James Renwick was the child of godly parents in humble life. His father,
Andrew Renwick, was a weaver, and his mother, Elizabeth Corson, is
especially mentioned, like the mother and grandmother of Timothy, or
like Monica, the mother of Augustine, as a woman of strong faith, and
eminently prayerful. As several of her children had died in infancy, she
earnestly sought that the Lord would give her a child, who would not
only be an heir of glory, but who might live to serve God in his
generation. Her prayer was heard and graciously answered. The son of her
vows was born at Moniaive, in the parish of Glencairn, Gallowayshire, on
the 15th of February, 1662. His father died before he reached the age of
fourteen, but not before he felt assured–probably from observing in the
boy remarkable indications of early piety–that, though his course on
earth would be short, the Lord would make singular use of him in his
service. The early training of this distinguished martyr was, in a great
measure, through the instrumentality of a devoted mother, who could
boast of no worldly affluence or accomplishments, but whose heart was
richly pervaded by the grace of the Spirit, and intensely concerned for
the Saviour’s glory; and who, in times of great difficulty and great
trial, maintained unwavering confidence in the faithful word of promise.

Sku: thelifeofjamesrenwick

My _debut_ upon the world’s stage occurred on February 26th, 1845. The
scene of this first important event in my adventurous career, being in
Scott county, in the State of Iowa. My parents, Isaac and Mary Ann Cody,
who were numbered among the pioneers of Iowa, gave to me the name of
William Frederick. I was the fourth child in the family. Martha and
Julia, my sisters, and Samuel my brother, had preceded me, and the
children who came after me were Eliza, Nellie, Mary, and Charles, born in
the order named.
At the time of my birth the family resided on a farm which they called
“Napsinekee Place,”–an Indian name–and here the first six or seven
years of my childhood were spent. When I was about seven years old my
father moved the family to the little town of LeClair, located on the
bank of the Mississippi, fifteen miles above the city of Davenport. Even
at that early age my adventurous spirit led me into all sorts of mischief
and danger, and when I look back upon my childhood’s days I often wonder
that I did not get drowned while swimming or sailing, or my neck broken
while I was stealing apples in the neighboring orchards.

Sku: lifeofwilliam

The Spider has a bad name: to most of us, she represents an odious,
noxious animal, which every one hastens to crush under foot. Against
this summary verdict the observer sets the beast’s industry, its talent
as a weaver, its wiliness in the chase, its tragic nuptials and other
characteristics of great interest. Yes, the Spider is well worth
studying, apart from any scientific reasons; but she is said to be
poisonous and that is her crime and the primary cause of the repugnance
wherewith she inspires us. Poisonous, I agree, if by that we understand
that the animal is armed with two fangs which cause the immediate death
of the little victims which it catches; but there is a wide difference
between killing a Midge and harming a man. However immediate in its
effects upon the insect entangled in the fatal web, the Spider’s poison
is not serious for us and causes less inconvenience than a Gnat-bite.
That, at least, is what we can safely say as regards the great majority
of the Spiders of our regions.

Sku: thelifeofthespider

The Spider has a bad name: to most of us, she represents an odious,
noxious animal, which every one hastens to crush under foot. Against
this summary verdict the observer sets the beast’s industry, its talent
as a weaver, its wiliness in the chase, its tragic nuptials and other
characteristics of great interest. Yes, the Spider is well worth
studying, apart from any scientific reasons; but she is said to be
poisonous and that is her crime and the primary cause of the repugnance
wherewith she inspires us. Poisonous, I agree, if by that we understand
that the animal is armed with two fangs which cause the immediate death
of the little victims which it catches; but there is a wide difference
between killing a Midge and harming a man. However immediate in its
effects upon the insect entangled in the fatal web, the Spider’s poison
is not serious for us and causes less inconvenience than a Gnat-bite.
That, at least, is what we can safely say as regards the great majority
of the Spiders of our regions.

Sku: thelifeofthespider

The present volume contains all the essays on flies, or Diptera,
from the Souvenirs entomologiques, to which I have added, in order
to make the dimensions uniform with those of the other volumes of
the series, the purely autobiographical essays comprised in the
Souvenirs. These essays, though they have no bearing upon the
life of the fly, are among the most interesting that Henri Fabre
has written and will, I am persuaded, make a special appeal to the
reader. The chapter entitled The Caddis Worm has been included
as following directly upon The Pond.
Since publishing The Life of the Spider, I was much struck by a
passage in Dr. Chalmers Mitchell’s stimulating work, The Childhood
of Animals, in which the secretary of the Zoological Society of
London says: ‘I have attempted to avoid the use of terms familiar
only to students of zoology and to refrain from anatomical detail,
but at the same time to refrain from the irritating habit assuming
that my readers have no knowledge, no dictionaries and no other
books.’

Sku: thelifeofthefly

practical bee-keeping. Excellent works of the kind abound in all
civilised countries, and it were useless to attempt another. France
has those of Dadant, Georges de Layens and Bonnier, Bertrand, Hamet,
Weber, Clement, the Abbe Collin, etc. English-speaking countries
have Langstroth, Bevan, Cook, Cheshire, Cowan, Root, etc. Germany
has Dzierzon, Van Berlespoch, Pollmann, Vogel, and many others.
Nor is this book to be a scientific monograph on Apis Mellifica,
Ligustica, Fasciata, Dorsata, etc., or a collection of new
observations and studies. I shall say scarcely anything that those
will not know who are somewhat familiar with bees. The notes and
experiments I have made during my twenty years of beekeeping I shall
reserve for a more technical work; for their interest is necessarily
of a special and limited nature, and I am anxious not to over-burden
this essay.

Sku: thelifeofthebee

IT is not my intention to write a treatise on apiculture, or on
practical bee-keeping. Excellent works of the kind abound in all
civilised countries, and it were useless to attempt another. France
has those of Dadant, Georges de Layens and Bonnier, Bertrand, Hamet,
Weber, Clement, the Abbe Collin, etc. English-speaking countries
have Langstroth, Bevan, Cook, Cheshire, Cowan, Root, etc. Germany
has Dzierzon, Van Berlespoch, Pollmann, Vogel, and many others.
Nor is this book to be a scientific monograph on Apis Mellifica,
Ligustica, Fasciata, Dorsata, etc., or a collection of new
observations and studies. I shall say scarcely anything that those
will not know who are somewhat familiar with bees. The notes and
experiments I have made during my twenty years of beekeeping I shall
reserve for a more technical work; for their interest is necessarily
of a special and limited nature, and I am anxious not to over-burden
this essay.

Sku: thelifeofthebee

De mortuis nil nisi bonum, (of the dead speak nothing but good),
is the rule which governed the friends of Stephen A. Douglas after
his death. “Of political foes speak nothing but ill,” is the rule
which has guided much of our discussion of him for forty years.
The time has now arrived when we can study him dispassionately
and judge him justly, when we can take his measure, if not with
scientific accuracy, at least with fairness and honesty.
Where party spirit is as despotic as it is among us, it is difficult
for any man who spends his life amid the storms of politics to get
justice until the passions of his generation have been forgotten.
Even then he is generally misjudged–canonized as a saint,
with extravagant eulogy, by those who inherit his party name, and
branded as a traitor or a demagogue by those who wear the livery
of opposition.

Sku: thelifeofstephen

It is solely the historical aspect and worth of the two tracts herewith
presented that appealed to their edition and first suggested to him
their preparation and publication. Had preparation in question depended
for its motive merely on considerations of the texts’ philologic
interest or value it would, to speak frankly, never have been
undertaken. The editor, who disclaims qualification as a philologist,
regards these Lives as very valuable historical material, publication of
which may serve to light up some dark corners of our Celtic
ecclesiastical past. He is egotist enough to hope that the present
“blazing of the track,” inadequate and feeble though it be, may induce
other and better equipped explorers to follow.
The present editor was studying the Life of Declan [Project
Etext #823] for quite another purpose when, some years since, the
zealous Hon. Secretary of the Irish Texts Society suggested to him
publication of the tract in its present form, and addition of the Life
of Carthach [Mochuda].

Sku: thelifeofst.mochudaoflismore

Five miles or less to the east of Youghal Harbour, on the southern
Irish coast, a short, rocky and rather elevated promontory juts, with
a south-easterly trend, into the ocean [about 51 deg. 57 min. N /
7 deg. 43 min. W]. Maps and admiralty charts call it Ram Head, but
the real name is Ceann-a-Rama and popularly it is often styled Ardmore
Head. The material of this inhospitable coast is a hard metamorphic
schist which bids defiance to time and weather. Landwards the shore
curves in clay cliffs to the north-east, leaving, between it and the
iron headland beyond, a shallow exposed bay wherein many a proud ship
has met her doom. Nestling at the north side of the headland and
sheltered by the latter from Atlantic storms stands one of the most
remarkable groups of ancient ecclesiastical remains in Ireland–all
that has survived of St. Declan’s holy city of Ardmore.

