Thomas Wyatt

“ Colonel Scott now perceiving that a crisis must be near at hand, every effort was made by the commanding officers to induce the American militia, on the opposite side of the river, to cross over to the assistance of their countrymen, but in vain. Entreaty was wasted upon them, and as all the boats were upon the American side, the little band under Scott was left to await a fate from which there was no retreat. All had now been done that was required by honor, and longer resistance would only have sacrificed in vain the lives of brave men. ”

“ In this Manual of Conchology we have endeavoured to give a free translation of Lamarck’s system, as simplified by De Blainville; and, in order to facilitate as much as possible the study of this beautiful and interesting science, we have divested it of numerous technicalities, and divided it into four classes: Annelides, Cirrhipedes, Conchifera, and Mollusca.
To each class we have assigned its various families, to each family its genera, and to each genus its living species; thereby making it plain and within the reach of the meanest capacity. ”

“ With Venus, and Bacchus, all their life long;
Nor hold my peace of them, although I smart
I cannot crouch nor kneel to such a wrong;
To worship them like God on earth alone,
That are as wolves these sely lambs among.
I cannot with my words complain and moan,
And suffer nought; nor smart without complaint:
Nor turn the word that from my mouth is gone.
I cannot speak and look like as a saint ”

“ That raileth reckless to every man's shame;
Say he is rude that cannot lie and feign,
The lecher a lover, and tyranny
To be the right of a prince's reign.
I cannot, I: no, no, it will not be.
This is the cause that I could never yet
Hang on their sleeves that weigh, as thou mayst see,
A chip of chance more than a pound of wit. ”

“ No act of Commodore Hull’s life can be quoted as a drawback upon the immense debt of gratitude due him by his fellow-citizens. He did not, in the midst of the continued praise that followed him, yield to a single suggestion of wrong, nor presume, for a moment, upon the hold which he had on the affections of the nation. Every day of his life seemed to be spent as if he felt that day had its special duty, which, if unperformed, would leave incomplete his honors, and perhaps, tarnish the laurels he had already acquired. ”

“ I find no peace, and all my war is done,
I fear and hope, I burn and freeze like ice.
I fly above the wind, yet can I not arise,
And naught I have, and all the world I seize on.
That looseth nor locketh holdeth me in prison,
And holdeth me not, yet can I 'scape nowise;
Nor letteth me live nor die at my device,
And yet of death it giveth me occasion.
Without eyen I see, and without tongue I plain;
I desire to perish, and yet I ask health;
I love another, and thus I hate myself;
I feed me in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain.
Likewise displeaseth me both death and life,
And my delight is causer of this strife. ”

“ In form the Pholas is generally oblong, having two large valves opposite to each other, with a number of smaller ones attached to the back as a substitute for a hinge. The two large valves never shut close; they are open at one end, and sometimes at both.
The exterior of the shell is usually of a pure or dusky white, but sometimes of a brownish cast. In some species the shell is adorned with beautiful delicate reticulations, like the finest lace; in others the texture is coarser, like small basket-work. ”

“ And blind desire of estate.
Who hastes to climb seeks to revert.
Of truth, circa regna tonat.
The Bell Tower showed me such sight
That in my head sticks day and night.
There did I learn of of a grate
For all favor, glory, or might,
That yet circa regna tonat.
By proof, I say, there did I learn:
Wit helpeth not defense to yerne,
Of innocence to plead or prate.
Bear low, therefore, give God the stern,
For sure, circa regna tonat.
This work was published before January 1, 1928, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. ”

“ Tell those Philadelphia ladies who attended Howe’s assemblies and levees, that the heavenly, sweet red-coats, the accomplished gentlemen of the guards and grenadiers, have been humbled on the plains of Monmouth. These knights have resigned their laurels to rebel officers, who will lay them at the feet of those virtuous daughters of America, who cheerfully gave up ease and affluence in a city, for liberty and peace of mind in a cottage. ”

“ My galley charged with forgetfulness
Thorough sharp seas, in winter nights doth pass
'Tween rock and rock; and eke mine enemy, alas,
That is my lord, steereth with cruelness;
And every oar a thought in readiness,
As though that death were light in such a case.
An endless wind doth tear the sail apace
Of forced sighs and trusty fearfulness.
A rain of tears, a cloud of dark disdain,
Hath done the wearied cords great hinderance;
Wreathed with error and eke with ignorance.
The stars be hid that led me to this pain.
Drowned is reason that should me consort,
And I remain despairing of the port. ”

