Transcriber's Note

Simple typographical errors were corrected.

Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.

Page 64: The lower portion of the illustration "AN EARLY ADVERTISEMENT FOR McCORMICK'S PATENT VIRGINIA REAPER" was not readable in the source from which this eBook is derived.

Page 91: "Beverdy Johnson" corrected to "Reverdy Johnson."

Page 256: "see Blaine" corrected to "see Blame."

Cover revisions made by Transcriber and placed in the Public Domain.