Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-09
G.gH%AGY oA1NTs
SATURDAY EVENING. SEPTEMBER o.
COMMENCEMENT WEEK.

have not been marked by any particular circum
Stances or by any incidents that entle them to thu
notice Of the community. The number Of stranger'
who are in the habit twisting on this occasion
| was unusually small, and general apathy seemed
to pervade the community in relation to the occa'
| sion.
| The exercises Of the Commencement Week, a.
the first seven days Of the month Of September have
been by custom donomnated, commenced on Tues
day last, when an Grafton was delivered by PETER
! PRATT ESQ. before the Phermenian Society, and
| which has been pronounced excellent by some, and
| quite good by others. We did not hear it, and OF
course can offer no opinion Of our On the same
day, and before the Society, Poem was deliv-
cred by the Rev. Mr.. DEANE, which did not, as we
understand, contain any particular marks Of poeti-
cal inspiration, and failed to elicit the applause
OF the literary Society before which it was rected.
| The speaking for the Alumni Prizes, on the same
evening" at the University Chapel, was very credit
table to the young gentlemen. The Medals for
| Defamation were very justly awarded to MIR.
| Thomas II. Hunter OF the Junior Class, and Mr..
| George w. Greene, ofthe Sophomore. The Prize
| Medals for Composition were awarded to MIR. Jo-
| seph Philips, oi the Junior Glass, and Mr. Saun-
ders P. Torrance, of:he Sophomore.
The medals were made by Mr.. Daniel Bowler,
an enterprisns yonng mechanic, ana do him
much credit. The value of the four was sixty dol
lars.
Wednesday was the annual Commencement Of
Brown University, and although no effort was want
ing the part of the present government, to call
in crowd, they failed to do so, and the day passed
off without any of those displays Of pomp, parade
anl circumstance observable previous occasions.
The defamation of the students in The morning,
we shall not notice any further than to remark.
that there evidences OF taste, genius aud
scholastic worth, displayed by the young gentlemen,
who for the first time appeared before their
countrymen for their appreciation and applause. 1t
is unnecessary, and it is certainly unknd, to be in
vidious occasions like this, when young men
upon their trial before their peers; and as we can
not conceive that any good could from the
preston of our opinions relative to these perform
ances-and our opinions might be at war with
those of others--we shall not point to those who
excelled or to those who failed.
II was evident that every one made an effort to
please and if they did not all succeed, it is not to
be wondered at, when il is known thai they appear
ed before the public under every possible dsadvan-
tage. Some of them were compelled to declaim,
aud to take parts far from their choice, aud to
which they sensible they could not do justice
Others received their appointment at late hour,
and were not allowed sufficient time to prepare
themselves for so arduous and critical underta
king; and two or three were not apprized Of their
appoint ment, until it was too late to attend to them.
The house, in the morning, was far from being
crowded The day quite cool, and we
doubt if commencement passed of with
less attention than this was and but for the ringing
fthe bells and the clatter Of the boys, scarce any
one would have supposed the day had arrived, when
Brown University delivers itself of sundry emissions
Of genius.
In the Afternoon, the audience somewhat
more numerous, though it was far from being
crowded one, and the exercises went off quite as
lullss they did in the morning. There were,
however, specimens Of talent and learning display
I'd by the speakers, and one or two declamatory
illusions might with safety be pronounced excel
lent. The pdblic, however, were not prepared to
be pleased, and a general lethargy and tedium
seemed to prevade the audience. A people dis
satisfied with their government, and disg listed with
their rulers, but lily prepared TO applaud the
festivities and exercises of gala day, which they
have no part IN forming.
The celebration of the Commencement Of Brown
University, has heretofore been marked with un-
| usual ceremony---it has ever been considered
first among our social festivities, but this
sion 1t was distinguished only by its dulness and
want of interest. This circumstance goe, far to
prove, that the institution, under its present aus
| piccs cannot ioursh;-and that its Com mence-
ment loses its interest," the College loses its reputa
tion. We have, however, said enough on this SUBJ
ject in former papers, and we will no longer dwell
| upon it.
We are sorry 20 notice that pseudo critic in a
paper published Thursday, has assailed the pride
ola modest and unassuming young gentleman, who
on this occasion, made effort at defamation. The
assault was ungenerous as it unjust, and al
though we are not prepared to laud this perform
ance to the skies, will not consent thai the fail
ure of the young gentleman to please one, who ha,
taken the literary and moral character Of Rhode
Island into his kind keepBy, laid him liable IN tl,s