Sku: thelifeofst.declanofardmore

Fifteen years have elapsed since the death of Sir Richard Burton and
twelve since the appearance of the biography of Lady Burton.
A deeply pathetic interest attaches itself to that book.
Lady Burton was stricken down with an incurable disease. Death with
its icy breath hung over her as her pen flew along the paper,
and the questions constantly on her lips were “Shall I live to
complete my task? Shall I live to tell the world how great and
noble a man my husband was, and to refute the calumnies that his
enemies have so industriously circulated?” She did complete it in
a sense, for the work duly appeared; but no one recognised more
clearly than herself its numerous shortcomings. Indeed, it is
little better than a huge scrap-book filled with newspaper cuttings
and citations from Sir Richard’s and other books, hurriedly selected
and even more hurriedly pieced together. It gives the impressions
of Lady Burton alone, for those of Sir Richard’s friends are
ignored–so we see Burton from only one point of view.

Sku: thelifeofsirrichardburton

An apology seems to be called for from anyone who gives to the world a
new Life of Napoleon I. My excuse must be that for many years I have
sought to revise the traditional story of his career in the light of
facts gleaned from the British Archives and of the many valuable
materials that have recently been published by continental historians.
To explain my manner of dealing with these sources would require an
elaborate critical Introduction; but, as the limits of my space
absolutely preclude any such attempt, I can only briefly refer to the
most important topics.
To deal with the published sources first, I would name as of chief
importance the works of MM. Aulard, Chuquet, Houssaye, Sorel, and
Vandal in France; of Herren Beer, Delbrueck, Fournier, Lehmann, Oncken,
and Wertheimer in Germany and Austria; and of Baron Lumbroso in Italy.
I have also profited largely by the scholarly monographs or
collections of documents due to the labours of the “Societe d’Histoire
Contemporaine,” the General Staff of the French Army, of MM. Bouvier,
Caudrillier, Capitaine “J.G.,” Levy, Madelin, Sagnac, Sciout, Zivy,
and others in France; and of Herren Bailleu, Demelitsch, Hansing,
Klinkowstrom, Luckwaldt, Ulmann, and others in Germany.

Sku: thelifeofnapoleon

The Buonarroti Simoni, to whom Michelangelo belonged, were a
Florentine family of ancient burgher nobility. Their arms appear to
have been originally “azure two bends or.” To this coat was added “a
label of four points gules inclosing three fleur-de-lys or.” That
augmentation, adopted from the shield of Charles of Anjou, occurs upon
the scutcheons of many Guelf houses and cities. In the case of the
Florentine Simoni, it may be ascribed to the period when Buonarrota di
Simone Simoni held office as a captain of the Guelf party (1392).
Such, then, was the paternal coat borne by the subject of this Memoir.
His brother Buonarroto received a further augmentation in 1515 from
Leo X., to wit: “upon a chief or, a pellet azure charged with
fleur-de-lys or, between the capital letters L. and X.” At the same
time he was created Count Palatine. The old and simple bearing of the
two bends was then crowded down into the extreme base of the shield,
while the Angevine label found room beneath the chief.

Sku: thelifeofmichelangelobuonarroti

The principal authorities for the following work are the four volumes of
Correspondence published by M. Arneth, and the six volumes published by M.
Feuillet de Conches. M. Arneth’s two collections[1] contain not only a
number of letters which passed between the queen, her mother the Empressqueen
(Maria Teresa), and her brothers Joseph and Leopold, who
successively became emperors after the death of their father; but also a
regular series of letters from the imperial embassador at Paris, the Count
Mercy d’Argenteau, which may almost be said to form a complete history of
the court of France, especially in all the transactions in which Marie
Antoinette, whether as dauphiness or queen, was concerned, till the death
of Maria Teresa, at Christmas, 1780. The correspondence with her two
brothers, the emperors Joseph and Leopold, only ceases with the death of
the latter in March, 1792.

Sku: thelifeofmarieantoinette

My present task is one of considerable difficulty; but I have long
had a notion that some time or another it would fall to my lot to
perform it. I approach it, therefore, without apprehension, entirely
in consequence of having determined, to my own satisfaction, the
manner in which the biography of so singular and so richly endowed a
character as that of the late Lord Byron should be treated, but still
with no small degree of diffidence; for there is a wide difference
between determining a rule for one’s self, and producing, according
to that rule, a work which shall please the public.
It has happened, both with regard to the man and the poet, that from
the first time his name came before the public, there has been a
vehement and continual controversy concerning him; and the chief
difficulties of the task arise out of the heat with which the adverse
parties have maintained their respective opinions.

