Chapter XI: Retrospect (10)

First, the people of the Colonies are descendants of Englishmen. England, Sir, is a nation which still, I hope, respects, and formerly adored, her freedom. The Colonists emigrated from you when this part of your character was most predominant; and they took this bias and direction the moment they parted from your hands. They are therefore not only devoted to liherty, but to liberty according to English ideas, and on English principles. Abstract liberty, like other mere abstractions, is not to be found. Liberty inheres in some sensible object; and every nation has formed to itself some favorite point, which by way of eminence becomes the criterion of their happiness. It happened, you know, Sir, that the great contests for freedom in this country were from the earliest times chiefly upon the question of taxing. Most of the contests in the ancient commonwealths turned primarily on the right of election of magistrates; or on the balance among the several orders of the state. The question of money was not with them so immediate. But in England it was otherwise. On this point of taxes the ablest pens, and most eloquent tongues, have been exercised; the greatest spirits have acted and suffered. In order to give the fullest satisfaction concerning the importance of this point, it was not only necessary for those who in argument defended the excellence of the English Constitution to insist on this privilege of granting money as a dry point of fact, and to prove that the right had been acknowledged in ancient parchments and blind usages to reside in a certain body called a House of Commons. They went much farther; they attempted to prove, and they succeeded, that in theory it ought to be so, from the particular nature of a House of Commons as an immediate representative of the people, whether the old records had delivered this oracle or not. They took infinite pains to inculcate, as a fundamental principle, that in all monarchies the people must in effect themselves, mediately or immediately, possess the power of granting their own money, or no shadow of liberty can subsist. The Colonies draw from you, as with their life-blood, these ideas and principles. Their love of liberty, as with you, fixed and attached on this specific point of taxing. Liberty might be safe, or might be endangered, in twenty other particulars, without their being much pleased or alarmed. Here they felt its pulse; and as they found that beat, they thought themselves sick or sound. I do not say whether they were right or wrong in applying your general arguments to their own case. It is not easy, indeed, to make a monopoly of theorems and corollaries. The fact is, that they did thus apply those general arguments; and your mode of governing them, whether through lenity or indolence, through wisdom or mistake, confirmed them in the imagination that they, as well as you, had an interest in these common principles.

They were further confirmed in this pleasing error by the form of their provincial legislative assemblies. Their governments are popular in an high degree; some are merely popular; in all, the popular representative is the most weighty; and this share of the people in their ordinary government never fails to inspire them with lofty sentiments, and with a strong aversion from whatever tends to deprive them of their chief importance.

If anything were wanting to this necessary operation of the form of government, religion would have given it a complete effect. Religion, always a principle of energy, in this new people is no way worn out or impaired; and their mode of professing it is also one main cause of this free spirit. The people are Protestants; and of that kind which is the most adverse to all implicit submission of mind and opinion. This is a persuasion not only favorable to liberty, but built upon it. I do not think, Sir, that the reason of this averseness in the dissenting churches from all that looks like absolute government is so much to be sought in their religious tenets, as in their history. Every one knows that the Roman Catholic religion is at least coeval with most of the governments where it prevails; that it has generally gone hand in hand with them, and received great favor and every kind of support from authority. The Church of England too was formed from her cradle under the nursing care of regular government. But the dissenting interests have sprung up in direct opposition to all the ordinary powers of the world, and could justify that opposition only on a strong claim to natural liberty. Their very existence depended on the powerful and unremitted assertion of that claim. All Protestantism, even the most cold and passive, is a sort of dissent. But the religion most prevalent in our Northern Colonies is a refinement on the principle of resistance; it is the dissidence of dissent, and the protestantism of the Protestant religion. This religion, under a variety of denominations agreeing in nothing but in the communion of the spirit of liberty, is predominant in most of the Northern Provinces, where the Church of England, notwithstanding its legal rights, is in reality no more than a sort of private sect, not composing most probably the tenth of the people. The Colonists left England when this spirit was high, and in the emigrants was the highest of all; and even that stream of foreigners which has been constantly flowing into these Colonies has, for the greatest part, been composed of dissenters from the establishments of their several countries, who have brought with them a temper and character far from alien to that of the people with whom they mixed.

Sir, I can perceive by their manner that some gentlemen object to the latitude of this description, because in the Southern Colonies the Church of England forms a large body, and has a regular establishment. It is certainly true. There is, however, a circumstance attending these Colonies which, in my opinion, fully counterbalances this difference, and makes the spirit of liberty still more high and haughty than in those to the northward. It is that in Virginia and the Carolinas they have a vast multitude of slaves. Where this is the case in any part of the world, those who are free are by far the most proud and jealous of their freedom. Freedom is to them not only an enjoyment, but a kind of rank and privilege. Not seeing there, that freedom, as in countries where it is a common blessing and as broad and general as the air, may be united with much abject toil, with great misery, with all the exterior of servitude; liberty looks, amongst them, like something that is more noble and liberal. I do not mean, Sir, to commend the superior morality of this sentiment, which has at least as much pride as virtue in it; but I cannot alter the nature of man. The fact is so; and these people of the Southern Colonies are much more strongly, and with an higher and more stubborn spirit, attached to liberty than those to the northward. Such were all the ancient commonwealths; such were our Gothic ancestors; such in our days were the Poles; and such will be all masters of slaves, who are not slaves themselves. In such a people the haughtiness of domination combines with the spirit of freedom, fortifies it, and renders it invincible.

Permit me, Sir, to add another circumstance in our Colonies which contributes no mean part towards the growth and effect of this untractable spirit. I mean their education. In no country perhaps in the world is the law so general a study. The profession itself is numerous and powerful; and in most provinces it takes the lead. The greater number of the deputies sent to the Congress were lawyers. But all who read, and most do read, endeavor to obtain some smattering in that science. I have been told by an eminent bookseller, that in no branch of his business, after tracts of popular devotion, were so many books as those on the law exported to the Plantations. The Colonists have now fallen into the way of printing them for their own use. I hear that they have sold nearly as many of Blackstone's Commentaries in America as in England. General Gage marks out this disposition very particularly in a letter on your table. He states that all the people in his government are lawyers, or smatterers in law; and that in Boston they have been enabled, by successful chicane, wholly to evade many parts of one of your capital penal constitutions. The smartness of debate will say that this knowledge ought to teach them more clearly the rights of legislature, their obligations to obedience, and the penalties of rebellion. All this is mighty well. But my honorable and learned friend on the floor, who condescends to mark what I say for animadversion, will disdain that ground. He has heard, as well as I, that when great honors and great emoluments do not win over this knowledge to the service of the state, it is a formidable adversary to government. If the spirit be not tamed and broken by these happy methods, it is stubborn and litigious. _Abeunt studia in mores_. This study renders men acute, inquisitive, dexterous, prompt in attack, ready in defence, full of resources. In other countries, the people, more simple, and of a less mercurial cast, judge of an ill principle in government only by an actual grievance; here they anticipate the evil, and judge of the pressure of the grievance by the badness of the principle. They augur misgovernment at a distance, and snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze.

The last cause of this disobedient spirit in the Colonies is hardly less powerful than the rest, as it is not merely moral, but laid deep in the natural constitution of things. Three thousand miles of ocean lie between you and them. No contrivance can prevent the effect of this distance in weakening government. Seas roll, and months pass, between the order and the execution; and the want of a speedy explanation of a single point is enough to defeat a whole system. You have, indeed, winged ministers of vengeance, who carry your bolts in their pounces to the remotest verge of the sea. But there a power steps in that limits the arrogance of raging passions and furious elements, and says, _So far shalt thou go, and no farther_. Who are you, that you should fret and rage, and bite the chains of nature? Nothing worse happens to you than does to all nations who have extensive empire; and it happens in all the forms into which empire can be thrown. In large bodies the circulation of power must be less vigorous at the extremities. Nature has said it. The Turk cannot govern Egypt and Arabia and Kurdistan as he governs Thrace; nor has he the same dominion in Crimea and Algiers which he has at Brusa and Smyrna. Despotism itself is obliged to truck and huckster. The Sultan gets such obedience as he can. He governs with a loose rein, that he may govern at all; and the whole of the force and vigor of his authority in his center is derived from a prudent relaxation in all his borders. Spain, in her provinces, is, perhaps, not so well obeyed as you are in yours. She complies, too; she submits; she watches times. This is the immutable condition, the eternal law of extensive and detached empire.

Then, Sir, from these six capital sources--of descent, of form of government, of religion in the Northern Provinces, of manners in the Southern, of education, of the remoteness of situation from the first mover of government-from all these causes a fierce spirit of liberty has grown up. It has grown with the growth of the people in your Colonies, and increased with the increase of their wealth; a spirit that unhappily meeting with an exercise of power in England which, however lawful, is not reconcilable to any ideas of liberty, much less with theirs, has kindled this flame that is ready to consume us.

_Appendix 3_

PARABLE OF THE SOWER
(Matthew 13:3,8 and 18-23)

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it.

Yet he hath not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

_Appendix 4_

THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN
_(As You Like It, II, vii, 139-166)_
By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel, And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woful ballad Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lin'd, With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, His youthful hose well say'd, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

_Appendix 5_

THE CASTAWAY
(From _Robinson Crusoe_)
By Daniel Defoe

And now our case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw plainly that the sea went so high that the boat could not escape, and that we should be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none, nor, if we had, could we have done anything with it; so we worked at the oar towards the land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution; for we all knew that when the boat came near the shore, she would be dashed in a thousand pieces by the beach of the sea. However, we committed our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind driving us towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own hands, pulling as well as we could towards land.

What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal, we knew not; the only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow of expectation, was if we might happen into some bay or gulf, or the mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat in, or got under the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water. But there was nothing of this appeared; but as we made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea.

After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a league and a half, as we reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling astern of us, and plainly bade us expect the _coup de grâce_. In a word, it took us with such a fury that it overset the boat at once; and separating us as well from the boat as from one another, gave us not time hardly to say, "O God!" for we were all swallowed up in a moment.

Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt, when I sank into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that wave having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much presence of mind, as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the mainland than I expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavored to make on towards the land as fast as I could, before another wave should return and take me up again; but I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy, which I had no means or strength to contend with: my business was to hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I could; and so by swimming to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself towards the shore if possible; my greatest concern now being that the wave, as it would carry me a great way toward the shore when it came on, might not carry me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea.

The wave that came upon me again buried me at once twenty or thirty feet deep in its own body, and I could feel myself I carried with a mighty force and swiftness towards the shore a very great way; but I held my breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my might. I was ready to burst with holding my breath, when as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and hands shoot out above the surface of the water; and though it was not two seconds of time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me breath and new courage. I was covered again with water a good while, but not so long but I held it out; and finding the water had spent itself, and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few moments to recover breath, and till the waters went from me, and then took to my heels, and ran with what strength I had, farther towards the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the fury of the sea, which came pouring in after me again; and twice more I was lifted up by the waves and carried forwards as before, the shore being very flat.

