Celebration in Baltimore of the Triumph of Liberty in France

Wirt, William, 1772-1834Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.6

Word count: 73K words
Chapters: 8

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Celebration in Baltimore of the Triumph of Liberty in France by William WirtAuthor: Wirt, William, 1772-1834,Language: English, Class: DC: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: France, Andorra, Monaco, Release Date: Feb 12, 2009

Editor's review

This is a public speech text of historical value, recording a gathering in Baltimore, USA, held to celebrate the progress of the ideals of liberty in the French Revolution. The author, William Wirt, was an important American lawyer and political figure from the late 18th to early 19th century, and his speech reflects the enthusiastic sympathy and republican sentiment toward the French Revolution in American society at the time. The text is not long, and its language carries distinct oratorical rhetorical features, making it suitable as primary material for studying early American political culture, transatlantic revolutionary interactions, and the tradition of public speech. For general readers, it is more a window into American public opinion at the end of the 18th century than a systematic historical work. When reading, it is advisable to understand its context in light of the timeline of the French Revolution and the partisan debates of the early American republic. Because it is a public-domain electronic text with limited edition information, it is recommended to use it together with relevant historical introductions or scholarly annotations to fill gaps in background knowledge.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars and students studying early American political history and the tradition of public speech
Modern history enthusiasts interested in the transnational reception of the French Revolution
Readers who need the original English speech text for linguistic or rhetorical analysis
Libraries and researchers collecting public-domain historical document ebooks

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers seeking a systematic general history of the French Revolution
General leisure readers who prefer modern vernacular or Chinese translations
Readers who find the long sentences of 18th-century English oratory difficult

Reading tips

First learn the basic course of the French Revolution after 1789 and the political divisions in the United States at the time, then read the main text.
Compare the rhetoric in the speech with contemporary American newspaper commentary to observe the wording and emotions of public opinion.
The English original is short; it is advisable to read it through once, mark key sentences, and then return to the historical background materials.
If used for academic citation, verify the page numbers and edition information of the Project Gutenberg electronic version.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is this text mainly about?

It is a record of a speech delivered by William Wirt at a gathering in Baltimore, on the theme of celebrating the progress of the cause of liberty in the French Revolution. The text reflects the sympathetic attitude of part of the American public toward the French Revolution at the time and is a political speech rather than a historical treatise.

What historical background is needed before reading?

It is best to first understand the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, the partisan divisions in the early American republic, and the different reactions of British and American public opinion to the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century. With this background, the rhetoric and stance in the speech will be easier to understand.

Is this a complete work or an excerpt?

According to the materials, this is a public-domain electronic text collected by Project Gutenberg, consisting of a record of a speech at a celebratory gathering and relatively short. The materials do not state whether it is the full text, so it is advisable to rely on the actual content of the electronic version and not assume it is a long treatise.

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About the author

Wirt, William, 1772-1834 Author · American · 1772–1834

William Wirt (1772–1834) was an American lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General. He was known for his eloquence as an orator and for his essay writing, earning repute in early American public life both in legal practice and in letters. One work of his is held in this collection, titled Celebration in Baltimore of the Triumph of Liberty in France; judging from its title, it is a commemorative address or occasional piece on the cause of liberty in France, echoing the attention that American society then paid to the French Revolution. Public information about the details of his life is limited, so no more is ventured here; his writing leans toward rhetoric and persuasive force, and is best understood within the tradition of oratory and the essay. Overall, Wirt's name is associated chiefly with the legal profession and public speaking; his works are few, yet they serve as a sample of the political sentiments and prose style of his era.