Sku: thelifeoflordbyron

Christopher Carson, or as he was familiarly called, Kit Carson,
was a man whose real worth was understood only by those with whom
he was associated or who closely studied his character. He was
more than hunter, trapper, guide, Indian agent and Colonel in the
United States Army. He possessed in a marked degree those mental
and moral qualities which would have made him prominent in whatever
pursuit or profession he engaged.
His lot was cast on the extreme western frontier, where, when but
a youth, he earned the respect of the tough and frequently lawless
men with whom he came in contact. Integrity, bravery, loyalty to
friends, marvelous quickness in making right decisions, in crisis
of danger, consummate knowledge of woodcraft, a leadership as
skilful as it was daring; all these were distinguishing traits in
the composition of Carson and were the foundations of the broader
fame which he acquired as the friend and invaluable counselor
of Fremont, the Pathfinder, in his expeditions across the Rocky
Mountains.

Sku: thelifeofkitcarson

This book in its first form was written nearly twenty years ago with the
intention of contributing a volume to a series of University Extension
Manuals. For that purpose it included a sketch of Ruskin’s “Work,” with
some attempt to describe the continuous development of his thought. It
had the advantage–and the disadvantage–of being written under his eye;
that is to say, he saw as much of it as his health allowed; and it
received his general approval.
To explain my venturing upon the subject at all, I may perhaps be
allowed to state that I became his pupil in 1872 (having seen him
earlier), and continued to be in some relation to him–as visitor,
resident assistant, or near neighbour–until his death.
After his death the biographical part of my book was enlarged at the
expense of the description of his writings; and in revising once more I
have thrown out much relating to his works, chiefly because they are now
accessible as they were not formerly.

Sku: thelifeofjohnruskin

Milton’s Life and Secretaryship through the First Protectorate
continued: September 1654-June 1657.–SECTION I.: From September 1654
to January 1654-5, or Through Oliver’s First Parliament.–Ulac’s
Hague Edition of Milton’s _Defensio Secunda_, with the _Fides
Publica_ of Morus annexed: Preface by Dr. Crantzius to the
Reprint: Ulac’s own Preface of Self-Defence: Account of Morus’s
_Fides Publica_, with Extracts: His Citation of Testimonies to
his Character: Testimony of Diodati of Geneva: Abrupt Ending of the
Book at this Point, with Ulac’s Explanation of the
Cause.–Particulars of the Arrest and Imprisonment of Milton’s Friend
Overton.–Three more Latin State-Letters by Milton for Oliver (Nos.
XLIX.-LI.): No State-Letters by Milton for the next Three Months:
Milton then busy on a Reply to the _Fides Publica_ of Morus.

Sku: thelifeofjohnmiltonvolume

Some forty years ago, the literary world rapturously hailed the
appearance of a new poet, brought forward as ‘the Northamptonshire
Peasant’ and ‘the English Burns.’ There was no limit to the applause
bestowed upon him. Rossini set his verses to music; Madame Vestris
recited them before crowded audiences; William Gifford sang his praises
in the ‘Quarterly Review;’ and all the critical journals, reviews, and
magazines of the day were unanimous in their admiration of poetical
genius coming before them in the humble garb of a farm labourer. The
‘Northamptonshire Peasant’ was duly petted, flattered, lionized, and
caressed–and, of course, as duly forgotten when his nine days were
passed. It was the old tale, all over. In this case, flattery did not
spoil the ‘peasant;’ but poverty, neglect, and suffering broke his heart.
After writing some exquisite poetry, and struggling for years with fierce
want, he sank at last under the burthen of his sorrows, and in the spring
of 1864 died at the Northampton Lunatic Asylum. It is a very old tale, no
doubt, but which may bear being told once more, brimful as it is of human
interest.

Sku: thelifeofjohnclare

John Bunyan, the author of the book which has probably passed through
more editions, had a greater number of readers, and been translated into
more languages than any other book in the English tongue, was born in the
parish of Elstow, in Bedfordshire, in the latter part of the year 1628,
and was baptized in the parish church of the village on the last day of
November of that year.
The year of John Bunyan’s birth was a momentous one both for the nation
and for the Church of England. Charles I., by the extorted assent to the
Petition of Right, had begun reluctantly to strip himself of the
irresponsible authority he had claimed, and had taken the first step in
the struggle between King and Parliament which ended in the House of
Commons seating itself in the place of the Sovereign.