The last time of these two had well-nigh been fatal to me; for the sea having hurried me along, as before, landed me, or rather dashed me, against a piece of a rock, and that with such force as it left me senseless, and indeed helpless, as to my own deliverance; for the blow, taking my side and breast, beat the breath as it were quite out of my body; and had it returned again immediately, I must have been strangled in the water; but I recovered a little before the return of the waves, and seeing I should be covered again with the water, I resolved to hold fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if possible, till the wave went back. Now, as the waves were not so high as at first, being nearer land, I held my hold till the wave abated, and then fetched another run, which brought me so near the shore that the next wave, though it went over me, yet did not so swallow me up as to carry me away; and the next run I took I got to the mainland; where, to my great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore, and sat me down upon the grass, free from danger and quite out of the reach of the water. I was now landed, and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank God that my life was saved, in a case wherein there was some minutes before scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible to express, to the life, what the ecstasies and transports of the soul are when it is so saved, as I may say, out of the very grave: and I do not wonder now at that custom, when a malefactor, who has the halter about his neck, is tied up, and just going to be turned off, and has a reprieve brought to him--I say, I do not wonder that they bring a surgeon with it, to let him blood that very moment they tell him of it, that the surprise may not drive the animal spirits from the heart, and overwhelm him.

"For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first."

I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as I may say, wrapt up in a contemplation of my deliverance; making a thousand gestures and motions, which I cannot describe; reflecting upon all my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one soul saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards, or any sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that were not fellows.

I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel, when, the breach and froth of the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far off; and considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore?

After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition, I began to look round me, to see what kind of place I was in, and what was next to be done: and I soon found my comforts abate, and that, in a word, I had a dreadful deliverance: for I was wet, had no clothes to shift me, nor anything either to eat or drink, to comfort me; neither did I see any prospect before me but that of perishing with hunger, or being devoured by wild beasts: and that which was particularly afflicting to me was, that I had no weapon, either to hunt and kill any creature for my sustenance, or to defend myself against any other creature that might desire to kill me for theirs. In a word, I had nothing about me but a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a little tobacco in a box. This was all my provision; and this threw me into terrible agonies of mind, that for awhile I ran about like a madman. Night coming upon me, I began with a heavy heart, to consider what would be my lot if there were any ravenous beasts in that country, seeing at night they always come abroad for their prey.

All the remedy that offered to my thoughts, at that time, was to get up into a thick busby tree, like a fir, but thorny, which grew near me, and where I resolved to sit all night, and consider the next day what death I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked about a furlong from the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water to drink, which I did to my great joy; and having drunk, and put a little tobacco in my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and getting up into it, endeavored to place myself so that if I should sleep I might not fall. And having cut me a short stick, like a truncheon, for my defense, I took up my lodging; and being excessively fatigued, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably as, I believe, few could have done in my condition, and found myself more refreshed with it than I think I ever was on such an occasion.

When I waked it was broad day, the weather clear, and the storm abated, so that the sea did not rage and swell as before; but that which surprised me most was, that the ship was lifted off in the night from the sand where she lay, by the swelling of the tide, and was driven up almost as far as the rock which I at first mentioned, where I had been so bruised by the wave dashing me against it. This being within about a mile from the shore where I was, and the ship seeming to stand upright still, I wished myself on board, that at least I might save some necessary things for my use.

When I came down from my apartment in the tree, I looked about me again, and the first thing I found was the boat, which lay, as the wind and sea had tossed her up, upon the land, about two miles on my right hand. I walked as far as I could upon the shore to have got to her; but found a neck, or inlet, of water between me and the boat, which was about half a mile broad; so I came back for the present, being more intent upon getting at the ship, where I hoped to find something for my present subsistence.

A little after noon I found the sea very calm and the tide ebbed so far out, that I could come within a quarter of a mile of the ship. And here I found a fresh renewing of my grief; for I saw evidently that if we had kept on board, we had been all safe: that is to say, we had all got safe on shore, and I had not been so miserable as to be left entirely destitute of all comfort and company, as I now was. This forced tears to my eyes again; but as there was little relief in that, I resolved, if possible, to get to the ship-, so I pulled off my clothes, for the weather was hot to extremity, and took the water. But when I came to the ship, my difficulty was still greater to know how to get on board; for, as she lay aground, and high out of the water, there was nothing within my reach to lay hold of. I swam round her twice, and the second time I espied a small piece of rope, which I wondered I did not see at first, hanging down by the fore-chains so low that, with great difficulty, I got hold of it, and by the help of that rope got up into the forecastle of the ship. Here I found that the ship was bulged, and had a great deal of water in her hold; but that she lay so on the side of a bank of hard sand, or rather earth, that her stern lay lifted up upon the bank, and her head low, almost to the water. By this means all her quarter was free, and all that was in that part was dry; for you may be sure my first work was to search, and to see what was spoiled and what was free. And, first, I found that all the ship's provisions were dry and untouched by the water, and being very well disposed to eat, I went to the bread-room, and filled my pockets with biscuit, and ate it as I went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also found some rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, and which I had, indeed, need enough of to spirit me for what was before me. Now I wanted nothing but a boat, to furnish myself with many things which I foresaw would be very necessary to me.

It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had; and this extremity roused my application. We had several spare yards, and two or three large spars of wood, and a spare topmast or two in the ship: I resolved to fall tp work with these, and I flung as many of them overboard as I could manage for their weight, tying every one with a rope, that they might not drive away. When this was done I went down the ship's side, and pulling them to me I tied four of them together at both ends, as well as I could, in the form of a raft, and laying two or three short pieces of plank upon them, crossways, I found I could walk upon it very well, but that it was not able to bear any great weight, the pieces being too light. So I went to work, and with the carpenter's saw I cut a spare topmast into three lengths, and added them to my raft, with a great deal of labor and pains. But the hope of furnishing myself with necessaries encouraged me to go beyond what I should have been able to have done upon another occasion.

