It was in the army to which bounties were thus given to privates, that the memorialists were officers; and gallant officers the history of that war amply proves they were. If the soldiers of that army and even the heirs of those who volunteered their services for a given and short period, but who were killed or died in service, had such large recognized claims on the bounty of the nation, it is not, … easily to be perceived why their officers, … have not claims equally strong.

O purblind race of miserable men, / How many among us at this very hour / Do forge a life-long trouble for ourselves. / By taking true for false, or false for true.

No, we scorn to be pure rogues, but if you come to our libken, or our stalling-ken, you shall find neither him nor me a queer cuffin.

to graze one's knee