The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-31
Commencement OF Rutgers Coliege-Pu-
sey1sm.

and put up at the Rartan House, kept by Sirius
Hall, very polite and accommodating host On
taking afternoon stroll through the town we found
every thing the 'qui uive"-a sort of general stir,
indicating the near approach of some occasion for
popular enjoyment, which in country towns wrap
the people in an agony of expectation. Upon en-
qulry,we learned that the event about to come Off
was nothing more or less than the "Commencement
Of Old Rutgers" On learning the commotion the
annual recurrence of this occasion creates among
the 'soveresns and the influx of rural beauties it
attracts from the surrounding vicinage, we had little
difficulty in determining to await the expected Sa-
turnaa.
The procession formed at o'clock, A. M, head
ed by an excellent band from New York 1t is un.
necessary 10 describe the order of the procession
Suffice it to say, that it was long and imposing, and
exceedingly orderly IL arrived at about l0a o'clock
A. M. at the Dutch Church, where there was large
platform erected in the neighborhood of the pulpit,
extending in front about Is or 80 feet and covering
the entire width of the edi6ce, firmly constructed
and neatly carpeted
The trustees, president, faculty, and distinguished
strangers, mainly occupied the platform-among
whom we noticed with much pleasure the estma-
BILE, learned, and gentiemaaly Governor Penning-
ton,encouraglng by his presence the useful abors of
this excellent Institution. The body of the Church
was crowded to overlooking, galleries and all, in
stinct with one waving mass of ''living life.
We were fortunate enough to wedge our way
over the official staff of burly locking constable,
into one OF the pews reserved in front of the staging
tor the students of the college The exhibition
was opened by an eloquent and impressive prayer
from DR.. Wycoh, of Albany The exercises OF the
dayto casual observer, showed deep and thorough
efficiency IN this college for the high purposes OF
sound education.
Paul ID. Van Cleef, Milestone, N. j., delivered the
Latin Sautatory," which was divided into four
appropriate parts suit his professors the President
the senior class, of which he was a member. and
the auditory, The first and second divisions we
could not hear well enough to run on with the
speaker understandngly, as his back was partly
turned TO the audience during their delivery, but we
heard enough OF the other portions to ascertain that
the style was chaste and smooth, possessing much
strength OF thought and propriety of sentiment If
1t owed It's paternity to the speaker we should call
him good Latin scholar His delivery was rather
tame, but graceful. We admired the turn given to
the sentiment of Horace, ''Dum vidimus, vivanus I"
The next was an English S.lutatory, delivered by
Charles McKinstry, of Mich. 1t was a creditable
production, and well delivered
Charles H. Van Wyck, Bloomingbury, N. Y, de-
livered an essay on the PHILOSOPHY of Jurispru-
dence." This was decidedly an eloquent grafton.
The subject was grasped with manliness of
thought and an extended range of historical know
ledge and philosophical deduction worthy of even
maturer scholarship He traced its origin and pro-
gress in ancient times, when it Crested upon the
false foundation of human reason" to its present
perfection, deriving its vitality from the essence of
the Bible and the genius of God, and net from the
exploded anomalies of antiquated despotisms, and
which, like gravitation in the physical world keeps
nations in their intercourse with each other, within
their proper spheres or orbs. We Should like to fol-
low this speaker little more but time will not per-
NIT. His delivery was a little slow, somewhat mo-
notonous, but graceful.
The intervals between the speakers were filled
up with appropriate airs from the band, smiles, signs
and glances from the ladies' and delightful recog-
nitions from the beaux.
The Industrious Dead" was the next subject,
which was vigorously treated and handsomely de-
lvered by Abel T. Stewart, Somerville, N. J.
"Mind in Ruins" by J. c. T. Smith, Nyack, N.
Y, was judlcous production, had it not savored
too rankly OF Puritanism. The fatal errors OF Rome
and the goodness of Luther were made to dance
through the mazes of this young gentleman's rheto-
ric, like puppets in show box. The ignorance of
Rome kept the moral vision of Fenelon in France,
and Shakespeare, and Dryden, land Pope in England,
IN utter darkness, while the splendOr of divine truth
suddenly burst upon the illamined mind of Luther
in Germany. Mr.. SIS structures on the loose libe-
rallsm of the day, and the countenance given it by
the public press, the abuse of the Imagination al
the expense of judgment, &c, were marked by that
seundness Of thought and felicity of reasoning,
which showed that his mind was not insane, except
when the anti-Christ OF Popery and Puseyism be-
come the burden OF his pen; and then, indeed, you
might justly exclaim, "Quante mutatur ab lilo"
This was blemish noticed, disfguring the fine
subjects and excellent compositions Of most of the
speakers, and seemed to have been desgnedly lug
ged in tor present exlgency, TO arrest the fearful
spread of Puseyism.
The Stars OF the Nineteenth Century," by P.
Van Wyck ,Fishkil,N Y.,was manly and spirited in
style and delivery, but somewhat turgd The tribute
to Byrons genius was beautiful and just las was also
the one to Napoleon Mr.David Bishop,of N Bruins
wick, N j.. next slept the stage, threw his per-
son into a graceful attitude, (his sweetheart must
have been there) made semi-circuar bow, and
commenced his Grafton on the " Belief in Future
State" 1t was well written, and we'll delivered !;
ii exhibited much and accurate research. The va
rious systems of heather worship were discussed
with ability; but when he came to the scarlet
W. she covered his vision with the blaze of her
robes, that he could not longer see through her
splendid darkness. James M Compton, same place,
delivered poem on Female Education" Its
measure was generally correct, and flowed on with
velvet smoshness, except where big unharmoni-
ous word occasionally Jared upon the ears MIR. G..
has drank deeply at Helicon, nor will Pegasus in.
teriere with his assent to Parnassus His allusion
to Boz" was capital The aud .cnee enjoyed this
poem much The crack Grafton of those we heard,
(for this was the last we heard,) was delivered on
Genius and Virtue" by s. w. Ayres, Plainfeld,
NJ. MIR. Ayres certainly understood his subject