OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# The Annotated 'Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes'/Dedication

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My Dear Sidney Colvin,
The journey which this little book is to describe was very agreeable and fortunate for me. After an uncouth beginning, I had the best of luck to the end. But we are all travellers in what John Bunyan calls the wilderness of this world—all, too, travellers with a donkey: and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend. He is a fortunate voyager who finds many. We travel, indeed, to find them. They are the end and the reward of life. They keep us worthy of ourselves; and when we are alone, we are only nearer to the absent.
Every book is, in an intimate sense, a circular letter to the friends of him who writes it. They alone take his meaning; they find private messages, assurances of love, and expressions of gratitude, dropped for them in every corner. The public is but a generous patron who defrays the postage. Yet though the letter is directed to all, we have an old and kindly custom of addressing it on the outside to one. Of what shall a man be proud, if he is not proud of his friends? And so, my dear Sidney Colvin, it is with pride that I sign myself affectionately yours,
R. L. S.

## Notes

* ↑ Sidney Colvin .. Sir Sidney Colvin (1845-1927) an established "man of letters" and friend who helped the young Stevenson with introductions to editors, “who were glad, of course,” notes that gentleman, “to welcome so promising a recruit.” At the time Stevenson was thrilled to have an important literary person to help and guide him, but Sidney today is probably most famous as the friend of RLS.
* ↑ wilderness of this world .. The opening sentence to Puritan writer John Bunyan's (1628-1688) The Pilgrim's Progress (1678) "As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where there was a Den, and I laid me down in that place to sleep". The poem is an allegorical journey walking past temptations of the material world to find salvation in the spiritual.
The Annotated 'Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes'
# The American Democrat/On the Advantages of a Monarchy

ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A MONARCHY.
The monarchical form of government has the advantages of energy for external purposes, as well as of simplicity in execution. It is prompt and efficient in attack. Its legislation is ready, emanating from a single will, and it has the means of respecting treaties with more fidelity than other systems.
As laws are framed on general principles, they sometimes work evil in particular cases, and in a government of the will, the remedy is applied with more facility than in a government of law.
In a monarchy, men are ruled without their own agency, and as their time is not required for the supervision or choice of the public agents, or the enactment of laws, their attention may be exclusively given to their personal interests. Could this advantage be enjoyed without the abuses of such a state of things, it would alone suffice to render this form of government preferable to all others, since contact with the affairs of state is one of the most corrupting of the influences to which men are exposed.
As a monarchy recedes from absolutism, and takes the character of constitutionality, it looses these advantages to a certain extent, assuming more of those of legality.
# The American Democrat/On Slavery in the District of Columbia

ON SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Congress having all power to legislate for the District of Columbia, there can be no reasonable doubt of its power to legislate on slavery, as well as any other interest, under the limits of the constitution. A plausible question might even be raised whether the ordinary restrictions of the constitution apply at all to the legislation of the District, and whether the powers of congress over this particular portion of the country, are not as absolute as the powers of parliament in Great Britain.
Still the legislation for the District, in principle, depends on that general rule which ought to guide all just legislators. To pretend that a member of congress from Vermont, or a member of congress from Louisiana, is to respect the opinions of his own immediate constituents, in legislating especially for the District of Columbia, is like pretending that the emperor of Austria, who is equally sovereign of both countries, should consult the interests of the people of the kingdom of Bohemia, in establishing laws for the kingdom of Hungary. The relation between the constituent of the member and the District, is altogether anomalous, and, on no just principle, can be made to extend to this absolute control.
​All legislation that is especially intended for the District, should keep the interests of the District alone in view, subject to the great reasons for which this territory was formed, and to the general principles of morality. So far as any influence beyond that of the District is concerned, on the question of slavery, this legislation should be more in the interest of the slave-holding states, than in the interests of the non-slave-holding states, as with the latter it is purely a negative question, whereas, with the former, it has a positive affirmative connection with their immediate interests, in more senses than one. Thus the slave-holder has a claim to be able to visit the seat of government, attended by his body servants, and this, too, without incurring any unpleasant risks of their loss merely to satisfy the abstract notions of right of the citizens of the non-slave-holding states. This claim may not be so great as to over-shadow those of the inhabitants of the District itself, should they demand a law for the emancipation of their slaves, but is quite great enough to overshadow the negative interests of the resident of a non-slave-holding state.
In the management of this interest, in general, it ought to be remembered, that to the citizen of the non-slave-holding state, slavery offers little more than a question of abstract principles, while to the citizen of the slave-holding state it offers a question of the highest practical importance, and one that, mis-managed, might entirely subvert the order of his social organization.
# The American Democrat/On Slavery

