Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-09-03

| The extracts we give below are taken from
interesting letters in the N. Y. Courier and En-
quirer and the Express, describing the exercises
at the late Commencement of our University.
From the Courier and Enquirer
| On Wednesday occurred the proper exercises
oe commenrement-day. Oratious We're delivered
by twentv-one members of the graduating class,
and two bv the candidates for the Masters de.
gree. The former both nsnirt and in style, SEEM
cd to mo decidedly above the average of produce
tons of that class The choice of subjects, in
deed indicated IA range Of inquiry and degree of
original thought seldom attained by under-gradn.
afrs and the manner of their treatment gave evil
dcnce of a thorough and mrthodical culture and
discipline Of the original powers of the mind, as
well as "fthe acquisition of sound and useful in
form ton. One upon Shakespeare anil q eile, BY
i Mr.. John G. King, of Baltimore, was one of the
finest pieces of philosophical criticism have
recently met and another, entitled Religion
/ The ultimate aim of PhiiosophH by Mr. w. w
Blodgett, of Randolph. VT. united philosophical
thought with clearness and exactness of dcini-
ton to a degree which, so far as my observation
has extended is very unusual with young gen.
tlemen at this stage of their mental training
Besides there were several others that would
have been highly creditable to much older heads
] i
DOM by Caspar Il. Hopkins, of Burlington
The Demagogue, exemplilied by Cleon of AtI
ems by J. w. Taylor, of Shelburne; The Re
lation of Individual to Social Well-being.' BY
Ira Divoll. of Topsham; The Nature AMI Pro
vince of Satire by C. c. Snlding, of Montpc-
lie- !: The Influence of Art upon the National
Spirit by Geo II. Paul, of Boston; Indepen.
dence of Thought by w. ID. Hitchcock, OF
Pittstord; The Spirit of Man, the only Inter-
prefer of Nature by &. &. Benedict, of Burng-
tom The Educating power of the Beautiful,
by Carolus Noyes, of Hyde Park-were all ex-
ceedingly well digeSted and well written pro-
dnctions. They were all distinguished by a
freshness and independence Of thought, which
stood in marked contrast with the hackned
commonplace too often echoed on such occa.
sions have mentioned them thus specifically
because ! was greatly struck with the charac
teriscs | have mentioned, and because it i,
from the performance OF these occasions that
d public judgment must be formed of the charac
ter and worth of the instructions OF the Uni
), versity.
e The degree Baccalameus Anium was cor
: ferred upon twenty-eight graduates, and that G
Artium NtgiSter III course upon twelve or III
e teen, The honorary degree OF A. NJ was ais
II conferred upo, several literary gentlemen; tn,
of $. IT, ID. upon the Rcv. J, A. Hicks, of r II
iihu, lit NV. ShtfIcs w tlhtI. VI Iill>l'lTt
|. and that of LII. ID. upon the Hon. Jlmes Dean
u Besides these, which were all the regular eA
q ercises of the occasion, there were others inc
: dent to il 2f good deal of interest. Presider
Wheeler on Sunday afternoon preached a yer
able sermon to the graduating class upon til
!, responsibility which talents and requirement
), devolve upon those who may possess then
i The Associate Alumni held Il very interestin
meeting at which incipient steps were taken
: establish one or more alumnus protessorshp
r The graduating class held farewell meeting
G Ga commencement day some two hundred inv
II ted guests sat down to public dinner given
y the Corporation of the University at the Amer
n can Hotel, (Which en- passam has been great
y enlarged and otherwise improved during Il
past year, at which, after the repast, sen'inen
It were offered and speeches made by Judge Ca
d amer, Dr. e,ch,r, Charles Adams, E'l., al
e others. And in the evening large AM brll.la
y com any assembled in the large h III OF I
American and gave fresh wings to the iyil
1t hours, by a most spirited and splendid dane
n D,dworth's fine band from your city, which h
ID attended upon all the exercises, goes back
y New York with unbounded honors and applan:
r Its performances have been admirable; not on
y the exec ution but the selection Of pieces ada
n ted to the several occasions, was in excelle
N taste. 1t has given most hearty and gene
II. satisfaction A large number of strangers
lie distinction were present, among whom ! m
n Eaton y-(,nVsr n Pa