John Armstrong

“ John Armstrong made great offers for his life, offering to maintain himself, with forty men, to serve the king at a moment's notice, at his own expense, engaging never to hurt or injure any Scottish subject, as indeed had never been his practice, and undertaking that there was not a man in England, of whatever degree, duke, earl, lord, or baron, but he would engage, within a short time, to present him to the king, dead or alive. ”

“ John Armstrong, at the request of several of the officers in camp. The following were the concluding passages of the first address:
"After a pursuit of seven long years, the object for which we set out is at length brought within our reach. Yes, my friends, that suffering courage of yours was active once. It has conducted the United States of America through a doubtful and a bloody war. It has placed her in the chair of independency; and peace returns again to bless—whom? A country willing to redress your wrongs, cherish your worth, and reward your services? ”

“ It seems a strange thing, but so it is, that the events of the dreadful day, when, as if by a heavenly interposition, his hand had been arrested when raised to take away the life of his daughter, and also of the time when he lay insane upon his bed, were blotted completely from the memory of Armstrong. The scratches of a school-boy on a slate were never more perfectly erased by a wet sponge. All his conduct proves this. When he beheld his brother after the return of reason, he addressed him as Mr. Holden, and never, in conversation with any one, did he make allusion to his aberration of mind. ”

“ Was he afraid of a companionship that might drag him down and entangle him in the meshes of a predestined wretchedness? He is right, thought Armstrong. He sees the whirlpool into which, if once drawn, there is no escape from destruction.
Holden succeeded better in communicating a portion of his confidence to Pownal. In the morning of life, before experience has dimmed our sky with clouds, we readily perceive the sun of joy. The bright eyes of youth catch his rays on the mountain tops, before the drooping lids of age are raised from the ground. ”

“ After all was done, Armstrong leaned over and bowed his head in an attitude of supplication. When he raised it the eyes were tearless, and his pale face wore an aspect of settled despair. Resuming the hat, that until now had lain neglected in the leaves, he went to the brook and washed his hands in the running water.
"Could man wash out the sins of his soul," he said, "as I wash these stains from my hands! But water, though it may cleanse outer pollution, cannot reach the inner sin. Blood, blood only, can do that. ”

“ Upon Armstrong's return from the end of the walk, Felix delivered himself of his errand, and his master directed his steps towards the house.
He found his daughter with the breakfast apparatus before her, and looking as fresh and charming as the morning itself.
"You have shown better taste than I, father," she said. "You have been enjoying the beauty of nature, while I was lying on a downy pillow."
"Sleep is sweet to the young and healthy," said Armstrong, "and my selfishness kept you up so late last night, that I do not wonder you are not as early as usual." ”

“ Such was the nature of the thoughts of the unhappy Armstrong. Do what he might, he could not exclude them. They would give place to no others. They were at home. They had a right to rule and to torture. They were a foretaste of a never-ending punishment. His will did not consent; but, a mightier will commanded, and the weaker must obey. The sport of an irresistible necessity—with no power of choice—the blind, unwilling instrument of a controlling force, he was, notwithstanding, justly chargeable with every misfortune, and, like a malefactor, must endure the consequences. ”

“ Armstrong.
"Nay, but the signs of His coming are kindling in the Eastern sky," exclaimed Holden, "and soon amid the hymns and hallelujahs of saints shall he establish His benign and resplendent empire. Then shall commence the upward career of the race, whose earthly goal is the state of primeval perfection; whose heavenly it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive. ”

“ The capture of the city of Washington in 1814 led to his retirement from office. Public opinion held him responsible for this misfortune, but, as documentary history has shown, without justice. No man took office with purer motives, or retired from it with a better claim to have faithfully discharged its duties. General Armstrong died at his residence at Red Hook, N. Y., on the 1st of April, 1843, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He was among the remarkable men of a remarkable generation. ”

