Had these been of a political nature, much as I should prize any relics of such a man, yet they would not have appeared in a book from which I have studiously excluded all controversial topics, and more especially those of a political character.
— from Napoleon's Letters to Josephine, 1796-1812 For the First Time Collected and Translated, with Notes Social, Historical, and Chronological, from Contemporary Sources by Emperor of the French Napoleon I

we landed at a parcel of Split timber, the timber of a house of Indians out hunting the Antilope in the plains; and raised on Scaffolds to Save them from the Spring floods.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark

They were romantic, imaginative, poetical, speculative, and would bestow on a well-turned epigram what would have sufficed to pay a regiment of soldiers.
— from The Moors in Spain by Stanley Lane-Poole

Those officers whose bodies and minds have grown old in peace, are removed, or superannuated, or they die.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 2 by Alexis de Tocqueville

Cunningham ( Wks. 3. 498) says: ‘Purchase, as readers of Shakespeare know, was a cant term among thieves for the plunder they acquired, also the act of acquiring it.
— from The Devil is an Ass by Ben Jonson

3. As soon as the army starts, the chief-quartermaster and commissary will prepare a resupply of stores at some point on Pamlico or Albemarle Sounds, ready to be conveyed to Kinston or Winton and Murfreesboro', according to developments.
— from Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete by William T. (William Tecumseh) Sherman

v 1 [AN2; a] wear, put a ring on s.o.
— from A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan by John U. Wolff

Push , a robbery or swindle.
— from The Slang Dictionary: Etymological, Historical and Andecdotal by John Camden Hotten

They were served by Rumi Khan, probably a Roumeliot, or Syrian Christian.
— from Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, v. 1 of 3 or the Central and Western Rajput States of India by James Tod

It is inclosed in a shell; and the only evidence of vitality that the creature gives, is a protrusion and retraction of slender threads of its sarcode, through the mouth or pores of the shell, or through both according to its structure.
— from On Molecular and Microscopic Science, Volume 2 (of 2) by Mary Somerville

A passion and rapture of song, the last evening song of the birds, was being poured out on the still dewy air all round us.
— from Five Nights: A Novel by Victoria Cross

There is little hopes of continuance in this life, it is good to prepare ourselves for a better life; and therefore, if you please that the company may be called together into your cabin, it will be good to join in prayer, and recommending our souls to Him that gave them; I believe they are not to remain long in these bodies of clay.
— from A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II. by Bulstrode Whitlocke

And it is this which, for us, constitutes its especial value; that it was, as far as possible, a result of simple reason; or, if at any time Faith asserted its authority, the distinction is clearly marked: If this inquiry was fully, and honestly, and logically conducted, 458 we are entitled to presume that the results attain by this effort of speculative thought must harmonize with the positive utterances of the Divine Logos--the Eternal Reason, whose revelations are embalmed and transmitted to us in the Word of God.
— from Christianity and Greek Philosophy or, the relation between spontaneous and reflective thought in Greece and the positive teaching of Christ and His Apostles by B. F. (Benjamin Franklin) Cocker

His judicial methods and punishments also reminded one strongly of the primitive judicature of Oriental lands.
— from Andersonville: A Story of Rebel Military Prisons — Volume 2 by John McElroy

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom were referred numerous petitions and resolutions of State Legislatures, taken from the files of the Senate, and also the petition of sundry citizens of New York, presented at the present session, asking just compensation for “individual” claims on France, appropriated by the United States to obtain release from important “national” obligations, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report.
— from Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 11 (of 20) by Charles Sumner

Through the same channel, Josephus, (de vita sua, c. 2,) about two years before, had obtained the pardon and release of some Jewish priests, who were prisoners at Rome.
— from History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2 by Edward Gibbon

Having dined and chatted pleasantly, and told a number of amusing tales for Miss Redbud's edification—and against the silent protest and remonstrance of said Miss Lavinia—the Squire declares that he must go and see to his threshing; and, accordingly, after swearing at Caesar, goes away; and is heard greeting somebody as he departs.
— from The Last of the Foresters Or, Humors on the Border; A story of the Old Virginia Frontier by John Esten Cooke

[Pg 55] bathe the part and repeat; or Sal Ammonia, one ounce, vinegar one pint.
— from The Dog by W. N. (William Nelson) Hutchinson