Reminiscences of an Adventurous and Chequered Career at Home and at the Antipodes, Volume 1

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Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1882 - Police - 338 pages
 

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Page 85 - Troad the same morning', and the water being of an icy dullness, we found it necessary to postpone the completion till the frigate anchored below the castles, when we swam the s'traits, as just stated, entering a considerable way above the European, and landing below the Asiatic, fort.
Page 84 - IF, in the month of dark December, Leander, who was nightly wont (What maid will not the tale remember?) To cross thy stream, broad Hellespont ! S.
Page 85 - This morning I swam from Sestos to Abydos. The immediate distance is not above a mile, but the current renders it hazardous, so much so, that I doubt whether Leander's conjugal affection must not have been a little chilled in his passage to Paradise.
Page 84 - I've done a feat to-day. But since he cross'd the rapid tide, According to the doubtful story, To woo — and — Lord knows what beside, And swam for love, as I for glory. 'Twere hard to say who fared the best : Sad mortals thus the gods still plague you ! He lost his labour, I my jest, For he was drown'd, and I've the ague.
Page 141 - With him was seated on the coffin a man in a horrid mask, grotesquely daubed beneath the eyes with white paint, having one hump on his back, and another on his breast ; and so frightfully disfigured, that he seemed like an imp of Erebus ready for his prey, while all the spectators seemed to feel a thrill of horror creeping through their veins. It was a moment of the most intense and exciting interest — many wished they had not come — and, as the procession advanced, the well-known service for...
Page 192 - This might, doubtless, be allowed in the first ages of the world, when the earth, without cultivation, produced more than was sufficient to feed its small number of inhabitants. But at present, when the human race is so greatly multiplied, it could not subsist if all nations were disposed to live in that manner. Those who still pursue this idle mode of life, usurp more extensive territories than, with a. reasonable share of labour, they would have occasion for, and have, therefore, no reason to complain,...
Page 193 - Thus, though the conquest of the civilized empires of Peru and Mexico was a notorious usurpation, the establishment of many colonies on the continent of North America might, on their confining themselves within just bounds, be extremely lawful. The people of those extensive tracts rather ranged through than inhabited them.
Page 85 - The whole distance from the place whence we started to our landing on the other side, including the length we were carried by the current, was computed by those on board the frigate at upwards of four English miles ; though the actual breadth is barely one.
Page 218 - ... side of the river, though numerous enough on the other), they were ever too close to the water's edge to admit of our securing them, for they took to the river when driven through the high reeds on its banks, and which rose above our heads when on horseback; and thus, from the want of boats, escaped us, though only a few yards distant. They might all with certainty have been shot; but when they found we would not fire, the villains laughed at and mocked us, roaring out
Page 140 - ... passing the sentence. In the absence of any clergyman of the Romish church, the convict made application to be allowed the attendance of a respectable tradesman of that persuasion occasionally while he was in gaol; and, as he was thought not ill adapted to afford Magee the usual consolations of religion, the authorities immediately complied with his request. But it was not so easy a matter to find an executioner as it was a priest; and, to the honour of Adelaide be it spoken, this difficulty...

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