Robert Merry's Museum, Volumes I-II (1841)

I am inclined to think, that, among the various pleasures of life, talking is one of the greatest. Eating and drinking are very good things, especially when one is hungry and th...

I was born in the city of New York, in the year 1790. My parents were both English people. At first, they were in poor circumstances, but my father became a merchant, and acquir...

I fancy that some of my readers imagine, that it would be a dull business to study into the history of hats and coats, bread and butter, and such other common-place things. But...

I must now return to the story of myself. The morning after I left the little tavern where I discovered how milk was obtained, we proceeded on our journey, and at evening arrive...

_Early Life of Philip Brusque.--He engages in the French Revolution.--Is at length suspected by Robespierre, and obliged to fly.--Enters on board a Ship, and is cast away upon a...

The little town of Salem was situated at the foot of a mountain, consisting of wild and broken ridges, forming the boundary between the states of New York and Connecticut. Being...

_My Birth and Parentage.--The reasons why I became a Traveller.--My first Travels.--Advantage of having good legs.--My first Voyage to the Mediterranean.--The Orange and Lemon T...

Such were the thoughts of Brusque, as he stood on a little hill in the centre of the island, and looked round upon what now seemed entirely his own. Nor did anything happen to d...

I have said enough as to the indulgent manner in which I was treated at my uncle’s, not only by him, but by others, to show that no very great restraints were laid upon my wishe...

Our story, thus far, has shown us that absolute liberty cannot be enjoyed except by an individual in solitude, where he has no intercourse with his fellowmen. It shows us that a...

We return to Brusque on the island of Fredonia. A few weeks after the adoption of the constitution as before related, a fine vessel, in full sail, appeared near the island. Brus...

When we had sailed about half way across the Atlantic, we fell in with the wreck of a vessel. All her masts were gone, and the sea was breaking over her in every part. We could...

Though we had been quite alone on the Atlantic, yet as soon as we entered the Mediterranean we found ourselves in company with a large fleet of vessels. We had a fair wind up th...

When the morning came, it showed upon the bosom of the sea a few blackened fragments of the pirate ship, but beside these not a trace of it was seen. Her whole crew had apparent...

_First discoveries of Columbus.--The first interview between the Spaniards and the Indians.--Simplicity of the Indians.--Their appearance and manners.--Cuba discovered.--Disappo...

When we were through with the quarantine, we hauled round into the great harbor of Malta. The city, which is called Valetta, made a most stately appearance as we passed the cast...

_My uncle’s influence.--The influence of the tavern.--State of society forty years ago.--Liquor opposed to education.--The church and the tavern.--The country schoolhouse.--Book...

Our vessel landed her cargo at Malta, and then took in ballast and sailed for Palermo, in Sicily, to load with fruit. I preferred to cross immediately over to Syracuse, and take...

_The West Indies continued.--Discovery of Hayti.--Generosity of the Cacique.--Testimony of Columbus in favor with the Indians.--Character of the natives.--Columbus erects a cros...

It is a common remark that youth is the happiest portion of life, but, like many other wise and deep sayings, it passes by us unheeded, till, at some late period in the great jo...

Columbus discovered the islands of the Caribs during his second voyage to America, in 1493. The first island he saw he named Dominico, because he discovered it on Sunday. As the...

The Siberian Sable-hunter, 1, 33, 69, 103, 156 The Wolf that pretended to be robbed, 7 Beware of Impatience, 8 Travels, Adventures, and Experiences of Thomas Trotter, 8, 44, 74,...

In the northern part of Asia, there is a vast country called Siberia. It is nearly destitute of mountains, and consists of a great plain, stretching out to an immense extent, an...

_Journey to Mount Ætna.--Mule travelling.--Neglected state of the country.--Melilla, the town of honey.--Narrow escape of the author.--Prospect of Ætna.--A Sicilian village and...

Having rested our mules and munched a bit of dinner, we set out again, meaning to arrive at Catania before night. We passed by some beautiful green fields and groves of olives,...

_Discovery of the Pacific Ocean.--Plans of Columbus.--Avarice of the Spaniards.--Balboa.--Weighing the gold.--The young Indian’s speech.--Indian mode of fighting.--Balboa ascend...

