18.Daniel Webster and the Bunker Hill Monument.Daniel Webster was born in New Hampshire in 1782.He was graduated at Dartmouth College，became a lawyer，and rose to high rank in political life.For many years he was senator from Massachusetts，and twice was secretary of state.He was one of the greatest constitutional lawyers and orators in our history.
19.To commemorate the battle，a granite monument has been erected on the hill where the Americans had their main defensive work.This obelisk is known as Bunker Hill Monument.
20.On the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill，June 17，1825，the cornerstone of the monument was laid with imposing ceremonies.The address was delivered by Daniel Webster，one of the most famous of our orators.To do honor to the occasion，a little band of the survivors of the battle had been collected，all now aged men.To them Webster turned in the course of his speech，and spoke as follows：
“Venerable men！you have come down to us from a former generation.Heaven has bounteously lengthened out your lives，that you might behold this joyous day.You are now where you stood fifty years ago，this very hour，with your brothers and your neighbors，shoulder to shoulder，in the strife of your country.Behold how altered！The same heavens are，indeed，over your heads；the same ocean rolls at your feet；but all else how changed！You hear now no roll of hostile cannon；you see no mixed volumes of smoke and flame rising from burning Charlestown.The ground strewed with dead and dying；the impetuous charge；the steady and successful repulse；the loud call to repeated assault；the summoning of al l that is manl y to repeated resistance；a thousand bosoms freely and fearlessly bared in an instant to whatever of terror there may be in war and deathall these you have witnessed，but you witness them no more.All is peace.The heights ofyonder metropolis，its towers androofs，which you then saw filled with
DANIEL WEBSTER
AT THE AGE OF SIXTYFOUR
wives and children，and countrymen in distress and terror，and looking with unutterable emotions for the issue of the combat，have presented you today with the sight of its whole happy population，come out to welcome and greet you with an universal jubilee.Yonder proud ships，by the felicity of position appropriately lying at the foot of this mount，and seeming fondly to cling around it，are not means of annoyance to you，but your country’s own means of distinction and defense.All is peace ；and God has granted you this sight of your country‘s happiness，ere you slumber in the grave forever.He has allowed you to behold and partake the rewards of your patriotic toils ；and he has allowed us，your sons and countrymen，to meet you here，and in the name of the present generation，in the name of your country，in the name of liberty，to thank you ！
“But，alas！you are not all here！Time and the sword have thinned your ranks.Prescott，Putnam，Stark，Brooks，Read，Pomeroy，Bridge！our eyes seek for you in vain amidst this broken band.You are gathered to your fathers，and live only to your country in her grateful remembrance，and your own bright example.But let us not too much grieve that you have met the common fate of men.You lived，at least，long enough to know that your work had been nobly and successfully accomplished.You lived to see your country’s independence established，and to sheathe your swords from war.On the light of Liberty you saw arise the light of Peace，like‘Another morn，Risen on midnoon；’
and the sky，on which you closed your eyes，was cloudless.”
21.Patrick Henry‘s Famous Speech.In the exciting days of the beginning of the American revolution the people of Virginia elected a convention to consider what was best for that old colony to do.In March，1775，only a few weeks before the battle of Lexington brought on the war，a debate was going on in the convention which seemed likely to result in no definite action being taken.This fired the spirit of Patrick Henry，and he offered resolutions providing that the colony should at once prepare for war.
BUNKER HILL MONUMENT
T h i s granite obelisk，221feet high，is erected on the spot where the battle was fought，June 17，1775.The cornerstone was laid June 17，1825，and the monument was dedicated June 17，1843.On each occasion Daniel Webster was the orator.
22.Patrick Henr y was born in Virginia，the son of a Scotchman，in 1736.His education was very scanty，and he began the practice of law after a preparation of only six weeks.But he had extraordinary natural powers of eloquence，and in speaking to his resolutions in the convention，he thrilled his audience with the speech which follows.One who was present says that when Henry took his seat “No murmur of applause was heard.The effect was too deep.After the trance of a moment，several members started from their seats.The cry，To arms！seemed to quiver on every lip，and gleam from every eye.They became impatient of speech.Their souls were on fire for action.”
23.This is the famous speech，w h i c h o v e r a n d a g a i n h a s b e e n declaimed by every generation of schoolboys since：
MR.PRESIDENT：It is natural
to man to indulge in the illusions of
Hope.We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth，and listen to the song of that siren，till she transforms us into beasts.Is this the part of wise men，engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty？Are we disposed to be of the number of those who，having eyes，see not，and having ears，hear not，the things which so nearly concern our temporal salvation？For my part，whatever anguish of spirit it may cost，I am willing to know the whole truth，to know the worst，and to provide for it！