My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My next care was what to load it with, and how to preserve what I laid upon it from the surf of the sea: but I was not long considering this. I first laid all the planks or boards upon it that I could get, and having considered well what I most wanted, I first got three of the seamen's chests, which I had broken open and emptied, and lowered them down upon my raft; the first of these I filled with provisions--viz., bread, rice, three Dutch cheeses, five pieces of dried goat's flesh (which we lived much upon), and a little remainder of European corn, which had been laid by for some fowls which we brought to sea with us, but the fowls were killed. There had been some barley and wheat together; but, to my great disappointment, I found afterwards that the rats had eaten or spoiled it all. As for liquors, I found several cases of bottles belonging to our skipper, in which were some cordial waters; and, in all, about five or six gallons of arrack. These I stowed by themselves, there being no need to put them into the chest, nor any room for them. While I was doing this, I found the tide began to flow, though very calm; and I had the mortification to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left on shore upon the sand, swim away. As for my breeches, which were only linen, and open-kneed, I swam on board in them and my stockings. However, this put me upon rummaging for clothes, of which I found enough, but took no more than I wanted for present use, for I had other things which my eye was more upon; as, first, tools to work with on shore: and it was after long searching that I found out the carpenter's chest, which was indeed a very useful prize to me, and much more valuable than a ship-lading of gold would have been at that time. I got it down to my raft, whole as it was, without losing time to look into it, for I knew in general what it contained.

My next care was for some ammunition and arms. There were two very good fowling-pieces in the great cabin, and two pistols. These I secured first, with some powder-horns, a small bag of shot, and two old rusty swords. I knew there were three barrels of powder in the ship, but knew not where our gunner had stowed them; but with much search I found them, two of them dry and good, the third had taken water. Those two I got to my raft, with the arms. And now I thought myself pretty well freighted, and began to think how I should get to shore with them, having neither sail, oar, nor rudder; and the least capful of wind would have overset all my navigation.

I had three encouragements: first, a smooth, calm sea; secondly, the tide rising, and setting in to the shore; thirdly, what little wind there was blew me towards the land. And thus, having found two or three broken oars, belonging to the boat, and besides the tools which were in the chest, two saws, an axe, and a hammer, with this cargo I put to sea. For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very well, only that I found it drive a little distant from the place where I had landed before: by which I perceived that there was some indraught of the water, and consequently, I hoped to find some creek or river there, which I might malze use of as a port to get to land with my cargo.

As I imagined, so it was. There appeared before me a little opening of the land. I found a strong current of the tide set into it; so I guided my raft as well as I could, to keep in the middle of the stream.

But here I had like to have suffered a second shipwreck, which, if I had, I think verily would have broken my heart; for, knowing nothing of the coast, my raft ran aground at one end of it upon a shoal, and not being aground at the other end, it wanted but a little that all my cargo had slipped off towards the end that was afloat, and so fallen into the water. I did my utmost, by setting my back against the chests, to keep them in their places, but could not thrust off the raft with all my strength; neither durst I stir from the posture I was in; but holding up the chests with all my might, I stood in that manner near half an hour, in which time the rising of the water brought me a little more upon a level; and a little after, the water still rising, my raft floated again, and I thrust her off with the oar I had into the channel, and then driving up higher, I at length found myself in the mouth of a little river, with land on both sides, and a strong current or tide running up. I looked on both sides for a proper place to get to shore, for I was not willing to be driven too high up the river; hoping in time to see some ship at sea, and therefore resolved to place myself as near the coast as I could.

At length I spied a little cove on the right shore of the creek, to which, with great pain and difficulty, I guided my raft, and at last got so near, that reaching ground with my oar, I could thrust her directly in. But here I had like to have dipped all my cargo into the sea again; for that shore lying pretty steep-that is to say, sloping--there was no place to land but where one end of my float, if it ran on shore, would lie so high, and the other sink lower, as before, that it would endanger my cargo again. All that I could do was to wait till the tide was at the highest, keeping the raft with my oar like an anchor, to hold the side of it fast to the shore, near a flat piece of ground, which I expected the water would flow over; and so it did. As soon as I found water enough, for my raft drew about a foot of water, I thrust her upon that flat piece of ground, and there fastened or moored her, by sticking my two broken oars into the ground-one on one side, near one end, and one on the other side, near the other end; and thus I lay till the water ebbed away, and left my raft and all my cargo safe on shore.

_Appendix 6_

READING LISTS

One of the best ways to _know_ words is through seeing them used by the masters. For this reason, as well as for many others, you should read extensively in good literature. The following lists of prose works may prove useful for your guidance. They are not intended to be exclusive, not intended to designate "the hundred best books." Rather do they name some good books of fairly varied types. These are not all of equal merit, even in their use of words. Some use words with nice discrimination, some with splendid vividness and force. For each author only one or two books are named, but in many instances you will wish to read further in the author, perhaps indeed his entire works.

<Biography and Autobiography>

Boswell, James: _Life of Samuel Johnson_ Bradford, Gamaliel: _Lee the American; American Portraits, 1875-1900_ Franklin, Benjamin: _Autobiography_ Grant, U. S.: _Personal Memoirs_ Irving, Washington: _Life of Goldsmith_ Paine, A. B.: _Life of Mark Twain_ Walton, Izaak: _Lives_

<Essays, Adventure, etc.>

Addison, Joseph: _Spectator Papers_ Bryce, Sir James: _The American Commonwealth_ Burke, Edmund: _Speech on Conciliation_ Burroughs, John: _Wake Robin_ Chesterton, G. K.: _Heretics_ Crothers, S. M.: _The Gentle Reader_ Dana, R. H., Jr.: Two _Years Before the Mast_ Darwin, Charles: _Origin of Species_ Emerson, R. W.: _Essays_ Irving, Washington: _Sketch Book_ Lincoln, Abraham: _Speeches and Addresses_ Lucas, E. V.: _Old Lamps for New_ Macaulay, T. B.: _Essays_ Muir, John: _The Mountains of California_ Thoreau, H. D.: _Walden_ Twain, Mark: _Life on the Mississippi_

