New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-10-14

Lecture of Hon. Levi Woodbury-Lowen
Institute-Lectures OF Mr.. Gliddon.
OF The Nem.Y org Trihune.

Lecture of Hon, Levi Woodbury-IOWell
Instifute-Lectures OF MIR. Gliddon.
Correspondence Of The New-York Tribune.
Bosrox, Oct. L. 1913.
The season for Popular Lectures has again ar
rived and there are indications not only that their
number and variety are to be this year augment
cd beyond all former precedent, but that, IN Dos
ton at least, the system has lost none OF It's power
TO interest and excite the pubic mind. Pfooaoiy
the time u!N come and that, too, before many
wears, when the public taste will demand some
new method of impartng instruction and assuag-
inc the thirst for knowledge; but for the present.
the Lecturing System may be said to be IN the
full tide of successful experiment. The Morcan-
tile Library Association, Chiefly under the man
acclnent Of young men engaged in mercantile
pursuits has been the first to enter the field the
present season, and having secured the services
Of our most distinguished men, 1t bids far to out
strip al! It's competitors in the race for popular ap-
plause The Lyceum, so long favorlte assocla-
ton with the people, and whose Lectures have
always commanded full houses, has not yet made
any very definite announcement of its plans but
it will no doubt make an effort to retain its we'll
earned popularity. Many of the Lectures before
this association last year were altogether too SUI
pcrfcial in their character to satisfy the wants OF
the public; but it is to be hoped that the mana
gers will this wear do what in them lies to correct
this serious fault.
The second Lecture in the Course Of the Mer-
camille Library Association, was delivered last
evening by the Hon. LEVI WOODBURY. of New
Hampshire The audience was large, intelll-
gent and highly attentive. Mr. Woodbury's
subject was-Tie Proofs OF Progress in Society
hereafter, as ,cell as heretotore and 1t was
handled in a manner which must have gwen a
high degree of satisfaction to the numerous assem-
bly,. The performance, though not very labored
or profound, was manly and dlgnitied in It's
tone, and free from the vice Of fattcry and self
goricatlon, which mars too many OF our public
Lectures. Mr.. Woodbury. cndeavored, as think
successfully, to show that the Human Race has
made progress in knowledge and Virtue, and
that il is destined to reach still higher point IN
its struggles after Perfection. He contcndcd that
the proofs of this progress were lmbcddcd IN every
stone Of the Social Fabric, and that they were TO
be found Illuminating every page Of history. he
preached no theories respecting the inherent good
ness Of human nature, while he placed Christianity
and the Bible foremost among the agencies By
which all true Reforms have hccn brought about,
and based his hopes for the future manly upon
their reforming energy and power. have not
space to follow him in his argument, nor even TO
state his positions in d consecutive form. he
influence of the Press-the Benevolent tcnden-
ccs of the are, as manifested IN opposition to the
evils of War, Slavery, &c.-the Progress of
Toleration--thc waning power OF Superstition
these and other kindred points were dwet upon
with great force and discrimination. The Lee
ture was exceedingly well written, but cannot
say as much for the reading of it. The manner
of the speaker was altogether too dull 90 comport
either with his matter or subject. There were
passages in his performance, which, II they had
been set off by the appropriate energies and
graces of eocution, would have created high
degree Of enthusiasm in the audience. One re-
mark excited smile on the countenance OF more
than one of his hearers. alludc TO a sentence
deprecatory Of ultraiSm in political parties In
view of Mr.. Woodbry's position in the politics
of the Country, this seemed not a little ludicrous
The lecturer announced for next week is the
eccentric JOHN NEAL, Esq, of Portland.
The First Course Of Lectures under the dlrec
ton of the Lowell Institute will commence
on the oath inst 1t will be delivered by GEORGE
R. GLIDDoN, Esq, on the Antiquities Of Egypt
The lectures, | understand, have been prepared,
with great care and labor, especially for the lnstl-
tute, and will not consist,of the matter brought
forward in his private course delivered last season,
as well in New York and Philadelphia as here.
They will be Of the highest interest, not alone to
the mere scholar, but to every one who desires to
be well informed Oh one of the most important
subjects pertaining to Ancient History More
than 1000 persons have already entered Their
names as candidates for the tickets, and the
rush /" is yet to come Yours, truly, REvLo.