The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-30

The annual commencement OF this institution wa
celebrated Wednesday the 2sth inst, at which tim
some eighty young gentlemen received the degree o
ABB. The exercises highly oreditabe to the stu
dents, and reflect great honor the able corps of in
structors who preside the instituio, eais ro
arrive In time to hear the address Of Theodore sedg
wick, on Monday evening, In which he spoke against
Mexican war The address Of Tuesday PM, before the
Phi Beta Kappa, which was to have been delivered by
Willis Hall (who, from various unable
to fulfil the sppointment) delivered by the Rev
Bishop Potter Of Pennsylvania. No more accept.
able substitute could have been selected, nor could
any desire to have the subject more sklfully OF
logically handled. The theme was, The tendency
Of the science and literature Of our day to exclude al
to the biologists Of the school, TO the
thor of the Vssges, and to the writings Of Babbage
violence Of the deepest instincts Of nature
and Is inconsistent with any ntegble theory Of mira
oes Of the doctrine Of Providence while leaves no
for liberty in man, nor for evil or disorder in the
universe"
The grafton before the literary societies in the evening
was read by the Hon. Geo. r. Marsh OF VI the Hon.
lacks some of the graces Of delivery he Is by
no deficient In the important particular OF
good writing. His whole subject was trested In cheer
full vigorous and classic STYLE evncing the ripe scholar
and the well read man His subject was human action
He commenced by asserting that the intellectual and
study well each action Of our lives be cautious Of what
aimsnt furnish to the mind seek In the history OF
the past lesson for own guidance through NE 10
study individual rather than social being;
and here the speaker commended that the written hso
~ Of the world much at fault The historian too
often turned romsncer and painted in lively coors the
vices foss crimes Of man. rather than his normal
dtion. The couQueror excels the legislator cangour
Of the trumpet and the din Of war slot him far more
than the voice Of peace Too often the historian be-
the violent psrtzan the apologist instead Of
the impartial witness Do want proof Of the fact
turn 70 the writer's of the French Revolution where
we shall find every act Of violence and blood
tho writer's Another error is th.. history h.s
What soyereigns hold they claim as rights
what the people possess they obtain as graces;
people possessed no rights whatever such partial his.
tory will be Of but little service to the American states
man Where power Us ws a. grace rests Win tns
tory profitable he must learn what Is the actual not the
relative condition Of peoplewhat power the ruler pos
the psopls-what restrictions upon those
who have voice 10 the government We must know
how the peasant subsists well how the prince ves
the Individual as well as TO know bout masses; Lnese
rsn What makes the sculpture OF Egypt or Pompeii,
again to EARTH or the tombs the statues and
the arches Of the worth more to the student Of
history than all that Lvy ever wrote but the simple
fact that they give impartial insight into the
habits, manners and customs OF the people, Inc
truth Of which cannot If we would, deny Providence
has impaired to every homogeneous nation peculiar
moral aud political character This character will, Of
the statesman who studies history Alright must become
conversant with them. In this country statesmen
are too anxious for immediate results few look beyond
the present. One administration settles principle,
the next repudates 1t !; or II some measure IL but
carried out BY succeeding administration, they re-
ceive the censure or the praise, when In fact
they deserve neither the ons nor the other Not so
the early statesmen Of country they delberated
calmly and having decided upon their course Of action
were willing to let time decide. This love Of change
and novelty stimulated 1t u.s. by our success and in
a nation, has intoxicated U.s. and We demand
Of the than WAS to erect
the doctrine Of instruction. In another by pledges or BY
public opinion which too oten is manufactured BY the
very who pretend to be guided by It, The effect OF
either Of these Is about the samet prevents
testing great arght and threatsns to de-
strcy our national character The histories OF the 10Th
nclers Of the 18Th 4th and 10th centuries, and are
scarcely worth reading, bit for the pedanry and para
you believe that Dutch the language of Eden Ano
ther spurning the common starting point, begins his
story with the fall of the angels third proves to bis
satisfaction, that Odin and Ulysses are the same;
while many Of them to give currency to their Abrica
ted facts forge manuscripts to sustain them Modern
literature has done much towards eevatng literary cri
tics into SCIENCE and has already exposed many Of
the errors and fabricstions contained In the most
histories The historian should acquire
each and every part Of man as an individua-his
habits duties, abors and tolls. Truth should be
his guide he should study him US Shakespeare are
labor. What fine field is presented for the his
torian in any OF the old settled Atlantic States True
these shores yet during this brief period TO-
have been subdued and crowded Cities verdant
neds now stand where the wild beast and the
passed through years what I'M European civilization
has taken centuries They were frank bold, fearless
We by progress have become less Look but at their
rude cabins their half cleared fields the deep gloomy
forests the winding foot path beset by the prowling
wolf, the lurking savage. See him go for to his
work Of toll, with clumsy plough rude hoe or heavy
axe watch him, at his humble and often scsnty
meal, and you have faint picture Of IN early set
ter and Of the trials he forced to undergo
The social organization Of American society differs from
European, also does political; and although many
Of legal and political terms borrowed from those
Of Europe in reality they differ widely from them in
their meaning The Briton boasts that his civil ber-
ties spring from the Magma Charta; not 30 with us. As
well might refer for their origin to the laws Of Draco
Lycurgus If desire to go forward to progress in
power and in arts, in wisdom, study history. If we
would preserve and cherish the free institutions Of our
and retain the liberties secured to study the hsto
Of the past and he who teaches Alright, who looks
instruction fathers and to their God and for
warming Europe viii confer the GREATEST favor upon
ais country. |.
iiton of Ireland" delivered by one Of the graduating
glasses It is composition OF merit, but COM
PEELED from want Of room to leave 1t out.
Exhibltlon OF the College Of tho Holy Cross,