The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-11-02
LECTURE ON GLAND.
BY MAJOR rOCHMAN.

At the present day, when the public mind is
crowded with the illusions of mushroom historians,
who write rather for profit than enlightenment, and
who are better satisfied with prosperous harvest to
the pocket than substantial reputation, the result
of research and philosophical inquiry, and when the
press is emphacally given to making, regardless
Of its material value most benefit is to be acquired
by the community at large, in attending public lee
lures on subjects of historical, scientific literary,
philosophical character, when the lecturer is estab
lished 10 be competent to his task-there is some
thing too in this sort of social communion and free
intercourse between the audience and the lecturer
that relieves entirely the tedium of prosy detail and
intricate Statistics tending to enlighten all but the
absolute student or scholar on the prominent points of
the matter in discussion. Another advantage pro-
ceeds from the fact, that impressions and arguments
are thus more easily, and perhaps with equal good
communicated to the ordinary undertaking of man.
1t may be commended that such system is not adapt
ed to prosper the condition of the public mind, mas
much as the public judgment is thus to be Influenced
by pJejudcial statements or er pcrte opinions. The
answer is, that in energetic and enterprsing
munity like the American all classes cannot devote
leisure sufficient to master subjects Of Importance
by dilgent research or patient plodding; and hence
if it can be diverted from other channels calculated
rather to impair than strengthen its faculties, by
adopting any mode of instruction. the mental and
physical man is each benefited and rendered more
efficient in sustaining reforming his own institu-
items by an important comparison with those of other
nations. The time has not yet arrived when our
country is prepared to assume pre-emnent position
among other nations for advancement in the arts
sciences and literature Such work is the growth
of time, to be insured only by adual and slow
process, notching its progress in centuries a. they
roll on. Hence, whatever is acquired by the people
in knowledge or experience, be it by whatever me-
thod is so much contributed 10 the National charac-
ter of enlightenment which it should be pride and
ambition to aspire to.
These very ha,iy and imperfect reflections the
result of Major Tochman's discourse delivered last
evening, at the Apollo Hall, behalf of his native
land, gallant, but injured and oppressed, Poland
1t has been our pleasure but seldom to have en-
joyed more intellectual and solid repast than that
sforded by the lecturer the occasion referred TO.
Entering into his subject with all the patriotic enthu
siasm and zeal which it inspired, he depicted, in
glowing colors, the carly history of the Polish people
How, for fourteen centuries, Poland alone, among
European nations stood forth the great protector Of
liberal, republican and tolerant opinion. How her
statesmen had given enlightened legislation to the
world. How she afforded an asylum TO the op-
pressed, whom bigotry or intolerance had driven
from their native lands. How her men of science
had advanced the cause of humanity by spreading
their abors Of learning and study How she had in
culca,ed the first lessons of sef-government, by an
elective monarchy and last Of all, how-by the com
binstion Of surrounding Powers, whose policy it was
TO crush the germ of liberty which she had planted
Poland fell Through all these varied scenes Of
glory, and conquest, and downfall, he enchaincd the
attention of the audience, gliding along the pages Of
her brilliant history with the steps Of the profound
scholar, and leading the imagination captive with
the great events they successvely bcfe his
try. The lecture profound, brilliant and de-
lightfu in every part. The sentiments such as
to awaken sympathy and feeling in every American
heart for land, which, in hour Of adversely,
furnished her do battle for the of liberty
and the rights Of man. The cordial applause spou-
taneously rendered by the audience at the close Of
the lecture, manifested proper appreciation of the
lecturer and the subject