Selections and Authors. xvii political history of the country. "As a book of reference it still remains as the best in our catalogue of works on American history." Born in Massachusetts in 1807; died in Florence, Italy, in 1865. John Jay. From "The First Century of the Republic." Whipple..186 Edwin P. Whipple, "one of our most brilliant writers," was born in Massachusetts in 1819. He is the author of "Essays and Reviews," "The Literature of the Age of Elizabeth," and other works. Invention of the Cotton-gin. Greeley.. From "The American Conflict." ....187 Horace Greeley, one of the most distinguished journalists of this country, was born in New Hampshire, in 1811, and commenced life as a printer. The New York Tribune was commenced by him in 1841. Mr. Greeley's style is vigorous and pungent, and his writings abound in useful information, addressed to the practical common-sense of the reader. His most extensive work is the "American Conflict," in which he gives, with considerable fullness, the events of that great struggle between the two sections of the country, together with the political and social causes that led to it. He died in 1872. (See p. 299.) Migration to the West. Audubon..... .188 John James Audubon, "the ornithologist," of whom Professor Wilson said: “He is the greatest artist in his own walk that ever lived." "Audubon's works," says Cuvier, "are the most splendid monuments which art has erected in honor of ornithology.” The price of his great work, "The Birds of America," was $1000. Every object in it is of the size of life. "Audubon has indisputable claims to a respectable rank as a man of letters. Some of his written pictures of birds, so graceful, clearly defined, and brilliantly colored, are scarcely inferior to the productions of his pencil." He was born in Louisiana. His death occurred in 1851. Washington's Farewell Address. Washington.... .190 From "The Life of Washington." Mar Death of Washington. shall. (Chief-Justice of the United States)....... ..192 Character of Washington. From 'Orations and Speeches of Edward Everett. Everett". Fulton's First Steamboat. Story....... ...193 From a discourse delivered in 1829. .201 Joseph Story, LL.D., an eminent jurist, was born in Massachusetts in 1779. He was admitted to the bar in 1801, served several years as a member of the legislature of his native State, and in 1811 was appointed by President Madison associate justice of the Supreme Court, which office he continued to fill till his death, in 1845. His legal treatises have had a very high reputation both in this country and England. Lord Brougham pronounced him the first jurist living." His miscel laneous writings are numerous. Purchase of Louislana. From an address. Everett.... ..196 How the Clermont was regarded. From "The Life of Robert Fulton." C. D. Colden... ..203 Perry's Victory. From "The Second War between England and the United States." Headley...... ....209 Joel Tyler Headley, one of the most popular writers of the time, was born in Delaware County, New York, in 1814. His principal historical works are Napoleon and his Marshals,' "Washington and his Generals," "Life of Oliver Cromwell," and "History of the Second War between England and the United States." These works are chiefly distinguished for their melodramatic descriptions and brilliancy of style, but in respect to accuracy of statement have been sharply criticised. Mr. Headley has also published many other works of considerable literary excellence. The Hartford Convention. From "Sketches of American Policy." Webster..... ..215 Noah Webster, LL.D., the author of the "American Dictionary," was born in Connecticut in 1758, and graduated with considerable honor at Yale College, in 1778. He was at first a school-teacher at Goshen, in New York, and while thus engaged, compiled his "Spelling Book," which he published at Hartford in 1783. He soon afterward published an "English Grammar." The spelling book has probably been the most widely circulated book ever published in this country. In 1784 he published "Sketches of American Policy," a political work of considerable interest and merit. In 1793 he started a daily paper in New York, which still continues to be published as the Commercial Advertiser. He commenced the Dictionary in 1807, and spent twenty years in its compilation. He died in 1843. How the News of Peace was received. Goodrich...... ..216 Samuel Griswold Goodrich, world-wide known under the assumed name of Peter Parley, was born in Connecticut in 1793. His juvenile books, more than one hundred in number, comprise geographies, histories, travels, stories, and illustrations of the arts and sciences. For more than twenty years his delightful compositions have instructed and edified children in both hemispheres." He died in 1860. Selections and Authors. xix War with Algiers. From "The History of the United States." Hildreth..... ....216 ......217 Treaty with Algiers. From "History of the Navy of the United States." Cooper.... James Fennimore Cooper, the distinguished American novelist, was born in 1789. At the age of sixteen he entered the navy as a midshipman, and followed the life of a sailor for six years. His writings are very numerous, including the "Leather Stocking Tales" and other novels, and the "History of the Navy of the United States." In his description of the sea and the various incidents of a sailor's life, as well as of the Indians and their savage manners, no author can claim any comparison with Cooper. His death occurred in 1851. Death of Adams and Jefferson. From "Life and Public Services of .223 John Quincy Adams." Seward.. William H. Seward, an eminent statesman, was born in New York in 1801. His writings, and many of his public orations, fill several volumes. While holding the office of Secretary of State in Lincoln's cabinet, he was attacked and seriously injured, on the night of the assassination of Lincoln, by one of the conspirators. He died in 1872. The Magnetic Telegraph. gent..... From "Public Men and Events." Sar .236 Nathan Sargent, a political writer known under the nom de plume of Oliver Oldschool. Born in Vermont in 1794; died in 1875. American Conquest of Mexico. From "History of the Mexican War." Mansfield..... ....241 Edward D. Mansfield was born in 1801, and graduated at the United States Military Academy, at West Point, in 1819. He was the author of several works, chief among which are the "Life of General Scott" and the "History of the Mexican War." Mining Life in California. From " 'History of California." Franklin .246 The Mormons. From "History of the United States." J. H. Patton..248 Treaty with Japan. J. H. Patton.... ..250 Battle of the Iron Ships. From "The Lost Cause." Pollard.....269 Edward A. Pollard was formerly editor of the Richmond Examiner. He published various works in relation to the Civil War, written from a Southern standpoint. In 1866 appeared "The Lost Cause: a New Southern History of the War of the Confederates ;" and subsequently other works on topics connected with the same general subject. Mr. Pollard's style is copious and vigorous; and the earnestness with which he writes makes his works interesting to all classes of readers. Confederate Money. From "A Rebel's Recollections." George Cary Eggleston.... ..274 Misapplication of Means. From "A Narrative of Military Operations.” Johnston... ..276 Joseph E. Johnston was born in Virginia in 1807. He graduated at West Point, served in the Seminole War and in the Mexican War, and was a Confederate general in the great Civil War. (See p. 307.) Obligation to the Patriot Dead. Abraham Lincoln. .278 History of the American Civil War." Organizations of Mercy. From " Draper... .279 John W. Draper, M.D., LL.D., was born in England in 1811; came to the United States in 1833. Besides the above and many valuable treatises on chemistry, physiology, and mixed mathematics, he is the author of a "History of the Intellectual Development of Europe," pronounced by Whipple "comprehensive in scope, brilliant in style, and bold in speculation." Evacuation of Richmond. From "A Southern History of the War." Pollard.... ..291 Miracles of the War. From "History of the American Civil War." Draper.. .295 : CONTENTS. SECTION I. DISCOVERIES AND EXPLORATIONS. First Discovery of America; The Northmen's discoveries (15); Co- lumbus (18); India-the route to it; Idea and plan of Columbus (19) Landing of Columbus in the New World (21); Other Discoveries of Columbus (22); Return of Columbus to Spain (23); The Indians (25); The Mound-builders (27); Were the Indians the Mound-builders? English Discoveries (29); Origin of the name America; The new lands not India (30); The first voyage around the earth (31); Discovery of Florida (32); De Soto's Expedition (34); Discovery of the Mississippi (35); Burial of De Soto (36); Drake's Voyage around the world (37); Other expeditions by the English (40); Explorations by the French; Marquette on the Mississippi (41); La Salle descends the Mississippi (43); How the lands were disposed of (47). Summary; Claims (48) ; Topical Review (49); Model for a written exercise (50). SECTION II. THE COLONIAL PERIOD. Virginia. Settlement of Jamestown (52); Character of the Colo- nists (54); The gold excitement; The starving time (55); Lord Dela- ware's administration; Marriage of Pocahontas (56); Tobacco (57); Importation of wives (58); Bacon's Rebellion (59). New England. Early explorations (59); First English settlement in Maine (60); The Great Patent; Puritans and Pilgrims; The Pilgrims in England (61); The Pilgrims in Holland (62) The Embarkation (63) ; Settlement of Plymouth (64); The first winter at Plymouth (66); Great aim of the Pilgrims; Settlement of New Hampshire (67); Massachu- setts Bay Colony; Settlement of Boston (68); Settlement of Connecti- cut; Hooker's emigration (69); Pequod War; New Haven Colony ; A Sabbath in New Haven (70); The founder of Rhode Island; His flight to Rhode Island (72); Early history of Rhode Island (73); Union of New England Colonies (74); Persecution of the Quakers (75); King Philip's War (76); Storming of the Narragansett Fort; Death of Philip (77); Salem Witchcraft (78); Witchcraft in Europe (79). New York and New Jersey.-Discovery of the Hudson river; The Half-Moon ascends the Hudson (80); The first settlement (82); Growth of the colony (83); The English take New Netherlands (85); New Maryland.-Lord Baltimore (87); Commencement of colonization (88); |