This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834 edition. Excerpt: .people were indebted to the agency of a few individuals, and to no one of those, perhaps, more than to the subject of this memoir. In proportion to the importance that not only the condition of the then American colonies, but of the world gave to that event, may that of those individuals be considered, without whose efforts it might not have happened, and the interest which an American must feel in the knowledge of their history and peculiar characteristics.

Although it happens that those who have very imperfect claims to the consideration and esteem of the world, may sometimes by the mere force of their courage and physical powers, become the efficient instruments in accomplishing great and glorious deeds; yet when such individuals are endowed with faculties and dispositions adequate to high and exalted destinies, it is due to the dignity of man, as has hefore been observed, respectfully to appreciate and commemorate the distinctions, which nature has ordained. It is easy to conceive that the Power which controls the destinies of men, has conferred on each individual qualities suited to the part assigned to him on the stage of human life; and we may well suppose that the same Power will be exerted in preparing and preserving such faculties for the purposes they are intended. Every constituent of the physical nature (both as to its symmetry and physical strength) of Hewes, are evidently indicative of a capacity suited to daring and desperate enterprize, and the novel incident of his very infancy, in his controversy with his aunt, exhibited in him, at that early age, his correct views of the imporance of equal right and equal justice, and his unbending resolution and courage to correct what he considered the erroneous views of his aunt.