<Fiction>

Allen, James Lane: _The Choir Invisible_ Austen, Jane: _Pride and Prejudice_ Barrie, Sir James M.: _Sentimental Tommie_ Bennett, Arnold: _The Old Wives' Tale_ Blackmore, R. D.: _Lorna Doone_ Bunyan, John: _Pilgrim's Progress_ Cable, G. W.: _Old Creole Days_ Conrad, Joseph: _The Nigger of the Narcissus_ Defoe, Daniel: _Robinson Crusoe_ Dickens, Charles: _David Copperfield_ Eliot, George: _Adam Bede_ Galsworthy, John: _The Patrician_ Goldsmith, Oliver: _The Vicar of Wakefield_ Hardy, Thomas: _The Return of the Native_ Harte, Bret: _The Luck of Roaring Camp_ (short story) Hawthorne, Nathaniel: _The Scarlet Letter_ Hergesheimer, Joseph: _Java Head_ Hudson, W. H.: _Green Mansions_ Kingsley, Charles: _Westward Ho_! Kipling, Rudyard: _Plain Tales from the Hills_ (short stories) London, Jack: _The Call of the Wild_ Merrick, Leonard: _The Man Who Understood Women (volume of short stories); _The Actor Manager_ Mitchell, S. Weir: _Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker_ Norris, Frank: _The Octopus_ Poe, Edgar Allan: _The Fall of the House of Usher_ (short story) Poole, Ernest: _The Harbor_ Scott, Sir Walter: _Ivanhoe_ Smith, F. Hopkinson: _Colonel Carter of Cartersville_ Stevenson, R. L.: _Treasure Island_ Tarkington, Booth: _Monsieur Beaucaire_ Thackeray, W. M.: _Vanity Fair_ Twain, Mark: _Huckleberry Finn_ Wells, H. G.: _Tono Bungay_ Wharton, Edith: _Ethan Frome_ Wister, Owen: _The Virginian_

INDEX.

The index comprises, besides miscellaneous items, four large classes of matter: (1) topics, including many minor ones not given separate textual captions; (2) all individual words and members of pairs explained or commented on in the text; (3) the key syllables, but not the separate words, of family groups; (4) the first or generic term, but not the other terms, in all assemblies of synonyms; hence, this book can be used as a handbook of ordinarily used synonyms.

_Abandon_, Synonyms of, _Abase_, Synonyms of, _Abettor_, Synonyms of, _Abolish_, Synonyms of, _Abridge_ Abstract vs. concrete terms. Also see _Words_ _Absurd_ _Accumulate_ _Acknowledge_, Synonyms of, _Acquit_, Synonyms of, _Act_ family _Active_, Synonyms of, _Advise_, Synonyms of, Aeronautics, Familiar terms in, _Affair_ _Affect_ _Affecting_, Synonyms of, _Affront_, Synonyms of, _Afraid_, Synonyms of, _Ag_ family _Agnostic_, Synonyms of, _Allay_, Synonyms of, _Allopath_ _Allow_, Synonyms of, _Altitude_ _Amicable_ _Amuse_, Synonyms of, Analysis. See _Vocabulary_ and _Synonyms_ Analysis, Rhetorical, Anglo-Saxon words in modern English. See _Native words_ _Anim_ family _Anni, annu_ family _Announce_, Synonyms of, _Answer_, Synonyms of, _Antipathy_, Synonyms of, Antonyms _Appreciate_ _Apprehend_ _Apricot_ _Ardor_ _Argument_ _Artful_ _Artifice_, Synonyms of, _Ascend_ _Ascend_, Synonyms of, _Ascribe_ _Ascribe_, Synonyms of, _Ask_, Synonyms of, _Assail_ _Associate_, Synonyms of, _Attach_, Synonyms of, _Attack_; Synonyms of, _Attention_ _Audi, auri_ family Audience, Adapting discourse to, _Auto_ family _Avert_ _Awkward_, Synonyms of,

_Backhanded_ _Bald heads_ _Bare_ _Base_ _Bear_ _Bedlam_ _Beef_ _Begin_, Synonyms of, _Belief_, Synonyms of, _Belittle_, Synonyms of, _Bind_, Synonyms of, _Bit_, Synonyms of, _Bite_, Synonyms of, Blood relationships between words. Small groups of words so related. Also see _Words_ _Bluff_, Synonyms of, _Boast_, Synonyms of, _Body_, Synonyms of, _Bold_ _Bombastic_, Synonyms of, Books of synonyms, List of, _Boor_ _Boorish_, Synonyms of, _Booty_, Synonyms of, Boys, Kinds of, _Brand, brun_ family _Break_ _Break_, Synonyms of, _Breakfast_ _Bridegroom_ _Bright_ _Brittle_, Synonyms of, _Brotherly_ _Building_, Synonyms of, Burke, Edmund. See _Causes for the American Spirit of Liberty_ _Burn_ family _Burn_, Synonyms of, _Burn with indignation_ _Busy_, Synonyms of, _By and by_

