This eBook was edited by Charles Aldarondo (www.aldarondo.net).

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF MAJ. ROGER SHERMAN POTTER:

TOGETHER WITH AN ACCURATE AND EXCEEDINGLY INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF HIS GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS IN POLITICS, DIPLOMACY, AND WAR,--ALL OF WHICH ARE HERE RECORDED OUT OF SHEER LOVE FOR THE MARTIAL SPIRIT OF THIS TRULY AMBITIOUS NATION.

I HERE DECLARE THAT THIS GREAT WORK WAS NEITHER TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, NOR PRIGGED FROM THE UNPUBLISHED WORK OF ANY ENGLISH AUTHOR, BUT WAS TRULY AND HONESTLY WRITTEN FOR THE ESPECIAL BENEFIT OF MY PUBLISHER.

BY PHELEG VAN TRUSEDALE, WHO, WITHOUT ASKING PERMISSION, RESPECTFULLY DEDICATES IT TO HIS FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR, JAMES BUCHANAN, PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES.

NEW YORK:

1858.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

IF the reader will but pay attention to what I have written in this great work, it will be found that I have taken an unwarrantable liberty with his good taste; that is to say, I have so far deviated from that stereotyped rule-so strictly observed by all our great authors-as to make my hero, who is what is curiously enough called a "Yankee Character," speak tolerably good English, instead of vulgar slang. In truth, so closely do "our great writers" adhere to this rule of depicting the eccentric American as a lean, scraggy individual, dressed most outlandishly, making splinters of the king's English, while drawling it with offensive nasal sounds, and violating the rules of common politeness in whatever he does, that when he goes abroad the foreigner is surprised to find him a tolerably well polished gentleman, and indeed not unfrequently inquires what part of our country those lean persons he has seen described in the books of American authors reside in.

Let this preface then suffice, for if any one of my many readers think he can write a better--and I doubt not he can-let him set about it, and not stop until he get it exactly to his fancy. But before he say one word against aught that is herein written, let him bear in mind that I am the author of not less than a stack of great histories, which have already so multiplied my literary fame, that the mere announcement of another book by me sends that only great and generous critic, the public at large, into a perfect fever of anxiety.

PHELEG VAN TRUSEDALE.

New York, Nov., 1857.

CONTENTS.

1.--A Chapter Wherein those Having a Taste for Nonsense may find It

2.--Containing Sundry Matters of Deep Interest

3.--A Pleasant Meeting with a Renowned Major

4.--Major Roger Sherman Potter Recounts his Exploits in War and Politics

5.--In which Politicians and Other Vagabonds may find Something to Their Advantage

6.--Major Roger Potter's First Adventure in New York

7.--The Pleasant Side of a Misfortune

8.--Meeting Between the Renowned Major and an Eccentric Fishmonger

9.--How the Renowned Major Exchanged Chickens with Mrs. Trotbridge

10.--The Kindness of Mine Host of the Astor

11.--Wonderful Story of an Intelligent

12.--Concerning Matters Necessary to the Perfection of This History

13.--The Two Strange Characters at the Independent Temperance Hotel

14.--A whole Town in a State of Alarm

15.--An Amusing Meeting between Major Roger Potter and his Wife, Polly Potter

16.--Many Queer and Deeply Interesting Things which took place When Major Potter arrived at Barnstable

17.--A Man of the Name of Giles Sheridan

18.--Which Relates how Major Roger Potter Sailed for New York, to the Great Delight of Little Barnstable

19.--The Most Pleasant and Satisfactory Mode of Displaying Courage and Military Skill

20.--A Mistake that had Nearly Cost Major Potter his Life

21.--The Happiest Way of Settling a Difference

22.--The Least Expensive Way of Manufacturing Heroes

23.--Which Treats of a Party of Yachters Met on the Sound

24.--A Remarkable Interview between the Renowned Major Roger Potter