Sku: thelifeofjohnbunyan

The aim of this book is to help thoughtful readers of the gospels to
discern more clearly the features of him whom those writings inimitably
portray. It is avowedly a study rather than a story, and as a companion to
the reading of the gospels it seeks to answer some of the questions which
are raised by a sympathetic consideration of those narratives. These
answers are offered in an unargumentative way, even where the questions
are still in debate among scholars. This method has been adopted because
technical discussion would be of interest to but few of those whom the
book hopes to serve. On some of the questions a non-committal attitude is
taken in the belief that for the understanding of the life of Jesus it is
of little importance which way the decision finally goes. Less attention
has been given to questions of geography and archaeology than to those
which have a more vital biographical significance.

Sku: thelifeofjesusofnazareth

As soon as he returned victorious from the temptation in the
wilderness, Jesus entered on the work of his public ministry. We find
him, at once, preaching to the people, healing the sick, and doing
many wonderful works. The commencement of his ministry is thus
described by St. Matt. iv: 23-25. “And Jesus went about all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the
kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of
disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria; and
they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers
diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils,
and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he
healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from
Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and
from beyond Jordan.” What a blessed beginning of the most blessed of
all ministries this was! He came to bless our world. He did bless it,
as no one else could have done. And here, we see, how he entered on
his work.

Sku: thelifeofjesuschrist

The prophet’s message to Eli, “Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said
* * * THEM THAT HONOUR ME, I WILL HONOUR,” (1 Sam. ii. 30,) declares a
fundamental law of the divine government, which the history alike of
individuals and of communities has illustrated in all by-past ages. The
works of many men of eminent talent and remarkable energy–admired in
their own day,–have speedily passed into oblivion, or have been
productive of few permanently salutary results. Despising God, “they
have been lightly esteemed.” Those, on the other hand, who honoured God,
and were devoted to His service–however humble their talents or
position in society,–however contemned and persecuted by the
world–have been honoured of God. Their labours have been accepted to
advance His glory in the earth–their memories have continued long
fragrant, and their principles and character have furnished the most
valuable instruction and the brightest examples to future generations.

Sku: thelifeofjamesrenwick

The Ocean on the north, the Danube on the south, the Rhine on the west,
and the Sarmatian Provinces on the east, are the boundaries assigned by
Tacitus to Antient Germany. It formed the most extensive portion of the
territories of Charlemagne; descended, at his decease, to his son, Lewis
the Debonnaire; and, on the partition between his three sons, was
allotted to Lewis, his second son.
All the territories of Charlemagne were united in Charles the Fat; he
was deposed by his subjects, and his empire divided. Germany was
assigned to his third son, Charles the Brave. On his decease, it was
possessed by Arnold, a natural son of Carloman, the elder brother of
Charles: from him it descended to Hedwiges, the wife of Otho, Duke of
Saxony, and she transmitted it to their son Henry the Fowler, the first
emperor of that house.

Sku: thelifeofhugogrotius

Nelson’s Birth and Boyhood–He is entered on Board the RAISONABLE–
Goes to the West Indies in a Merchant-ship; then serves in the TRIUMPH
–He sails in Captain Phipps’ Voyage of Discovery–Goes to the East
Indies in the SEAHORSE, and returns in ill Health–Serves as acting
Lieutenant in the WORCESTER, and is made Lieutenant into the LOWESTOFFE,
Commander into the BADGER Brig, and Post into the HINCHINBROKE–
Expedition against the Spanish Main–Sent to the North Seas in the
ALBERMARLE–Services during the American War.

Sku: thelifeofhoratiolordnelson

The life and adventures of Hon. William F. Cody–Buffalo Bill–as told
by himself, make up a narrative which reads more like romance than
reality, and which in many respects will prove a valuable contribution
to the records of our Western frontier history. While no literary
excellence is claimed for the narrative, it has the greater merit of
being truthful, and is verified in such a manner that no one can doubt
its veracity. The frequent reference to such military men as Generals
Sheridan, Carr, Merritt, Crook, Terry, Colonel Royal, and other officers
under whom Mr. Cody served as scout and guide at different times and in
various sections of the frontier, during the numerous Indian campaigns
of the last ten or twelve years, affords ample proof of of his
genuineness as a thoroughbred scout.

