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 HISGREAT ACHIEVEMENTS IN POLITICS, DIPLOMACY, AND WAR,—ALL OF WHICH AREHERE RECORDED OUT OF SHEER LOVE FOR THE MARTIAL SPIRIT OF THIS TRULYAMBITIOUS NATION.

I HERE DECLARE THAT THIS GREAT WORK WAS NEITHER TRANSLATED FROM THEFRENCH, NOR PRIGGED FROM THE UNPUBLISHED WORK OF ANY ENGLISH AUTHOR,BUT WAS TRULY AND HONESTLY WRITTEN FOR THE ESPECIAL BENEFIT OF MYPUBLISHER.

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

NEW YORK:

1858.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

IF the reader will but pay attention to what I have written in thisgreat work, it will be found that I have taken an unwarrantableliberty with his good taste; that is to say, I have so far deviatedfrom that stereotyped rule-so strictly observed by all our greatauthors-as to make my hero, who is what is curiously enough called a"Yankee Character," speak tolerably good English, instead of vulgarslang. In truth, so closely do "our great writers" adhere to thisrule of depicting the eccentric American as a lean, scraggyindividual, dressed most outlandishly, making splinters of theking's English, while drawling it with offensive nasal sounds, andviolating the rules of common politeness in whatever he does, thatwhen he goes abroad the foreigner is surprised to find him atolerably well polished gentleman, and indeed not unfrequentlyinquires what part of our country those lean persons he has seendescribed in the books of American authors reside in.

Let this preface then suffice, for if any one of my many readersthink he can write a better—and I doubt not he can-let him setabout it, and not stop until he get it exactly to his fancy. Butbefore he say one word against aught that is herein written, let himbear in mind that I am the author of not less than a stack of greathistories, which have already so multiplied my literary fame, thatthe mere announcement of another book by me sends that only greatand generous critic, the public at large, into a perfect fever ofanxiety.

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 andPolitics

5.—In which Politicians and Other Vagabonds may find Something toTheir 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

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