pouch on fide ; 

His youthful hofe well fsT'd a world too wide 

Vor his (hrunk fhank ; and his big manly voiccf, ^ 

Turning again towards cluldiih trebde, pipes -. 

And whtlHcsin hifr fomid,— -Eaft ftfene of all». 

That ends- this ftrange eventful hift'ory, 

& fraonddiildifhnefsy and mere oblivion; ' 

Sans teethj fans eyes, fimi tafte^ fans every thidg;^ 

COLUMBUS to FERDINAND. 

GcLUMBTJS VMS acottfiderMe mmher of yearrengoget^tff'fi&i^ 
ing the court of Spain to fit htm out^ h order io di^emte a tum 
contmattf wmch be immagined- exljttd fomtv^ken in the w/knt i 

. /jtar/x of tbh oceans Durhig hh m^ociatioHf he is Juffojid to> \ 
addrtfi^Kmg YitkttvhAnth tb^fofh*wmgrflan»M^'^ 

ILLUSTRIOUS monarch of Iberia's fdil,. 
Too long I wait permfflf on to depart ; I 

Si<fk ofdclaya> I- beg thy liftTiin^ tar- 
Shine forth 4the patron and the prince of arh 
While yet Columbtis breathet the vital «ir^ 
Grant his rcqucd: to pafs^the weflem tnam j 
Rcferve this glory for thy native foitj -. , 

And what hiuft ptcafe thee more— foi thy owtl rei^^- | 

Of this huge globe how fmalfa pkti wc toow— * I 

Docs Heaven their worlds to wcftern fonrdeny ?- j 

How difpropertion'd to themighty deep * j 

The lands that yet itt human proipeft lie ! ' 
Docs Cyoihiaywbcn to wefterafihes arriv^df 
Spend her fwect beam u^on the barren main it 
AodWeriU«me wkkxmdnightfflead^yibej^. . 



AMERICAN SELECTION. loi 

^he.ttativedancing on the ftg^tfodic green ? 
I^hould the vaCl circuit of the worW contaih 
>ach wailes of ocean an fuch fcauty land ? 
Vis reafpn's voice that bids me think not fa ; 
1 thiqk oiore nobly of the Almighty hand. 
Does yon fair lamp trace half the circle round • 
ro light the waves and mondea of the fesft ? 
blo-^be there muft beyond the billowy waft^i 
[flandsy and meni and animalsy and tree0» 
(\.a unremitting fiai»e my br«a{l infpirey^ 
To feek new lands amid H the barren waveSf 
Where falling low, the fource of day defccndSt 
Add the blue fea his evening vifage Vtves. 
Hear, in^his tragic lay, Cordova's fage ;* 
** The time Chall come^ ^hcn numerous years are-{Mift> 
The ocean ihall diflblve the bands of things^ 
: And an extended region rife at Urft $ 
And Typhis ihall diiclofe the mighty land, • 

Far, far away^ where none have i^v'd before i 
^^Nor (hall the world's reraoteft regions be 
, CSrtbralter*8 rock* orThuIe's fayagc fhorc." 
\ Fir'd at the theme, I langnith to depart, 

Supply the harqu^iaad bid Columbus: jfail ; 
*■ He fears no dorms upon the u«itravelrd deep ; 

Reafon (halt fteer, and (lj:ill difarm the gale : 
. Nor does he dread to lofe th^ intended courfe. 
Though far from land the reeling gaily ftrayi 
And ikiea abov^, and gulfy feas below, ^ 
^ Be the fola obje^ fcen for many a day. 

Think not that nature has iinvail'd in vain 
. -The myftic magnet to the mortal eye. 

So late have we the guiding needle planed 
i Only to fail beneath oor native (ky ? 

Ere this was found ;the Ruling Power of all. 
Found for our uf|p an ocean in the land, 

Its breadth fo fmall we could not wander long, g^ 

Nor long 4»e abfent JFt^g0uJKe«jicf gh boring ttr and* \ . 
^Wt wafthe coutfeand guided by the ftars ; 
But ftats, no mgre (hall point our daring way ; 
The ^ear (hall (ink, aind every guard be drown'd. 
And great Ardurus feared cfcape the fea, 
When fofirthward we (hall (leer— O grant my wi(h| 
* Sin^^a^ tbffQCt, "native of Cordova^ in Spaia^ 



ttct ' WEBSTER'S 

Supply the barqie, and bid Coloinbiw f«i] ^ 
He dreadi no tempeft oa the uatrawU'd dccp^ 
Rcafon (liali ftecr,^ and ikill di£irm tkegde. 



m 



LONG ruHi'd the viaors </er the feaguiiie fitl4r 
And fearer were Gibeon's lo^icft fpifesbchtldy. 
When up the weft ^ark ckuid* bcga» to rA^i 
^ Sail'd o'er the hills and Icngtben^'a Ktund tb« ficfet ^ 
A Tidge of folding fire, their fummits fltofic^ 
But fearful blaekncfa alt beneath wa$ throws \ 
Swift round the fiaa the fprradfng gloom wad'hiitl'd^ 
And night aod folitu^e aoaaxM £e woHd* 

At once the voice of detfp relouBdtfiff .galc« 
Rung flow tod foleiMi ia tHe dtftaat Yam \ 
Then through the groves and o'er the extended' ptaifi>. 
Wkb ftormy rage the rapid whiflwioda rao. 
Red o'er the glimmering hilbi wtib pcmip ^vm^ 
The lightning's flaming path bfgaft to fhine ; 
Far round the ]mmen(c» tiBufval thunder driwHi| 
Prockim'd the onfet of approichiftg Heaven : 
Aftonifh'd nature otirnM th« fttangealarro^ 
And the world trembled fit the impefMStog ftortn. 
O^er the dark fields agh»ft Caivaacr fti eam'd ; 
Thif k in their courfe the fcatterM biicklera glenai'd ^ 
Behind them Jofhua urg'd th« fmrioiu car. 
And tenfold horrora hov^r-M rouiidt^e w«i<« 

Bat when the Chief the l^adiffg ftitu-m- fur^ey'd^ 
And tracM Almighty arma in heaven difplay*d ; 
With piercing voice be gave th< gveat commancty> 
Stand Rill, ye chofen fons, adlftiring jftaltd I 
Behold what awftil f^senes ia heft^eo nrife ! 
Adore the Power that btightena in the flciei f* 
Now God's tremendooaarm afleria his lawa ; 
Now bids his tbuideraid the fighteoua caufe % 
Shows man how virtue faves her chofen bands^ 
And points the vengeance dooiaM for guilty tai^ f^ ** 
Behold, what fUmea flioot forth I. wdiat gloom afceadt ^ 
liow nature trembles T how the concaw rendif 
iow the tloude darken !- fee in yonder (ky, 
heir opening (kirta proclaim the Almighty nigh f 
ie fpoke, and from the north a ruftiing fbusdi 
i)U'd ihroBghthekcavenff, aod ftook ih' embattled grOBwI ^^ 



^^^ AMEBIC AK SELECTION* ' fdj 

rhronM on a dark red dood, an an^eP» form 
$ail*d awfully AitMiaae^ »b6Tc the ftorm. 
^alf VeilM in mift» His count' aancc, like a (nn^ 
luflatn'd the clouds, and through all aether (hone*: 
Loiig robes of crimron light behind him flowM ! 
His wiogs were flame» ; h» Idcks were dyM in blotKl ! 
Ten thottfafld fiery Shapes were round him driven, . 
Knd all th« dazzling pomp of opening heaven ! 

Now, fave Gaddan's criea that feebly rang 
Round the dark plain ta fearful lileoce hung ; 
gtr^tch^^J in dtrc terror, o*er the quiVring band. 
The cihcrial vifion waVd>i« fun bright hand ; 
At once, from opening ikies, red flames were hurlM, 
And tbundcra, roll -4 on tbanders, rock'd the world ^ 
in one broad deluge funk tbe avenging haf), . 
And, fill'd with tempjeft, roar'd tlw hoary vaFe ; 
Fierce raging whirl ^ir<ds boundlefs nature blend ; 
The ftreanaa rufli back 5 the tottering mountains bend ; 
,Down the tall fteeps their burftitig fummits roll ; 
And cliffs on cliffs, hoarfe Crafhing, rend the pole. . 
Farround'the earth a wild drear horror reigns ; 
k'TUe high heavens heave, and roar the gloomy plaias 5 
1 One fea of lightning all the region fills, 
^■And waves of fire ride furging o*er the hfffs ; * 
|*The iiodding forefts plange in flame aroimd, 
|,And with huge cavcriis gaps the (h^dering ground 9 
!:Swifer than rapid winds C Aian driven, 
'Acfufc the confllft of emWltled heaven. 
[But the dirt haii in vain the iritSb'ms fly, 
, And death unbounded (hook from aTl the Eky. 
The thunder's dark career t he Xcraph^a arm. 
Fierce vengeance WaEiffg dowti <iic immeale of ftormi 
i^rom faHing groves* to burning flames they flewj 

ill) roars arcflind and anery hofts ptirfue,; 

J'rom (baking (kie?. Almighty a^ms are hurlM, 

Udall the gloomy concave borfts upon the 'fror!d« 

- Aooaass ^ /^Jtf DErtv. 

P AT HER of light ! c3(fhaafHcft fource of goo^ ! 
^ Supreme, eternal, feW eiufterit <3 00 1 

f^ffore the beamy fun dffpens'd a ray, 
Wd in the azure vault, and gavtj the day. 
cfore the glimmcrhig mboii, with borrowed trgbt^ 



j|C4 WEBSTER'S -» 

Shone quscn amid the Hit fi: ho(l of nighty 
^High ia the lieavtiM thou raign'ft fiiperior Lord, 

By fuppliant angcH worHiipp'cTand ador'd* , 

With the ccl'ftiaT choir then let me join 

In cheerful praifet to the Power Divine* 
, To fing thy praile, do thou, O God i infptre . 

A mortal bread: with more than mortal fire. 

In dreadful maiefty thou fil'ft entbron'd, r 

With light cncircl'd, and with glory crown'd : 

Through all infinitude e^ctends thy reign» 

For thee nor heaven, n^r heaven of heavens contatfi | 

But though thy throne is fix'd above the Iky, 

Thy omniprefence fills immen^ty. 

Saints rob'd in white, to thee their anthems bringi 

And radient martyrs hallelajahs fipg : 

Heaven's univerfal hoft their voices raife 

In one etetnal concert to thy |>raifip | 

And round thy awful throne with one accord. 

Sing holy, holy, holy is the Lord t 

At thy creative voice, from ancient night, 

Sprang fmiling, beauty, and yon worlds of light ; 

Thou fpak'ft— the planetary chorus roU'd, 

Stupendous worlds i unmeaf^rM and untold ! 

Let there be light, faid G0d-*-light inftant fhone^ 

And from the orient burft the golden fun ; 

* Heaven's gazing hierarchies, with glad furprifcf 
Saw the. fird mem inveft t\\t rece^fki.es. 
And ftrait the exulting troops thj^rone furround ; 
With thoufand, thoufand harps of rapturous found ; 
Thrones, powers, diminions, (ever fhining trains !} 
Shouted thy praifcs in triumphant ftrains. } 
Great are thy works, they fing ; and all around. 
Great are thy works, the echoing heav'ns refoupd* 
Th' effulgent fon, unfufferably bright, 

^ Ts but a ray of thy o'et flowing, light ; • 

* The tempeft is thy breath ; the thunder hurl*d ; 
Tremendous, roars thy vengeance o'er the wor^ : 
Thou bow'il the heavens, the fmoktng mountains nod, 
Rocks fall to durft, and nature owns her God ! 
Pale tyrants (brink, the athcift "(lands aghad. 
And impious kings, in horror, breath their laft 1 
To this great God, alternstely, I'd pay, 
The evening anthem and the mQrniag lay. 



• I 



^^^ AMERICAN SELECTION^ aojf 

A Morning HirMif. 