_Cad_ family _Calf_ _Call_, Synonyms of, _Calm_, Synonyms of, _Cant_ family _Cap(t)_ family _Capricious_ _Care_, Synonyms of, _Careful_, Synonyms of, _Cart before the horse_, _Cas_ family "Castaway, The" (Defoe). Comments and assignments on, "Causes for the American Spirit of Liberty" (Burke). Comments and assignments on, _Cede, ceed, cess_ family _Ceive, ceit, cept_ family _Celebrate_, Synonyms of, Celibates, Verbal, _Censure_ _Cent_ family _Cent_ family _Charm_ (noun), Synonyms of, _Charm_ (verb), Synonyms of, _Chant_ family _Cheat_, Synonyms of, Child. See _How a child becomes acquainted_, etc. _Choke_, Synonyms of, _Choose_, Synonyms of, _Chron_ family _Church_ _Churl_ _Cid_ family _Cide_ family _Cigar_ _Cip_ family _Circumstances_ _Cis(e)_ family Classes of words, in general, (also see _Words_); in your own vocabulary, Classic words, distinguished from native; in modern English, _Clear_ _Clodhopper_ _Close_ _Close the door to_, _Coax_, Synonyms of, _Cold_ Coleridge, S. T., Quotation from, _Color_, Synonyms of, _Combine_, Synonyms of, _Comfort_, Synonyms of, _Common_ _Companion_ _Complain_, Synonyms of, _Conchology_ _Concise_, Synonyms of, _Condescend_, Synonyms of, _Condition_ _Confirm_, Synonyms of, _Confirmed_, Synonyms of, _Confound_ _Congregate_ _Connect_, Synonyms of, Connotation _Constable_ _Contagious_ _Continual_, Synonyms of, _Continuous, continual_ _Contract_, Synonyms of, _Conversation_ _Copy_, Synonyms of, _Cordiality_ _Corp(s)_ family _Corrode_ _Corrupt_, Synonyms of, _Costly_, Synonyms of, _Coterie_, Synonyms of, _Counterfeit_ _Courage_, Synonyms of, _Course_ family _Coxcomb_ _Crafty_ _Crease, cresce, cret, crue_ family _Cred, creed_ family _Crestfallen_ _Crisscross_ _Critical_, Synonyms of, _Criticism_ _Crooked_, Synonyms of, _Cross_ _Cross_, Synonyms of, _Crowd_, Synonyms of, _Crowsfeet_ _Crude_ _Cruel_, Synonyms of, _Cry_ _Cry_, Synonyms of, _Cunning_ _Cur_ family _Cure_ family _Curious_, Synonyms of, _Cut_, Synonyms of,

_Daily_ _Dainty_, Synonyms of, _Daisy_ _Dandelion_ _Danger_, Synonyms of, _Darken_, Synonyms of, _Dead_, Synonyms of, _Deadly_, Synonyms of, _Death_, Synonyms of, _Decay_, Synonyms of, _Deceit_, Synonyms of, _Deceptive_, Synonyms of, _Decorate_, Synonyms of, _Decorous_, Synonyms of, _Deface_, Synonyms of, _Defeat_, Synonyms of, _Defect_, Synonyms of, Definitions, of words; Dictionary vs. informal; How to look up in a dictionary, Defoe, Daniel. See _The Castaway_ _Degrade_ _Delay_, Synonyms of, _Demean_ _Democrat_ _Demon_ _Demoralize_, Synonyms of, _Deny_, Synonyms of, _Deportment_, Synonyms of, _Deprive_, Synonyms of, Description _Despise_, Synonyms of, _Despondency_, Synonyms of, _Destroy_, Synonyms of, _Detach_, Synonyms of, _Determined_, Synonyms of, _Deviate_ _Devilish_ _Devout_, Synonyms of, _Dexterity_ _Dic, dict_ family Dictionaries, List of; How to use, _Die_, Synonyms of, _Differ_ _Difficulty_, Synonyms of, _Dign_ family _Dilapidated_ _Dip_, Synonyms of, _Dirty_, Synonyms of, _Disaster_ _Discernment_, Synonyms of, _Discharge_ Discords, Verbal Discourse, at first hand; adapted to audience, _Disease_, Synonyms of, _Disgraceful_, Synonyms of, _Disgusting_, Synonyms of, _Dishonor_, Synonyms of, _Disloyal_, Synonyms of, _Dispel_, Synonyms of, _Dissatisfied_, Synonyms of, _Diurnal_ _Divide_, Synonyms of, _Do_, Synonyms of, _Doctrine_, Synonyms of, _Doom, Doomsday_ _Dream_, Synonyms of, _Dress_, Synonyms of, "Drift of Our Rural Population Cityward, The" (Editorial), Comments and assignments, _Drink_, Synonyms of, _Drip_, Synonyms of, _Drunk_, Synonyms of, _Dry_, Synonyms of, _Duc, duct_ family _Dull_ _Dur(e)_ family

_Early_, Synonyms of, _Eat_, Synonyms of, Editorial. See _The Drift of Our Rural Population Cityward_ _Effect_ _Egregious_ _Ejaculate_ _Elicit_, Synonyms of, _Embarrass_, Synonyms of, _Embrace_ _Encroach_, Synonyms of, _End_, Synonyms of, _Enemy_ _Enemy_, Synonyms of, _Engine_ _Enni_ family _Enormity, enormousness_ _Enough_, Synonyms of, _Entice_, Synonyms of, _Erase_, Synonyms of, _Error_ family _Error_, Synonyms of, _Estimate_, Synonyms of, _Eternal_, Synonyms of, _Eu_ family _Eugenics_ _Ex_ family _Examination_ _Example_, Synonyms of, _Exceed_, Synonyms of, _Exclude_ _Excuse_, Synonyms of, _Expand_, Synonyms of, _Expel_, Synonyms of, _Experiment_, Synonyms of, _Explain_, Synonyms of, Explanation (Exposition) _Explicit_, Synonyms of, _Expression_

