New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-22
lIr. BancrOft'S Lecture.

uf. Balcf0ItS LeCtufc
MrBANcRorr, in his Lecture on Tuesday evening
the Tabernacle, before the Mercantile Lbrar,
Association, asserted that the Men of Genius, BY
whom any age is distinguished, act not of theil
own will and personal power, but in subordlna,lo'
to the Spirit of that Age; and TO the illustration
of this leading thought his Discourse was entirely
devoted How beautiful said he, IN opening hls
Lecture, how beautiful is the Rose-blushlng III
its loveliness and why should 1t be proud Ii
is but the result of many forces: the Sun lends II
lustre; the ever-actiye, the evereadurlng laws Of
Nature sway the elements which are its ministers :;
its bues are given it by Heavens its life is quick
ened by spark from the central fire of the Uni.
verse.
Mark the good man, moving quietly along, fol
lowing his round of diligence and duty, meekl,
but manfully resisting ills that Cypress him, ano
never growing weary of works of benevolence and
well-doing. Not of his power, does he do
this he lives in the strength of higher spiri'
than his own. He is favored by the great source
of goodness which sheds lustre on his life. And
for this he may not claim praise; he is in debt
and owes for it his deepest gratitude
The hero de6es danger-lavish of his life-and
wins imperishable fame. But not by the strength
of his own frame or Of his own limbs does he do 1t
His sinews are like those of other men the heart
which pulsaes beneath his breast is ike that which
beats in the breast OF the rest Of US. Nor is u
opportunity alone which gives him fame {: Tor
neither numbers. courage, nor success can al
ways confer renown No battle. field is holy ground
unless it be made sacred BY contest for free
dom and the worlds best good. The hero is made
such by deeds wrought in behalf Of Humanity
Round his head invisible spirits keep guard ano
from the realms of Immortality come legions to sic
his efforts On the field Of Marathon-the ten
thousand Greeks who withstood the Persian hosts
had the genius of Humanity quickened their STEP
ana infued tenfold energy into their arms, tread
ing death under foot, would, with their great Leon
das have plunged into the gulf that yawned to de-
YOUR them.
In vain does the Philosopher, too trim his mid
night lamp and outwetch the Bear if ne relies upo'
himself alone. There, in the stiffness o! his cham
Der, sits he, hopelessy brooding over his own higt
fancies, unless the Spirit OF the Age comes TO hin
in the darkness of night the Angel appeared to
the Apostle in prison, and iliumine his reason b!
the light from above. The Poet creates not hi-
own Inspiration. His Enthusiasm springs from
the God within. That doctrine is it To which al
Poets have borne testimony and which ages hav'
consecrated. 1t has been proved too by the ex-
perience Of our century. The greatest of England
bayds in their own day, drew not their power iron
themselves but of the Age in which they lived, o
which q necessity compelled them TO enbody tht
passions and aspirations In words OF flame. II
whom would you look for less affinity with the
IL 10 Is
ligate BYRON Yet i, was the voice of Hunani-
ty that called to bim-and its call not disre
garded, for i, babe him make all who war
with Thought-to resist the ackall cry of the base
putveyors of Despotism. Ii led him 10 the battle
field, but not to sing the praise OF the foeps ambi
ton. 1t pointed him to the Republics OF the Yves
where the negro was emanciPated-and bade
him hymn the praises OF this New World Sht
called to him in world without God and taug b,
him 10 sing the greatness of Humanity. She raised
hope that he was yet TO mount alott with frest
pinions, and the age in which he lived seemed IL
hisverse 10 rouse from its intide sumber-to shak,
the poppes from its brow, and commune with
God in the world he had created. Thus, in phi
ianthropy and religion, in the assertion OF freedom
OF mind, in awakening from his egotisEl to high
devotion, the Poet Of the day was for Europe
made to express the Genius of the Age.
Our own BRYANT, too--of whom in his alb
sence may speak freely--our own Bryant, among
living poets in feeling, action, power, the FIRST
WI 'us peer in the English world, and after
VIcroS HUGO and BERANeER first throughout the
world OF mankind, was frat led TO the nights o
glery moi by his own personal power The &c
MUS OF American Nature, of the American wilder
itself, in its g,saual surrender to the geniu
of civilization, signs out its dea,h.soag in hi
strains. A century after Italy was crowded will
cities, the bards of Rome loved the pastures an:
fields and herds Of her early days. So the soil
tude of America, more happy in her youth thai
was Rome in hers, has been his teacher and in
spirer She instructed him, with delighted eye
to gaze on her mountains, to behold with deep a
lection her pure and ample sky. he loved he
song of waters and caught, too, all the devotion
the soldier, which be poured forth in words to ST
The patriots heart. In the Song of Marion's me
once more we hear the cry raised in exultin
shouts,
Our fortress is the good greenwood,
Our tent the cypress tree;
We know the forest round US,
AS seaIueu know the sea