Old New York, or, Reminiscences of the past sixty years : being an enlarged and revised edition of the anniversary discourse delivered before the New York historical society, (November 17, 1857) / by John W. Francis.

  • Francis, John W. (John Wakefield), 1789-1861.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Old New York, or, Reminiscences of the past sixty years : being an enlarged and revised edition of the anniversary discourse delivered before the New York historical society, (November 17, 1857) / by John W. Francis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    infest the soil, and liberty itself again to be endan- gered. Topics involving matters of this nature were not unfrequently the subjects of warm controversy. The people were cognizant of the ordeal through which they had y»assed. They knew there were still among us men of the same calibre for the hour of peril, as those who had proved themselves valiant indeed. They also recognized among us men who saw how difficult in the future would he the procurement of authentic documents for that volume, which, in after times, was destined to prove a second Kevelation to man, unless a proper and timely spirit were awakened by co-operation with living witnesses, with those who best knew the price of freedom by the cost of purchase, and who were duly apprised of the value of correct knowl- edge diffused among a new-born nation. The blood that had been spilt, the lives that had been lost, the treasures that had been expended, w^ere fa- miliar truths of impressive force. But the memo- rials of a tyrannic government were still more ])alpable, in the destruction which laid waste so many places, and which encompassed the city round about. And what spectator, however in- different, could fail to learn by such demonstra- tions, and cherish in his bosom profitable medita- tions. I am speaking now, more especially, of the scenes presented in this city. But more than this.
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