Memoirs of the Life of Sir Samuel Romilly, Volume 1

Front Cover
J. Murray, 1840 - Great Britain - 456 pages

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 248 - I make it my humble and earnest prayer to Almighty God, that Great Britain may not feel the evils which might result from so great a dimemberment of the empire, and that America may be free from those calamities which have formerly proved, in the mother country, how essential monarchy is to the enjoyment of constitutional liberty. Religion, language, interest, affections may, and I hope will, yet prove a bond of permanent union between the two countries.
Page 45 - At a later period of my life, after a success at the bar which my wildest and most sanguine dreams had never painted to me — when I was gaining an income of 8000/. or 9000/. ayear — I have often reflected how all that prosperity had arisen out of the pecuniary difficulties and confined circumstances of my father.
Page 143 - Let me hope, Sir, that if aught in my character impresses you with esteem towards me, if aught in my misfortunes marks me as the victim of policy and not of resentment, I shall experience the operation of these feelings in your breast, by being informed that I am not to die on a gibbet.
Page 222 - This House is not a representative of the people of Great Britain. It is the representative of nominal boroughs, of ruined and exterminated towns, of noble families, of wealthy individuals, of foreign potentates.
Page 207 - February 27th, in the house of commons, that an humble address be presented to his majesty, that the farther prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America, for the purpose of reducing the revolted, colonies to obedience by force...
Page 142 - Americans not justified in continuing the war, after the offer of sue) favorable terms as the commissioners held out to them, why did he keep his command for two years afterwards ? . . . . " The arguments used by Clinton and Arnold in their letters to Washington, to prove that Andre...
Page 185 - I should not," continues the speech, " answer the trust committed to the sovereign of a free people, nor make a suitable return to my subjects for their constant, zealous, and affectionate attachment to my person, family and government, if I consented to sacrifice, either to my own desire of peace, or to their temporary ease and relief, those essential rights and permanent interests, upon the maintenance and preservation of which, the future strength and security of this country must principally...
Page 69 - OF all the celebrated persons whom in my life I have chanced to see, Dr. Franklin, both from his appearance and his conversation, seemed to me the most remarkable. His venerable patriarchal appearance, the simplicity of his manner and language, and the novelty of his observations, at least the novelty of them at that time to me, impressed me with an opinion of him as one of the most extraordinary men that ever existed.
Page 170 - ... as general as they were shocking to humanity. Accordingly he made a visit to every prison and house of correction in England, with invincible perseverance and courage ; for some of the prisons were so infected with diseases and putrid air, that he was obliged to hold a cloth steeped in vinegar to his nostrils during the whole time he remained in them, and to change his clothes the moment he returned. After having devoted so much time to this painful employment here, he set out on a tour through...
Page 248 - In thus admitting their separation from the crown of these kingdoms, I have sacrificed every consideration of my own to the wishes and opinion of my people. I make it my humble and earnest prayer to Almighty God that Great Britain may not feel the evils which might result from so great a dismemberment of the empire ; and that America may be free from those calamities which have formerly proved in the mother country how essential monarchy is to the enjoyment of constitutional liberty.

Bibliographic information