The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-27
lecture BY Rev. Mr.. Giles, ON Daniel O'Con
nell, his Life and Times.

Every man, making any pretenslons to think for
himself, has his own peculiar notions on the stand
ard Of greatness. There is scarcely subject the
''debatabe ground Of law, politics, or religion upon
which greater diversity of opinion exists than this
and if we take this an indication Of ignorance,
the world is no less informed on the properties of
the philosophers stone--no further in the dark
about the quadrature of the circle than they are
the strangely familiar word "greatness." To find
its local habitation would be about as easy as to
! find that of the North
ASK where's the North in England "a at the Tweed
! In Scotland. at the Oreades and there
At Nova Zembla or the Lord knows where"
Diogenes was, according to some, very great
man in his tub few dispute that Napoleon was so
on the field of Jena or Jemappi; Hull was great on
the deck of the "Constitution' frigate, and in
their opinion were the three tallors of Too
ley street, when they commenced their petition to
the Imperial Parliament-s We the people Of
Great Britain" &c.
tits fit that each and every man should enjoy his
own opinion on this as we'll as other matters, and
it would be neither becoming nor useful in us to
define "the truth, the whole TRUTH and nothing
but that. Every planet aud star has its own pecu-
liar atmosphere, more less dense, possessing dis
tnct qualities, medium for, and more orl less re-
fraciing physical light; and by the diversity of men,
tai character, intellectual light undergoes similar
notifications i is not for us, then, in the face Of
these facts, to give definition Of greatness, which
perhaps would be rejected by one, stigmatiZed or
misconceved by others ; yet, like every one else,
we have a right to form our own opinion This
| we do We say, then, that the subject of this lee
ture was great one, and fully adopt the sentiment
of Dr. Samuel Johnston, when, in his reply TO the
sneers OF Voltare at Shakspeare's "qulrks, quld,,
dties and puns," that he was nevertheless, equal
to his subject; that he knew how to be great on
great occasion, and that he was, therefore, great
writer.
After all the foregoing remarks, which perhaps
might as well be lett out, we now proceed tC the
main points, and that is to lay before the reader an
outline of the lecture on Daniel O'Connell, deli
vered by the Rev. Mr.. Giles, in the Tabernacle,
Broadway, yesterday evening. 1t was worthy
theme for eoquence, and, what is no small praise to
the speaker, he seemed to feel it--aye, and make
his audience feel It, too. The feelings of we'll
filled house responded warmly to his sentiments,
and were kndled by his eloquent advocacy of
those great constitutional principles which are
alone worthy the war Of great-minds and the con-
| fict OF nations.
When the Rev. Mr.. Giles announced that his subject
was Dan1 O'Conneil, the warmest applause mani.
tested. He said he could not give more than rapid
sketch Of the history Of Ireland in connection with the
subject of the;ecture but to understand it, sketch
necessary and that subject very comprehensive
ne the attention Of his audience for period
little oager than usual such occasions He sail
that his opinion his own and perfectly independent
Whatever he had written and was about TO deliver,
composed in the equestered woods Of Massachusetts, and
whatever opinions he had he begged to say
confirmed by;recent events He took rapid but lucid
Of the historical events Of the 40 years proceeding
Catholic emancipation-the stimulus given by the
luton Of France to the agitation of Ireland tor legislative
independence Burke in one of his famous speeches had
bloted from the map Of Europe" Although Burke
got credit for the gift Of polite prophecy required but
r % s n res h
petitions were rejected with disdain. In the
the If @a1s War da
covered that the Irish Catholics better friends
than enemiestha altho' they unworthy Of seat
in Parliament. they would make very good for gunpow
der that although they unworthy of enjoying civil
rights they wereully competent to be shot Tor the sup
port OF Protestant ascendancy" lGreat cheers The
peasant considered happy in possession Of ak
day for his chance to be shot while the squire might
The political condition Of the country made the landlords
everything; the peasantry nothing but the left hand
avors that gave them value He then alluded to the fast
ford Glare and Waterford elections 1.-THE contest Tor
Wexfon7 said he, "in 1871 between Acoclt, the tory,
They had been friends in youth the joyous companions
in their boyh sports, and warmly attached to eaoh other
happened that an LADY who Owned
to vote for Mr. Alcock Her tenantry, daring Tor
to think tor themselves rendered their support to
give them up. 'You must meet me, then said Aiesck
adversary through the heart That was not all He shot
his friend but he lost himself the shock too great
In sew years. he followed him to the grave, and only
found peace where the cold grave gave his mortal re-
mains resting place" That showed the state in which
subject The semblance of liberty is however long
lost till some effort is made for its recovery In short
And let not, said Mr. c. rashiy condemn the
poor man, assaled with gold and asttery but place
grievances-his unredressed wrongs-the will extorted
from him to do thing to lives dearer to him than
his own Think Of the CONDUCT Of the landlords in such
shall profit he shall gain the whole world and
lose his own SOUL what shall give in exchange
for his soul" high compliment paid 20 the fidelity
OF the rish peasant to principle. Surrounded with allure
meats not the first time that the gentlemen would
discover about election time that his humble friend of
the cottage fanced his hat percbance in exchange for his
sheala and case was once heard Of poor voter
finding III his brogues parcel of bank notes if by
landlords then, now like that Of Satan who wies
many to their destruction and forsakes them.
Mr. GLEs then, after reviewing the patriotic efforts Of
the volunteers Of l7s2-the imperishsbie efforts Of Graf
tan and others in their countrys bebathe base corrup
ton Of the CsstlsreaSh Mn'stryhe yenay Of the
the subject Of his lecture amidst unbounded applause He
gave glowing sketch Of his personal history the conss
ency which has marked his progress the characteristics
of his eloquence and the Of his unhounded sway
over the hearts Of his counrymen He triumphanty
uted the charge of sordidness which the leading accu
sation of his enemies by contrasting what he has sacri
feed by what he won he met by calm and consdeIase
enquiry the hostility evoked against him by his denun
Citations OF slavery, and showed that IL he had committed
il of judgment and not in advocating the broad
principle OF universal charity which Curran had spostro
phed by the title Of the genius Of universal emancipa
| ton"
The Rev lecturer, in most mastery manner proceed
ed to examine the repeal of the Union its justice poba
bily practicaby, and necessity reform for Irish
grievances Our space will not allow to follow this
able ion of his DISCOURSE but IL the paudits Of
crowded house could testify to its merits that temo
was not wanting to it's surprising excellence He sat
down amidst the most unboupded applause, which was
| repeatedly renewed for many minutes.
| The LATE GENERAL BERTRAND.-The sudden
and unexpected demise of our late distinguished
visitor, General Bertrand, who, from his vigorous
constitution and temperate habits, gave premise Of
long life Of usefulness, has created SURPRISE only
exceeded by the distress of all who had seen,
heard or read, of this model of fidelity. We pre-
sent readers with an extract of letter from his
brother, Mons Bertrand Bostarge, which cannot
fail to be interesting
"CHATEAU ROW, Feb. ., 1914.
Refore This lettar reacIl xou ioIrnaix