ON SLAVERY.
Domestic slavery is an institution as old as human annals, and probably will continue, in its spirit, through different modifications, as long as man shall remain under the different degrees of civilization that mark his actual existence. Slavery is no more sinful, by the christian code, than it is sinful to wear a whole coat, while another is in tatters, to eat a better meal than a neighbor, or otherwise to enjoy ease and plenty, while our fellow creatures are suffering and in want. According to the doctrines of Christ, we are "to do as we would be done by," but this law is not to be applied to slavery more than to any other interest of life. It is quite possible to be an excellent christian and a slave holder, and the relations of master and ​slave, may be a means of exhibiting some of the mildest graces of the character, as may those of king and subject, or principal and dependant, in any of the other modifications of human institutions.
In one sense, slavery may actually benefit a man, there being little doubt that the African is, in nearly all respects, better off in servitude in this country, than when living in a state of barbarism at home.
But, while slavery, in the abstract, can no more be considered a sin, than most human ordinances, it leads to sin in its consequences, in a way peculiarly its own, and may be set down as an impolitic and vicious institution. It encourages those faults of character that depend on an uncontrolled will, on the one side, and an abject submission, on the other. It usually limits the moral existence of the slave, too, as there is a necessity of keeping him ignorant, in order that he may be held in subjection.
Slavery is of two kinds; one in which the slave is a chattel, and can be disposed of as such, and one in which he is attached to the soil, like a fixture, and can only be sold with the land. The former is the condition of the American slave; the latter the condition of the European serf. All Europe, formerly, had serfs, or slaves, of the latter class, though their existence is now confined to a few countries in the north and east of that quarter of the world. Still, the consequences of the old system are, more or less, to be traced, in most European countries, and, though differing in degree, their people may as fairly be termed slaves in principle, as those of our own southern states.
# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/An Epistle of Martin Meyre to Æneas Sylvius, translated into English, the Latin whereof is extant in the former Edition of this Book

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From Hasthaffenberg, the last day of August.
The authority of the council of Basil.Concerning the authority of this general council of Basil, what is to be esteemed of it, by the acts and fruits thereof, may be understood of all good men. Neither was it of any man doubted in the first beginning, so long as the pope agreed and consented unto it. But, after the pope began to draw back, many others followed, especially of the richer sort of prelates, who had any thing to lose; whereof sufficiently hath been said by Arelatensis, the cardinal, before. In the number of these inconstant prelates, besides many others, was first, cardinal Julian, the first collector of this council, and ​vicegerent of the pope, as by his fervent and vehement letter, written to pope Eugene in defence of this council, may well appear; wherein he most earnestly doth expostulate with the foresaid pope Eugene, for seeking to dissolve the council, and declareth in the same many causes, why he should rather rejoice, and give God thanks for the godly proceedings and joyftd agreement between the council and the Bohemians; and so exhortcth him, with manifold persuasions, to resort to the council himself, and not to seek the dissolution of the same. The copy and tenor of Julian's epistle to the pope, if any be disposed to peruse the same, we thought here good to set down to be seen.
* ↑ Ex Orth. Grat. [The Latin will be given in the Appendix.—Ed.]
* ↑ "By what means," &c.; "by what means the flames of fire may be resisted." See Edition 1563, p. 346. "Quibus repagulis fluminis impetus coerceri possit." Ib. p. 345. The date 1457 is attached both to the Latin and English copy of this letter in the above edition.—Ed.]
# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/An Epistle of John Huss to his Friends, wherein he declareth why God suffereth not his to perish

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# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/Another Letter of John Huss to his Benefactors

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Another Letter of John Huss to his Benefactors.
# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/Another Letter of John Huss to his Friends, wherein he confirmeth the Bohemians, and describeth the wickedness of that Council