Sku: thelifeofhon.william

During the whole of Borrow’s manhood there was probably only one
period when he was unquestionably happy in his work and content with
his surroundings. He may almost be said to have concentrated into
the seven years (1833-1840) that he was employed by the British and
Foreign Bible Society in Russia, Portugal and Spain, a lifetime’s
energy and resource. From an unknown hack-writer, who hawked about
unsaleable translations of Welsh and Danish bards, a travelling
tinker and a vagabond Ulysses, he became a person of considerable
importance. His name was acclaimed with praise and enthusiasm at
Bible meetings from one end of the country to the other. He
developed an astonishing aptitude for affairs, a tireless energy, and
a diplomatic resourcefulness that aroused silent wonder in those who
had hitherto regarded him as a failure. His illegal imprisonment in
Madrid nearly brought about a diplomatic rupture between Great
Britain and Spain, and later his missionary work in the Peninsula was
referred to by Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons as an instance
of what could be achieved by courage and determination in the face of
great difficulties.

Sku: thelifeofgeorgeborrow

This biography, though historically based, should not be considered factual.
It is not that there was no such man — indeed there was, and other accounts
indicate that Francis Marion is as deserving of praise as this account
would indicate — or moreso. It is not that the events described
did not take place — most of them, at least, did.
It is simply that Parson Weems (Mason Locke Weems, 1759-1825),
in an honest effort to teach a high patriotism, nobility, and morality,
sometimes embellished or exaggerated his stories to the point of falsehood,
as with his invention of the cherry tree anecdote in his Life of Washington.
It seems strange that such a devotion to moral teaching should use falsehoods
to reach its audience, but he apparently felt the means justified by the end.

Sku: weemslifeofgeneralfrancis

IN reading biographies I always skip the genealogical details. To
be born obscure and to die famous has been described as the acme of
human felicity. However that may be, whether fame has anything to do
with happiness or no, it is a man himself, and not his ancestors,
whose life deserves, if it does deserve, to be written. Such was
Froude’s own opinion, and it is the opinion of most sensible people.
Few, indeed, are the families which contain more than one remarkable
figure, and this is the rock upon which the hereditary principle
always in practice breaks. For human lineage is not subject to the
scientific tests which alone could give it solid value as positive
or negative evidence. There is nothing to show from what source,
other than the ultimate source of every good and perfect gift,
Froude derived his brilliant and splendid powers. He was a gentleman,
and he did not care to find or make for himself a pedigree. He knew
that the Froudes had been settled in Devonshire time out of mind as
yeomen with small estates, and that one of them, to whom his own
father always referred with contempt, had bought from the Heralds’
College what Gibbon calls the most useless of all coats, a coat
of arms.

Sku: thelifeoffroude

The name of FRANCIS MARION is identified, in the history of South Carolina,
his parent state, with all that is pleasing and exciting in romance.
He is, par excellence, the famous partisan of that region.
While Sumter stands conspicuous for bold daring, fearless intrepidity
and always resolute behavior; while Lee takes eminent rank
as a gallant Captain of Cavalry, the eye and the wing
of the southern liberating army under Greene; Marion is proverbially
the great master of strategy — the wily fox of the swamps –
never to be caught, never to be followed, — yet always at hand,
with unconjectured promptness, at the moment when he is least feared
and is least to be expected. His pre-eminence in this peculiar
and most difficult of all kinds of warfare, is not to be disputed.
In his native region he has no competitor, and it is scarcely possible
to compute the vast influence which he possessed and exercised
over the minds and feelings of the people of Carolina,
simply through his own resources, at a period most adverse to their fortunes,
and when the cause of their liberties, everywhere endangered,
was almost everywhere considered hopeless.

Sku: thelifeoffrancismarion

1. The family from which I am derived is not an ignoble one, but
hath descended all along from the priests; and as nobility among
several people is of a different origin, so with us to be of the
sacerdotal dignity, is an indication of the splendor of a family.
Now, I am not only sprung from a sacerdotal family in general,
but from the first of the twenty-four (1) courses; and as among
us there is not only a considerable difference between one family
of each course and another, I am of the chief family of that
first course also; nay, further, by my mother I am of the royal
blood; for the children of Asamoneus, from whom that family was
derived, had both the office of the high priesthood, and the
dignity of a king, for a long time together. I will accordingly
set down my progenitors in order. My grandfather’s father was
named Simon, with the addition of Psellus: he lived at the same
time with that son of Simon the high priest, who first of all the
high priests was named Hyrcanus. This Simon Psellus had nine
sons, one of whom was Matthias, called Ephlias: he married the
daughter of Jonathan the high priest, which Jonathan was the
first of the sons of Asamoneus, who was high priest, and was the
brother of Simon the high priest also.