FLOM nighty from filenccy and from deatb| 
Or djraih'fl own form, myftrriouflrj(]ecp» 
I wake to life, to li^t aad health x. 
Thus me doth ifr^ePs Watchman l^eep; 
Sacred to hup, in grateful praife. 
Be this devoted tranquil hont*, 

While him, f apremcly good and great, ' 

With rxpt'rotis homage I adore. 
; What miific breaks from yonder cprpl^ f 
"^ThcpJmny foDgters* artkfs lay ; 
Melodious /ongfters, nature taught . I ' 
That warbling bail the dawmng day, 
N Shall Qian be mute, while inftmdl lings ? " / 

* Nor human breaft with tranfperts rjfj: j 
j. O f or an ]aniverfal hymn, ^ 

To join the chorqs of the^iea i 
' Sec yon refulgent lamp of day. 
With unabating glory crown'd^ 
'. Rejoicing in his giant ftrengthj 
i To run hiB daily deftin'd round. ^ 

So may I ftili perform thy will « ' ' 
i Great Son of Nature and of Grace ! 
\ Nor wan^ier devious from thy law ; v 

Nor faint in my appointed race. 
\ What charms difplay the unfolding flowers ? 
How beauteous -grows jAe enamelPd mead f 
\ More beauteous uill thFneaven- wrought robe^ 
\ Of piireft whice and fac*d with red, 
j^ The fun exhales ,ihe pearly d«wa# 

Thofe brilliant /ky-£bed tea^ that mourn 

His nightly loft : till from garth's check 

Thcy^re kilPd away by pitying morn. 

For lapsM mankind what friendly tears^ 

Bent on our weal did angels (hed ? . 

Bound, bbund our hearts, to think thofe tcara 

Made fruftratc fill when Jefus bled ! ' 

Acabia wafts from yonder grove 

Pelidous odours in the gale ! 

And with her breea^-bonie fragrance greets^ 

Each cii*cumjacent hill and dale. 

Aiinoeafemay my morning fon|^, . /** '"^ 



A fwectly fadlingr favoiif rife, 
Pu*fuin*d wiih Qilead'apneciQul.balfD^ 
^ '^o make it grtitcful to t^ic (kici. 
A n^ when from death's loog4cep I wdoe^ 
To nature^s reaovating^ay* 
Clothe ^c with 4hy own righ^eojufqcSi^ 
^»d an thy lik^cfs, Lord, array^ 

Hymn to P,£iLX^B. 

HAI^L, (acred Pea[ce, who cl^im'd thy bright ah«^ 
Mid circling faints that gr^ce tl^e ihrosc of God^ . 
Before hi^ arm around thiplhap^efs earU)» 
Stretch'd the wide hea?epa jofifi gi^e to :Qature b^irth j;^ - 
£re morning ft^rs, his Rowing cbaisibershung^ 
Or Tongs of gla4nef!^ w(^ke an apgePs tongue j 
VcIV'd in the brightnefs of th* Almighty's mind^ 
In bleft rcpofc thr placid form liccKnM j 
Borne thro the Heaven, with hiscreating voice* 
Thy prefence bade the unfoldii\g worlds rejoice^ 
■Gave to fcraphic harps their feunding lays, 
t Their joy to angels Af^d to , men .their pra.ife« 

From fcenes of bipod thefe beauteous, ihores'that ^vt^ 
From gra;fping friends that preis the fanguia'd plain. 
From fields, long taugiht i(\ v^jn iiy ^ight tQ mourxij| 
I rife, delightful power ! and greet (hy glad return. 
Too long the groSiv^4)f death a^d battle's bray 
Have rung difcordant tkro ^' fiPf^^cAjigUj ; 
Lee pity's tesir \ts balmy fragrance (nil. 
O'er heroes' wounds, and patriot warriors ^ead ^ 
Aiccept, departed Shades, thefc grated ,Cgh8» 
Your fond attendants j.o tW approving fkics, ! 
But now the untunefuj trump (h.all grate no mo^Ci^ 
Ye iilvcf dreams, no longer fwcjl with gore ; 
^ear from your .beauteops banjis the crimfotn ftaiof , 

Wi^-h yon retiring navies to the fikSL\a ; 
^ While ot,ber vief^ .enfolding on my eyes, • 

id happier ^themes bid bplder nyrabers rife. ^ 
ng'boubteous peace, in thy ^eleilial throng; . 
c to my !foul, and rapture to my fong ; 
c me, to trace, |iritjli^ure uncfouded ray, 
: arts and virtues that attend thy fway ; 
fee thy blissful charms that here dcfcend, 
jo diftant rolma and eodlefa years extend,* 



AS v^ien fame peasant, who to tr«at' &1S lofd^ 1 

Brings out* his little ftocks, and decks hfs board'^ > 
^ith what his ill- ftor*4^ciipboard will afford^ J . 

With aukvi^'ai'd bow8> andilt plac'd rudic airsy 
To make cxcufcs for his feafl^ prcpa>cs ; 
So we, with tKinof^ mix'd with vaft delight, 
View the briglit jiudJencc whicfi appears lo-nl^it j' . 
And confcious of its nveaanefs, hardly dare' 
To bid "foil' vrelcome f o our horfttly fare. 
Should your applaiife ^ conSdencc impartV 
To calnS thtf fears that pfefe the trtnid heait," 
Sdrncf hope I chtrifli, in your fmifcs I ifead 'eoj,* 
l/lThateVr aur ftii^iC' your cand'of v^ilt exceed 'em. 



ADDITIONAL DIALOGUES. 



$chu tfetweehCECiiiA BiviRLY and HBWRfEtTA BittFlRLDV 
Cecilia. T\i^^ ^^^^ Henrietta, you feem to be overjoyed— 
IVJt May 1 know the c^fc ? - , 

Mtfnricttav Jify dear, deai* Mifs Beverly, I h"ave fuch a thing 
to tell yjo^— *yotr wontld never gvtcfs it-^I don't know how to 
l>eliev<e it myfclf— Mr.- Delvilt has written to m^ I he hea iu* 
deed I here w %ht note ! {hplJing out a Uiter, ) 

CtCi Indeed I hng to kiww the contents.^ Pray read it% 
Hen. (reads it.) 
« T<y Mifs BiLFrtLiA' 

♦* Mr, D^lwftl prefents hi* cdirl]aj'fments fo* Mlfs Bcjfi'cld and 
Begs to be pcriniitcd tof wait on her for i few miriutcs, at any 
time in the afternoon^ flie will pkafe- to appoint.'* 

Only thkik ! it ismf, poor fiovple fw, of all people, that h« 
wants to* fpe»k withv But what can he want ! My deared C^- 
tilia, tell me .what you think he can have to fay to me ? 
Cec. Indeed it is impoiUlble for me to conjcfture. 
Hen, li ytm can't I am fure therms i« no wonder / cs-n't, I 
. have thought of a million of things in a minute. It can't b«' 
About bttuiiefs-<^It can't be abotit crtr brother — It can't be a- 
bout ra-y dear Mifs Beverly — I fufped— ( dfer'oant enien *wU5 
am^gagc.) 

Servt. A gentleman; in the parlor dc fires to speak with Mifa- 
BflfieldL ' (Scrvanl ^<>es (jzrf.) 



*v A^«^k/*jwa.^ t^ 



Hen, My dear Mift Beverly, what (hall t fay to him i Praf 
advife tat, I am fo conf«ifed I can^t lay a Tingle vro^d. 

Ccc, I can^t advlfc you, Mifs BclficW| for I dou't know 
l»hat Be will fay to you* 

He»» But I can gucfs ! I can gxiels ! And I Oian^ know 
ixrhat 10 the world to amfwer. I fhall behave like a fimpletott 
aod difgracc myfclf. 

( Cecilia leaves her and Mr^ l)elvill enttu the ro9m. ) 

I>elvill. Good morrow, Mifs BelBeld. I hope I ha?e ti^e 
pleafure to fee you well to-day. U MiT» Beverly at home \ I 
Lave a mefTage for her from piy tcoChct, 

Hen. (fVfth a look of (Ufappolnttneut) Yes, SlriJhe is at Ifome^ . 
I will call her. -(iiow out) {Cfcilia enteru) 

Delv. Good morrow, Madamt t have prefumed to wait oa 
you this, morning, by permiflion of my mother. But I am af<* 
f aid that pcrmifllon it fo late, that the kiflttence 1 hoped from 
it is pafti 

Cec. 1 had no means, Sir^^ of knowing yod came from her ) 
otherwife I (hould have received her comfflaodf witkont he* 
iitation* 

Delv. I would thank you for the honor you do her, was it 
lefa pointedly ^xclnft^e, ' Yet I have no rigkt to reproach yom 
X'Ct ttie aik, Ma^avi) could you, after ray folemu promife at 
our laft parting, to renounee all future claim upon yooy ia 
obedience to my mother's will, could you thiak me fo di(ho« 
norable, as to obtrude myfelf iato your prefeoce while that 
promife was in force ? 

Cec. I find I have been too hafty ; I djd indeed believe Mrs, 
Delvill would. never authorise fuch a viOt ; but as I was much 
iurprifed, I hope 1 may be pardoned for a little doubt, 

Delv, There fpoke Mifs Beverly ! the fame, the unaltered 
Mife Beverly I hoped to find. Yet is (he unaltered ? 'Am I not 
too hady ? And is the ftory I have heard about Belfield^a 
dream ? an error f^a falfchood ? - 

Cec. If it was not that fuch a quick fucceffion of quarrels 
M^ould be endlefs perplexity, I would ht affronted that you can 
alilc me fnch ajqucftion, 

Delv. Had I thought it a queftion, i ftiould not have alked 
*', But never for a nioment did I credit it, till the rigor of 

jf repuhle alarmed me. But as you are good enough to ac- 

"int for that, I am encouraged to make known the defign of 
prefcntviiit : Yet with confidence I cannot fpcak i iardly 
b hope. 



•AMfittlCAN SELECftO^. 209. 

CeCn One thing, Sir, let me fay before you proceed ; if your 
[P^rpofe has not. the fandtiort of Mr** DclWll, as well as your 
vifir^ I Would be cxdufed from hearing it, for I (hallmoft cer.. 
taflily lefuCe it. 

Dein}. I would rtentidu notthitig'wlthdut her d(Jncurren€e, 
fhe hag gi?en it ; and my father has alfo confented to doy pre^ 
fcnt appHcation* 

Cee. {clafplng^ef handi In joy) Is it poffiblc ? 
Dtlv^ hit poMhle? With what emotions do I hear thefe 
Vror^s \ Ah> Mifs Beverly ! once my own Cecilia I do yon, 
caa you «a/j)3i it wete poflible ? 

Cec* No, HO, I wifh nothing about it. Yet tell me how it 
lias happened — I anl curious (puifing) tho not intercfted iti it. 
Delvt, What hope Would' this fweetnefi give me, was roy 
, fcbeme any other than it is I But yoti cannot —no, it would 
be unreafonable^t would be madnefs to expeft your comph** 
*nce ! Ic is next to madnefs in me to wrfli it ! But how (hal! a 
man who is defpcrate be prudent and circumfpeft ? 

Cec, Spafe yourfclf. Sir, this unneceffaify pain. You will 
'find in toe no unneccflarijf fcruplei. 

jD^v. You know not what you fay. Madam, All noble a« 
. ypu are, the facrificc I have to propofe— . 

Cee^ Name it, Sir, with confidence, I will not diYguife— but 
frankly own that I will agree to any facrifice you will men- 
\ tion, provided It has Mrs. pelvill's approbation* 

Ddvn What -words are thefe ? Is it Mifs Beverly that fpcaks ? 
Cec* What can 1 fay more ? Muft I offer this pledge too I 
(.holSng. out her hand,) 

i>tf/i^- My dear CecihV, how happy this makes meflaiifig 
if er hand) for my. life I would not refign it. Yet how foori 
will you withdraw it, when you know that "the only terms on 
which t can hold it i^re^ that this hand mull flgn away your 
inheritance* 

dec> 1 do ►not e<>mprehend this. Sir* 
Deh^ Can you for my fake make fuch a faCrifice as this > t 
to not permitt«d to give up w/ name for jours ; cjin you re-< 
nounce your wqqWs fortune ^ as you muft if yoii reaoiince your 
wa«*^, and content to fuch fettlemcnts as / can make upon you ? 
•Will thefe, and your own paternal inheritance of ten thoufand 
. pounds, fatisfy your eXpcftations of living ? 

Cec\ (Turning pah and dramng hack bet band) 0, Mr* D<L 
ViUryour words pierce mc to the fouL - . - 

S ^ 



3IO • WEBSTER'S 

• "* 

. Dehu Have I offended you, Madam ? Pardon me, then,. for 
indul^mg^ a romantic whim which your better judgment dif* 
. approves. My prefu^iptioa dcfervcs this mortification. 

Gee. You know not then my inabih'ty to comply ? 

Delv, Your ability or iaa,bility, I prefume, depends on your 
«wn will, 

Cec. No, Sir, by no means, my power is loll— my fortune 
alas, is gone. 

Deh. Impojffibh / utterly impo.fliblc ! 

Cec» Would to heaven it were otherwifc ! But it is too true, 
and your father knows it, 

Deh. My father ! . , . 

Cec. Did he never hint it to you ? 