“ Youth, and health, and strength, furnish no immunity against death."
"But what a gloom this daily expectation of an event which the wisest and stoutest hearted are unable to contemplate without trepidation, casts over life," said the Judge.
"Not in his case," replied Armstrong. "On the contrary, I am satisfied he would hail it with a song of thanksgiving, and I think I have observed he is sometimes impatient of the delay."
"It is well his notions are only crazy fancies as absurd as his beard.
His appearance is very heathenish," said Mrs. Bernard. ”

“ I think there are other reasons more efficacious than the plea of poverty, which can, indeed, no longer be made."
"Come, come," said Armstrong, "you do not love anything about us Puritans, and your objections, if politeness would allow you to speak them out plainly, would be found to contain a fling at Calvin's children; but hearken, if I cannot find excuses to satisfy even you."
"I shall listen eagerly, but must correct you in one thing. I not only love some things about the Puritans, but some Puritans themselves." ”

“ Armstrong; "but how would you have accomplished the feat, like one of the labors of Hercules, without some such means?"
"I do not pretend to be able to do it," answered Bernard, modestly; "but, doubtless, one possessed of more imagination could have accomplished it."
"You are but a cold advocate for your friend," said Faith. "You do not allow him half the merit he deserves"
"He would not complain were he to hear me," said Bernard. "No one can be more sensible than himself, of the defects of his work."
"And I say," said Anne, "that I like his story exceedingly ”

“ I offered myself, and was accepted."
"And didst thou nothing to alienate her affections from thy brother?" inquired Holden, in a hoarse voice.
"She never regarded him with more than a passing liking," returned Armstrong, "nor do I believe she had an idea of the fervor of his affection. God be my witness, I never spoke a word in his disparagement. We were married, and shortly after George began to exhibit indications of insanity. By the advice of physicians he was taken to an asylum for the insane, where it was hoped, under proper treatment, his reason might be restored. ”

“ Bernard, "and that would be more than our little village could live through."
"Fancy papa running an opposition beard against Mr. Holden!" said
Anne.
The idea was sufficiently ludicrous to occasion a general laugh, and even Armstrong smiled.
"I am a happy man," said the Judge; "not only mirthful, myself, but the cause of mirth in others. What a beam of light is a smile, what a glory like a sunrise is a laugh!"
"That will do, Judge Bernard, that will do," said his wife; "do not try again, for you cannot jump so high twice." ”

“ He was impatient of this dalliance.
“We were coming down from the Umpqua, my brother and I,” says Armstrong, “goan across to the States, to drive out cattle next summer. We was a little late one morning, along of our horses havin’ strayed off from camp, and that was how we met them men. ”

“ Armstrong, John (1673-1742) : for 1673 read 1674 21 f.e. after 1742) insert 'Chief Engineer of England, born at Ballyard, King's Co., 31 March 1674, was eldest son of Robert Armstrong, who married Lydia, daughter of Michael Howard of Ballyard. He saw much active service under the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene. He 94 i 16-14 f.e. for He appears . . . . England,' read He was quartermaster-general from Jan. ”

“ They who are worthy to be called my friends, regard gold and silver only as it ministers to their own and others' wants."
He took the proffered bank-bills with quite as much an air of one conferring, as one of receiving a favor, and, without even looking at the amount, put them in his pocket.
It was so long since Holden had been in the great world, or mingled in the ordinary pursuits of men—and his appearance and mode of speech were so different from those of others—that Armstrong had some fears respecting his researches. ”

“ Move me by Thy Spirit to have a true love to the poor, that I may succour them out of a loving heart. Teach mine eyes and my soul to behold Thee when I behold the poor, that I may give unto them as unto Thee. ”

“ Thy mercy has carried me to this hour. If I have done any good, it has been through the operation of Thy grace; and for the evil that I have done I have not been visited with any great judgment, nor given over unto death. I am yet in the land of the living; the living shall praise Thee, Lord; with a most thankful spirit do I kneel before Thee, Father of spirits, for I have provoked Thee every day, and Thou hast had mercy upon me. ”

