American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-15
[For the Baltimore CIipper.l
DR.. NORRIS LECTURES.

.Mtsrs. Editors: last evening attended the
lecture of Rev DIR, Morris, the theme of which
was "Tales of Traveller in the Lowlands of
Switzol land" Such being the subject an
nounced, and such the speaker-for a moro
graphic and pleasing dcscriptionist than DR.. M.
never lectured-l was surprised, in spite ofthe
dull wet weather, to see so slender an audience,
and supposing that many might be gratified by
some account of the lecture, who, apprehensve
perhaps that it would be deferred, did not at
tend, shall briefly review the very entertain
ing subject by which we were edited.
After some preliminary observations on the
political constitution Of Switzerland, which
was described TO be Republic, the speaker
carried us to the venerable city of Constance,
which, though now in decay doomed place,
was once great and famous. He showed us its
situation on the Lake of Constance; and guided
by the various relics of antiquity which he saw
there, he sketched its history, from the great
council Of l4l4, which sat years and months
down to its present state of degradation and
poverty. The hall where that celebrated coun-
Gil was held, is GIG feet long and 100 wide;
and there are to be seen to this day, the chair
in which sat the Emperor Sigismund, the box
for taking the votes, and the doors of that fear
full dungeon in which duss was ncarcerated
where Huss was burned, and gave an account
of the transaction. The lecturer spoke of the
enthusiasm which pervades the breast of one
visiting the strong castles, the great gothic
churches, and the strange looking cities of the
contnent-fabrics built from seven to nine CEN
turtles ago, and famous for deeds of valoT, ehiv-
airy and maftyrdom; and the historical recol-
lections clustering around Constance were Pc
culiarly rich. | am sorry MIR. Editor that it is
not in my power 10 give your readers the ac-
count OF those wonderful transactions as it was
given by the lectsrer-but
DR.. M. next travelled to Schaffhausen in an
other Canton. Here grand musical festival
was celebrating, the performers, 1000 in num-
Der, being assembled out Of every part of Switz-
erland. He described the arrangements, the
arches, devices, music and general manner of
doing things The variety of costumes was
very striking, for each canton has its peculiar
costume perpetuated from time immemorial ;
some of which according to description, must
be exceedingly whimsical. Though the sing
ing at this festival was, as might be expected,
all but divine, the real object of the concert
is suspected TO be political. So the young
Swiss, fellow travellers of the lecturer from S,
confessed to him, but not until he had told
him he was an American Republican. The
SWISS love our Tree governments Know our
history, and are fond Of comparing our Wash
ington with their Tell.
The city of S., its University, fountains
and statistics were touched upon in course; as
well as several customs, which to US seem very
singular A man perambulates the streets or
Sunday morning, springing rattle like a
watchman's; this is public notice for the people
to give aims, which he collects, none refusing
ogive something. The doctor thought this a
good idea; taking up collection in churches only
is not fair, because 100 many do not attend
churches. A hat ought to be put round in
the theatre too. The stability of every thing
in Switzerland was commented on, and com
pared with our restlessness. A family there
, will occupy the Same pew for two hundred
years Schaffhuasen is much more prosperous
than Constance; all the Protestant Cantons hav'
ing the same relation to those which are Ca
tholic
The celebrated falls of the Rhine wero de
scribed; but the doctor thought no cataracts II
Europe we're worth seeing after Niagara.
Zurich was the next city visited: a beautiful
prosperous, and very celebrated place. Tn
grain market was once Convent. An Anne
rcan feels at home among the Alps, for he i