Deh, Diftraftion ! what horrible conformation is coming ! 
(paufing) Tou only, Mifs Beverly, could have made this cred- 
ible \ ' 

Cec. Had you then aftually heard it ? 

Deh, I had indeed heard it, as the moil infamous falftfaood. 
My heart fwclled with indignation at fuch (lander* 

Ces. Oh, Sir, the fa£l is undeniable ; tho the circumftances 
you may have heard with It may be exaggerated. 

Delv. That indeed mud have been the cafe, I was told that 
your [parental fortune W5d totally exhaufted, and that during 
your minority you had been a dealtr with Jews ! All this I was 
told from my father, or I could not have been made to hear it. - 

Cec* Thus far he told you nothing but truth. 

Deh, Truth ! {Jlartlng) Never, then, was^ truth fo fcanda« 
loufly wronged ! I denied the whole report ! 1 difbelieved 
every fyllable \ I pledged my own honor to prove every afier- 
lion falfe, , 

Ce€, Generous Del vill ; this is what t might expe^ from 
you. (Weeping.) 

Deh. Why does Mifs Beverly weep ? Why has (he given 
me this alarm ? Thcfe things mud at Icaft hjaye been mifrepre^ 
f^ntcd. Will you coDdcfccnd to unravel to me this myftcrioua 
affair ? 

Cec. Alas, ^\r^ the unfortunate -Mr. Barrel f ^He has been 
the xaufe of my lofFes. You know his love of gaming, a pa£. 
^'''n which led him to his fatal end. In his embarraffments he' 

me io4ne for afliftance. He was my guardian ; what could 

lo ? I yielded to his entreaties, and repeatedly took tip mo-. 

y of a Jew, upon the ^credit of roy cftate, wniil the whole 



\ AMERICAN SELECTION. . an 

\ was pledged. If it was a fauU, I know you will afcribc it to 
I the real motive, and pardon it. ♦ 

' Deiv. My dear Cecilia, I thank you fmcercly for thla ac- 
\ count of your mirfortunas ; altho it fills my heart with anguifh. 
: Hofr will my mother be fhockcd to hear a torifirmation of the 
' report ihe had heard I How irritated at your injuitcs from' 
[ Harrel ! How ffricved that your geuerofity (hould bring upoa 
[yourchara£ter fo many vile afpcrfioni i 

\ Cec. I hiive been of too eafy a difpofitiori— too unguarded— 

; yet always, at the moment, I fccmed guided by common hu- 

! manlty. But I tho't myfeU fecurc of wealth ; and while the 

fevcnue of my uncle iniurcd me prQfperity, I tho*t little of my 

own fortune. CoOld I have fore feen this moment — 

' Deh^ Would you then have liHencd to my romantic propofal ? 

^rr. Could I have bcfitatcd ? 

Ddv. Mod generous of beings, ftill then, be mine i. By our 
I economy we will make favings to pay off our mortgages and 
[.clear our eilates* * I will ftill keep my name, to which my famJ 
^ily is bigoted ; and my gratitude for your compliance ihall make 
i you forget what j^otf lole by the change of yours^ 

Scfae 6eitoeen Cecilia hzviKWhY and arGhiiTLtMAn^ 
Gent. IT PRESUME, Madam, you are the lady of this houfe« 
i A May Itake the liberty lo afk your name t 

I Gee. My name, Sir ? 

J , Gent. You will do me a favor by telling it me. 
I Cec« Is it poflible, Sir, you are come hither without already 
f-knowing it ? ' 

[ Gene, I know it only by common report, Madaoi. 

Cec. Common report. Sir, I believe is feldom wrong in Z 
I matter where it is fo eafy to^be right, 

!. Genu Have you any objc^iions, Madam, to telling me yout 
: name ? ' , • • 

i Cec. No, Sir, but your bufinefs can hardly be very import^' 
';;ant, if you are yet to learn whom you are to a^drefs. It will 
! be time eiiough, therefore, for us to meet, when you have elTe- 
i where learnt mv name. {Going,) 

Gent. I beg, Madam, you will have patiertce ; it is neceflary 
i before I can open my bufinefs ihat^ I ihould hear ^your uame 
; from yqurfelf. 

f Cec. Why, Sir, I think you can fcarcely have corae to this 
r boufc, without knowing that its owner is Cecilia Bcvtrly, 

Gent. That, Ma dam;, is yt)ur maiden name' 



2ti WEBSTAR'S ^ . 

Ccc. My maideri ftame ! {/nrpriised, ) 
Geot. Are you not married, Madam ? 
etc. Married, Sir ! 

Gent« It h more properly, Madam* tlie name of your A^< 
iend that I mtzn to afk. 

' Ccc, And by what adthorityi Sir, do yoa make thefe titrv 
Ordinary enquiries J 

Cent* I am dcpntedt MadaiA, by Mn Eggledon^ trho is 
next heir to your uoclc'd eftate, if you die without children, or 
change your name when you marry. I am aiithorifed by lelter 
of attorney from him to make thei^ enquiries, itnd I prefume) 
Madam, you will not deny his authority. He has been credi* 
bly informed you are married ; and aayou continue to be called 
Mifa Beverly, he wifhes to know your intentions, zs hqis deepljf 
tnterefled in knowing the truth. 

Ccc* This dcniand, Sir, is fb exfrcittely— (^^mwfri^)— fo 
•^fo little expcfted--- 

Gent* The better way, Aladatii# ih thcfe tafc«* is to keep. 
dofe to the point .=— Are you married, or are yoa not ? 
Cec. This 18 dealing very plainly^ indeed, Sir. But«-^ 
Gent. It is, Madam, and very ferioufly too ; but it is a bt34 
finefs of no (light concern4 Mu £ggle(lon has a large fatbily 
and a fmall fortune, and that very much etictidnbered. It can* 
not, therefore, be expeded that he will fee himfelf wronged, 
by your enjoying an ef|ate td which he is encitled. 

. Ccc. Mr. £gglefton» Sir, has nothing to fear from Jnnpdfiti- 
tni4 Thofe with whom he has or may have any tranfadtions in 
ihis affair, are not isfed^ to pradice fraud* 

Gent 4 I am far from meaning any offence^^ Madam ; mj 
cotamifiibn from Mr. Egglefton is fimply this ; to beg yoti will 
fatisfy him upon what ground you now erade^the will of youf 
late uncle \ which, till explained, appears to be a poiotmuch 
to his prejudice* 

Cec Tell him thefl. Sir, that whatever be wiAes to know< 
(hall ^e explaideid in about a week. At prefent I ca^ give do 
other anfwen 

Gent* Very well» Madam> he will wait tiU that time, I ao 

fure ; for he does not wifh to put yoil to any inconvenience.* 

But when he heard ihe Gentleman was gone abroad withost 

owning his marriage, h« thought it high time to take Tome no4 

:lce of the matter* 

Cec. Pray, Sir, let mc aflc, hovryou came to the knovledgff 
3f this affair? . ' 



AMERICAN SELECTION. aij 

Cent^ I Ifeard it, Madatni fram Mr. Eggleftoik hiinfelfi who 
iias long known it. 

* Ccc- Long, Sir J-^^iropoflible \^t is not yet a fortnight^— 
^'jftot ten days, of yot more, jthat-— 

Gent. Thati Madam, may perhaps bt difpoted j for when 
this bu flit e (a comes to be fetlledj it will bt very cffenii?] to be 
Vxa<5t as to the time* even to the very hour ; for the income of 
the eftate if lai'ge, Madamj and if your hufband keeps his own 
liame, yoa mult not bnty gm u^ yoar iincle's inheritance', 
frora tbjC time of changing your name, bat refund the profile 
from the very day of your marriage. 

Oc. There is aot the leaft daubt of that, oor will the jeal 
difficulty be madc% 

; .Gent. Pleaft thca >t6 recaUedf Madam» that the fum to be 
refunded is every hour increaHng, and haa been ever fioce laft 
'^eptenaber, which mad^ half a year to be acetsuated for laft 
March« Since then there ii now added--^ 
^ Cecm For aMcrcy't fake, Sir » what caictilatione are you mak* 
jttg out ? Do yott call laH week, laft September ^ 
. Gcayti Ho, Mikdam; bat I call laft September the aioath la 
(Irhick you irere Carried w 

. Cec« Y^a uHll then^ fiad^ youvfclf extremely mtftakcts ; aad 
^r. Eggleilon is preparing kioBJelf for much difappointmenef 
xf he fuppofes me folong in arrears with him. 
' O^tit. "Mn £gglefton„ MadaiO, happeaa to be well informed 
of thia tranfadioD, as yoo will fiad, if any difpute /hould arife 

in the cafe. H« was the next occupier o£ the houfe you hired 
^4ai^ September ; the woman wha kept it, informed him thwt 

Xht ladperfoQ who hired it was a lady Who flayed one day 
: only, and came to town, (he founfl» merely to l^e married. On 
^ enquiry, he djfcorored that this lady was Mifs Beverly. 

Cec. You will find that all this, Sit, will end m nothing. 
i G^i\t* That, Madam, remains to be proved. If a yourij; 
i ladj: is feen— -and fi>e was feea, going into chtirch at eight 
- o'clock ia the morning, with a young gentleman and one fe- 
' maleftiend;: and is afterwards feen coming out of it followed 

by a clergyman and one other perfon^f-and is feen to get iat© 

a eoach with the Came young geatleman and female itisnd i 

why, the clrcumflances are pretty ftroag ! 

Cec« They may fcem fo, Sir ; but all concluiSons dravra 

from them will be erroneous : I was nat married then upoa 

my honor. 
Geat. We have little to do. Madam, with profeifions; the 



I 
circtimftaiicct are ffroftg enough to bear a trial-^Bcf— >' 
, Cec. Atrial ! 

Gcnf, We hate fouvd many witne fiefs to prove a number of 
pariK^ularSt and eight months ihare of inch an eftate aa ihts, fl 
well worth sr little tronbk* 

Cec. I ai» amrzed» Sir, furcly Mr. £g|:1cftoir neref aathof- 
ized you to make nie of fach language to me, ' 

GenL Mr. Egglellon, Madam*, Has behaved- ter^ honorably ; 
tho he knew the whoJe afiaif, h« fitppofed Mr. l!>elf ill had 
good rcalons for a (bort conceaiffient, and eaplrded cfery da^ 
when the matter wauld become pttblie. He therefore did no( 
iatirfere. Bat on hearing that Mr. Dekill hi$d ki out for 
the continent, he was advifed to claim his rfghts.- 

Ceg. His chiims, Sir, will' doabtleft be fatkfied without 
Unreal ening or law fuits- -^ 

Gsni. The truth k, Madaa, Mr«- £g^l^on ir a^ Ittde em^ 
barralTed for want of fome money. This oiakes it a poiflt 
with himr V6 have the affair fettled fpeedi<y, atilere yourcthnfe 
to compromife, by advaaciog »particalar fimi, tU^it iuitsyoa 
to refund the whole that is due tb him and <|uit the prenHct.' 

Cic. Nothing, Sir, is due to him f at le»ft nothing' worth 
|ii<titiist>ing« I will enter thCa po tcrtbs^ ; f ha^ no compro- 
toifetemake- As to the preouies,, I will q^uit them jas toci^ 
as poffible. . ' 

Gent, Yott Wi4f do* weU, Madain,^ for the tmtft iSr it will . 
not be convcment for him to wait any longer. [_Geeseirt\'] 

C€c^ How weak and blind have I been, to form a.fecret pUa 
of defrauding tho heir to my uncle's eftate \ I am betrayed-* 
and I dcfev^s it. Never,.- navcv mora will I di%raoe myf«lf by 
iuch an ad« 



Scene iefwem Cacii:.iA 0id KurttiTBTTA. 
Ceeir$a^ "^71 THAT is the matter with my dear Hf*>rie«^? 
V V Wlw is it that has ah'ead'y affifted that kind 
fccart. wbkh I am now compelled to^af&i^ for royfel^ ? 

Hen. No, Madam, not afflided fop you^ I it would be UrangC} 
if I was while I think as I now do.- , ' 

Ceem I am glad yon are Aot, for, was k pofOble, I would 
ive you nothing but pleafure and joy. , 
Hen. Hhr M^am, why will yoiv fay ib, wh«n yon don't care 
at becomes of me I When yo« are going t^ call me ofF !— 
A when you will foon be too happy to think of me more ! 
Ci^« If I am acver happy till tben, (ad* iiuieed will bt mj 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 



21$ 



lite ! DO, my gcntleft frieod, you will always have your (hare 
i^ my heart ; and to lae would mlwivt htre been the welcotifed 
|neft HI my hou/e, but for thofe unhappy circumftances which 
.pake our feparatin^ inevitable* 

ff^a. Yet ,you Offered me, Madam» to hear from any body 
that yoa waa married and going away ; and a!l the commoq 
ff rvaots in the houfe kneinr it before me. • 

Cec. 1 am amazed ,'. How and which way can they have 
kcard il ^^ 

Hen. The man-^iat went to Mr« Egglefton brought the firfl 
pews of «t,>for..be faid all the fervanta there <tali(€>d of nothing 
clfC) and that their mafter waa to come and take pofieflion 
fcere next Tburfday* 

; Cee. Y« you envy me, tho I am forced to leave my houfe t 
^0 I am pot provided with, any other J and tho he for whom 
i relinquifhed it is far o£F> VMtbout ^ meant -of proteding 
jpe, or the power of returi^ing home. 