In the last chapter I have given an account of a day in spring. I might now proceed to relate the adventures and amusements of a day in summer, then of autumn, and lastly of win...

It is the character of young people to engage in new enterprises with ardor: it was so with Alexis, in his fur-hunting expedition. For a time, indeed, after parting with his fat...

As Paul Raymond was one of the best friends I ever had, it is my desire to make my reader well acquainted with him. He was tall, thin, and bent over, his figure seeming to indic...

_Catania.--Description of the city.--Danger of its situation.--Beauty of the country.--Journey up Mount Ætna.--Great abundance of lava.--Nicolosi.--Visit to the crater of Monti...

By daylight the next morning we were up and pursuing our journey. The sky was clear, and the air exceedingly cold. After about an hour’s travelling, we got through the woods, an...

_Peru discovered by Francisco Pizarro.--He invites the Inca to visit him.--Description of the Inca.--Rejects the Bible.--Treacherously seized by Pizarro.--The Inca proposes to r...

The Peruvians have a tradition that the city of Cuzco was founded in this manner. The early inhabitants of the country were ignorant, and brutal as the wild beasts of the forest...

“There once lived in a village near London, a youth whom we will call R. His parents died when he was young, leaving him an ample estate. He was educated at one of the universit...

For several days the adventurers continued their journey, without encountering anything worthy of being recorded. It is true that an hour seldom passed in which thoughts, feelin...

_Descent into the crater of Mount Ætna.--Novel site for a house.--The great chesnut tree.--Return down the mountain.--Journey to Messina.--Beauty of the scenery.--Sicilian spinn...

_A wedding party.--Strange ignorance of the Sicilians.--The tavern at Giardini.--Ruins of Taormina.--Remarkable theatre.--Cities on mountain-tops.--Cliffs covered with goats.--O...

It might seem that, under the circumstances described, Emilie would have been surprised and alarmed as the dark figure emerged from the shadow of the rock, and stood forth in th...

“It was several hours after his arrival at the city before R. had fully recovered his senses. When he was completely restored, and began to make inquiries, he found that all his...

The morning after the events detailed in the last chapter, was one of deep interest to the people of Fredonia. Brusque, in connection with others, had taken pains to call a meet...

The long story of Linsk being finished, Alexis remarked that, although it was not the best he had heard in his life, he was still obliged, for he had never heard a Samoide tale...

_Character of the Indians.--Employed in the mines.--Story of a pickaxe.--Mr. Temple’s conduct considered.--Humanity of the Indians to him.--His reflections.--Dress of the Indian...

Scarcely had these events transpired when Rogere issued an order for all the men of the island to come forthwith before him, and acknowledge their allegiance to him; that is, to...

The conquest of Peru by Francis Pizarro, has been already recorded. Among the officers who assisted in the conquest, was Diego Almagro--a chosen friend and fit companion for the...

_Messina.--Trade of the place.--The Fata Morgana.--Embark for Naples.--The Sicilian pilot.--The Faro of Messina.--Scylla and Charybdis.--Exaggerations of the ancient writers.--...

_A calm among the Lipari islands.--Manners of the crew.--Stromboli.--A natural lighthouse.--A gale of wind.--Fright of the crew and danger of the vessel.--Loss of the topmasts,...

In my last chapter I concluded the story which Raymond told me, and which I entitled the “School of Misfortune.” At the time, I supposed he only related it for my amusement, but...

Having taken leave of their Tungusian friends, the travellers proceeded on their journey, hoping, before many days, to reach Yakootsk--a large town on the Lena, and the great fu...

_Second attempt against Chili.--Valdivia reaches Mapocho.--Founds the city of St. Jago.--Temper of the natives.--Terrible battle.--Sends to Peru for help.--Officers taken.--Thei...

The word _auca_ signifies _free_; and the Araucanians pride themselves on their liberty and independence. They possess great strength of constitution, and enjoy their health and...

In about two months after my accident, I rose from the sick bed, and was permitted to walk abroad. Although it was autumn, and the sere and yellow leaves were now nearly stript...