New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-01
uo, 1rvr wooDsuaY's Lecture before

90
and sound one. It's groundwork was a rapid
glance a, the many still unsolved problems with
which History abounds, together with the utter
hanks which restrict It's domain or interrupt It's
course, such as the Antedilu7iau history of the
| World, the migration from Canaan and subsequent
refuge OF the Ten Tribes of Israel, the guilt in
nocerce of Mary Queen of Scots, the character
and services OF Benedict Arnold before his trea-
,ou, &c. &c. Over the whole surface Of Sacred
and Profare History the Lecturer rapidly glanced
pointing OUT the deficiencies and obscurities which
exist therein. and demonstrating thar what we re-
cognize as History falls infinitely, lementably short
of the clearly recorded and faithfully presented an
aals, the collective and cumulative experience of
| our Race. The glaring defects herein observable
| ne regarded as among the most deporable evils Of
,ur present condition, and the source of many er.
| ror. and calamities.
Passing from this aspect, MIR. w. proceeded to
| consider the Tmperfectons of History, not merely
in the incorrec:ness Of its assertions and the in
com pleteness of its sphere Of vision, but in its
treatment of the materials fairly within its reach
in its neglect of the most important facts and
-a,ions while it gives undue prominence to others
Of less intrinsic OF enduring importance. History,
as it has come down nearly 10 US, is mainly an in
.-rn,inable record of Political occurrences only
of alliances, plots, expressions, rebellions, cam
oaigns, invasons, sieges, battles. Human carnage
the slaughter OF man by man-this is its almost
unvarying theme. On its undiscriminating canvass
the character and exploits of a Leonidss and
Philip of Macedon, Tell and Zenghis Khan,
stand out in equal relief, or, if any difference be
.eparent, the lyrant ard robber is more prominent
han the self.devoting patriot. Thisis defect SO
.laripg that it cannot longer be tolerated.
Yet the same blind faulty Of the worlds histo-
rians returns upon us in thousand different as
Dects We are told, with pomp and circumstance,
IF every eminently pcrnicious or destructive deed
IF note; but how superficial is the knowledge i'm
parted Of the habits, modes of thought and avo-
cations oe the People What know we truly.
certainly of the Society of other timesf What OF
he state of the Arts and of Industry among them
How much of History as we have it might no;
prottably barter 70: bare set of the household and
Industrial implements of Greece in the days Of
Plu,ol How many heroes might we not consent
10 blot from the worlds annals could we thereby
recover the names and story of our forgotten ben
efactors-the inventors Of the ak, the loom, the
nlough-the discoveries of iron and the other use
tul metals What know we Of the modern in
ven,or of the Mariners Compass Can we hatter
ourselves that History has even yet unlearned her
,rrors?
Mr. Woodbury. proceeded TO point out the ne.
cessity and the means of avoiding uncertainties
and deficiencies in that portion Of Mans history
which yet remains to be written. He urged the
vital importance Of strict mpartiaty and honesty
q him who assumes, on whatever scale, the iunc-
ions of historian, and the duty, the indispensable
equirement, Of patent, earnest, protractcd, tho-
ough investigation, in he discharge of those tunc-
,ous No labor should be grudsed or spared, no
prejudice INDUCED or tolerated, while engaged IL
ne character Of historian He who cannot fully
c3mply with these acquisitions has no right to as
ume that most responsible and lofty vocation. Bur
ct its duties be henceforth discharged with
nroper and just appreciation-let them be per-
torH,ed uprightly, ably, thoroughly and H'stor,
vii no longer be capricous, discordant, heteso-
geneous, uuconnected tumble of facts and false
,oods, appearances and realities-it will 10 longer
nisead and corrup, often as it ins'ructs and
,!evates-but It's clear and steady light will lila
nine the whole pathway of Human Existence,
}uickening and facilitating the advancement OF the
Race through knowledge, Wisdom, Virtue, to that
xal,ed destiny which row dawns upon the enrap-
urcd vision.
I'VE are aware that this very unteral sketch OF Mr.
Woodbury., Lecture took during lis delivery
md have only attempted 10 give the spirit and scope oil hs
.rsumenl Tor the language in which is here presented
le must not be held responsible
W MIR Russell Lewis of Maiden, Franklin Co..
went out fow days since with his two sons and
/. Mr. Earl upon hunting and fishing excursion
Ae attempted TO cross lake in boat, but his
,oat was upse, by the ice. He clung to it as long
IS he could-bu, became chilled and weak, and
iuslly sunk One Of his stood upon the bank
bu, could give no assistance.
U The Editor of the Philadelphia U. S. Ga
| zette says he has letter stating positively
that MAcAuLEY, to whom it was widely attributed
i not the author of the recent paper on Ignetius
I.oyola and his Associates in the Edinburgh. Mr.
lanes Stephens, Under Secretary OF State for the
Colonial Department of Great Britain, wrote it.
p Hon. MARK L. HILL. formerly Member Of
| Congress. from Maine, of which State he has long
,een distinguished citizen, died at Philipsburg
on the Goth instant, aged II.
20 The Wings of Hartford CT have carried
The City Ticket by an average majority of 6O0