With Americans of Past and Present DaysA collection of five essays followed by two speeches, with the majority of the text dealing with the period around the birth of the United States. The first, and longest, essay is titled "Rochambeau and the French in America," covers the relationship between Rochambeau and Washington. The second essay, "Major L'Enfant and the Federal City," covers the creation of Washington D.C. The third essay, titled "Washington and the French," covers how Washington's perception of our French allies changed from some initial suspicion to one of respect. The other essays are "Abraham Lincoln," "The Franklin Medal," "Horace Howard Furness." and "From war to peace." |
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham Lincoln admiration American artist August Augustin Cochin Auvergne battle beautiful become campaign cause century chambeau Chastellux chief citizens Clinton colonial Comte Comtesse de Noailles Congress Cornwallis Count enemies English Europe famous federal city feeling fight fleet flight to Varennes former France Franklin French army French officers friends future grand happy honor Houdon ideas ington Jefferson journal July June King La Luzerne Lafayette land later learned less letter liberty Lincoln live Lord Cornwallis Luzerne Major L'Enfant mankind March marshal of France medal memoirs ment military mind minister Mount Vernon nation naval never occasion Paris peace Philadelphia Pontgibaud portrait present President reached received Régis de Trobriand Republic Revolution Rochambeau papers sailors says Closen sent ships society soldiers spite things thought tion treaty troops United wanted Wash Washington writes written wrote York Yorktown young
Popular passages
Page 208 - Unhappy it is, though, to reflect, that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a brother's breast, and that the once happy and peaceful plains of America are either to be drenched with blood, or inhabited by slaves. Sad alternative ! But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice ? I am with sincere regard, and affectionate compliments to Mrs.
Page 220 - Providence, which has dealt her favors to us with so profuse a hand. Would to God we may have wisdom enough to improve them. I shall not rest contented, till I have explored the western country, and traversed those lines, or great part of them, which have given bounds to a new empire.
Page 281 - I never mean, unless some particular circumstances should compel me to it, to possess another slave by purchase, it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted by which slavery in this country may be abolished by law.
Page 221 - ... strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that it was not till lately I could get the better of my usual custom of ruminating, as soon as I waked in the morning, on the business of the ensuing day ; and of my surprise at finding, after revolving many things in my mind, that I was no longer a public man, nor had any thing to do with public transactions.
Page 220 - Prompted by these actual observations, I could not help taking a more contemplative and extensive view of the vast inland navigation of these United States, and could not but be struck with the immense diffusion and importance of it, and with the goodness of that Providence which has dealt His favors to us with so profuse a hand. Would to God we may have wisdom enough to improve them. I shall not rest contented until I have explored the western country and traversed those lines (or great part of...
Page 257 - McHenry) is ready; that, this being over, I mount my horse and ride round my farms, which employs me until it is time to dress for dinner, at which I rarely miss seeing strange faces, come, as they say, out of respect for me.
Page 222 - I am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk, and tread the paths of private life with heartfelt satisfaction. Envious of none, I am determined to be pleased with all ; and this, my dear friend, being the order of my march, I will move gently down the stream of life until I sleep with my fathers.
Page 173 - The centre of each square will admit of statues, columns, obelisks, or any other ornaments such as the different states may choose to erect to perpetuate not only the memory of such individuals whose counsels or military achievements were conspicuous in giving liberty and independence to this country, but also those whose usefulness hath rendered them worthy of general imitation to invite the youth of succeeding generations to tread in the paths of those sages or heroes whom their country has thought...
Page 327 - After my death I wish no other herald, No other speaker of my living actions, To keep mine honour from corruption, But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.
Page 347 - I consider how mankind may be connected like one great family in fraternal ties. I indulge a fond, perhaps an enthusiastic idea, that as the world is evidently much less barbarous than it has been, its melioration must still be progressive; that nations are becoming more humanized in their policy, that the subjects of ambition and causes for hostility are daily diminishing and in fine that the period is not very remote, when the benefits of a liberal and...