The Library of American BiographyHilliard, Gray, 1837 |
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American Amir Khan appears appointed army arrived astronomic attack attempt Barton became body Boston British Bunker's Hill calculation Captain cause character charter Clinton Colonel colony command Connecticut Cotton Mather DAVID RITTENHOUSE dear death Delaware detachment duty early effect enemy engaged England English enterprise execution expedition father favor fire force formed Fort Edward Fort William Henry French friends genius governor hands honor hundred important Indians instruments ISRAEL PUTNAM labor land letter lines Lucretia LUCRETIA MARIA DAVIDSON mamma means mechanical ment meridian mind Miss Davidson mother necessary Norriton observations observatory obtained orrery parallax party passed Pennsylvania person Philadelphia planet Port Royal possession prisoners province pursuits Putnam received remained retreat Ritten Rittenhouse river savages sent ship shore Sir William Phips soldiers spirit station studies success tenhouse timekeepers tion took transit transit of Venus troops vessel Washington whole York
Popular passages
Page 210 - DEAR SIR,— Your favor of the 2oth of May I received with much pleasure ; for I can assure you, that, among the many worthy and meritorious officers with whom I have had the happiness to be connected in service through the course of this war, and from whose cheerful assistance and advice I have received much support and confidence, in the various and trying vicissitudes of a complicated contest, the name of a Putnam is not forgotten...
Page 288 - In these poems" (Amir Khan, &c.) " there is enough of originality, enough of aspiration, enough of conscious energy, enough of growing power to warrant any expectations, however sanguine, which the patrons and the friends, and parents of the deceased could have formed.
Page 85 - ... no aid, tax, tallage, assessment, custom, loan, benevolence, or imposition whatsoever, shall be laid, assessed, imposed, or levied on any of their majesties' subjects, or their estates, on any color or pretence whatsoever, but by the act and consent of the governor, council, and representatives of the people assembled in general court.
Page 286 - It is a dark, and fearful thing; It steals along with withering tread, Or sweeps on wild destruction's wing. That thought comes o'er me in the hour Of grief, of sickness, or of sadness: 'Tis not the dread of death; 'tis more, — It is the dread of madness. Oh! may...
Page 288 - This statement does not comprise the large proportion (at least one third of the whole) which she destroyed. The genius of Lucretia Davidson has had the meed of far more authoritative praise than ours. The following tribute is from the London " Quarterly Review " ; a source whence praise of American productions is as rare as springs in the desert. The notice is by Mr. Southey, and is written with the earnest feeling, that characterizes that author, as generous as he is discriminating.
Page 248 - Oh, sister, sing the song once more Which ne'er for mortal ear was made. "Twere almost sacrilege to sing Those notes amid the glare of day ; Notes borne by angels' purest wing, And wafted by their breath away. When, sleeping in my grass-grown bed, Shouldst thou still linger here above, Wilt thou not kneel beside my head, And, sister, sing the song I love?
Page 203 - Men are confined to hospitals or in farmers' houses for want of shoes. We have this day no less than two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight men in camp unfit for duty, because they are barefoot and otherwise naked. Our whole strength in continental troops amounts to no more than eight thousand two hundred in camp fit for duty. Since the fourth instant, our numbers fit for duty from hardships and exposures have decreased nearly two thousand men. Numbers still are obliged to sit...
Page 205 - General McDougall is to take the command of the posts in the Highlands. My reason for making this change is owing to the prejudices of the people, which, whether well or ill grounded, must be indulged ; and I should think myself wanting in justice to the public and candor towards you, were I to continue you in a command, after I have been almost in direct terms informed, that the people of the state of New York will not render the necessary support and assistance, while you remain at the head of...
Page 210 - Putnam is not forgotten ; nor will it be but with that stroke of time, which shall obliterate from my mind the remembrance of all those toils and fatigues, through which we have struggled for the preservation and establishment of the rights, liberties, and independence of our country.
Page 36 - God was pleased to smile upon my outward concerns. The various providences, both merciful and afflictive, which attended me in my travels, were sanctified unto me, to make me acknowledge God in all my ways. I have divers times been in danger of my life, and I have been brought to see that I owe my life to him that has given a life so often to me...