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​Another Letter of John Huss to his Friends, wherein he confirmeth the Bohemians, and describeth the wickedness of that Council.
When I stood first to answer before mine adversaries, seeing all things there done with no order, and hearing them also outrageously crying out, I said plainly unto them, that I looked for more honest behaviour, and better order and discipline, in that council. Then the chief cardinal answered: 'Sayest thou so? but in the tower thou spakest more modestly.' To whom said I: 'In the tower no man cried out against me, whereas now all do rage against me.' John Huss seemeth to prophesy of the council, as it came to pass. The council afraid to be tried by the Scriptures.My faithful and beloved in Christ, be not afraid with their sentence in condemning my books. They shall be scattered hither and thither abroad, like light butterflies, and their statutes shall endure as spider-webs. They went about to shake my constancy from the verity of Christ; but they could not overcome the virtue of God in me. They would not reason with the Scripture against me, as divers honourable lords can witness with me, who being ready to suffer contumely for the truth of God, took my part stoutly; namely, lord Wenceslaus de Duba, and lord John de Clum: for they were let in by king Sigismund into the council. And when I said, that I was desirous to be instructed if I did in any thing err, then they heard the chief cardinal answer again: 'Because thou wouldest be informed, there is no remedy but that thou must first revoke thy doctrine, according to the determination of fifty bachelors of divinity appointed.' O high instruction!
Written at Constance after the feast of John Baptist, in prison and in bands, daily looking for death; although for the secret judgments of God, I dare not say whether this be my last epistle: for now also Almighty God is able to deliver me.
# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/Another Letter of John Huss to his Friends, wherein he rehearseth what Injuries he received of the Council, and of the Deputies

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Item, If the king do ask, who ought to be my judge, since that the council neither did call me, nor did cite me, neither was I ever accused before the council, and yet the council hath imprisoned me, and hath appointed their proctor against me.
Item, I desire you, right noble and gracious lord John! if audience shall be given me, that the king will be there present himself, and that I may have a place appointed near unto him, that he may hear me well, and understand what I say; and that you also, with the lord Henry, and with lord Wincelaus and other nobles, if you may, will be present, and hear what the Lord Jesus Christ, my procurator and advocate, and most gracious judge, will put in my mouth to speak; that whether I live or die, you may be true and upright witnesses with me, lest lying lips shall say hereafter that I swerved away from the truth which I have preached.
Item, Know you that, before witnesses and notaries in prison, I desire the commissioners, that they would depute unto me a proctor and an advocate, who promised so to do, and afterwards would not perform it. Wherefore I have committed myself to the Lord Jesus Christ, that he will be my procurator and advocate, and judge of my cause.
Item, Know you, that they have, as I suppose, no other quarrel against me, but only this, that I stood against the pope's bull, which pope John sent down to Bohemia, to sanctify war with the sign of the cross and full remission of sins to all those who would take the holy cross, to fight for the patrimony of the Romish church against Ladislaus, king of Naples; and they have mine own writing which was read against me, and I do acknowledge it to be mine. Secondly, they have also against me, that I have continued so long in excommunication, and yet did take upon me to minister in the church, and say mass. Thirdly they have against me, because I did appeal from the pope to Christ. For they read my appeal before me, which with a willing mind, smiling, I confessed before them all to be mine. Fourthly, because I left a certain letter behind me, which was read in the church of Bethlehem, which letter my adversaries have very evil-favouredly translated, and sinisterly expounded, in which I did write that I went out with a safe-conduct. Whereunto you yourselves can say and bear me record, that I, in my going out, had no safe-conduct of the pope, neither yet did I know whether you should go out with me, when I wrote that letter.
* ↑ He meaneth, belike, that he should move the king in these matters contained in this epistle.
* ↑ See page 310.—Ed.
# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/An Instrument of Testimonial, how Master Huss and his Procurer were denied entrance into the public Procuration, celebrated and holden in the Archbishop's Court

