The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-08-05


For the Voice of Freedom.
Mr. EDITOR: have just returned from tour.
across the Mountains that separate your part of the
State from ours-Iny especial purpose having been
to attend the anniversaries at Mddlcbury. Passing
seventy miles along the route Of the famous "Rut
land Railroad" one can hardly fail to remember
how visionary n scheme this project, now in the
process of being SO vigorously carried ont was re-
garded by many Of our citizens, only two or three
years snce-and how incrcdulous, even to this day,
SO many good people in various parts of New En-
gland seem to be, as to the realty of what they es-
TEEN 50 shadowy and chimerical. To any one how
ever, at all acquainted with the nQiehtorhood Of
" lowell Brook" ard Of the hitherto redoutable
Hog Back" i'll Ludlow, think its present appear
ancc will be very strong proof of decided tendency
towards something besides the bascess fabric of
vision" Active operations are going on, your read
ers are doubtless mostly aware, at Bellows Falls
Brockway's Mills, BOrtonve, Chester Caycndsh,
Ludlow, lin the latter town on as many as three
different scctions,) on the higher regions Of Mount
Holly and onward through Cuttingsvillo, and
your own town. In short, am not a little elated
! with the prospect Of attending " Commencement"
in q year or two, with only Il gentle three or four
! hours ride behind the iron horse"
The Commencement season at Middebury passed
very agreeably and much to Tic satisfaction of the
visitors from abroad Ga Tuesday, at2 O'clock P.
NJ the procession of the Ph:lonathesian Society be-
gan to move from Painter Hall towards the White
| Church, where they addressed by Rev. A. II.
CiaPp Of Bra.teboro. The address seems to have
been intended especially for such as design to devote
their lives, in the main, to literature proper It
dwell very justly on some Of tho peculiar experience
cs and trials which must necessarily befall young
man il the outset Of literary pursuits, and offered
| some manly advice :; encouragement. The remarks
on q literary creed, however, were not quito so
happy. While dwelling particularly on the strong
material tendencies of the age, the one hand, ard
the extreme spiritual incna.ions, on the otEer Mr.
c. seems rather to have failed in giving any clear in
timations Of what golden medium" would be, or
how it should be attained. Neither do VIC think
him particularly felicitous, in assuming Strauss as
the type OF the religious spirit of the Germans. Tie
address on the whole, however, was we'd writer,
and instructive in many important particulars.
In the evening" DR.. HickoA, Of Auburn Thcologi-
cal Seminary, addressed tHo Philadelphia Society,
greatly to the acceptance of al. A more profound
address has not for long time been delivered before
. the Literary Societies. 1t was, in effect, an able
and unanswerabe yndicaton of Christianity, as the
sole and indispensable means and agent Of human
progress; and though assuming ground so unpop-
uar in many quarters, and SO violently assaed in
others, the whole argument was conducted without
| recrnnation, or rebuke, of any individual or
,1,ol:o ,JT
to their tcnets.
The exercises Of the graduating class wore we'll
= sustained and credtable to all. We had the mis-
fortune to hear but small portion of the address of
. Rev. jonathan Clement, (of Topsham Me- before
, the Associated Alumni-yet it received from those
C who did hear abundance of praise. The Poem, be-
9 fore the same delivered by Rev Byron Sunder-
, land Owing to the fcebleness, huskiness, or
o some other quality of his voice. VIC fear that his
+ composition made. no very decided imprcssion-bu
Il it was evidently prepared with much taste and
d care.
My notice has been directed, by an advertisement
S in your paper, and by remarks which have heard
II respecting formidable enterprise, to the prom
:, Using efforts of Rev. Mr. Barrett to establish per-
manent school in tic retired village of Lciccster-a
&c few miles from Brandon. From thorough know
"A ledge OF his capabilities and from partial acquant
} with lis plans conjecture no inconsidorablt
d success will attend his efforts. He eutcrtains right
ID views of education-as the draCing ont and training
n of what is in the mind instead of being simple ar
g btary exercise Of the memory in laying up facts
d without reflection or understanding. | know moi
e where more pleasant locality could well be found
W for retiring from labor and business, to devote sea
II son to patient study, and to communion with nature
II in the contemplation of her works and laws.
e Such are some Of the subjects that have mainly
s. occupied my thoughts for the last wee-and shoult
81 they not prove altogether unnteresting to YOU
readers this fact, together with the agreeable relax
n alton they have afforded me from severor employ
st ments, will make this visit to my alma mater Ion
l. to be remembered.
" Respectrnly yours, L. T.
=, Chester. Jaly3l, lo47.
~ CATALOGUE OF MIDDLEBURY FEMALl
-. SEMINARY; also the Catalogue of the Off
If GERS and Students of Addison County GRAM