Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-08-20

suinht az little Instance, the trees bloom and
heIds look rich III the glow OF the Summer Sun:
then it sweeps with bold course around nro.
jecting point, and is almost lost to the eve in
the thick shrubbery which clusters at its edge,
Green islands rising high above the surface are
thickly scattered through the Lake, and looking
to the north the river is most rich and encban'
tingly beautiful.
think that have never seen place more
delightfully."- situated than this, from which I
date. The Lake is here the widest, the Bay ia
deep and more regularly curved than any have
seen elsewhere the view directly across 10
bounded by the lofty mountains of New.fork,
rising one behind the other as if striving which
should tower highest heaven-ward, and to tho
Nortt and South nothing bat the richest and
most beautiful scenery meets the eve. had
always thought the view from the Battery in
your city the finest had ever seen; but i il
tame and embarrassing compared with this
The village although pleasant, is by no means
AZ neat and elegant as it should be. Compared
with Geneva, Canandagua, and some Of the
other villages in Western New-York, il has a
very unldy and inelegent aspect. Not street
IS paved, no pains at all are taken with the pub
lie grounds, and there is a general appearance
oi neglect and careless Indifference about the
village. hardly know how to account TOR this,
for the citizens do not lack taste there ia a
great amount Of wealth among Them and in all
matters when this wealth is to be increased,
there Is no deficiency in public spirit and en-
terprlsc. The finest buildings in the place are
those erected and for some time occupied BY
Bishop IIorkINs, who adorned and furnished
thcm with surprising elegance and taste they
are now occupied as Female Seminary. The
sue OF Tie University is much the most con-
sp'cuous ana beautiful in the place. The build
ihss, which are plain, are situated at the sum-
mt OF The elevation on which the town il built,
and command the prospect of the whole sur
rounding country. Eastward rise the highest
peaks OF The Green Mountain chain, and in no
direction can the eye rest upon aught but the
brightest and most beautiful scenery
The exercises of the University Commence.
lnent were celebrated on "Wednesday the 4th
| Inc discourse before the Society for Religious
Inquiry was delivered on Monday evening by
the Rev. JOHN ToDD, of Philade phia, and on
Tuesday Hon. GEORGE A. SIMMONS, an in
f1uental member OF your State Assembly de-
vered an Grafton before the Associated Lite
rary Societies 1t was production which, in
t sound, eevatlng views, lucid and cogent rea-
sonlng, and the pure manliness of its style,
have seldom seen surpassed-I1is general sub
| ject was the high duty of American scholars with
reference especially to Political Science He
| explained, Ill manner at once original and pro.
D found, the true nature of Political Economy,
, rejecting, or rather reconciling, the opinions
t maintained on the one hand by Bentham and
others writer's of the utitarian school who refer
S every thing entirely to the greatest happiness
principle and on the other, especially among
b the French economists, who declare that alb
| stract justice and morality are the sole guides
of political action, referring doctrine and course
of conduct TO the greatest virtue principle Mr..
|, Simmons mantaned that both these schools
were wrong that the true nature of political
philosophy was to reconcile their tenets, re-
garding the rules Of expedency as the expo
nents of the higher dictates of justice and alb
sract right.-What is absolutely just and right,
r he declared, was always ultimately expedient :;
and nothing is eXpedient that is not in accor-
dance with high and elevated morality. The
, general duty of American scholars, in the first
place, to make real to their own minds and Of
a abiding influence in their own lives these prin-
ciples, and then to enforce them, with all the
e weight their character and position jim society
K may enable them to exert upon the public at
d tenton, so as to give them power and vitality in
i. all the relations of lie and of society," was the
y direct purpose of his mastery cfort.-The Pc
Q culiar character of our Republican Institutions.
r the great, infinite field for the exercise of the
t highest ability and the most profound study,
:. afforded BY the peculiar character of our Gov
II eminent, the influence OF great mind in mould
" ing the spirit OF his age. and other most interest
"A :s ,i.;s' -rhi. ally grew out vi his sub.
Il Ject, were briefly and most pertlnently discus
a sed. was well aware that Mr. Simmons was
q one of the ablest and most useful members o,
n the New-iork Legislature but was not pre-
pared for so philosophical and profoundly scholar
RI like an Grafton as this. 1t evnced mental DOW
g ers oil an elevated ORDER and an ardent love o
truth in whatever department Of human life &C
ID ton and thought are required. 1t is we'll tina
:. such men as these, men who are not dazzled b,
A the vain shows of superficial life, but who ool
!, with the eye OF calm, unseltsh reason upon al
II questions, and who are ever ready to act a.
n Justice and the interests of their country re
i. quire, should be placed in our public councils
$ for rash, inconsiderate legislation, zeal to b.
" foremost in the race for popular applause, an,
10 the tendency toplace men of brilliant and show,
n though superficial ability rather than those o
4 more profound and better cultivated power,
ID in the halls OF legislation, are among the mos
7 dangerous as well our most common errors
, 1t is fortunately true, however, TO great eX
l. tent as Mr. Simmons remarked in one portion
7 of his Address, that the members OF our public
ID councils are only the instruments in framing thu
10 laws which really originate and take thei
n. character from the influence of the great mind
IN in community, no matter how silent and unseeI
~ it NAV be. The business of the legislator is t
I'd give form and definite shape to the principle
h which thus by silent take their birth in the hear,
%. of a great people and grow up until their pow
rs er makes itself felt and demands an outward
~ life. After Mr. Simmons had delivered hi
Of Grafton, a Poem was pronounced by w. Il
ed C.-HosMER, Esq. Of Avon, N. y. His sub
ject was the general progress of Man towar
20 perfection in his political and social relations
in the agency of Christianity in aiding this &C
A., vancement, and the duty OF every educate
Of man, and especially of every youthful scholar
no to assist in urging onward the cause Of hr
~, mainly and religion. The Poem was well re
Nv ceived, and, although evidently written in grea
,rL haste, contained several beautiful and highl
20 20 poetic passages. understand that both tn
20, Grafton and the Poem will soon be pnblishet
If The exercises OF Commencement day wer
les attended with a good degree of interest, an
We, were highly credtable 10 the graduates, {
III whom there were twenty-five, as well as I
III the institution where they have received the
~ training | have attended the exercises at sc
~ yeral of the Commencements, OF this Unvei