Hen* -But you are married to-hioi^ Madam i 
/^Cec^ True, my love, but I am aUo parted from hfm. 
. Htn* O boHir differently, do the great think firom the liitk f 
tWas / ixiarxledr-andyo xnarried, 1 (houlii want neither Itoiife 
lK»r dtit ^loaths, ^or riches, nor any thing-^I fbould not care 
frherc 1 liyed-r^Evei^ place woold.be a paradife to me i ' 
\ Cte. O, Henrietta ! Should 1 ever repine at my fituat-ion, I 
^iilcall to ipind thi9 heroic dedaratiott of you»8^ and blu/hfor 
(pay own weaknefs, 

^ane ietateitn Dp« Lv&TEdR, Mr. DTelvill, Mr. Mcrtiusk 

Delfill And Cecilia bis weje^ and Lady Hono<r-ia* 
J)r, LyJler.^Kft'K good fricnde, to the courfe of my long pr«c« 
lYA'fcice, I -have found it impoffible to ftudy the 

5ium^n fira^c, without looking a little into the mind \ and from 
11 that I have yet been able taonke out, either by obfervatwn^ 
xefiedion.or comparif«n, il appear^ KO'meat thisimoment, that 
JMr« Mortimer i>AtA\ has got the heft wife, and yoc. Sir, 
\h^Mr, Delr\ tlie moil faultleft daughter* inkw, that any 4iuf« 
band or aay fathet^inrlaw in the kingdom can have or ^e^re« 

Lady Hpn, When you fay the /^ and mo^ fdu/tle/sf Dr.Lyf- 
$^i you ihouM always add, ikfi refi ef ibe company ext^ptid. 
'■ ^^* LyJ. Upon my ViFord, I beg your L«dyfliip'a pardon \ 
fcut fomettmes^n unguarded warmth .comes acrofii a man tha( 
drives ceremony frcmi liid head and makea him fpeak truth be« 
iCore he well knowa where he i^ 



u6 WEBSTER^S 

LaJy Hon* Oh terrible ! this is (inking deeper and deeper } \ 
I had ho^es the town air had taught you better things *; boi \\ 
find you have vifijcd Dehrill caftle, til) yoa are 6t for no other 
place. 

Del. loffinjed] Whoever, lady Hcmoria, is ^ for X>elvill caf. 
tle^ muft be fit tor fvery other place ; tho every other place | 
znay by no means be fit for htm, 

' Lady Him* O yes, Sir, every poSble place lyili be' fit forhtin,^ 
if he can once bear with |hat. Don't you think fo, Dr^ J^yftcr} j 
• />r. Lyf, Why, when a naan has the-honorto fee your La»! 
dyfhip, he is apt to think tqo much of the /^r/MUQ care abou( 
the//A:/, 

Lady Hon* Come, I begin to have fom» hopes of yon, fori j 
fee, for a Doctor, you really have a very pretty notion oiF 9 ! 
comph'ntnt. Only you have one great fault ftill ; youloo)| 
the whole time as li you faid it for a joke. . | 

Dr. Lyf, Why, in fa£^. Madam, when « naa has beeai 
plain dealer boUi in word and look' for fifty years, 'tis expe&'og 
too quick a reformation to demand dudility of voice and eye 
from him at a blow* However, give me a little time and 4 
little encouragement, and with fnch a tutorefs, HwiU be har(]|| 
if I do not, in a few lefTons, learn the right method of fcafoo* 
ing a fimpcr, and the seweft fafhion pf twlftip^ ivords froii| 
their meaning. 

Lady Hon, But pray. Sir, always remember oa these occir 
fiops to look feripus. Nothing fcts o£F a compliaaent fo muck 
as a longfacea If you are tempted to an uofeafonable lasgb, 
riiink of Delvill caftle ; 'tis an expedient 1 commonly makeofie 
of myfelf, when I am afraid of being (00 frolickfome ^— and it 
always fucceeds, for the very thought of it gives me the hcidt 
ache in a moment, I wonder, Mr. DelviU, you keep yonr 
heahh fo good ; after living in that horrible pkice folosg. I 
kave expe^ed to hear of your death at ^he end of every funk 
mer, and I afl'ure you, I was once very near buyin| moomnig* 

Del. ^he eftate which defcends to a man from his anceftorbi 
Lady Hono^ia, will feldombe apt to injure his health, if he 3 
confcious of committing no mifdemeanor which b^s degradd 
their memory, 

Lady Hon^ [ina hw voice t4 C^tUia'] How vaftly odionsi 
this new lather of ^ours i What could ever induce yoa t 
give up your charraiog eftae for the fake of coming iiit« h 



: ^ AMERICAN SELECTION. m? 

fiifty old family ? I would really adviTc you to hate your mirw 
riagc annulled. You know, you have oaly tp take an oath 
that you wer^e forcibly run away with ; and as you are an heir* 
e(s and the DelvtlPa are all fo vtolentt it will «afiiy be believ* 
cd. And then, «9 fooa as you are at liberty i I wotild adTife 
you to marry my little Lord Derford. 

Cee^ Would you only then have me regain my freedom iii 
, prder to part with it ?^ , 

Lady Hon. Certainly, for you can do nothing at all without 
being married* A iingle woman \% a thoufand timea more fhae- 
kled than a wife ; for fheis accountable to every body : add 
a wife you know has nothing to do but juft to maoage her 
Jiiifband. 

Cw. iSmtSttg."} And that you confider sd a trifle !- 
^ JLddy Hou^ Yes, if yoado but marry a man you don't care for.' 

Cec* You are right then, indeed, to recommend to me ray 
; ]Lord Derford. . ^ 

Lady Hon. O yes, he will make the prettieft hufband in thtf 

• world ; you may fly about ^^urfelf as wild as a lark, and keep 
him the whole tine as tame as a jack-daw. And tho he may 
complain of you to your friends, he will never have the courage 

• • tb find fault to yonr face. But aS to Mortimer, you will not 
^^fce ^ble to govern him as long as you live ; for the moment 
f you have put' him upon the fret, you will fall into the dumpa 

yourfelf, hold out your hand tb him and lofing the opportunity' 
of gaining fome material point, make up with him at the flrft 

I foft word, 

! Cec; You think then the quarrel more amufing than the re* 

■ colle^ion ? 

:'^ ^ LmJy Mm. O, a thoufand times I for while you are quarreL 

■ ' Sng you may fay any thing, and demand any thing, but when 
<i you arc reconciled, you ought to behave pretty, and fecm 

contenWd, . 

Cec. If any gentleman has any pretenfiona to your ladyflupi 
he muft be made very happy indeed to hear your principled. 

Lady^Hon. O, it would not flgnify at all ; for one'a father^ 

and uncles and fuch people ^ always make connexions for one ; 

i and not a foul thinks of our principles till they find them out 

I by our conduct^ ; and no body can poffibly find tHe^in out till 

we arc married, for they give us qo power before haa^ J ^" 

• men know nothing of us in the worlds whil^ we •tt^ fl 
but how we cjui dance a minuet or pby i^ kfQQ uPOft ^1 
Cchord. T 




.2\y WEBSTERfS 

Dci'v, Aod what dfe need a young fcdy of rank de(tre to 1}| \ 
known, for j your bdyfhip furely would not have her degfadc I 
hcrftlf by ftudyiog like an artift or profcfibr. j 

LaJy Hon, O, no, Sir, £ would not have her ftudy at all^ 
;t*8 mighty veil for children ; bat really after fixteen, awj 
Mrhcn one is c«me put, one h^n quite fatig^ie enougli in drcC- i 
Ong and ^oing to public places, aiiid ordenng new things, with, 
out ?H the torment x}f jgrft and (ecoRd poltion, and £ upo^ 
the firft Hnc, and F upon the firft fpace. ' 

peL But pardon me, joaadam, for hinting tha)t a young lady | 
(Cjf condition^ who lias 9 proper fen&pf hfr dignityi cannot be 
fcen too rarely or known too little. 

Lady Hon. Q, but I bate dignity ! for it it jthe dulleft thing 
in the world. I have always (h'ocght, Sir, it was owing to tkajC 
you was fo little amufing^^reaUy % beg your pardon, i meant 
lb little talkative, ' 'i ^ ^ - * 

DtL I can eaWy believe yojuf ladyship fpoke ha4i!y ; for it 
JB^ill hardly be fappofed that a perfon of my family came uAo 
the world for the purpofepfafKJuCwg it. ' 

- Lady Hon. ,0, no, Sir, nobody, I am fare, csrcr knew p»; | 
to have fuch a thought,, [turning to CeceBot wtb a losu voice.j ^ 
You cannot imagine, my dear Mrs. Mortimer, bow I icU:k thif 
old con fin of mine ! Now, pray ttll me honjefily, if you doa'^ I 
Latcliim yourfelf. -' ;- ; V' j 

Cec, I hope, Madap to have no reafon to hate him. , 

Lady Hon, La, how you are always upon your guard ! If 
I T^'ere half as cautious, I Ihould die of the vapors in a month } 
the only thing that keeps me at all alive, is now and then upa* 
king, people angry ; for tile folks at opr houfc let me go out 
fo fcldomt and then fend me with fuch ftupid company, that 
giving tjbem a little torment is really the only entertainment | 
havr* O*— but 1 had almoft forgotto tclj youa moft delights • 
/ul thing! - - ,,c ' 

Cec. What IS it > 

Lady Hon^ Why ypu muft know I have the greatcft hopes 
^n the world that my father wilf quarrel with old Mr. Eehiil { : 

Cec. And ia that fuch a delightful thing ? 

Lad^ Hon, O yes : I have lived upon the very idea this fort* 
pight ; fpr then, yoii know, thcy*H both be in a paffion, and J 
IRall fee which of ilicra looks the frigbtfuleft. 

Mor(tmer Deh When lady Honoria talka afidp, I alway« 

"^e^ fotnc laiTchieF. , ' ' 

lady Hon, No, no, I was Only congrattirating Mrs^ Mon}« 



.*ef about her man^i^gev TJbb reaily u5)oii fcccmd thought, I 
doii^t know but I oixghi to condole wilh her, for I have long. 
b^en cotovfficed (He has a prbdigioiis antipathy to yott. . 1 law it 
the whole ttrae i war at Dclv3t Qa4t!ey where (he ufed Vp 
ohange colour at tlie -very found of your n^nic f i fymptom 1 
*cvet perceived when I talked to' her of L®i*i D'erford, who 
i)^ouId certainly have made her a' thousand times better hu(ban<|» 
D^m If you meau on account of his tiUe,- Lady HohOria,- 
your la<Jy(h]p. muft be ftrangpely forgetfttl.of the cortnexiona 
^f yourr family 5 fot Mortimer^ after thfe death cA hi« uncle, 
afld myfelf, muft inevitably inherit a title far more hoiiorabje 
Ihan any which caa be ofei^l by a new fprung up family, 
iike my JLord Ernoli *«. 

Lady Hw* Y€«|' Sir \ ttrt theii you know fhe would hive 
jccpt tier eftate,^ wWch «^ld Iwve bten a vaitiy better thing 
than an old ped^'gre^ of new rtlatiohs; Befidca I don't fiud 
that any body career for the aobtc hlood of the DeWills byt 
themfclves V and if fhe Irad kept her fortuucy every body, .1 
faaicy, would have eiared for A^^j/v "^ 

Dth Every body theii', mull be hfghty rtcircfenatT^; aud ign#« 
ble, oir the blood of au ancient and honorable hoafe, would be 
f bought contaminatbd by the m^ dlft-aint hkt of fo degrad-' 
ing ? Gomparifo^v ^ 

Lud^ Hon^ Dear Sir, wliat Kouli v^e all do v^ith birth if 
it was not for tt^akb t It would ticithct take Os to kanelagh 
Bor the Opefia 1 nor buy us cap » nor wigs, nor f apply us with 
^iilitieif S Uor bou<|!Utt«v 

jDifL Capi and ^ijj'sy dinttefs and bodq^.i^U I' Your ladyi 
Puipt eftimate of wealth is extrem'ely nrinine indeed. 