Sku: thelifeofflaviusjosephus

This book contains a life of Columbus, written with the hope of
interesting all classes of readers.
His life has often been written, and it has sometimes been well
written. The great book of our countryman, Washington Irving, is
a noble model of diligent work given to a very difficult subject.
And I think every person who has dealt with the life of Columbus
since Irving’s time, has expressed his gratitude and respect for
the author.
According to the custom of biographers, in that time and since,
he includes in those volumes the whole history of the West India
islands, for the period after Columbus discovered them till his
death. He also thinks it his duty to include much of the history
of Spain and of the Spanish court. I do not myself believe that
it is wise to attempt, in a book of biography, so considerable a
study of the history of the time. Whether it be wise or not, I
have not attempted it in this book. I have rather attempted to
follow closely the personal fortunes of Christopher Columbus,
and, to the history around him, I have given only such space as
seemed absolutely necessary for the illustration of those
fortunes.

Sku: thelifeofchristophercolumbus

When I promised the public some larger account of the life and character
of this illustrious person, than I could conveniently insert in my sermon
on the sad occasion of his death, I was secure, that if Providence
continued my capacity of writing, I should not wholly disappoint the
expectation; for I was furnished with a variety of particulars which
appeared to me worthy of general notice, in consequence of that intimate
friendship with which he had honoured me during the last six years of his
life–a friendship which led him to open his heart to me, in repeated
conversations, with an unbounded confidence, (as he then assured me,
beyond what he had used with any other man living,) so far as religious
experiences were concerned; and I had also received several very valuable
letters from him during the time of our absence from each other, which
contained most genuine and edifying traces of his Christian character.
But I hoped further to learn many valuable particulars from the papers of
his own closet, and from his letters to other friends, as well as
from what they more circumstantially knew concerning him. I therefore
determined to delay the execution of my promise till I could enjoy these
advantages for performing it in the most satisfactory manner; nor have I,
on the whole, reason to regret that determination.

Sku: thelifeofcol.james

This is no Chronicle of Saints. Nor yet is it a History of Devils. It
is a record of certain very human, strenuous men in a very human,
strenuous age; a lustful, flamboyant age; an age red with blood and pale
with passion at white-heat; an age of steel and velvet, of vivid colour,
dazzling light and impenetrable shadow; an age of swift movement,
pitiless violence and high endeavour, of sharp antitheses and amazing
contrasts.
To judge it from the standpoint of this calm, deliberate, and correct
century–as we conceive our own to be–is for sedate middle-age to judge
from its own standpoint the reckless, hot, passionate, lustful humours of
youth, of youth that errs grievously and achieves greatly.

Sku: thelifeofcesareborgia

1. PORTRAIT OF MATTHEW FLINDERS, AGED 27.
From the engraving in the “Naval Chronicle,” 1814, after a miniature in
the possession of Mrs. Flinders.
2. FLINDERS’ BIRTHPLACE, DONINGTON, LINCOLNSHIRE.
(From photograph lent by Mr. George Gordon McCrae.)
3. FACSIMILE OF LETTER TO SIR JOSEPH BANKS, 1794.
(Mitchell Library.)
H.M.S Bellerophon
Spithead March 20th 1794.

Sku: thelifeofcaptainmatthew

James Cook, the Circumnavigator, was a native of the district of
Cleveland, Yorkshire, but of his ancestry there is now very little
satisfactory information to be obtained. Nichols, in his Topographer and
Genealogist, suggests that “James Cooke, the celebrated mariner, was
probably of common origin with the Stockton Cookes.” His reason for the
suggestion being that a branch of the family possessed a crayon portrait
of some relation, which was supposed to resemble the great discoverer. He
makes no explanation of the difference in spelling of the two names, and
admits that the sailor’s family was said to come from Scotland.
Dr. George Young, certainly the most reliable authority on Cook’s early
years, who published a Life in 1836, went to Whitby as Vicar about 1805,
and claims to have obtained much information about his subject “through
intercourse with his relatives, friends, and acquaintances, including one
or two surviving school companions,” and appears to be satisfied that
Cook was of Scotch extraction.

Sku: thelifeofcaptainjames

At the beginning of the twentieth century there is, strictly speaking,
no frontier to the United States. At the beginning of the nineteenth
century, the larger part of the country was frontier. In any portion of
the country to-day, in the remotest villages and hamlets, on the
enormous farms of the Dakotas or the vast ranches of California, one is
certain to find some, if not many, of the modern appliances of
civilization such as were not dreamed of one hundred years ago. Aladdin
himself could not have commanded the glowing terms to write the
prospectus of the closing years of the nineteenth century. So, too, it
requires an extraordinary effort of the imagination to conceive of the
condition of things in the opening years of that century.
The first quarter of the century closed with the year 1825. At that
date Lincoln was nearly seventeen years old. The deepest impressions of
life are apt to be received very early, and it is certain that the
influences which are felt previous to seventeen years of age have much
to do with the formation of the character.

