The New York herald., 1850-12-03

national mind, therefore, among the small poets or
iitferGtsurs of America, is to seek il in vain. The
Frenchman came as near the mark, when he said
he had discovered the true native American, and
that was the red republican. (Lauehter.) IL is in
the laws, institutions, and active pursuits of life,
that the American mind is to be sought for Our
politics compare favorably with any other coun-
try, as regards their morality and intelligence.
America has produced three great statesmen in the
present generation, Webster, Clay, and Calhoun.
The last, though dead, Yet speaks, for such a
originated. Webster is the most comprehen-
sive statesman Clay, the most accomplished
rhetorician Calhoun, the nimblest lesdcr of
partisan warfare-a kind of Roman. Englshman,
cross between Cincinnatus and Burke. (Laugh-
ter) New Hampshire is famed for great men aud
wafer power, (aughter,) but il lavishes its great
men on Massachusetts Webster and Calhoun
have the same great grasp of principles, the same
disregard of the means of popularity. Webster's
oratioDs have more of passion, and a wider sweep,
hut they are not so compact with character, nor
indicate SO much persistency TO an object. CAL
houn ignores everything that does not agree with
his opinions. Webster looks before and after,
aiding events in principles, and principles in
events, and arching over the scene OF mental vi
sion, looks at things from above, and in their rrla
ton TO each other. Webster has comprehension
without audacty Calhoun audacity without COM
prehension. Webster has an instructive con-
scientiousness, spnnging from the very greatness
of his intellect, which keeps him always right. and
leads him TO despise minor considerations Web
ster is inductye Calhoun is deductve, and con-
vers prophecy into a science. Burke, the greatest
of European statesmen, was remarkable for having
made the discovery of deductiye laws. But the
mischief of Calhoun is, that his will controls his
reason; and it may be said of him, what Mac aulay
untruly said of Burke, that he chooses his position
like fanatic, and defends il like a philosopher
and we may reverse the sentiment in regard 10
Clay, who chooses his position like philosopher,
and defends it like fanatic. To overthrow ilhoun
you must direct tremendous blow at his centre,
like Napolson's army. in a certain poston-to
Srfh lNAhG rra ha -.
other position, with the same organization in
another position, you must rout the whole line.
The style of both shows the power of the men, as
waves answer to winds Gays power is of a
different kind. His personal qualities attract mems
admiration, while they command their respect.
He wins the heart. The secret of his influence is
not TO be sought in his printed speeches. If Web
sier is inductive, and convinces the reason, and
Calhoun is deductive, and dazzles the reason, Clay
is seductive, and carries the votes. (Laughter.)
Clay concentrates all his qualities in his person;
and, without being demagogue himself, m ikes
all the demagogues work for him. Like Napoleon,
he has the power of winning and controlling the
hearts of millions till he moves hem like one man.
Yet Clay is not perfect specimen OF the class of
characters TO which he belongs. He does not al
ways exercise his power prudenty, turn it TO the
best account sense of honor, morbidly quick,
sometimes urges him into impolitc acts, which
destroy the labor of years. The best test of
greatness s IN man, S' how ne acts Thea
self, and Clay displays glorious reckiessness,
while Webster preserves his soul in calm 'di gnity
and patience, and sees the end from the beginning.
In his style, Webster is not like Burke 5 zgZag
lightning shooting along the horizon, nor Chat
hams thunder pealing overhead, in solemn gran
deur, without the brilliancy OF the electric dlid
but, like the flash and crash together, convincing
and striking awe into the mind After advertng
to slavery, which, Mr.. Whipple said, cursed one
portion of the country, while it dsgraced all, but
would yet find its inevitable doom, the lecturer
went on to say-It is not SO much in the past or
resent in the future that the grandest vision of
American mind is to be seen. We have observed
that, at present, its practical productions are its
greatest CHARACTERISTICS; and in the future. there
national mind, harmoniousy combining the quail
the frankness of the Irishman--the humor of the
Epgshman, and the national characteristics of
every other netion-a mind too sound at the core
10 be consumed by avarice, or destroyed by power
"a mind moving down the pathway of ages an
image of just, intellige ut, benefcent power. (En-
thusasiic applause.)
BIBLICAL AsTRovoMY-BY PROFESSOR MITCHELL.
Professor Mitchell delivered his fourth lecture on
Biblical Astronomy, at Hope Chapel, last evening.
The object proposed by the lecturer was to show
that the science of astronomy furnished no data by
which TO prove that our race has existed longer
than the period alluded to in the biblical accouat
He alluded TO the term year, as used by the an
clients, who appear TO have applied ii to different
exients of time; but TO the period in the past 10
whic all astronomical calculations point with GER