Likdf Jfatf, Why you know, Stf,' as to caps and wigs, they 
art very ferious things, for we fliould look mighty droll figure* 
to go about bareheaded ; arfd as to* dinners, how woull the 
I>e!villS have la'^ed alt thefc thoufand ccirturies, if they had 
<4ifdaio<rd tatiAg them i' 

£hL Whatever may bfcyonr IiradyfHlp's fatiafadion in depre- 
ciating a hotife that has- the honor of being nearly allied to- 
yoiir own, you will not, I hope at lead, inftru^ Uiis lady^ 
^tuTfjuHjt: Po CtciTm'} to imbibe a fimilar contempt of its anti-* 
quity iiad dignity^ 

Mort, Del^ This lady, by bcconMng one of it, will at leaft^ 
feture u« froia tht daoger tiwt fuch contempt wiM fpread fuc- 



»ao ' WBBSTER'S 



%U% 



Cec. Let me onljr be tt fecare from gxcltkg as I am Fraft 
fttling conteropty and 1 caa wifh no more. - 
. Dr, JUys. Good and excelient young lady ; the firft of bIcL 
£ng8 indeed is yours is the teoaperance ot your own minit 
"Wbca you beg;an your career in life, you appeared lo m fhorL 
figbled morcalsi to polFefa more than your (bare of good things* 
Such a uoiou of riches, beauty^ indcpeadeuce, talents^ educa- 
tioD, 'virtue, feemed a monopoly to raife general envy tnd 
difconteiit<»*fiut matk with what eza6^Qef« the good aad the 
bad is <ver balanced 1 You have had a thoufaad forrows t^ 
which thofe who have looked up to you, have been total ftrao* 
ecrSy aad which balance all your advautagcs for happinefs.-^ 
There is a ^ levelling principle in the world, at war, wkh ppc- 
eroinence, which iii^lly puts us all upon a footing* 

J)ci. Not quite. I think an ancient and refpedtable iiumly — 

JLasfy JUon. With a handfome income and high life giv«s 
one a mighty chance for happiaefs. Don't you think (b Mor« 
tiaier ?• . _ " 

Msrt, DiK I do, indeed ; but add, a coone&ion with a& 
amiable womaai and 1 think the chaaces^ for happincfa ace ' 
tore than* doubled* , 

i)A JLjr/. Right Moitimer $ w€ are well agreed^ 



ADDITIONAL LESSONS- 
DireShus bow to ffend our Timf* 
i.'^TS^TE all of us complain ef the (hortuefs of time, faith 
VV Seneca^ and yet have much more than w(^ know what 
to do with. Our lives, fap' he» are fpent either in doing na« 
thing at all| or in doing nothing to the purpofe, or in doing no« 
' thing that we ought to do ; we are sdways complaiaing oar 
days are few, and afling as though there would be no end of 
them» That noble philofopher has defcribed our inconfidcncy 
with our felves in' this particular, by al^ thofe various turns of 
cxpreffion and thought which are peculiar to his writings, 

2. I often consider mankind as wholly inconfiftent with it* 
felf in a point that bears fome afirrity to the former^ Thoush 
'^feem grieved at the (hortnefs of life in general, we are wilk- 
; every period of it at an end. The minor longs tabeat 
r, then to be a sian of budnefs, tl^eu to make up an eftate^ 
Or to arrive at honors, theii to retire; Thus, although t!» 
ale of life is allowed by every one to be fhort^ the Z^vecit 
ilioiw of it appear long and tedious^ 



AMERICAN SEL£CTl0^f- m 

3* "^c are for letigtbenlng our Cpaa in general^ but would fain 
i:ontra6i the parU of which it ia eoropofcd. The urtircr wquM 
be very well fatisfied to have ^U the time annihilated that liej 
between the prefent moment and next quarter day* The pol- 
itician would be contented tp lofc three years in his life, could 
he place things in the pofturc which hd fancies they will ftand in 
Sifter fii^h a revolution of time. , 

,4. Xhe lo?er would be glad to flrrke out of his exi(!enee all 
the moments that are tp pafs ^away before chc bappy meeting* 
Thus, as fafl as bur time runs, we (hduld be very glad in moft; 
'pafts of our lives, that it ran much fafter than it does. Several 
hours of the day hang upon ' our hands, nayi we wifli away 
whele- years ; and travel through time as through a country 
filled \s^ith many wilds and empty waftes, which we would faia 
hurry over, that we may arrive at thoie fevcral little fcttle- 
roents or imaginary points of red, which are difperfed up and 
down in h* 

5. If we may divide the life of mod men into twenty parts^ 
Vre fhall find, that at lead nineteen of them are mere gaps and 
\:harm8, which are neither filled with pleafure nor buiirtefs, I 
do not however include in this calculation the life of thofe 
men who are in a perpetual hurry of affairs, but of thofe only 
who are not alway engaged in fcenes of a^ion -^ and 1 hope X 
fhall not do an unexceptionable piece of fervice to thefe ^erfons^ 
if I point out to them certain methods for the filfing up their 
empty fpaces of life. The methods I (hall p ropofe to them are 
aa follow : 

6. The firft » the exercffe of virtue, inl the moft general ac- 
ceptation of Ibe word. That particular scheme which eom** 
prehendsithe focial virtues, may gSte employment to the mofl 
induftrious temper, and find a man in bufinefs more than the 
mod a6^rve Ration of life- To ?dvife the ignorant, relieve th« 
needy, comfort the afBi6ted, are duties that fall in our way aU 
moft every day of our Hvcs- 

7. A man has frequent opportunities of mitigab'ng the fierce* 
hefs of a paity ; of doing Jufticc to. the character of a deferVing : 
man ; of foftening the envious, quieting the angry, and refti- ] 
fying the prejudiced ; which are all of them employments fuit« ' 
ed t» a reafonabk nature^ and bring great fatibfa^ion to the ' 

^yerfon who can bufy himfelf in them wit h difcretion. 

8. Thrrc is another kind of virtue that may find emplo*^- 
moitforiboCs rclir^ hours in which we arc altogethef 1« 



222 - WEBSTER'S « ' 

to ourfelves, and deflitute of compftDy aad converfaticKi t I 
mean that Intercourfe and commumcalioa which every rea. 
fonable creature ought to maiotaia with the great' Author of 
his being, 

9. The man who Hves under an habitual fenfe of the divine 
prefenbe, keeps up a perpetual chcerfulnefs of temper, and enjoyi 
every moment the fatisFaflloQ of thinking himfelf m ^mpany 
with hia dcareft and betl of friends. The time iierer lies heavy 
upon him ; it is impoflible for him to bo alone. 

io. His thoughts and pafliona are the mod bulled at f»ch 
hours when thofe of other men are the moft ina^^ivc j he ao 
fooner (Icps out of the world, but his heart burw with dcvotioiv^ 
fwells with hope, and triumphs in the confcioufoefs of thatprf- 
fence which every where furrouods him ; or on the contrary^ 
pours out its 'fears, its forrows, its appreheofion to the great 
Supporter of its exiftence. 

1 1 . 1 have here only confidered the neceffity of a man's being 
Tirtiious, that he may have fomethiog to do ; but if we confidcr 
/urtlier, that the cxercife of virtue is not only an amitfeaenl 
for the time it Ia(l8,bul that its influsnce extends to tbofe parti 
of bur exiftence which lie beyond the grave, and that ou« 
whole eternity is to take its colour from thoie hours which we 
here employ in virtue or in vice,tl>e argument redoubles upon 
us, for putting in pra£lfce this method of pafllng away our time. 

12. When a man has but little flock to improve, and his op- 
portunities of turning it all to good account, what (ball we 
think of him if he fuffers nineteen parts of it to lie dead, and > 
perhaps employs even the twentieth to his ruin or difadvantage ? 
But becauie the mind caUnot be always in its fervor^ nor ftrain^ 
cd up to a pitch af virtue, it is necefTary to find out proper em» 
ployments for it in'its relaxations. 

13. The next method, therefore, that I would propofe to 
fill up our time, Ihould be ufcful and innoce/it divcrfion* I 
mud cor.fefs I think it is below rcafbnable creatures to be alto? 
^elher convcrfant id fuch diverfions as are merely innocent, and 
}:avc nothing clfc to recommend them, but that there is no hurt 

L in them. ' 

4. Whether any kind of gaming has even thus much to fay 
rifelf, I (hall not determine ; but 1 think it is very won* 
ul to fee perfons of the heft fenfe, pafiing away a dozen. 
^8 together in (huffling and dividing a pack of ^rds> with 
sther converfation but what is made up of a.icw 



Ml 



AMERICAN SELECTION. .223 



- jjtirafes, and no other uleas but thofe of black or red fpots, 
I ranged together in different figures. Would not a man laugh 
to bear uny one of his fpcclcs complalnmg that life is fhort ? 
15. The ftage might be mad« a -perpetual fourcc of the 
; -ttioft noble and ufeful entertainmenta^ were it under pro^ rc- 
\ giilations. 
'-^ l6r But the mind never unbends hfelf fo agreeably a» »n the 

• coTivcrfation of a well chofcn frieni. There is indeed no 

* bleffingof life that is in any way comparable to the enjoyment 
\ of a difcrcet and virtuous friend. It eafes and unloads the 

Tniad) clears and improves the underdanding^ engenders thot9 
and knowledge, animates virtue and good resolution, foothes 
andlallays'the psfTion^, and finds employoTent for mod of the ' 
; vacant hours of life. < 

17. Next to fuch an intimacy with a pa'rticular pcrfon, one 
i '-/hould endeavor after a more general conveifation wfth fuch 
las are able to entertain and improve thofe with whom they 
i'iCOflverfe, which are qualifications that feldoni go afundcr. 
r* 18. There are may other uftfut am ufemcnts of life, which " 
; one fhould endeavor to multiply, that one might on all occa* 
I.Jions have recourfc to "fomt thing, rather than fulfei[ the mind to 
lie idle, or run a drift with any paffion that chances to rise in it. 
i9> A m^n that has a taite iu mudc, painting or archite£lure, 
is like one tltat has another fcnfe, when compared with fuch aa 
: have no fclifh of thofe arts. The florift, the planter, the gar^ 
■ dener, tbe hufbandman, when they are only as accoihpl fhrnenta 
(to the man of fortune, arc great reliefs to a country life, and 
^mauy ways ufcful to thofe who are poflcfTgd of them. 

Y ■ ■ i I.... 1^' 

MODESTY. 
;.t* 1\/rODESTY is the <:itadcl of beauty and virtue. Thfe 
F jLVA firft of all virtues is innocence ; the fecond is modefty, 
[ 2. Modcfty 13 both in its fource, and in ita confequeoce, a 
[ ^C'^y great happfnefs to the fair pofleffior of it r it arifes from 
( afear of difhonor, and a goo3 confcience, and is followed im* 
mediately, upon its fifrfi appcaravice, with the rewrard of honor 
and eftcemi paid by "all thofe who dif'-'over it in any body living* . 
I 3. It is indeed, a virttie in a woman (that might otherwise 
f be very difagrceablc to one) fo exiquifitely delicate, that it e3t# 
1 cites in any" beholder^ of a generous and manly dtfpofition, al« 
^^tiftall the ptiilions, that he would be apt to conceive for the 
miftrcfs of his heart, in a variety of circumllanccs. 



224 WEBSTER'S 

4* A woman that la modeft, creates in ii» an awe in ker eoHM 
panf, a wi(h for her welfare, a joy in Her hting aftuaUy bap. 
py, a lore and painful forrow if dillrefs ftiould com^ upon^h^) 
9 ready and willing heart to give ber confolation, and a com- 
pafllonatc temper towards her in every Uttic accident of life I 
(he undergoes ; and to fum up all in one word, it cauies fad 
kind of angelical love, even to a ftrangcr, as good aatared bro« 
ihers and fifters ufually bear towards one 'another. 

5. It adds wonderfully to thie make of a face ; and I' have 
feen a pretty well turned forehead, fine fet eyes, and what | 
your poets call, a row of pearl fet in coral, ^ewn by a pretty 
expaniiOQ of two veWel lips that covered them (that would 
have tempted any faber man living of my own age, , to hwt [ 
been a little loofe in his thoughts and to have cnjo/ed a paio« : 
ful pleafore, amidft his impotency,) lofe all their virtue, all | 
their force and efiBcacy, by having an ugly caft of boldnefs vc 
ry difccrntbly fpread out at large oVcr all thoie allarmg fca* | 
lures. 

