An Introductory Discourse: Delivered Before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New-York, on the Fourth of May, 1814 |
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Popular passages
Page 64 - Vast chain of being! which from God began; Natures ethereal, human, angel, man, Beast, bird, fish, insect, what no eye can see, No glass can reach; from infinite to thee; From thee to nothing — On superior...
Page 143 - Mischief and true dishonour fall on those Who would to laughter or to scorn expose So virtuous and so noble a design, So human for its use, for knowledge so divine. The things which these proud men despise, and call Impertinent, and vain, and small, Those smallest things of nature let me know, Rather than all their greatest actions do!
Page 13 - ... circumstances, no nation, or body of men, can stand in preference to the General Congress at Philadelphia.
Page 13 - When your lordships look at the papers transmitted us from America, when you consider their decency, firmness, and wisdom, you cannot but respect their cause, and wish to make it your own. For myself, I must declare and avow, that in all my reading and observation...
Page 13 - This study renders men acute, inquisitive, dexterous, prompt in attack, ready in defence, full of resources. In other countries, the people, more simple, and of a less mercurial cast, judge of an ill principle in government only by an actual grievance ; here they anticipate the evil, and judge of the pressure of the grievance by the badness of the principle. They augur misgovernment at a distance, and snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze.
Page 50 - ... all philosophical experiments that let light into the nature of things, tend to increase the power of man over matter, and multiply the conveniences or pleasures of life.
Page 29 - Part loosely wing the region ; part, more wise, In common ranged in figure, wedge their way, Intelligent of seasons, and set forth Their aery caravan, high over seas Flying...
Page 58 - ... of his feet are still to be seen, and hurled his bolts among them till the whole were slaughtered, except the big bull, who presenting his forehead to the shafts, shook them off as they fell...
Page 49 - The first drudgery of settling new colonies, which confines the attention of people to mere necessaries, is now pretty well over; and there are many in every province in circumstances that set them at ease, and afford leisure to cultivate the finer arts and improve the common stock of knowledge.
Page 50 - ... that may be proposed or thought of; surveys, maps, and charts of particular parts of the sea-coasts or inland countries ; course and junction of rivers and great roads, situation of lakes and mountains, nature of the soil and productions...