Items related to A History of New-York (Volume 1); From the Beginning...
A History of New-York (Volume 1); From the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty Containing Among Many Surprising and Curious ... Projects of William, the Testy, and th - Softcover
Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1835. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. In which the Author puts a mighty question to the rout, by the assistance of the Man in the Moon--which not only delivers thousands of people from great embarrassment, but likewise concludes this introductory book. The writer of a history may, in some respects, be likened unto an adventurous knight, who having undertaken a perilous enterprise, by way of establishing his fame, feels bound in honour and chivalry, to turn_ back for no difficulty nor hardship, and never to shrink or quail, whatever enemy he may encounter. Under this impression, I resolutely draw my pen, and fall to, with might and main, at those doughty questions and subtle paradoxes, which, like fiery dragons and bloody giants, beset the entrance to my history, and would fain repulse me from the very threshold. And at this moment a gigantic question has started up, which I must needs take by the beard and utterly subdue, before I can advance another step in my historic undertaking; but I trust this will be the last adversary I shall have to contend with, and tha in the next book I'shall be enabled to conduct my readers in triumph into the body of my work. - The question which has thus suddenly arisen, is, what right had the first discoverers of America to .and and take possession of a country, without first gaining the consent of its inhabitants, or yielding them RIGHTS OF THE DISCOVERERS. 63 an adequate compensation for their territory ?--a question which has withstood many fierce assaults, and has given much distress of mind to multitudes of kind-hearted folk. And indeed, until it be totally vanquished, and put to rest, the worthy people of America can by no means enjoy the soil they inhabit, with clear right and title, and quiet, unsullied consciences. The first source of right, by which property is ac qu...
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About the Author:
Washington Irving (1783 - 1859) was born into a rich New York family, the youngest of eleven children. Young Washington's early education was patchy but he developed an early love for books and writing. As an adult he didn't have to worry about earning a living and after practising law for a few years he began to write for newspapers and magazines. His first book, Knickerbocker's History of New York (1809), was the first American humorous book which was also literature. It was a great success but Irving continued to be only a part-time writer. In 1815 he moved to London to manage the British end of the family business and stayed for seventeen years. When the family business collapsed in 1817, He had to make a living for the first time. The immediate result was The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent which contained his two most famous fantasy stories, Rip van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. These classic stories have kept Washington Irving's name alive. He is often called 'the father of American literature' because of the charm and style of his writing and because he was always breaking new ground.
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- PublisherGeneral Books LLC
- Publication date2012
- ISBN 10 0217153291
- ISBN 13 9780217153294
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages66
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