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And these were the things which were done before John Huss took his journey to the general council of Constance, the which I minded briefly to rehearse; whereunto I will also annex somewhat as touching his journey thitherwards.
John Huss taketh his journey to Constance.About the ides of October, 1414, John Huss being accompanied with two noble gentlemen, that is to wit, Wencelate of Duba, John of Chlum, he departed from Prague, and took his journey towards Constance. And in every place as he passed, he notified his presence by his letters which he sent abroad, and especially in every good town, or city of name; the tenor whereof ensueth:
* ↑ This instrument of testimonial is introduced from the Edition of 1563, p. 196.—Ed.
* ↑ "Litomistens." Leutomischl, or Litomysl. A manufacturing town in Bohemia, formerly a bishop's see.—Ed.
# The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/An Epistle of Æneas Sylvius to the Rector of the University of Cologne, in defence of the Council of Basil

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An Epistle of Æneas Sylvius to the Rector of the University of Cologne, in defence of the Council of Basil.
*But, as our common proverb sayeth, "Honours change manners," so it happened with this Sylvius, who, after he came once to be pope, was much altered from what he was before. For whereas before, he preferred general councils before the pope, now, being pope, he did decree that no man should appeal from the high bishop of Rome, to any general council.
And likewise for priests' marriages; whereas before he thought it best for them to have their wives, likewise he altered his mind otherwise: insomuch that in his book treating of Germany, and there speaking of the noble city of Augsburg, by occasion he inveigheth against a certain epistle of Huldericke, a bishop of the said city, written against the constitution of the single life of priests. Whereby it appeareth how the mind of this Sylvius, then pope Pius, was altered from what it was before.*
* ↑ See Edition 1563, p. 381.—Ed.
* ↑ For this epistle of Huldericke, see Vol. ii. p. 11.—Ed.
# The Art of War (Giles)/Variation in Tactics

VIII Variation in Tactics
1. Sun Tzu said: In war, the general receives his commands from the sovereign, collects his army and concentrates his forces.
2. When in difficult country, do not encamp. In country where high roads intersect, join hands with your allies. Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions. In hemmed-in situations, you must resort to stratagem. In desperate position, you must fight.
3. There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must be not attacked, towns which must be besieged, positions which must not be contested, commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.
4. The general who thoroughly understands the advantages that accompany variation of tactics knows how to handle his troops.
5. The general who does not understand these, may be well acquainted with the configuration of the country, yet he will not be able to turn his knowledge to practical account. ​
6. So, the student of war who is unversed in the art of war of varying his plans, even though he be acquainted with the Five Advantages, will fail to make the best use of his men.
7. Hence in the wise leader’s plans, considerations of advantage and of disadvantage will be blended together.
8. If our expectation of advantage be tempered in this way, we may succeed in accomplishing the essential part of our schemes.
9. If, on the other hand, in the midst of difficulties we are always ready to seize an advantage, we may extricate ourselves from misfortune.
10. Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; and make trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged; hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point.
11. The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.
12. There are five dangerous faults which may affect a general: (1) Recklessness, which leads to destruction; ​
(2) cowardice, which leads to capture; (3) a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults; (4) a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame; (5) over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.
13. These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to the conduct of war.
14. When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will surely be found among these five dangerous faults. Let them be a subject of meditation.
# The Art of War (Giles)/Tactical dispositions

IV Tactical Dispositions
1. Sun Tzu said: The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.
2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
3. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
4. Hence the saying: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.
5. Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive.
6. Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.
7. The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete. ​
8. To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.
9. Neither is it the acme of excellence if you fight and conquer and the whole Empire says, “Well done!”
10. To lift an autumn hair is no sign of great strength; to see the sun and moon is no sign of sharp sight; to hear the noise of thunder is no sign of a quick ear.
11. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.
12. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.
13. He wins his battles by making no mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.
14. Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy.
15. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. ​
16. The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.
17. In respect of military method, we have, firstly, Measurement; secondly, Estimation of quantity; thirdly, Calculation; fourthly, Balancing of chances; fifthly, Victory.
18. Measurement owes its existence to Earth; Estimation of quantity to Measurement; Calculation to Estimation of quantity; Balancing of chances to Calculation; and Victory to Balancing of chances.
19. A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound’s weight placed in the scale against a single grain.
20. The onrush of a conquering force is like the bursting of pent-up waters into a chasm a thousand fathoms deep.