Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-14

series of lectures upon the countries Of Europe.
The following outline Of the lecture which we
copy from the ~ Y. Express cannot fail 10 be
interesting TO our readers.
AFTER few preliminary remarks, Dr. d.
went on TO point out our own Intimate rela-
tions with the nations of Europe. IN respect TO
! Commerce, the A rts, Science etc. No Amerl-
can the reverend gentleman said, could travel
over Europe without being struck with the
discOrdant peculiarites of the people who IN
habit it. Though the people of Europe are
nearly of Caucasian origin, great difference
would be dscernable not only IN their physiqne,
bat also in their dress, their fashions, and so
forth. There were in Switzerland, for IN
stance, twenty-five cantons, and the DIR. SAID
there were about as many as twenty-five
varieties of costume. Religion, language and
| literature, too, were quite as diverse, and
the speaker remarked that all these wonderful
features of national distinction were of great
service in aiding a philosophical search into
the primary condition of man before an extend
ed system of civilization dispersed this pastoral
! system of association. The entire number OF
| governments in Europe, at the present time,
were slxty-six.-What changes these will un-
/ dergo in the course Of few years, IN process
! of revolution none can tell. But the tendency
of things among themselves, seemed to be the
/
! ments Norway was the freest nation IN all
| Europe,-enjoyed more national liberty, and
| its system of government approxlma,es per-
}, hans nearer TO ours than hat of any other
i country in the old world. The history OF
! Germany was cursory reviewed, and tho
! political complications of It's government un-
i IIayeed to show the utter insgnltcancc OF
! their duchies, per Sc. These duchles were, in
fact monarchies on a small scale. There was
hut very little difference between King and
Grand Duke. DR.. Baird said it was his opin-
: ion that this dsjointed state of things IN Ger
! maay, stood very much in the way OF social
land political advancement, but he thinks the
fermentation at work there now, Is likely to
! eyentuate in some more desirable plan oi con-
: soidaton. In Europe there are nine RepIbNcs
: large and small France is the most extern
/, siye, and San MarIno the most Insignificant, 50
far as territory is concerned. Passing nom
these general remarks, the Or. went on to give
u some information concerning some ol the
i dgni,aries now governing IN Europe lhe
, II King of Denmark was a most remarkable man
,, Lin many respects lie had been married twice,
! and as often divorced. In short, he is a per-
G feet ro,cdy in his character, spending the
S most of his time in idlcness, or IN hunting,
fishing and other sports Of that kind lie was
particularly celebrated for his aversion to mar
= ried life, aud the sex in general. The Emper-
J.. or of Russia, the lecturer considered decidedly
: the ablest monarch in Europe at the present
day. A year ago, all of US, he remarked
would probably have so considered Louis
Philippe, the late King of France. 1t is true
G that monarch rcigned II l-2 years with the
g most consumate skill and dexterity he ruled
boweve seemingly after the old fashion, mere
= ly for himself and for his family, not Tor the
n people his great experience among mankind
r was worse than thrown away; the creates
, moral obligations o. king were TO great eX
tent dsregarded, and the fatal consequence;
o thereof he is now suffering. The present Empe
l. ror of Russia in point of acquired knowledge
!. was far inferior To Louis Philippe. lie was
however, a man Of strong intellect, and I
could not be denied that he had governed ms
sc vast empire with the greatest wisdom ard skill
lie is passionately devoted TO the advancement
n of the naval and military affairs Of the nation
hut still he is not an ambitious man. ere IN
~ so. he could not have a better opportunity t
P crafty such spirit than at present, when iht
' neiphborinr nations offer fertile field for
= Iwarhke prince He takes much interest II
internal improvements and has done much Il
- educate his people, and great deal to relieve
mt their more n aternal necessities. Personally
he is a noble looking personage-more OF
German in appearance, though, than Kusslal
= is six feet high, and boasts very command
~ ing figure A father more careful or KIND L
his children than the Emperor Nicholas, thcr
8 is not to be found in all Europe. DIR. Barr
C. would say nothing of the government OF Russia
that he abhorred as much as any man could
|but what no had said of the Emperor was SAT-
merely of the man.-But, nevertheless, he
a of opnion that the present system Of govern
- ,a tC a a (
as pirc is prepared for, that 1t can last for an
great length. as now constituted, he did no
10 believe, but it was first necessary for larg
he cities with thrifty populations, to spring u
lot throuohou, that immense country,ln order thi
a middle class should be produced, who woul
feel the want of demaGd, and obtain MOI
ISL nopular system. The King of Prussia va
nd, two wears older than Nicholas, and had muc
we better opportunity for obtaining good educi
, ton. or knowledge of the world, than ii
"e Russian. For many years he had employC
lsh tho celebrated Baron Humboldt, to give hin
the hv means of conversation and reading, all II
Gas knoyledpe he possessed of foreign countue
- and the world at large, fact which shows u
~ character ofthe king, who is not only a sci
tt made man, according to Humboldt, but al'
ell one of the very best informed monarchs
oh Europe, not even excepting Louis PhlllpI
A. II himself MIR Balrd had no uulc last tNchInS
''' review the present predicamcnt IN which Ere
erick was placed; prcdlcamcnt from VIM
ers he thinks 1t extremely difficult If not altoccth
o;o imposslbe to exiricate himself. All the uo
bles which haze recently overIaken this monar
ur- the lecturer considered the legitimate fruits
re, an unwise policy, by which the king was gul
we ed. when he first assembled the throne. !
,ho wanted to establish Constitutional Monarch
without constitution. Had a liberal writt
constitution been conceded to his pcopl
when they demanded IT, and were fully pr
pared to receive 1t, the storm now how'll
a'e around him. he might easily have escape
icl- However, all that might be, at the same TIN
the Mr.. Baird bore willing testimony to the ma
c.. moral and intelligent excelleucics Of the M
n'' of Prussia. which personal acquaintance h
allowed him to carefully mark and obser'
He takes great interest IN our aiillrs IN t
can limited States, and had more than once expre'
r,v cd ,o the lecturer his desire to visit this cou
l,ry Much Of the knowledge of men a
~" Things possessed by the Prusslan Ming was'
'een ouired from the experience of others, comma
~ - -oska1lv in fact his education, or