In fact, if a bissextile be suppressed at the end of three out of four centuries, the year so determined will only exceed the true year by an extremely small fraction of a day; and if in addition to this a bissextile be suppressed every 4000 years, the length of the year will be nearly equal to that given by observation.
— from On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences by Mary Somerville

The Truce Muster had broken up sooner than he expected, so my father saw no reason why he should not grant my request, and let me have a canter on English soil, for on a day of truce we could cross the Border if we chose without the risk of being taken prisoners by Lord Scroope's men, and marched off to Carlisle Castle, while the English had a like privilege, and could ride down Liddesdale in open daylight, if they were so minded.
— from Tales From Scottish Ballads by Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Wilson) Grierson

For Lysander, being sent from Lacedaemon with a commission to be admiral of their fleet, and being furnished by Cyrus with a great sum of money, gave every sailor four obols a day, whereas before thy had but three.
— from The Boys' and Girls' Plutarch Being Parts of the "Lives" of Plutarch, Edited for Boys and Girls by Plutarch

The patches on her cheek seemed not half so black as the blackness of her eyes, so full of a dark mischievous light were they; and the redness of the lips—a trifle artificial, no doubt—as she smiled seemed to add to the glittering whiteness of her teeth.
— from Macleod of Dare by William Black

We shrink from sympathy for our wounded pride, and strive to smile when our hearts are aching: "Wan Shine such smiles; as the evening sunlight falls On a deserted house whose empty walls No longer echo to the children's play, Or voice of ruined inmates fled away; Where wintry winds alone, with idle state, Move the slow swinging of its rusty gate.
— from The Catholic World, Vol. 05, April 1867 to September 1867 by Various

She prevented herself from traveling in a circle, by remembering this aptitude of benighted travelers, and keeping her eye steadily fixed on a distant camp-fire.
— from The Red Acorn by John McElroy

With a strong northwest breeze the bark stood away on her course, with every sail filled out and drawing handsomely.
— from A Boy Crusoe; or, The Golden Treasure of the Virgin Islands by Allan Eric

But a collection of authentic historic facts is valuable, however loosely embodied; and few writers have enjoyed such favourable opportunities as Dr Gutzlaff for obtaining them.
— from Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 433 Volume 17, New Series, April 17, 1852 by Various

The evidence so far offered against Dönitz is less voluminous for the reason that he was younger and not one of the top group until later in the war.
— from Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the International Military Tribunal, Nuremburg, 14 November 1945-1 October 1946, Volume 4 by Various

The stream on the west side moved very slowly, and, becoming subdivided, it nearly ceased to move; the stream on the east side fell over a deep and precipitous valley, which it soon filled, being then able to continue its progress, until finally it was stopped by a lava mound of a previous eruption.
— from The Catholic World, Vol. 01, April to September, 1865 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by Various