6. At the fame time modeSy wHl All op the wnnkks of old 
age with glory ; make fiaty blufh itielf into fiztetn ; and help 
a green-lick girl to defeat the fatire of a falfe waggifti lover, 
who' might compaie her colour, when fhe looked like a ghoft, 
to blowing of tne rose-bud, by bluihing herfelf into a bloom 
of beauty ; and might make what he meant a refie^ion, a reai 
compliment, at ai*y hour of the day, iirfpite of his t^eth.^ 
It has a prevailing power with me whenever I find it m the kt. 

7. I, who have the common fault of all men, to be very (bor 
and humorfome, when I drank my water gruel in a moroio^ 
fell into a more than ordinary pet with a maid, whom I call my 
niirfe, from a conilant tendernefs that I have obfc^rved her toes* 
ercife, towards me beyond all my other femants ; I perceived 
hc^ Aulh and glow in the faoe, in a maaner which I eouhi plaia^ 
ly drfcern proceeded not ftom anger or refentment ef my cor^ 
redion, but from a good natured regret, upoaf a fear ihat (he 
had offended Rtr grave old mafter. 

8. I was h heartily plcaie^ that 1 eafed her of the honeft 
trouble ^underwent inwardly for my fake ; and giving her*] 
half a^rown, I told her k was a forfeit due to her, becaufe I wu 
out of humor with ber without any rcafon at all» And aa (Be 
is fo gtfntle hearted, I have diligently avoided giving her one 
harfh word ever fince f and I find my own reward in it j. for 
not being fo tefty as I ufcd, has Bwide si€ s:uch halei aaA 
ttroogcT thaa I was before^ 



AMERICAN SELECttOK ^ . iajf 

i<i 6. The pr^ttyj and witty, aei virtuous Simj^ficia, was, the 

bthcr da), vifiting an old aunt of hers, that I verily bcli?vc 

has read the Aialantis : She took a ftory out the^e»and drcttcd 

tip an honcft old neighbor in the^ fccond. hand clothes of fcan- 

.dal. The young «?rcature hid her face with Ficr fan at every 

' hurft 9nd peal of laughter, and bluihed for her guilty parent ; 

..>y which (he atoned, methought, for cvft-y fcandal thai; ha 

.%9und the beauiiFul circle. , , 

& lO. As I was going home to bed that cvenir»g, I could ndt 

^eip thinking of her all the way I went. I rcprcfented her to 

'•inyfclf as (heddiog holy blood every time (he blulhed, and at 

being » martyr in the eaufe ot virtue. And afterwards, wh4ra 

^l was putting oh my bight.cap, 1 could not drive the thot out 

rf my bedd, but that I was youn^ enough to be married to 

her \ and that it would be an addition to the reputation I hv9t 

10 the ftody of wifdom, to marry to fo much youth and mo- 

defty, even in my old age* ^ * i_ , L 

^ 1 1 • I know there have hot been wantfng maiiy wicked ob^ 

^^tcftibns a^ainft thi» virtue ; one is grown infufferably common^ 

k The fellow blufhes, he is guilty. I (bould foy rather, he blufh* 

tjra, therefore he is innocent. 1 believe the Came man that firft 

j^ad that wicked imagination of a blufh being the fign of guilt* 

krcprcfeoted goad nature to be folly ; and that he himfclf wai» 

i^he mod inhuman and impudent wretch alive* 

I 12. The author 6fCtf/<>, who is known to be 6fte of the moft 

tmodeft ar^d mod ingenious peffons of the age we now live in^^ 

■'his given' this virtue a delicate nartie in the tragedy ©f CatOf 

where the character of Marcia^ is (irft opened to us. I would 

^have all ladies who have a mind to be thought well bredy to 

r'think ferbufly on this virtue, which he to beautifully calls the 

>., Iftnftity of manners. 

f i5« Modedy is & polrte dceom^Iifhment, dn(t generaUy an 
[» attendant upon merit. It is engaging to the higheft degree, 
I'.and wins the hearts of all our acquaintance. On the contrary 
\ none are msre ttisgudful in company than ^he impudent ai|d 
.prefumingj * 

14* The man who is, on «lt occa(ion9, ccAnndendiag and 

'^fpeaking well of himfelf, we naturally diflike. Otk the other 

, haod^hj who ftudies to conceal his own deferts, who does juf- 

iice to the merit of otherft, who talks but little of himfelf, and 

;>that with n)o4elty9 makes a favorable impredlon on the perfons 

he is converilng with> captivates their minds^ and gains their 

.eftcem, . ^ 

15* Modcfty,> however, widely diiFers from an aukwarj? 



2t6 , Webster^ 

ba(Kfu1itefft, -whkh rs n macti to be coW^^mned as the bihsli 
to be applauded. To appear ilmpl&is as iil-bred ae to be impir.< 
^dent. A young man ought to be al^le to come into a rooor 
and addrcft the company without the le&ft eai^barFaflment^. To \ 
be out of couoteaaace when fpckeB'to, and otift to hav; aasuL 
fwcr ready, is ridiculous to the laft degree. ' 

1 6* Ao auk ward country M\o^\ when he comes into cbmpi^ 
ny better than hfmfelf , is excffedlogly difconccfted. He koowi 
not what to do with his haads or his hat» but either pats ode oF 
ttvem in his pockety aad dangles the other* by his (id« ; or per- 
haps twirls his hat oh his finger^ tpr fumbles with the buttoo. 
If fpokea to he is in a much worfe fitaatioo s he aafwers wit^ 
the utmoft difficulty^ and nearly fl:aaimer» ; whereas a gentle- 
jaan who h acquainted with life, eiders a room with gracefaU 
nefs and a modeil aflaraace, addrefies eren perfotis he does sot 
kooWy in ab eafy and natural manner^ and without th« lesft- 
embarrafTment. 

17. This is the charaderifeic p( gooA brcedinffi a ir^ ne^ 
ceflary knowledge in out inter eourfe with aien : Ear one of ifl*' 
ferior parts, with the behavior of a gentleinan; is frequtatfy 
better received than a man ef fcnfc» with the addteCs and roaa^ 
ners of a down. Ignorance and Vice arc the only things «^ 
need be afliamed »f ;. fteer clear of thefe, and you may goioto' 
any coittpany you will; not chat f would" have a young ma&^ 
throw off all dread of appearing abroad, as a fear*^of offeodingy 
or being difefkemcd, will make him prefierv^ a proper de^ 
corum* 

i8« Some p^dbns, ^om experieaeiflr Mfe modefty, haVe 
run into theothef extremci and ac(|,uirea the chamber of inu 
pudenc. This i^^^ as great a fault as the otheir« A well bred^. 
man keeps himfelf within the two, and filsers theibiddle waj*' 
He iseafy and firm in every i^ompany ;is mQdeft,.but not balL 
fal i fteady, bdt not impudent^ Kc copies the manners jaf tbt* 
better peoplci and conforms td their cuuoms with cafe and at* 
tention^ 

19- Till we can prcfent ourfelves in ^H canipanteS with cool- 
nefs^ad uncoAcern, we eaft n*ver prcfent ourfelves well j ao' 
will a man ever befuppofed to have kept go^ companyr ^^ 
ever be acceptable tn fuch company, if he caonot apptrar there, 
eafy and unembarraified. A modeft alfiirance, itt^every part <if 
life, is the mbfk advantageous qjaaliHcatton we can poffibly sc- 
^uire. 

20* Inftcad of becoming infolent>. a man of feBfej-tindet li^GOdir 



AMERICAN SELECTION. «7 

fiffoufneHi of merity is more modeft* He behaves hioifelf in^ 
deed with firmnefs, but wiibbut the Icaft prcfomption. The 
m^a wko is ignorant of his own xnent^ is no lefs a fool than he 
who is conftanlly difplaying it- A num of underftanding avails 
I^Welf of his abiUties, but>evert>oaftsof them ; whereas the 
ilmidaad baihful man can never pfl,(h hirafelf iji life»bc his mer- 
it as great as it will ; he will be always kept behind by the for- 
jurard and the buftltng, 

' 21. A man of abilities, and acquainted with life, will ftand 
isBrm in/ defence of his own rights^ and purfue hia plans as 
leadily and unmoved as the moft impudent man ah've ; but then 
tie does it vvith a feemtng raodefty. Thiis, manners is every 
thing I what is impudence in one, is only proper affuranee io 
{mother ; for firQfiacft is commendable, but an overbearing con^ 
Ind is difguftfttl. ^ 

22. Forward nefs being the very reverfc of modefty, follow 
rather than lead the company ; that is join in difcourfe upon 
^cir lubjeds rather than ttart one of yqur own ; if you have 
^rts yotiw^l have opportiraities enough of fhewio^ them on 
fiery topic of converfauon,-and if you have none, it is better 
b expofe yonrfelf upon a fubjeA of other pcople*s than on oUe 
if your own*. 

? 23. But be partJculariy careful not to fpeak of yourfclf if 
|t»u can helpL.it. An impudent fellow kigs in himftlf abrupt* 
w upon all eecafioQS, and is ever the hrro of his own ftory. 
Others will cover their arrogance with •* it may feem ftrange 

r' d«ed that I fbould talk in |his manner of mylelf ; it is what 
by no means Uke, and (hoiild ne^er do if I had not been cru- 
cify and unjuftly a^ccufed ; but when my chara£ker is attacked 
kis a juftice I owe to myfelf to defend it/* This veil *is too 
thin not 16 be feen thro on the Brft infpeftion. 
[ 24* Others again with more art, will modeflly boaft of all the 
principal virtues by caHmg thcfe virtues weakneffes, and laying, 
tficy are fo unfortunate as to fail into thofe wcakncflfes^ ** lean- 
not fee perfons.fuffcr,'* fays one of this caft, ** without relieve 
tng them though my ciVcumftances are very unable to afford 
br-I cannot avoid fpeakiog truth ; though it is often very im- 
prudent ;** and fo on» • 
, 25. This angling for praifc is fo prevailing a principle, that 
It frequently ftoops to the lowed obje6^. Men will often boaft 
»f ^kcnng that, which, if tr*e, would be rather a difgracc to 
^hem than otherwi/e. One ipan affirms that he rode twenty 
niles within the hour : 'tis probably a he \ but fuppofe hp did. 



M« . WEBSTER'S 



xn 



what then ? H« had a good hprfe under hiii)» and it a goo4 
jockey. Another fweat^s he has often at a iitting, drank five 
or fix bottles to his pwn (hare. Out of refpe^ to him, I will 
believe him a liar ; for 1 would not wifli to thint him a>beaft. 

26. Thefe aod many more are the follies of i<lle peoplei ' 
which, while they think they procure them eftccm, in reaixty 
make them defpifed* 

27. To avoid this contempt, tKerefore, never fpeak of your- 
felf at all, unlefs ncceflity obh'ges you ; and even then, take 
care tQ do it in fuch a manner, that it may not be conftrucd 
?ato fifhtng for applaufe. Whatever perfc^ions.yqu.may have, 
be alTured, people will find them out ; but whether they de or 
not, nobody will take them upon your own word. The lefs 
you fay of yourfelf, the more the world will give you credit 
for ; and the more yon fay, tke lefs they will believe you* \ 



I 



Of Chserfulmiss. 
I* T HAVE always prcfercd cheerfulnefs to mirth. The 
A latter I con/Ider as an adl, the former as a habit of the 
tnind^ Jilirth is (hart and tranfient, cheerfulnefs fixed and per« 
nanent* Thofc are often raifed into the greauft tranfports of 
mirth, who are fubje^ to the greateft depreffions of melancho- 

^ ly ! on the contrary, cheerfulntfs thotigh it docs abt give the 
mind fuch an exquifite gladnefs prevents us from falling mio 
any depths of {brrow* Mirth is like a flafli of lightm'ng that 
breaks thro a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment ; cbeer« ^ 
fulnefs keeps up a kind of day*light iti the mind| apd fill» it | 
with a fteady and perpetual fcrenity* - 

2. Men of auftere principles look |ipon mirth as too waiUofi ^ 
and d^ifolute for a ftate of probation,, and as filled withacer« ; 
tain triumph and infoleace of heart, that is inconfiftent witb a | 
life which is every moment obnoxious to the greaieft dangen. f 
Writers of this complexion have obferved, t^at the Sacred Per. 

. fon who was the great pattern of perfeAipn wa« liev«r fcen to ' 
laugh. . 

, $• Cheerfulnefs of mtnd is not liable to any of thefe exceju ! 
ttons ; it is of a ferious and cpmpofed nature ; h does not throw | 
the mind into a condition improper for tl>e prcfent ftate. of ho- \ 
manity, and is very coafpicuous in the chara^ers of thofe who , 
arc looked upon as the greatcft philofopbcrs among the heath- I 

. en, aa well as among thofe who have been dcfervedly eflcemcd 
as faints and holy men among CJiriftians. 



AMERICAN SELECTION. ' it^ 

4« If v^e confidcr cheerfulnefs in three lighUi with regard to 
Ditrfelvett to tbofe we converfe with, and to the great Author oC 
omr being I it will not a little recommend itfelf oa each of thefe 
lccount9. The man who is pottcft^d of this excellent frame oC 
mind, is not only cafy in his thoughti, hot a perfed mafter o£ 
all tke powers and faculties of the fool ; his xo^agination i% al- 
ways clear, and his judgment nndifturbed ; htt temper is tvta 
and ofiruAed) whether in aAion or foHtude. He cornea wkh. 
ft relifii to all thofe goods which natare has provided for hun^ 
taftea all the pleafiinA of the creatioa which are poured about 
hina* and does not feel die full w«ght of thode accidental Cfili 
which may befal him. 

5* If we coniider him is relation to the perfona whom he 
converfes with, it naturally produces lore and good will toW 
words him ; a cheerful mind n not only dtfpofed to be a£FabIe 
and obliging, hut raifes the iiame good fainior in thofe who come 
within its influence, A man finds htmiTdf pleafed, he does aot 
know why, with the cheerfiilaefs of his companion : it is^^Ukd; 
a fuddea fun-&ine that awakena a iecret delight ia the raindu 
Without her attending to it. The heart rejoices of its cwa wc^ 
cord, and naturally flows oat iato frieiidfliip and benevolence 
towarde the perfon, who ha* fa kindly an effe^ upon it* 

6. When I coafider this cheerftd ftate of mind in its third 
relation, I cannot but look upon it as a coaftant habitnal grac«^ 
Itude to the ^reat Author of nature. An inward cheerfmnefr 
ia an implicit praife and thankfgiYiag to Proividenoe under all 
3U dilpenfations* It is a kind of acquiefcence in the flate 
wherein we are placed, and a fecrec approbation of the Divintf 
will in his coodi»ft towards maa. 

y. There are but two things whicfa is my opinion^ can rea« 
fonaUy deprive ns of this cheerfolaefs of heart. The firft o£ 
thefe is the fcnfe of guilt* A man who Hves in a ftate of vice 
and impenitence can have no title to that evennefs and traa* 
quility of mind which is the health of the fooli and the natural 
«ffie£l8 of virtue and innocence. Cheerfuloefs in an ill man de^^ 
ferves a harder name than language can fumi/h ns with, and 
is many degrees beyond what we commonly ctU fiolly or mad* 
Jiefc. 

. 8. Athdfm, by which 1 mean a difbehef of a Supreme Be** 
ing,and"eonfcquenily of a future ftate, under whatfoeVer title 
it (belters itfelf, may liktwife very reafonably deprive a man ol 
<hxs ohecrfuhe^ gf (wper* There ia fome^Ing to parti««ial^' 



ly gloomy atvd l>ffeniTve to human nature in the profpcA of 
noji-cxiftedccy (hat I cannot but wpuder, with many exocU 
lent writers how it is poffibte for a man to outh've the expe& 
BtioA of it. For my own part> I think the being of a God is 
fo little to be dotibted, that it if almoft the only truth we are 
fure of, aad fuch a truth as wc meet with in every pbje&i id eT<« 
«ry occurrence, and in every thought. 

9. If we look into the charaders of this tribe of infidels we 
generally find they are made up of pride, fpleen and cavil } 
it is indeed no wonder, that men who are thieafy to themfelves, 
fbouldbe fa to the reft: of the world ; and how it is pojQible for 
a man to be otherwise than uneafy in hirofelf, who is in dang<t 
every moment of lofing his en^re. exigence, and dropping 104 
to nothing ? 

10. The vicious man and Atheift have therefore no pretencft 
to cheerfulnefs, and would a& very unreafonably> (hould they 
endeavor after it. It is impoffible for any one to live in good 
humor and enjoy his preient exiflencey who is appreheniiva 
either of torment or of annihilation | of being miferablei or of 
not being at alh . 

11. After having mentioned thcfe two great prpicipVsi 
which are dcfttuftive of cheerfulaefs in their own nature, aa 
well as in right reafon> I cannot think of any other that ought 
to kanifh their happy .temper from a. virtuous mind. Pain and 
ficknefs, (hame and reproach, poverty and old age, nay death 
itfdf, c»n(idering the fhortnefs of their duratioUi and the ad« 
vantage we may reap from, thero^ do not defcive the iiameoC 
enk. 

12. A good mind my bear .up under them with fortltiid^^ 
with coropofare, and with cheer fulnefs of hcart-^tha toffing of 
a teinpe£i doca not difcompo^e.him, when he is fure it will 
bring him to a joyfill harbdr. . , 

13., A roan who ufes his bcft endeavors to live according t« 
the dilates of Arirtue and right reafon, has two perpetual (our^ 
CCS of chcerfulnefs, in the confideration of his o\rn nature ani 
of tlat Being on whom ht has a dependence* 

14. If he looks into himfelf, he cannot but rejoice. in that 
exiHenceywhich"^ is fo lately beRowed upon him, and whicbj 
after miUioil^ ofag^s Will be ftill new, and fUll in its beginning- 
'How many felf congratulations naturally arife in the mind, 
yvlien it reflects on this its entrance into eternity, when it 
T(ifc«8 a view of thojfe iw^Qva&le faculties, y/bkh ui^ few ycar% 



\ AMERICAN SELECTION. . z^i 

I Ithdtven at U8 firft fetting out have made fo c&nfiderable a - 
progrefsy. aed which will be ftill receiving an iacreaie of pet- 
fe^ioQ and confcquently an iacreafe of happjnefs. 

15. The confcioufnelg of fuch a Being fpreadr a perpetual 

^IfFulioh of joy through the foul of a virtuous man, and m«ke4 

' him look itpori himfelf every moment aa more happy then he 

knows how to cOnQetve« 

i 1 6. The fecond fource of cheerfulD^ts to a good mind is, ita 

tonfidcration of that Bein? on whom we have our dependence, 

and in whora^ thp we behold him as yet but in the firft faint 

difcovcnes of his pcrfe^iOns, we fee every thing that we caa 

imagine as great, glorious or amiable. We find ourfclvct 

|; every where upheld by his goodncfs, and fur rounded by aa 

[ imroenfity of love and mercy. 

17. In (hort, we depend upon a Beif)g> whofe power qualifka 

Kim to make us happy by an infinity of means, whofe good- 

• Tieff and truth engage him to make thofc happy, who drfire 

*' It af him, and whofe unchangablenefs will fecure us in thia 

^ happinefs to all eternity. 

f. is. Such coafiderations, which every one ibould perpetually 
^icheriih in hts thoughts, wiH banifli from us all that fecfet 
^heavinefs of heart) which nnthinkmg men are fiibje^ to whea 
Khey lie undet" no real aflHifiion ; all that angatfh which we 
F tnay feel from any evil that adtuaJly opprefles us ; to which I 
Pmay likewifc add thofe little cracklings of miilh and folly, 
[that are ipter to betray virtue thar^ fupport it ; and eftabliili 
I in us fuch ar| even and cheerful temper, as makes ot pleafing 
I to ourfelves, to thofe with whom we convcrfc, and Jo hin» 

whom we are made to pleafe^ ^ 
<, . ' " ■' "" ■ ' ■■■ 

I DISCRETION. 

^ 1. T HAVE often thought if the minds of men were laid opea 

f, A we ihould fee but little difference between that of the 

ii. -wife man and that of the fool. There are infinite reveries, 

^ mimberlefs'^extraVagancieS) and a perpetual train of vanities, 

; which pafs through both. The great difi^crence ia, ihnt the 

■ firft knows how to piek and cull his thoughts for convhfation, 

: by fupprefllng fome'and communicatmg others ; whereas the 

iOthcr lets them all indifferently fly out into word?. This fort 

of difcretion however, has no place in private convcrfati^n, 

^ 'i}Ctwccn intimate friends. On fuch occaiions the wtfeft mco 

' very often talk like the weakcft 5 for indeed the talking ^i(^ 

a friend ia btu thinking aloud. 



«3« WEBSTER»S 

a . Tuify hi8 thereiore very juftly czpafed a precept del fvered 
by romr Bociont twriters* iliai a maa fhould b>e with his eaemf 
la fuch a manner at might leave him room to becoipe hir friend -; 
«od with his friend io Cuch a manner^ that if he became his 
cQcmy. it fhoald not be in his power to hurt him. The firft 
part of thi3>ule, wliich regards oar behavior towards an ene. 
roy, is indeed. very rcafonable as well as pradeniiil ; but tbe 
latter part of it, which regards oar behavior towards a friend, 
favors ttio?e of cannlug than of difcretion, and would cut a man 
off from the greatcft pleafures of lifey which are the freedoms 
of converfation with a bofom friend. Befidesy chat when a 
friend is turned into an enemy^ and (as the fon of Sirack calli 
LIoi ) a betrayer of fecrets, the world is juft enough to accufe 
the perfidiotifnefs- of the friend^ rather than the indifcretion o£ 
tihe perfoB who confided in him. 

3. Difcretion does not only Ihew itfelf in virords, bat rni^ 
the circnmftances of adion ; and is like an under agent of Pro* 
.^'dcnce to guide and dired ns in the ordinary concerns of life. 

4. There are many more fhining qualities in tlie minds of 
SiaRt but there ia none fo ofeful as difcretion ; it is thif indeed 
which gives a value ta all the reft, which fets thefii to work 
fn their proper times and places, and turtit them to the advan^ 
tage of the perfon who is poffeiFed of them. Without it learo^ 
ing 16 pedantry, and wit impertinence ; virtue'itfelf looks like 
veaknefi 1 the heft parts only qualify a man to be more fpnght- 
2ym errors, and adive to his own prrjadice. 

5. Nor does difcretion only make a man the mafter of hta 
own parts, but of other mea'a. The diicrcet man finds out the 
talents of thofe he converfes with, and knows ho^ to apply^ 
them to proper ufee, . Accordingly, if we look into particular 
communities and diviGons of men, we may •obterve, that it ia 
thedifcreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, bor thebrave^ 
who guides the converfation, and gives meafuresto fociety, 
A man with great talents, but void of difcretion, is hke Pm/]^» 

Chemus in the fable, (Irong and blind, endued with an irrefiftt- 
le f«jrce,. which for want of fight, is of no ufe to him. 

6. Though a man has all other perfections, and wantd dif- 
^retioo, he will be of no great ccnfcqucncc in the world ; but 
if he has this fingle talent in perfedion, and bat a cerantoa 
ihare of others, he may do what he pleafes in his flat ion of life. 

7. At the faaie time that I think difcretion the moll ufeful 
talent a maa can be mader of, I look upon cunning to be tile 
accomplifhmeat of little, mean, ungenerous minds. Difcre« 



AMERICAN SELECTION. 233 

bton pdints out the, nobleft ends to us, and purfues the mod"^ 
j>rdper and laudable methods of pbtaialng them : cunning has 
[only private feltifh aims^ and dick- at nothing wiiich may 
[mak e t hem f ucceed . 

8. Difcretion has large and extended vie^vs, and like a well- 
Jformed eye^ commands a whole horizon : cunning is » kind of 
Ifiiort-fighiednefs, that difcovers the minuteft objed^s whfth ai;e 
Inear at hand, but is not able to difcern things at a diftance* 
iDifcretion, the more it is diicovered, gives a greaicc authority 
jto the perlon who poifeffes it : cunning, when it is onc^ de^ 
ite^^ed, lofes its force, and makes a man incapable of bringing 
[about even thofe events which he might have done, had he paiju 
led only for a plain man. Difcretion is the pcrfe^ion of rea*- 
fon, and a guide to us in ^11 the duties of life : cunning is a 
^kind of inftinfi that only looks out after our immediate inter* 
eft and welfare* 

9* Difcretion is only found in men of (Irong fenfe and good 
imderftanding : cunning is often to be met with in brutes them- 
fWvcs, and in perfons who are but the feweft removes from ' 
them. In (hort, cunning is only the mimic of ^difcretion, and 
nay pafs upon weak men, in the fame manner as vivacity it 
often mifiakea for wit, and gravity for wifdom. 

10, The caft of mind which is natural lo^a difcreet man, 
makes bim look forward into futurity and confider what wiil 
be his condition millions of ages hence, as well as what it is at 
prcfent. 