_Face_, Synonyms of, _Fact_ family _Faculty_, Synonyms of, _Failing_, Synonyms of, _Fair_ _False_ _Fame_, Synonyms of, Families, Verbal, _Famous_, Synonyms of, _Fashion_, Synonyms of, _Fast_ _Fast_, Synonyms of, _Fasten_ Synonyms of, _Fat_, Synonyms of, _Fate_, Synonyms of, _Fatherly_ _Fawn_, Synonyms of, _Fear_, Synonyms of, _Feat, fect, feit_ family _Feign_, Synonyms of, _Fellow_ _Feminine_, Synonyms of, _Fer_ family _Fertile_, Synonyms of, _Fic(e)_ family _Fiddle_ _Fiendish_, Synonyms of, _Fight_, Synonyms of, _Financial_, Synonyms of, _Fin(e)_ family _Firm_ _Fit_, Synonyms of, _Flag, The_ _Flame_, Synonyms of, _Flat_ _Flat_, Synonyms of, _Flatter_, Synonyms of, _Flect, flex_ family _Flee_, Synonyms of, _Fleeting_, Synonyms of, _Flexible_, Synonyms of, _Flit_, Synonyms of, _Flock_, Synonyms of, _Flock together_ _Flow_, Synonyms of, _Flu, fluence, flux_ family _Foe_ _Follow_, Synonyms of, _Follower_, Synonyms of, _Fond_ _Fond_, Synonyms of, _Force_, Synonyms of, _Foretell_, Synonyms of, _Fort_ family Fossils in modern English, List of, _Found_ family _Fract, frag_ family _Fracture_ _Frank_, Synonyms of, Franklin, Benjamin, and _Spectator Papers_, _Fraternal_ _Free_ _Free_, Synonyms of French and Norman-French words occurring in modern English _Freshen_, Synonyms of, _Fret_ _Friendly_ _Friendly_, Synonyms of, _Frighten_, Synonyms of, _Frigid_ _Frown_, Synonyms of, _Frugal_, Synonyms of, _Frustrate_, Synonyms of, _Fug(e)_ family _Fuse_ family _Fy_ family

_Game_, Synonyms of, _Gather_, Synonyms of, _Gen_ family General facts and ideas with which acquaintance assumed, General ideas, as best basis for study of synonyms, General vs. specific terms. Also see _Words_ Genus and species _Ger, gest_ family Germanic words in modern English _Get_, Synonyms of, _Get on to_ "Gettysburg Address" (Lincoln); Comments on, _Ghost_ _Ghost_, Synonyms of, _Gift_, Synonyms of, _Give_, Synonyms of, _Glad_, Synonyms of, _Go out of one's way_ _Good_ _Good_ family _Goodby_ _Grade_ family _Gram_ family _Grand_, Synonyms of, _Graph_ family _Gray hair_ _Great_ _Greedy_ Greek prefixes List of, Greek stems, List of, Greek words in modern English _Greet_, Synonyms of, _Gress_ family _Grief_, Synonyms of, _Grieve_, Synonyms of, _Groom_ _Grudgingly_ _Guard_, Synonyms of, _Guileless_

_Hab_ family _Habit_, Synonyms of, _Habitation_, Synonyms of, _Hale_ family _Half-baked_ _Harass_, Synonyms of, _Hard_ _Harmful_, Synonyms of, _Harsh_ _Haste_, Synonyms of, _Hate_, Synonyms of, _Hatred_, Synonyms of, _Have_, Synonyms of, _Hayseed_ _Head foremost_ _Headstrong_, Synonyms of, _Heal_ family _Healthful_, Synonyms of, _Heathen_ _Heavy_, Synonyms of, _Height_ _Help_ (noun), Synonyms of, _Help_ (verb), Synonyms of, _Hesitate_, Synonyms of, _Hib_ family _Hide_, Synonyms of, _High_, Synonyms of, _Highstrung_ _Hinder_ Synonyms of, _Hint_, Synonyms of, _Hot_ family _Hole_, Synonyms of, _Holy_, Synonyms of, _Home_ _Homeopath_ _Homesickness_ _Hopeful,_ Synonyms of, _Hopeless_, Synonyms of, _Hose_ _House_ How a child becomes acquainted with the complexity of life and language _Hug_, _Humor_ _Hussy_ _Idiot_ _Idle_ _Ig_ family _Ignorant_, Synonyms of, _Imp_ Imperfectly understood facts and ideas _Impolite_, Synonyms of, _Importance_, Synonyms of, _Imposter_, Synonyms of, _Imprison_, Synonyms of, _Improper_, Synonyms of, _Impure_, Synonyms of, _In a minute_ _Inborn_, Synonyms of, _Incense_ _Incite_, Synonyms of, _Incline_, Synonyms of, _Inclose_, Synonyms of, _Increase_, Synonyms of, _Indecent_, Synonyms of, _Infantry_ _Infectious_ _Ingenious_ _Inner_ _Innocent_ _Innuendo_ _Insane_, Synonyms of, _Insanity_, Synonyms of, _Insinuate_ _Insipid_, Synonyms of, _Instances_ _Instigate_ _Insult_ _Intention_, Synonyms of, _Internal_ _Interpose_, Synonyms of, _Investigate_ _Irreligious_, Synonyms of, _Irritate_, Synonyms of, _It_ family "Ivanhoe" (Scott), Quotation from, _Ject_ family _Join_, Synonyms of, _Journey_, Synonyms of, _Jud_ family _Jump on_ _Junct_ family _Jur, jus_ family _Jure_ family _Just_

Key-syllables, Variations in form of; Misleading resemblance between; Lists of, _Kick_ _Kill_, Synonyms of, _Kind_, Synonyms of, _Kindle_, Synonyms of, Kinships between words. See _Blood relationships between words; Marriages between words; Words_ _Knave_ _Knowledge_

