George WashingtonHarper & brothers, 1896 - 333 pages |
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affairs America amidst Annapolis appointed army Assembly Boston Braddock bred British Captain character Colonel Byrd colonies colonists command conference Congress counsel Court Custis declared deemed delegates Dinwiddie doubt Duquesne duty Edmund Randolph England English Fairfax fight force forests Fort Duquesne France French friends frontier gentleman George ginia Governor gress Hamilton Henry Lee House of Burgesses hundred independence ington Jefferson John John Adams King's knew land leader lived looked loved Majesty's Massachusetts matter ment Mount Vernon neighbors North Carolina Northern Neck numbers officers Ohio Company once Parliament Pennsylvania Peyton Randolph Philadelphia port Potomac Potomac Company President provincials quiet Randolph revolution Richard Henry Lee river seemed sent settlements soldier spirit Stamp Act stood taken temper things thought thousand tion took town trade troops Twas Virginia vote Wash Washington Williamsburg York young
Popular passages
Page 180 - It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If, to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair: the event is in the hands of God.
Page 227 - But who, if he be called upon to face Some awful moment to which Heaven has joined Great issues, good or bad for human kind, Is happy as a Lover; and attired With sudden brightness, like a Man inspired...
Page 126 - You may believe me, my dear Patsy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that, so far from seeking this appointment, I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity...
Page 167 - The Western States (I speak now from my own observation) stand as it were upon a pivot. The touch of a feather would turn them any way.
Page 126 - I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room that I this day declare, with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with.
Page 187 - In this conflict of emotions all I dare aver is that it has been my faithful study to collect my duty from a just appreciation of every circumstance by which it might be affected.
Page 159 - I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping.
Page 187 - ... the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment intrusted to the hands of the American people.
Page 203 - Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very heaven! — Oh! times, In which the meagre, stale, forbidding ways Of custom, law, and statute, took at once The attraction of a country in romance!
Page 227 - Tis, finally, the Man, who, lifted high, Conspicuous object in a Nation's eye, Or left unthought-of in obscurity, — Who, with a toward or untoward lot, Prosperous or adverse, to his wish or not — Plays, in the many games of life, that one Where what he most doth value must be won...