“ Contempt of danger was so rigidly enforced, that when one of our subordinate officers showed symptoms of fear in an engagement, and was tried by a court martial, the commodore assigned for his acquittal, a reason no less curious than just: viz., that the bare supposition that one coward existed on board of the American fleet was, of itself, a greater injury than the condemnation of this man could possibly be a benefit, as it would establish the fact. The British squadron in the Mediterranean minutely watched the movements of our little fleet for the purpose of sarcasm and jest. ”

“ Stand whoso list upon the slipper top
Of court's estates, and let me here rejoice
And use me quiet without let or stop,
Unknown in court, that hath such brackish joys.
In hidden place so let my days forth pass
That when my years be done withouten noise,
I may die aged after the common trace.
For him death grippeth right hard by the crop
That is much known of other, and of himself, alas,
Doth die unknown, dazed, with dreadful face. ”

“ What should I say!
Since Faith is dead,
And Truth away
From you is fled?
Should I be led
With doubleness?
Nay ! nay ! Mistress.
I promis'd you,
And you promis'd me,
To be as true,
As I would be. ”

“ The moment arrived, and young Wayne was only six weeks in completing a regiment, of which he was unanimously chosen colonel. At the sound of taxation the undaunted spirit of liberty burst forth, and thousands of young and fearless patriots thronged around the sacred banner to enrol themselves in a cause which must eventually end in freedom. News of the opening of the revolution at Bunker’s Hill and Lexington arrived, and Washington, who had accepted the command of the army, repaired to the seat of war. ”

“ No man appeared better qualified for the part he had to perform. Nature had made him a hero, and circumstances had prepared him to command men, as well as to give direction to the development of their energies; and these qualifications united with a brave heart and chivalrous spirit, rendered him able to vindicate the rights, which he knew so well how to assert.
The American navy at this time consisted of the following vessels:
Jones, who had been appointed lieutenant of the flag ship, Alfred, hoisted with his own hands the first American flag that ever waved over the ocean. ”

“ Throughout these several and varied attacks from a force so overwhelming, the second brigade evinced its accustomed discipline, and its officers the high and gallant spirit they held in common with their leader. Reinforcements were detached to different points, changes of position made, new shapes of the enemy’s attack on the right, a part deemed the least vulnerable, were found more effectual. He had succeeded in making a lodgement in the bastion, which was left to the defence of artillery only, unsupported by infantry, as had been the previous custom. ”

“ At a quarter past three o’clock, P. M., the captain was hailed by the French commander, and the Constellation, ranging along side of the enemy’s frigate, who had declared herself to be such by firing a gun to windward, poured in a close and extremely well-directed broadside. This was instantly returned by her antagonist, who, after a very warm engagement of an hour and a quarter, hauled down her colors, and proved to be L’Insurgente, of forty guns and four hundred and seventeen men; twenty-nine of whom were killed and forty-four wounded. ”

“ The capture of the Frolic by the Wasp, not only broke the charm of British naval superiority, but showed a decided superiority in favor of America. The capture of the Penguin was not less decisive; and if, at the commencement of the war, the British navy was surprised, from habits of security and contempt for their enemies, they had, before the victory of the Hornet, learned their error and corrected their conduct. ”

“ When the troops were formed in line, Colonel Miller rode in front and addressed them in the following words:—“My brave fellows! you have done well! every man has done his duty. I give you my hearty thanks for your conduct on this day; you have gained my highest esteem; you have gained fresh honor to yourselves, and to the American arms; your [126] fellow soldiers in arms will love you, and your country will reward you. You will return to the field of battle, to collect those who have gloriously fallen; your friendly attentions to your wounded companions are required.” ”

“ He has signalized himself in more than one instance since; and in the late assault of Stony Point, he commanded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the enemy’s works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, as reported by General Wayne. It is but justice to him to declare, that, in the different services he has been [46] of real utility, and has acquitted himself in every respect as an officer of distinguished merit, one whose talents, zeal, activity, and bravery, alike entitle him to particular notice. I doubt not Congress will be disposed to grant him every indulgence. ”

“ There was such a calmness in the conduct of Lieutenant Macdonough, such a solemnity in his language, such a politeness in his manner, that the British officer saw that he had to deal with no ordinary man, and that it was not prudent to put him on his metal. In that garden of the world, the shores of the Mediterranean, where nations have grown up and decayed, and others have taken their places ”