_Lack_, Synonyms of, _Lame_, Synonyms of, _Large_, Synonyms of, _Late_ family Latin prefixes, List of, Latin stems, List of, Latin words in modern English. See _Classic words_ _Laugh_, Synonyms of, _Laughable_, Synonyms of, _Lead_, Synonyms of, _Lect, leg_ family _Lengthen_, Synonyms of, _Lessen,_ Synonyms of, _Lewd_ _Liberal_, Synonyms of, _Lie_ (noun), Synonyms of, _Lie_ (verb), Synonyms of, _Lig_ family _Likeness_, Synonyms of, _Limp_, Synonyms of, _List_, Synonyms of, Literal vs. figurative terms and applications. Also see _Words_ _Loc, loco, local, locate_ family _Locu_ family _Log_ family _Look_, Synonyms of, Loose use of words _Loquy_ family _Lord_ _Lose steam_ _Loud_, Synonyms of, _Love_ _Love_, Synonyms of, _Low,_ Synonyms of, _Loyal_, Synonyms of, _Luc, lum, lus_ family _Lude, lus_ family _Lunatic_ _Lurk_, Synonyms of, _Lust_

_Make_, Synonyms of, _Make one's pile_ _Man_, as a generic term, _Man, manu_ family _Mand_ family _Manifest_, Synonyms of, _Manly_ _Many_, Synonyms of, Many-sided words _Margin_, Synonyms of, _Marriage_, Synonyms of, Marriages between words. Also see _Words_ _Marshal_ _Masculine_, Synonyms of, _Matinée_ _Matrimonial_, Synonyms of, _Meaning_, Synonyms of, _Meet_, Synonyms of, _Meeting_, Synonyms of, _Melt_, Synonyms of, _Memory_, Synonyms of, _Mercy_, Synonyms of, _Mere, merely_ _Meter, metri_ family Military terms, Familiar _Mis(e), mit_ family _Misrepresent_, Synonyms of, _Mix_, Synonyms of, _Mob_ family _Model_, Synonyms of, _Modern_ _Mono_ family _Mort_ family _Mortal_ _Mortify_ _Mot(e)_ family _Mother_ _Motive_, Synonyms of, _Move_ family _Move_, Synonyms of, _Mot(e)_ family

_Name_, Synonyms of, Narration _Nasturtium_ _Nat(e)_ family Native words, distinguished from classic; in modern English, _Near_, Synonyms of, _Neat_, Synonyms of, _Needful_, Synonyms of, _Negligence_, Synonyms of, _New_, Synonyms of, _Nice_, Synonyms of, _Nickname_ _Noble_ family _Noise_ _Noisy_, Synonyms of, _Nostalgia_ _Nostril_ _Nostrum_ _Not(e), nor(e)_ family _Noticeable_, Synonyms of,

_Objective_ _Occupation_, Synonyms of, _Offspring_ _Old_, Synonyms of, _Ology_ family _Omen, ominous_ Opposites _Order_ (noun), Synonyms of, _Order_ (verb), Synonyms of, _Oversight_, Synonyms of, _Ox_

_Pacify_, Synonyms of, _Pagan_ Pairs, Three types of; Lists of or assignments in; as Synonyms, _Pale_, Synonyms of, _Pan_ family _Pantaloon_ "Parable of the Sower"; Comments and assignments on, "Parable of the Prodigal Son"; Comments on, Parallels Paraphrasing _Pard_ _Parlor_ _Parson_ _Part_, Synonyms of, Parts of Speech, Wrong, _Pass, path_ family _Pastor_ _Paternal_ _Patience_, Synonyms of, _Patter_ _Pay_ (noun), Synonyms of, _Pay_ (verb), Synonyms of, _Ped_ family _Pen_ _Pend, pense_ family _Penetrate_, Synonyms of, _Perspiration_ _Pet_ family _Petit, petty_ family _Petr, peter_ family _Phil(e)_ family _Phone_ family _Pin-money_ _Pity_, Synonyms of, _Place_, Synonyms of, _Plain_ _Plan_, Synonyms of, _Playful_, Synonyms of, _Plentiful_, Synonyms of, _Plic(ate), ply_ family _Plunder_, Synonyms of, _Pocket handkerchief_ _Pod_ family _Poli_ family _Polite_ _Polite_, Synonyms of, _Pond_ family _Ponder_ _Pone, pose_ family _Poor_ _Porcine_ _Pork_ _Port_ family _Portent, portentous_ _Poten(t)_ family _Poverty_, Synonyms of, _Precocious_ _Prehend_ family _Preposterous_ _Presbyterian_ _Presently_ _Pretty_, Synonyms of, _Prise_ family _Prob_ family _Prod up_ _Profitable_, Synonyms of, _Progeny_ _Prompt_, Synonyms of, _Proud_, Synonyms of, _Pull_, Synonyms of, _Pulse_ family _Punish_, Synonyms of, _Push_, Synonyms of, _Put(e)_ family _Puzzle_, Synonyms of,

_Qualm_ _Quarrel_, Synonyms of, _Quean_ _Queer_, Synonyms of, _Quick_ Quickly, Dame _Quiet_ Quotations from literature, embodying old senses of words

_Raise_, Synonyms of, _Rash_, Synonyms of, Reading Lists _Rebellion_, Synonyms of, _Recant_ _Recover_, Synonyms of, _Recrudescence_ _Reflect_, Synonyms of, _Refuse_ _Regret_, Synonyms of, _Relate_, Synonyms of, _Relinquish_, Synonyms of, _Renounce_, Synonyms of, _Replace_, Synonyms of, _Reprove_, Synonyms of, _Republican_ _Repulsive_, Synonyms of, _Requital_, Synonyms of, _Residence_ _Responsible_, Synonyms of, _Reveal_, Synonyms of, _Reverence_, Synonyms of, _Rich_, Synonyms of, _Ridicule_, Synonyms of, _Right_ _Ripe_, Synonyms of, _Rise_ _Rise_, Synonyms of, _Rival_ _Robber_, Synonyms of, _Rog, rogate_ family _Rogue_, Synonyms of, _Rough_ _Round_, Synonyms of, _Routine_ _Rub_, Synonyms of, _Ruminate_ _Run_, Synonyms of, _Rapt_ family _Rural_, Synonyms of,