The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-23
MIR. EMERSON ON ENGLAND.

MIR. EMERSON ON ENGLAND.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON lectured be-
fore the Boston Mercantile Library Asso-
cialion, On Wednesday evening, on Eng
land, giving the results of his observations
during his recent visit. He appears TO
have derived strongly favorable impress
sions of the English character. He spoke
of the steady balance of the qualities OF
their nature as their great characteristic,
and the secret Of their success. Every
thing in England betokens life. The land
and climate are favorable to the produc-
ton and preservation of good men. Mr..
EMERSON facetiously remarked that IT was
against his theory to travel. He did not
like it, and in most cases he believed 1t
disadvantageous to the literary man.
Running up hills and over valleys he be-
Iieved the office of wheel, not of mau.
But he had profted by his trip to Eng
land.
He referred to the elements Of that
power which the English now hold, and
have held for centuries. After looking at
her manufactures, scattered all over the
land, her commerce, her agriculture, her
arts, and witnessing the stupendous re-
suits which have been wrought out, one is
convinced that if he would see the best
Development of common sense, the
standard sense,) he must go to England
TO witness it. The land, in every part so
like a Garden, shows the triumph of la
Dor: the fields look as if finished with tile
pencil, not the plough. Every arabic spot
has been cultivated, and everything turn
ed to the best possible use.
England, indeed, is a huge mill, grand
hotel, where everything is provided to
ones mind. On the railroads we ride
twice as fast, and with one half the shak-
ing, that we do upon our roads. All Eng
land is machine-everybody moves on
railway-no Englishman ever touches the
ground. England has the best working
climate in the world it is never hot or
cold their winter days are like our No
vember days in the early part of the
month. The only drawback which Mr..
Emerson mentioned was the dark grey
color of the sky, which renders day and
night too nearly alike, and makes 1t pain
full at times 10 read and write; TO this
must be added the dark, dense smoke per-
vading and completely enveloping, at
times, every surrounding object.
England has all the materials for work
ing country-iron, coal, &c.-exceptIng
wood
The Englishman enjoys great health
and yigor of body. They are larger than
Americans. One hundred Englishmen
taken at random would probably weigh
one quarter more than the same number
of Americans selected in the same man
ner, and yet Il skeleton is said not to
weigh more The Englishman is plump
round, and full, and presents stout. re-
spectacle, and grandfatherly figure Inc
women even have thickset forms, and sell
dom tall, spare Englishman IS SEEN
The figures of the days of chivalry cary
ed in stone. some of them 900 years old,
which adorn the churches all over Eng
land. present the same type which charac-
,erizes the present race. Enjoying vigo-
rous health, they last well, and their AMI
NAL powers are perfectly developed They
are great eaters and claim that good
supply of food is absolutely essential to
health. They have more constitutional
energy and vigor than we have: Like
their horses, they have mettle and bottom.
Pluck is the national characteristic-the
cabman, the porter, the nobleman, the
bishop, and even the women have II the
press runs over with it.
An Englishman speaks with his whole
body-his elocution is stomachy-an A.
Emerican is labial. He may gfowl at the
petty annoyances of hotel, but ne has a.
lbundance of selfcommand. But the
Gaxes" of his eyes are united to the back
bone. and only move with the trunk
Whoever else may fail the Eng Ishman
will not. He has existed for a thousand
years and will continue to exist as his
character possesses as much energy as
lever. r.- c.u
Il London and England are now in full
urowth.-Birkenhead, opposite Liverpool,
crows as fast as South Boston, or Brook
Iyn opposite New York.-London is ems
/ larging at an alarming rate, even to the
n swallowing up of Middlesex. The Brit
ish Museum is not yet arranged London
+ University is growing as rapidly as one