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Dying words (Hume, Hist. of Engl.) See In manus, Domine &c., and For the name of Jesus &c.

I once ate a pea.

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"BEAU BRUMMEL (1778-1840) -when asked if he never ate vegetables.

I only regret that I have but one life to give to my country. NATHAN HALE (1755-76) American patriot, executed as a spy-Dying words.

I praise God, I am willing to leave it, and expect a betterthat world wherein dwelleth righteousness, and I long for it.

SIR HENRY WOTTON (1568-1639) -Last words. Preceded by: "I now draw near to the harbour of death-that harbour that will rescue me from all the future storms and waves of this restless world."

I pray God to spare my friends

from a similar clemency.

SIR THOMAS MORE (1480-1535)— when told that the sentence of death pronounced upon him had been changed to one of simple decapitation, by clemency of the king. Another version is: "God preserve all my friends from such favours." I pray you all pray for me.

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1801, on a signal being made to him to leave off action, putting his glass to his blind eye. Preceded by: "Leave off action? Now, damn me if I do! You know, Foley," turning to the Captain, "I have only one eye,-I have a right to be blind sometimes." (Southey, Life of Nelson, ed. 1888, p. 279).

I regret nothing, but am sorry that I am about to leave my friends.

ZACHARY TAYLOR (1784-1850) -Last words. Preceded by: "I am about to die. I expect the summons soon. I have endeavoured to discharge all my official duties faithfully.'

Ireland is in a state of social decomposition.

BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of Beaconsfield] (1804-81)--in a speech in the House of Commons, July 2, 1849. Cf.:

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." (Shakspere, Hamlet, act 1, SC. 4, l. 90.)

I resign my spirit to God, my daughter to my country. THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826) -Last words.

I sat by its cradle, I followed its hearse.

HENRY GRATTAN (1750-1820)-referring to the rise of Irish independence in 1782 and its fall 20 years later.

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99)-Last words (New York Times, Dec. 23, 1899).

I see no reason why the existence of Harriet Martineau should be perpetuated.

HARRIET MARTINEAU (1802-76) -Last words. Preceded by: "I have had a noble share of life, and I do not ask for any other life."

I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness-satisfied!

CHARLES WESLEY (1708-88)— Last words.

I shall retire early; I am very tired.

THOMAS BABINGTON, LORD MACAULAY (1800-59)—Last words; to his butler.

I shall soon know the grand

secret.

ARTHUR THISTLEWOOD (17701820,-Dying words, at his execution for high treason, May 1, 1820. (Annual Register). See Je vais quérir un grand peut-être.

I should like to record the thoughts of a dying man for the benefit of science, but it is impossible.

DR. GEORGE MILLER BEARD (1839-83)-Last words. See I wish I had the power of writing &c. I should not be a better king, however splendidly I was dressed.

EDWARD I (1239-1307).

Is Lawrence come-is Lawrence come ?

JOHN HENRY FUSELI (c. 17421825)-Last words; alluding to his friend. (Life of Fuseli)

Is that you, Dora ?

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (17701850)-Last words. (Memoirs of Wordsworth, vol. ii, p. 506.)

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COMMODORE ISAAC HULL (17751843)-Last words.

I succeed him; no one could replace him.

THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826) -Reply, when asked by the Comte de Vergennes if he replaced Mr. Franklin.

It came with a lass, and it will go with a lass.

JAMES V. of Scotland (1512-42) -Last recorded words, referring to the Scottish crown. Hume's version is: "The crown came with a woman, and it will go with one." (Hist. of Engl.)

It grows dark, boys: you may go.

DR. ALEXANDER ADAM, Head Master, High School, Edinburgh (1741-1809) Last words.

I thank you for all your faithful

services; God bless you. WILLIAM BROMLEY CADOGAN (1751-97)-Last words, to an old

servant.

It has all the contortions of the

sibyl, without the inspiration. EDMUND BURKE (1729-97)—referring to Croft's Life of Dr. Young, which was spoken of as a good imitation of Dr. Johnson's style. "No, no," said he, "it is not a good imitation of Johnson; it has all his pomp without his force; it has all the nodosities of the oak, without its strength; it &c. (Prior's Life of Burke, p. 468.)

It hath been said, that an unjust Peace is to be prefer'd before a just War.

SAMUEL BUTLER (1612-80) (Two Speeches made in the Rump Parliament, 1659-Butler's Remains, 1759, vol. 1, p. 284). Followed by: "because the Safety of the People, the End of all Government, is more concerned in the one than the other. Cf. There never was a good war or a bad peace (B. Franklin, Letter to Quincy, Sep. 11, 1773).

I think I shall die to-night.

DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI (182882)-Last words.

I think it would, madam-for a toad.

DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON (170984) on a lady showing him a grotto she had made and asking him if it would not be a cool habitation in summer.

I think the author who speaks about his own books is almost as bad as a mother

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BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of Beaconsfield] (1804-81)—in a speech at Glasgow, Nov. 19, 1870.

I think you had better send for the doctor-I am so faint. JOHN SHERMAN (1823-1900)— Last words.

It is a difficult task to lead the House of Commons, a more difficult one to manage a Cabinet Council; but to lead an army in the field must be the most difficult of all.

W. E. GLADSTONE (1809-98)--in later life. Sir W. Reid's Life, 1899, pp. 479-80).

It is all the same in the end.

TITUS OATES (1620-1705)—Last words.

It is a very easy thing to devise good laws the difficulty is to make them effective. VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE (16781751).

