tive, may be used for practice work. In order to illustrate the preliminary work on the manuscript I give herewith analyses of Patrick Henry's "Appeal to Arms," a description from Irving's "Westminster Abbey," a narrative extract from "David Copperfield," and Marmion's Defiance from Scott's "Marmion." "AN APPEAL TO ARMS" It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the songs of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged emphatic mos in a great and arduous struggle for question repeat liberty? Are we disposed to be of mls to provide for it. unity and emphasis I have but one lamp by which my mfs feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of future time, judging of the future but by the past. past time moderate extent general question rejection covering and extent earnest appeal And judging by the past I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British Ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes moS with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the house. Is it that insidious smile with moS which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will mfv prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourself how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. mo P Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? bhmos Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be repeat called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and sub- suppression lop jugation, - the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. intense Ilp negation They are meant for us; they can be mfc chains which the British Ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to general ques mos offer upon the subject? Nothing. tion specific appeal analysis prostration We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. mfs Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned, we have remonstrated, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our indifference supplications have been disregarded; In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, - we must fight! An appeal to arms, and to extreme Ifc the God of hosts, is all that is left us. hfs They tell us, sir, that we are weak, - unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next emphasis Divine reference m fs emphatic week, or the next year? Will it be distinction mos when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? |