“ Blessed be Thy name above every name, among angels and archangels and men upon earth, for the overflowings of Thy immeasurable love. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” ”

“ On his return to England in April 1846 he was appointed to the Grappler, fitting out for the west coast of Africa; but before she sailed Armstrong was moved into the royal yacht, from which, on the occasion of the queen’s visit to Ireland, he was promoted to the rank of surgeon on 19 Oct. 1849. Two months later he was appointed as surgeon and naturalist to the Investigator, going out to the Arctic under the command of (Sir) Robert John Le Mesurier McClure [q. v.] , and in her he continued the whole time till she was abandoned in 1853, He returned to England with McClure in 1854. ”

“ Ah, my dear friend, how often do we put it out of the power even of the tender Father of mercies to speed and prosper us! How much humiliating discipline are we incessantly courting by attempting to rob God of that glory which belongs to himself alone! ”

“ Lead me on to the higher stages of faith, to a fuller growth in grace, to a more mature and fruitful holiness, to a more intense and spiritual love of Thee and of my brethren. May I have strength to be a more complete conqueror of the world, of the world within me, of all earthly loves and affections. ”

“ But, on the whole, Faith, I will accept your pledge of affection, and stick to my colors like a man and a doctor. And, to exhibit my confidence, you may, meanwhile, flirt in moderation with William Bernard. You will get tired of it when the novelty wears off; so I shall escape, and it is better that you should tease him now than me hereafter. But, dear me, here we are at your door."
Mr. Armstrong and the minister had waited for them on the step, and the four entered together. Shortly after Pownal arrived, and somewhat later the family of the Bernards. ”

“ Tho’ the sweet poet of the vernal groves
Melts all the night in strains of amorous woe.
The shades descend, and midnight o’er the world
Expands her sable wings. Great nature droops
Thro’ all her works. ”

“ Grant that I may take nothing to myself of all the good done, but thank Thee with humble joy for having used such an one as myself to promote Thy glory. Grant that my rejoicing may be in Thee; so, in profiting others, shall mine own soul be profited. ”

“ Thou whom I now adore in faith and worship with my flesh and with my spirit, Thou who art my God, God most glorious, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, blessed for evermore! ”

“ This is my charge, this number of immortal souls; and each one of all these souls has to be numbered among the Angels or the devils! How can I abide at home, or rest, or take my pleasure, with such a burden and such a charge laid on me! Is not each separate soul worth a life's work, all the labour I could give. ”

“ Grant that I may watch and pray to the end; the nearer draws the end, so much the more may I watch; as every day is a step towards death, so ought it to be a step towards the kingdom of heaven. As I may die any day, so every fresh day is a gain to my soul. ”

“ Thro’ all the heights of fondness and romance:
And you’re undone, the fatal shaft has sped,
If once you doubt whether you love or no.
The body wastes away; th’ infected mind,
Dissolv’d in female tenderness, forgets 355
Each manly virtue, and grows dead to fame. ”

“ When I wake up, before all things let me remember Thy Cross, that bitter tree of Thy death, that sweet tree of our life, the place of Thy shame and of our hope, where Thou wast delivered to death, and we freed from death, where Thou didst die, and whence we did begin to live, whereon Thou didst suffer, and wherein we glory. ”

“ I believe in Thee, Father, and Thee, Son, and Thee, Holy Ghost, One God, though Thou art a mystery unto me, though I am a mystery unto myself. I commend myself and all that are mine in most profound humility into Thy hands, kneeling upon the earth, bowing myself to the earth; “into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” and the spirits of all those whom Thou hast given me. Do unto us what seemeth Thee good. We are Thine, Father. Deliver us in the hour of death and in the day of judgment; deliver us from the place of hell and from eternal death, through the precious blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. ”