«История Генри Эсмонда» на английском языке

The estate of Castlewood, in Virginia, which was given to our ancestors byKing Charles the First, as some return for the sacrifices made in hisMajesty's cause by the Esmond family, lies in Westmoreland county, betweenthe rivers Potomac and Rappahannock, and was once as great as an EnglishPrincipality, though in the early times its revenues were but small.Indeed, for near eighty years after our forefathers possessed them, ourplantations were in the hands of factors, who enriched themselves oneafter another, though a few scores of hogsheads of tobacco were all theproduce that, for long after the Restoration, our family received fromtheir Virginian estates.

My dear and honored father, Colonel Henry Esmond, whose history, writtenby himself, is contained in the accompanying volume, came to Virginia inthe year 1718, built his house of Castlewood, and here permanentlysettled. After a long stormy life in England, he passed the remainder ofhis many years in peace and honor in this country; how beloved andrespected by all his fellow-citizens, how inexpressibly dear to hisfamily, I need not say. His whole life was a benefit to all who wereconnected with him. He gave the best example, the best advice, the mostbounteous hospitality to his friends; the tenderest care to hisdependants; and bestowed on those of his immediate family such a blessingof fatherly love and protection as can never be thought of, by us, atleast, without veneration and thankfulness; and my sons' children, whetherestablished here in our Republic, or at home in the always beloved mothercountry, from which our late quarrel hath separated us, may surely beproud to be descended from one who in all ways was so truly noble.

My dear mother died in 1736, soon after our return from England, whithermy parents took me for my education; and where I made the acquaintance ofMr. Warrington, whom my children never saw. When it pleased heaven, in thebloom of his youth, and after but a few months of a most happy union, toremove him from me, I owed my recovery from the grief which that calamitycaused me, mainly to my dearest father's tenderness, and then to theblessing vouchsafed to me in the birth of my two beloved boys. I know thefatal differences which separated them in politics never disunited theirhearts; and as I can love them both, whether wearing the King's colors orthe Republic's, I am sure that they love me and one another, and him aboveall, my father and theirs, the dearest friend of their childhood, thenoble gentleman who bred them from their infancy in the practice andknowledge of Truth, and Love and Honor.

My children will never forget the appearance and figure of their reveredgrandfather; and I wish I possessed the art of drawing (which my papa hadin perfection), so that I could leave to our descendants a portrait of onewho was so good and so respected. My father was of a dark complexion, witha very great forehead and dark hazel eyes, overhung by eyebrows whichremained black long after his hair was white. His nose was aquiline, hissmile extraordinary sweet. How well I remember it, and how little anydescription I can write can recall his image! He was of rather lowstature, not being above five feet seven inches in height; he used tolaugh at my sons, whom he called his crutches, and say they were grown tootall for him to lean upon. But small as he was, he had a perfect grace andmajesty of deportment, such as I have never seen in this country, exceptperhaps in our friend Mr. Washington, and commanded respect wherever heappeared.