It is beautiful.

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING (1805-61)-Last words.

It is better to wear out than to rust out.

BISHOP CUMBERLAND (16321718)-see Richard Sharp, Letters and Essays. p. 29. Cf. "Horrible as it is to us I imagine that the manner of his [General Gordon's] death was not unwelcome to him self. Better wear cut than rust out, and better break than wear out." Huxley, Letter to Sir J. Donnelly, 16th Feb. 1885 (Life and Letters, 1900, vol. ii, p. 95). It is done.

HORACE GREELEY (1811-72)—Last words.

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JAMES HOGG, "the Ettrick Shepherd" (1772-1835)-Last words; to his wife, whom he had asked to watch by his bedside during the night.

It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.

BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of BEACONSFIELD] (1804-81)- in the debate on the Queen's Speech, Jan. 24, 1860) Cf. "La critique est aisée et l'art est difficile" ("Criticism is easy and art difficult.")-NéricaultDestouches, Le Glorieux, act. ii, sc. 5.

It is not best to swap horses when crossing a stream. ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-65) -on being re-nominated to the Presidency of the United States, June 9, 1864. He said, "I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in this country; but I am reminded in this connection of the story of an old Dutch fariner, who remarked that it was not best to swap horses when crossing a stream.'

It is not that women are not often

very clever (cleverer than many men), but there is a point of excellence which they never reach.

JAMES NORTHCOTE, R.A. (17461831).

It is not the first time they have

turned their backs upon me. DUKE OF WELLINGTON (17691852) to Louis XVIII, on the latter apologising to him for the French marshals turning their backs on him and leaving the king's levée. Preceded by: "Don't distress yourself, sire, it is not" &c.

It is small, very small indeed.

ANNE BOLEYN (1507-36) wife of Henry VIII-Last words, just before being beheaded, alluding to her neck, which she clasped with her hands when speaking.

It is still our duty to fight for our country, into what hands soever the government might fall.

ADMIRAL ROBERT BLAKE (15981657)-to his seamen. After the victory of Santa Cruz, April 20, 1657, being ill with dropsy and scurvy, he hastened home, but died in sight of land, off Plymouth, Aug. 17, 1657. (Hume, Hist. of Engl.) It is the custom here for but one man to be allowed to stand covered.

CHARLES II, (1630-85)—at the same time removing his hat while William Penn, the Quaker, remained covered. Penn said, "Friend Charles, keep thy hat on." Another version is: "Friend Penn, it is the custom of this court for only one person to be covered at a time." (Percy Anecdotes, vol. vi, P. 331)

It is the day of no judgment

that I am afraid of.

EDMUND BURKE (1729-97)— Reply to William Pitt, who had said in 1791, speaking of French affairs, that England and the British Constitution were safe until the day of judgment.

It is the duty of a minister to stand like a wall of adamant between the people and the sovereign.

RT. HON. W. E. GLADSTONE (1809-81)-in a speech at Garston, Nov. 14, 1868.

It is warm work, and this day may be the last to any of us at a moment.

LORD NELSON (1758-1805)—at

the Battle of Copenhagen (April 2, 1801). He added But, mark you! I would not be elsewhere for thousands." (Southey, Life of Nelson, ed. 1888, p. 278) See Hard pounding &c. It is well.

GEORGE WASHINGTON, first President of the U.S. (1732-99)— Last words. Washington had said to his secretary, Mr. Lear, "I am just going; have me decently buried, and do not let my body be put into the vault until three days after I am dead-do you understand me?" On receiving Mr. Lear's reply that he did, Washington added. "It is well."

It is well known what a middleman is he is a man who bamboozles one party and plunders the other.

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BENJAMIN DISRAELI [Earl of Beaconsfield] (1804 81)--on the proposed increased grant to Maynooth College, April 11, 1845. Preceded by: Something has risen up in this country as fatal in the political world as it has been in the landed world of Ireland-we have a great Parliamentary middleman;" and followed by: "till having obtained a position to which he is not entitled, he cries out, 'Let us have no party questions, but a fixity of tenure.""

It matters little to me; for if I am but once dead they may bury me or not bury me as as they please. They may leave my corpse to rot where I die if they wish.

GEORGE BUCHANAN (1506-82)Last words; to his servant, who asked who would defray the expenses of his burial.

It matters not where I am going whether the weather be cold or hot.

LORD CHANCELLOR JOHN SCOTT ELDON (1750-1838)-Last words; to someone who spoke to him about the weather.

It was a great day for England.

WILLIAM IV (1765-1837)—Last words, on hearing the cannons firing on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

It was not British blood which had been spilt, but it was British honour that bled at every vein.

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN (1751-80)-in the House of Commons, Oct. 29, 1795, alluding to the conduct of Commodore Warren at Quiberon, Oct. 27, 1795. Preceded by: " it was true, the blood of French emigrants only had flowed-it was not British blood

etc. (Speeches of Sheridan, 1816, vol. iv, pp. 106-7)

It will be but a momentary pang.

MAJOR JOHN ANDRÉ (1751-80)—— Last words before being shot as a spy, Oct. 2, 1780, during the American Revolution. Preceded by: "All I request of you, gentlemen, is that you will bear witness to the world that I die like a brave man." These are sometimes quoted as his last words. Another account "But I pray you to bear witness that I die like a soldier." (Percy Anecdotes, vol. 2, p. 161) I want, oh, you know what I mean the stuff of life. BAYARD TAYLOR (1825-78)— Last words.

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