Notions of the Americans: Picked Up by a Travelling Bachelor, Volume 1Carey, Lea, & BLanchard, 1835 - United States |
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Common terms and phrases
admit Ameri American appearance become believe belvidere better boat Bunker's hill Cadwallader cause certainly character circumstances civilization common Connecticut coun countrymen danger descend doubt dwelling effect England English Englishman equal Europe European exist eyes fact favour Fayette feeling former Fort Mifflin France French give habits honour Hudson hundred individual influence inhabitants instance intelligence intercourse interest island Italy known La Fayette labour land latter less Major André manner ment miles moral nation native nature necessary never New-England New-York niscience object officer opinion passed peculiar perhaps political population portion possess prejudices present probably rarely Raritan Bay reason remember respect Rhode Island river scarcely seen short society square mile steam-boats sufficient table d'hôte taste thing thought thousand tion town traveller true truth tween United vast whole yellow fever young
Popular passages
Page 69 - I am not worth purchasing, but such as I am, the king of England is not rich enough to buy me.
Page 200 - Arnold," said he quietly to one of his officers, " and tell her that though my duty required no means should be neglected to arrest General Arnold, I have great pleasure in acquainting her that he is now safe on board a British vessel.
Page 127 - New-York, into which I have looked when passing, with the utmost pleasure. They have, as usual, a story that is half sunk in the earth, receiving light from an area, and two floors above. The tenants of these buildings are chiefly merchants, or professional men, in moderate circumstances, who pay rents of from 300 to 500 dollars a year. You know that no American, who is at all comfortable in life, will share his dwelling with another.
Page 199 - American character than the one which proves that, notwithstanding the great trust and high character the traitor had once enjoyed, his influence ended the instant he was known to be unworthy of confidence. While on board the Vulture, he essayed in vain to tempt the Serjeant and six men, who composed the crew of his own boat, to follow his fortunes, though every offer which might tempt men of their class was resorted to, in order to induce them to change their service. " If General Arnold likes the...
Page 199 - ... and six men, who composed the crew of his own boat, to follow his fortunes, though every offer which might tempt men of their class was resorted to, in order to induce them to change their service. " If General Arnold likes the King of England, let him serve him," said the stubborn Serjeant; "zee love our country, and intend to live or die in support of her cause," 216 IMPUDENT LETTER OF ARNOLD.
Page 56 - But there is also a slang of society in England, which forms no part of the true language. Most of those who escape the patois, adopt something of the slang of the day. There is also a fashion of intonation in the mother country which it is often thought vulgar to omit. All these differences, with many others, which it may be curious to notice hereafter, mark the Englishman at once. I think, therefore, you will be mistaken for a native of some of the less accurate counties of England. It will, in...
Page 172 - From all that I can learn, nothing is more common, however, than for young men of great expectations to connect themselves with females, commonly of their own condition in life, who are pennyless ; or, on the other hand, for ladies to give their persons with one or two hundred thousand dollars, to men, who have nothing better to recommend them than education and morals.
Page 233 - Immediately at our feet, at the distance of a few miles, lay a wide, rich terrace, intersected with roads, that were bordered, as usual, by scattered farm buildings, surrounded by their granaries and barns. Near its centre, a cluster of buildings assumed the air of a hamlet. From among these roofs, rose the spire of a country church. I was told that a multitude of villages lay within the limits of the view ; but as they were generally placed near some stream, for the advantage of its water-power,...
Page 39 - It was plain to see that all orders of men {with a few females) were here assembled, unless I might except that very inferior class which I already begin to think is not as usual to be found in this country as in most others. I heard French spoken, and by the quick, restless eyes, and elevated heads, of some half-dozen, I could see that France had her representatives in the throng and that they deemed the occasion one in which they had no reason to blush for their country. Indeed I can scarcely imagine...
Page 116 - ... winds. Although poverty has no permanent abode, yet New- York has its distinct quarters. I think they are sufficiently known and understood. Commerce is gradually taking possession of the whole of the lower extremity of the island, though the bay, the battery, and the charming Broadway, still cause many of the affluent to depart with reluctance.