New-York tribune., 1842-03-29


HE NEw YORK LYcEUM.-Thc course of Lee.
lures before this association was closed for the
season last evening, BY Mr.. ELlnu BUnR1rr, who
repeated his Lecture on Roman Patriotism before
a fair and attentive audience. In discussing this
subject Mr.. Burrtt does speak merely of Pa
triotism as it existed in Rome: but of prn ciplc
of cupidity and self aggrandizemcnt, which has
had iiie and power in every nation and at every
age, but which was more perfectly developed in
the career of the great Roman Empire than in anv
other part of the world. He traces its influence in
the most ancient government, of which we have
any recorded traditional history urging on
even the theocraccs of the oldest time to conquest
and aggression and leading them to seize upon
the land of Canaan not because they had suffered
wrong ut the hands of its Inhabitants, but because
1t was land focing ruth milk and honey. Mr.
B. followed the history of the various nations of
antiquity with especial reference 10 this principle,
and its effect upon their destiny down to the time
when the Scythian, ths Goth. the Ncrthman and
the Saxon came to Romc-thcn in the hight of
her pride and tyrannc splcndor-asscrtcd the
supremacy Of Humanity over even Roman citizen
ship, and forced the naughty mistress OF the world
TO the hunblng confession that she
than human
Mr.. Burritt has an interesting though not pleas
ing delivery. He has manly plainncss which com
mands respect; and the polished beauty, which
to alternate with the rugged strength, of his
STYLE alones for the lack of ease and grace in his
manner. His voice is strong but not full. An
elocutonist would esteem his manner very bad,
and his pronunciation very faulty. For 'confcdcracy'
he says confedacy; for memorable, mcmaJle
for terror turrcr; for hcinous, Aeinisus &c.
-Of the grace and polish of the schools he has
but little. But his stores of information are so
vast, his generalization is so comprehensive and
so marked by clear insight and sound sense and
his whole manner is so characteristic ofthe plain
blum, man that he is, that he commands fixed and
pleased attention.
Perhaps erred in saying that the Lyccum Lee
lures had closed for the scason-for the Gcoeg gical
course BY Mr.. LYELI il, we believe, under the di-
rection of this Institution Though 1t may be too
late to be of service, cannot refrain from saving
that more illibcral or unwisc policy could scarce
" have been pursued than has been chosen in the
arrangements for these lectures. The price OF
tickets in the first place greatly and ovi dcntly
too high. Whcthor this wns fixed by the lecturer
ar the directors of the Lyceum we not aware
but in either case it should have been known that
in this country however it may be mothers those
who mos, earnestly desire information upon Scicn-
1ic subjects, and who would derive most profit
from an extended course Of scientific lectures
are nel be found among those who have mo 81
money to cxpcnd on such Injuries. Generally they
young men, striving by their own vigorous ex-
ertions to build up for themselves wide and comprc
hensvc scholarship; or they arc students to whom
the price de nandcd for an attendance upon these
lectures is no inconSiderablc sum--onc which can
easily be spared from their limited means
We know many of this class-mcn OF streng
clear minds and OF wide knowlcd dsc-who have
wished to hear MIR. Lycll, but have tccn unable to
do SO because they could not afford to pay the un-
reasonable price demanded. Beside the wrong
thus suffered by these persons, in our ud semctit
the lecturer himself is decdcdlya loser hv The po
hcvadop,ed Instead OF lecturing to t,co thousand
persons, a> he might easily have done, he has
now an audience of about fre hundred Whether.
therefore, the pleasure ot teaching large number
of persons, or the pecuniary profits Of The Course
be regarded. We deem the plan adopted iinpoGtic
in the cxtrcrc. AT The outset. too, still more
unjust and short-sightc,i policy was chosen !; to
no could attend single lecture without pur
chasing tickets for the whole course! This plan
ofcoursc, abandoned upon lis frs, trial.
There many other points we deem objections
able and UNJUST TO the public in the mode Of con
duc,ins these lecslres-but We have no room Il
speak of them further at present. We are glad
though under the circumstances, surrri.ed-to see
the series 50 we'll attended.
SINGULAR PHEsoNESos.-The Ozark Eagle Of
the 9th inst. informs us that during severe hail
storm that occurred on the preceding Thursday
in Greenfield. Dadc County, 4 ball fell which
weighed hundred and sixty pounds. Whether