New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-03-24


Mr.. CoLros's LEc7UREs.-GEoRes H. COL
TOE, Esq. gave his Introductory Lecture on lues-
day evening, in the Chapel of the University, to
highly respectable audience. He showed that
there is s,i much i'll the Indian Character that Is
imperfectly understood. Tie sources Of Informs
ton which are open 10 the American people have
reference in great part to their physical condition.
and give us but little insight into what nay be call
ed the philosophy of Indian life. Travellers have
given US minute details OF their customs and man
ners, but have told us little of their modes OF
thought, and taken little notice of those subtle
influences that make the character of the uncivil-
lied nan so remarkable both for its great virtues
and great vices. The latter part ct the lecture
was occupied in giving rapid sketch of the his
tory of the Indians up TO the time of the settle
ment Of Plymouth.
Mr. CoLTos describes natural scenery with the
enthusiasm OF the Poet, and his account of the
ruthless invasions of the French Spaniards was
spirited and graphic We commend these lectures
to all who wish to acquire thorough knowledge
Of the trse character of people now rapidly
passing away. There is much that is new and
unex plored in this field of research, and in the
hands of man OF ability like Mr. Cotton the sub
ject must assume fresh interest and value.
The next lecture will be upon the early situation
and history of the various interior tribes, the rise
of the Five Nations, the determination of the
natives OF Virginia. the destruction OF the Pequeds,
and the career and death Of King Philip. This is
wide field Of investigation, and one eminenuy
worthy the attention Of every friend of historical
inquiry.
M1LLER1sm AND IssAsIry.-We lately pub
lished statement that q Mr. Shortridge, OF New
Hampshire, had run mad with Milerism, and at
tempted to ascend to Heaven from an apple-tree,
bu. found the attraction of gravitation too strong
for his celestial aspirations, and came to the
ground with such momentum as to cause his death.
We have just seen two letters of late date from
different ia Portsmouth, n. H., stating
that letters had been received there from this
Mr.. Shortridge, making no mention of his ground
and lofty tumbling' or deatt.circumstsnces SO re-
markable that they could hardly have escaped his
notice had they actually occurred. We have heard
from another source that this same Mr.. S. was
crazy ten years ago. So in the case of the wo-
man who poisoned her children and attempted TO
commit suicide some weeks since-her insanity was
attributed to MilIerism, but entirely without rea-
son. Doubtless the like has been the case in many
other instances Those who know any thing of
Insanity are aware that it very commonly takes its
hue from the most exciting topic of the hour, so
that hundreds Of persons have been reported as
victims of religious MANIA when in fact their
insanity was caused by functional disorders, often
having its seat in the digestive organs and only by
sympathy affecting the brain. Of those whe are
currently reported as rendered insane by Revi-
walls or Millerism,' a great portion would be
found, on due inquiry, to have been constitution
ally disposed to insanity, and often to have inner
tied that malady. In other cases, physical de-
rangement consequent on personal excuses, such
as intemperance gluttony, and other forms of SEN
suality, was the true cause.-We cannot exclude
from our columns accounts of remarkable casu-
allies, but our readers will know how 10 make due
allowance for the causes to which they are often
mistakenly attributed.