Sku: thelifeofabrahamlincoln

Captain Schiller and his wife–Sojourn at Lorch–Traits of
Friedrich’s childhood–Removal to Ludwigsburg–Karl Eugen, Duke of
Wuerttemberg–Impressions from court, theater and school–Poetic
beginnings–Duke Karl’s change of heart–Franziska von Hohenheim–The
Academy at Solitude–Schiller at the Academy–School exercises–From law
to medicine–Early poems and orations–An ardent friend–Books read and
their effect–Dramatic plans–Dissertation rejected–Genesis of ‘The
Robbers’–Morbid melancholy–Release from the Academy–Value of the
education received.

Sku: thelifeoffriedrich

The Dodgsons appear to have been for a long time connected with the
north of England, and until quite recently a branch of the family
resided at Stubb Hall, near Barnard Castle.
In the early part of the last century a certain Rev. Christopher
Dodgson held a living in Yorkshire. His son, Charles, also took Holy
Orders, and was for some time tutor to a son of the then Duke of
Northumberland. In 1762 his patron presented him to the living of
Elsdon, in Northumberland, by no means a desirable cure, as Mr.
Dodgson discovered. The following extracts from his letters to various
members of the Percy family are interesting as giving some idea of the
life of a rural clergyman a hundred years ago:
I am obliged to you for promising to write to me, but don’t
give yourself the trouble of writing to this place, for ’tis
almost impossible to receive ‘em, without sending a
messenger 16 miles to fetch ‘em.

Sku: thelifeandlettersoflewis

He watched shrewdly, and has described her for us with the meticulous
particularity of his time and temper. He runs over her parts like a
virtuoso. The iris of her eyes, for instance, was wet grey, but ringed
with black and shot with yellow, giving so the effect of hot green; her
mouth was of an extraordinary dark red colour, very firm in texture,
close-grained, ‘like the darker sort of strawberries,’ says he. The
upper lip had the sulky curve; she looked discontented, and had reason
to be, under such a scrutiny of the microscope. Her hair was colour of
raw silk, eyebrows set rather high, face a thinnish oval, complexion
like a pink rose’s, neck thinnish again, feet, hands, long and nervous,
‘good working members,’ etc. etc. None of this helps very much; too
detailed. But he noticed how tall she was and how slim, save for a very
beautiful bosom, too full for Dian’s (he tells us), whom else she
resembled; how she was straight as a birch-tree; how in walking it
seemed as if her skirts clung about her knees. There was an air of
mingled surprise and defiance about her; she was a silent girl. ‘Fronted
like Juno,’ he appears to cry, ’shaped like Hebe, and like Demeter in
stature; sullen with most, but with one most sweetly apt, she looked
watchful but was really timid, looked cold but was secretly afire. I
knew soon enough how her case stood, how hope and doubt strove in her
and choked her to silence. I guessed how within those reticent members
swift love ran like wine; but because of this proud, brave mask of hers
I was slow to understand her worth. God help me, I thought her a thing
of snow!’

Sku: thelifeanddeathofrichard

One summer he went roving about the British Isles and there he
fell in with a man named Asmund Ashenside, who also was a great
champion and had worsted many vikings and men of war. These two
heard tell of one another and challenges passed between them.
They came together and fought. Asmund had the greater following,
but he withheld some of his men from the battle: and so for the
length of four days they fought, until many of Asmund’s people
were fallen, and at last he himself fled. Ogmund won the victory
and came home again with wealth and worship.
His father said that he could get no greater glory in war, –
“And now,” said he, “I will find thee a wife. What sayest thou
to Helga, daughter of Earl Frodi?”
“So be it,” said Ogmund.

Sku: thelifeanddeath

Daniel De Foe was descended from a respectable family in the county of
Northampton, and born in London, about the year 1663. His father, James
Foe, was a butcher, in the parish of St. Giles’s, Cripplegate, and a
protestant dissenter. Why the subject of this memoir prefixed the _De_
to his family name cannot now be ascertained, nor did he at any period
of his life think it necessary to give his reasons to the public. The
political scribblers of the day, however, thought proper to remedy this
lack of information, and accused him of possessing so little of the
_amor patriae_, as to make the addition in order that he might not be
taken for an Englishman; though this idea could have had no other
foundation than the circumstance of his having, in consequence of his
zeal for King William, attacked the prejudices of his countrymen in his
“True-born Englishman.”

Sku: theadventureslife