11. He knows, that the mifery or happinefs which are.rei 
ferved for hint m another world, lofe nothing of their realit;p'. 
by being placed at fo great a diftance from him*. The obje8t 

• do not appear little to him becaufe they are remote* He con* 
fiders that ihofe pleafures and pains which lie hid in eternity, 
approach nearer to him every moment, and will be prefent with i 
him in their full weight and meafure, as much as thofe paina 
and pleafures, which he feels at this very inftant. For this rea« 
fon he . in careful to fecurc to himfelf that which is the propcif 
faappinefa of his nature, and the ultimate defign of his beiag. - I 

] 2. He carries his thoughts to the end of every adion, and 
coniiders the moft diftant as well as the moft immediate eiFeds. 
of it. He fupercedes every little profpedl of gain and advau^ 
tage which oflFers itfelf here, if he does not find it confident with 
hi« views of an hereafter. In a word, his hopes are full of irn- 
mortality^ bis fchemes are large and gloriauei and hU cooduft 

U 2 



fuitable to one who knows hia true iaurcftf and how t» parfiie 
it by proper methods. 

f3« I have m thia cITay upon difcretioa» conddered it botk 
aa ao accompLihment and as a Yirtuc» and have therefore de« 
fcribed it in its full exteot ; not only as it is convcrfant about 
worldly affairs, but as it regards our wboI« eaiftence ; not only 
as it is tbe guide of a mortal creature, but as it k in general the 
director of a reafonable being. It is in this light that difcrction 
is reprefcBttd by the wife man, who fometinaes roentioDs it utu 
der the name of difcretioni pod fometimes under that of wiL 
dom. 

14. It is indeed (as defcribed in the latter part of this paper^ 
thegreateft wifdom, but at the fame time in tb^ power of ev- 
ery one to attain* Its advantages arc in6nite, bat its acquifi- 
tion eafy ; or, to fpeak of her in the words of the apocryphal 
writer, *' Wirdom is glorious, and never fadtth away, yet fte is 
cafily feen of iheno that love her, and found of fuch as feck her. 

15. ** She preventeih th<?m that dcfire her, in making hcr- 
fc!f lirft known unto tlicns. He that fetketh her catrly ftiall 
have no great travel : for he fhail find ber fitting at bis doois. 
To think therefore upon her is perfe^ioa of wifdom, and whor* 
fo watchcth for her (hall quickly be without care. For (he go- 
Cth about feeking fuch as arc worthy of her, fhewetb herfeff 
favorable uino tliem in the way», aiid racetcth them^ia rvery 
thought," i. M ■. - — 

On Gl'EAMLlNESS. 

J, T HAD occafien to go a few iwilcs out of tpwn, fomc day» 
A fince, in a ftage coaeh, where I had for my fellow travel- 
lers, a dirty beau, and a pretty young Qtiakcr woman, Hav. 
Ing n:) inclination to talk much at that time, I placed myfelf 
backward, with a defignto furvey thczn, and pick a fpeculatioo 
rut of rcy two compar>ior>8. Their different ^gures were fuffi* 
cicnt ofibcnrifelvt^to draw ray attention. 

2. The gentleman was drcffet^ in a fuit, the ground whereof 
bad been black, as I peiceived from fomc few fpaccs that had 
tfcapcd the powder, which was incorporated with the grcstcft 
part of his coat ; hia perry wig, which coft no fmall fum, waa 
fefier fo flovenly a manr>er catt over bis {houlders, that it feem^ 
ed not to have been combed fince the year 1712 ; his linen 
which was not much concealed, was daubed with pbin Spaoifh 
^rom ihe chin to the lowcH button^ and the dic.inond upon his 




AMERICAN SELECTION. 235 

V Anger (which naturally dreaded ih<? wattr ) pqt me »n mind how 
' ' it rparkled ^mi& the rubblfliof the mine where it was fird dif« 
'^covered. '^ . 

3. On^the t)thev hand, the pretty Quaker appeared in all the 

elegance of cleanlincfs. Not a fpcck was to be found on ber, 

A clear, clean, oval face, juik edged about with httle thin plates 

of the pureft cambric, received great adfantagee from the (hade 

; of her black hood ; as did the wbiten^fs of her arms from that 

5 fober.coloured ttuff in which (he had cloathed herfclf. The 

' piaianefs of- her drcff was very well f«uVd to the fimplicity of 

I her phrafes, all which put together, tho they qppld cot give me. 

j a great opinion f»f her religion, they did of her innocence. 

j*. 4. Tliia ad venture occafioncd me throwing together 'a few 

• hints jipoQ chanKne/s^ which I (hall contider as one of the half 

> virtues, as Ariliotle calls them, and fhai! recommend it under 

> the three following keadi : As k is a mark of politenefs ; as it 
•produceth love ; and as it bears analogy to purity of mind. 

5. FirH, it id a mark of politenefa. It is univerfally agreed 
^' ^upon, that no one, unadproed with this virtue, can go into com.* 
^ pany without giving a manifeft offence. The eader or higher 

1 * any one*s fortune is, this duty rtfes proportionsbly^— The differ- ' 
f,;ent nations of the world are as much diftinguifhed by their clean- 
iinefsas by tlieiraris and fcienccs. The more any country fa 
xivilized, the mor^ they confuU this part of politenefs. We 
need but compare our ideas of a female HotUniot with an En^ltjk 
beauty, to be fatisfigd of the truth of what hath been advanced* 

6. In the next piece, clcanlinefs mpy be faid to be the ioft- 
er- mother of love. Beaui) , indeed, moft commonly produce* 
that pafiion in the mind, but cleanlincfs pref?rves it. An indif- 

r^^fcrent face and perfon, kept in a perpetual ncatnefs, hath woa 
\\ raany a heart from a prettyjlaticrn. Age itfclf is not unamia- 
rjjle, while it is preferved clean and uufuJlied : like a pitce of 
^;nietal conftantly kept fmooih and bright, we look on it with 
^jmore pleafure than on a new veffeJ that is cankered with ruft. 
|: 74 I might obferve further, that ^s cleanlinefs reoc!ers uf ^ 
[agreeabk Co others, fo it maizes us eafy to ourfekes ; that it i» 
I an excellent prefcrvatioa of health ; and that fevcral vices de- 
, Aru^ve both to miwl and. body, arc incoo(iftent with the habit ^ 
iof it. But thefe reflexions I (hall leave to the leifure of mf 
\ readers, and (hall obferve in the third place> that it bears a great 
tanalogy to purity tjf mind, and naturally iiifp ires icfiacd fcati* 
rments and p<)i&oa8« 



ti6 AMERICAN SELECTION, 

8. We fiod, from experieace, that;thro the prevalence of cuf- 
torn, the moft vicjons adions iofe their horror, by being made 
familiar to us. On the contrary, thofe who hVc in the neigh- 
korhood of good example, fly from the firft app^rances of what 
IS fhocking; It fares with us much ^fttr the (ame mannef u 
our ideas. Our fcnfes, which are the inlets to all the images 
conveyed to the mind» can only tranfmit the impreffion of fuch. 
things ^s ufaally furround them ; fo that pure and unfullied 
thoughts are naturally fuggefted to the mind, by thofe objt^ 
that perpetually eucompals ua when they are beiatiful and ele- 
gant in their kitid« 

9. In the Eaft, wl^erc the warmth of the climate makes 
cleanlinefs more immediately neceflary than in colder countries, 
it is 'made one part of their religion : the Jewifh law {and the 
Mahometan, which, in fome things, copies after it) is filled 
^ith bathings, purifications and other rites of the like nature. 
Tho there is in theaboye named covenant reafons to be affign. 
ed for thefe ceremonies, the chief intention undoubtedly was to 
typify inward purity and cleanlinefs' of heart by thofe outward 
waftilngs. 

10. We read feveral injan€tiont «f tWa kin^ m ibe book ol 
Deuteronomy, which confirm this truth, and which are but Si 
accounted for by faying, as fome do, that they were only in&i^ 
luted for convenience la the defert, which otherwife could not 
have been habitual for fo many years. ^ 

11. I (hall conclude this eflay with a ftory which I hare 
fomewhere read, in an account of Mahometan fuperftition* A 
Pervire,of great fan^kity, one morning had the misfortune, as 
betook up a cryftalcnp vhich was confecrated to the prophet, 
to let it fall upon the ground, and dafti It in pieces. His fon 
coming in fome time after, he ftretch«d out his hand to bleis 
him, as his manner was every morning ; but the youth going 
cat, ftumbled over the threfholdi, and broke his arm. As the 
old man wondered at thefe events, a caravan pafied by in its way 
from Mecca. The Dervife approached it to beg a blcffing ; 
but as he flroked one pf the holy camels, he received a kick 
from the beaft, that forely bruifed him. His forrow and au 
mazement increafed upon him, till h<; recoUeded, that through 
hurry and inadvertency, he had tb«t momisg come 9br«ad with-; 
out waOiing his hands* 



T A B t E 
or 

C N T E N T S. 



RULES for heading and Speaklflg, ^ 3 

General directions for expressing the passions^ 6 

Examples fot iiinstrating do. . 8 

! Select Sentences for forming the Morals, 13 

The Cobler and his Son, 24 

Honesty rewarded, Story of Perin and Lucetta, ^ 

Character of Sophia, a young Lady, 28 

Agathocles and^Calista, ^^ , 

• Story of La Roche,' Mirror^ 32 
i^Funeral of General Frazer, Burgoyne^ 43 
i^dry of Lady Harriet Ackland, do. 43 
; Adventures of General Putnam, Humphrn/y 46 
I The faithful American Dog, 51 
^Volcanoes of Iceland, Encyclopedia f 53 
, "Extract from Dawe's Oration, ^ 54* 
^ General Washington's Resignation at the close of 

the war, , - 5S 

• Signal instance of Patriotism^ Ilume^ 57 
[ Address to the iahabitants of New-Hampshire, SeU 

'i knap^ 61 

'Cgnjugai Affection, Halkr^ $4 

. Story of Logan, a Mingo Chief, Jefferson^ 6(5 . 

/Speech of a Scythian Ambassador to Alexander, 65 

Putnam and the Wolf, Humphrey^ 69^ ' 

; The aged Prisoner released from tne Bastile, Merciei\ 70 

Description of the Fails of Niagara, EUicoity 15 

The Captivity of Mrs. Howe, Gai/y. 74 'j 

;The Whistle, Frankliiiy 8S ; 

History of Pocahontas, Cliastelka-ux^ 81* j 

i 



TABLE OF CONTENTS- 

Emilius, or Domestic rtappiness, 1Vebsiei% M 

Emilia, ortheHappiness of Retirement, do. so 

Juliana, a real character, do. 93 

Kules for Behavior, Chesterfield f . • 96 
Family didagteement die frequent cause of immor* 

al conduct, DS 

Self rormcnting, lli2 

History of Columbus, Ui> 

Sketch of the History of the late War, Webster ^ I IS 

LESSONS IN SPEAKING- 

Oration on the Boston Massacre, lVarre7tf l2l 

Another on the' same, Haruocky 133 

Barlow's Oration, July 4; 1787, 139 
Declaration of the American Congress, July 4^ 

1776, 141 

tLOQUENCE. 

Extract from NIt. Aracs' Speech in Congress^ 
From Cicero's Oration agamst Vcrres, 
Speech of Canulcs, 

Publius Scipio^ 

Caius Marius, 

DIALOGUES. 

General Savage and Miss \5'^alsinghani, 
General Savage, Captain ^^age, &c. 
Mrs. Belville, Miss Wals^^^in, &c/ 
Colonel Rivers and Sir H^l^!^ 
Shylock and Tubal, Shakespeare^ 
Juba and Syphax, Addison, 
Wolsey and Cromwell, Shakespeare^ . 
Brutus and Cassius, do. 
Hunks and Blithe, Andrus, 
Bevil and Myrtle, 



TABLE OF CONTENTS, 

POETRY, 

Jentempt of the common objects of pursuit, Pope^ 197 

/'ariouS'Characters, do/ , 199 
Phe World compared to a Stage, Shakespeare^ 199 

iJolumbus to Ferdinand, FreneaUy '200 

description of a Storm of Hail, Dwight^ 202 

Iddress to the Deity, Livingston, 203 

I: Morning Hymn, do. 205 

Symn to Peace, Barlox^^ 206 

prologue, 207 

ADDITIONAL DIALOGUES. 

pecili^ Beverly and Henrietta Belfield, ' 207 

and a Gentleman! 211 

• and Henrietta, 214 

pr. Lyster, Mr. Delvill, &c, 215 

; ADDITIONAL LESSONS, 

directions how to spend our time, Spectator^ 220 

Modesty, do. 228 

Cheerfulness, do, 228 

Discretion, do. 231 

On Cleanliness,' do, 234 



^m 



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