And now Joshua was old, and saw that the cities of the Canaanites were not easily to be taken, not only because they were situate in such strong places, but because of the strength of the walls themselves, which being built round about, the natural strength of the places on which the cities stood, seemed capable of repelling their enemies from besieging them, and of making those enemies despair of taking them; for when the Canaanites had learned that the Israelites came out of Egypt in order to destroy them, they were busy all that time in making their cities strong.
— from Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus

Of course, a long-continued, closely-calculating occupation, revolting to every feeling of humanity—but as I said, I will put no obstacle in Herr Sonnenkamp's way, only it is incomprehensible to me that he should seek to be ennobled, and in that way voluntarily challenge inquiry into his antecedents.
— from Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine by Berthold Auerbach

Pope Julius II. nephew of Sixtus IV. resolved to enfranchise Italy, that is, to subject it to the court of Rome, to expel foreigners, to sow divisions among the rivals of the Holy See, and to take advantage of them in order to re-assume in Europe that supremacy before aspired to by Gregory VII.
— from The Power of the Popes An Historical Essay on Their Temporal Dominion, and the Abuse of Their Spiritual Authority by P. C. F. (Pierre Claude François) Daunou

Findlay, George Working and Management of English Railways Fink, Albert Cost of Railroad Transportation, etc. Fisher, G. P. Outlines of Universal History Fisk, John American Political Ideas Fish, John [Pg 14] Critical Period of American History Foreign Commerce of American Republics and Colonies.
— from The Railroad Question A historical and practical treatise on railroads, and remedies for their abuses by William Larrabee

They were potted at without a chance of returning the enemy fire.
— from On Land and Sea at the Dardanelles by T. C. (Thomas Charles) Bridges

I need not say that these are too glaring absurdities to be credited, and could only receive their existence from the zeal of those fathers, who endeavoured at once to give the public a better opinion of the success of their missions, and to add support to the cause they were engaged in.
— from Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America, in the Years 1766, 1767 and 1768 by Jonathan Carver

From Seraglio Point, seven miles down the coast of Roumelia, the eye followed a continued wall; and from the same point, twenty miles up the Bosphorus, on either shore, stretched one crowded and unbroken city!
— from Summer Cruise in the Mediterranean on board an American frigate by Nathaniel Parker Willis

Sieyes and Ducos had each a post-chaise and six horses, waiting at the gate of St. Cloud, prepared, in case of reverse, to escape for life.
— from Napoleon Bonaparte by John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott