The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-04-27


having received the seal and impress Of trans
Atlantic appreciation is recognized by his in
dependent countrymen as profund thinker and
eloquent utterer." His lectures were listened to
with much interest in the cities of Great Britain.
Since his return to his native country he has been
lecturing in the Northern cities. We hope that
another winter may bring him to New Orleans
Agassiz, Raphael and Emerson, would do much to
the interest Of our citizens and lead the mind
from the dollar to the contemplation of higher OBJ
jects, both of matter and of mind. The recent
work by Gilfllan, contains a very fattering crti-
cism Of the great American who doubtless is re
cognized in England as next to Mr.. Webster.
We think that writer, however, was misnformed,
when told that Mr.. Emerson was the least popular
clergyman in Boston. On the contrary, we well
recollect the Rev. Mr.. Emerson as one of the
most interesting pulpit orators Of New England.
We shall never forget the first time we saw Mr..
Emerson. 1t was in the pulpit Of another clergy
man Of his then faith. We did not know who he
was. 1t is some twenty years ago, when he was
a very young man. His pale face-his musical
voice--his simple manner-hs strange out-of-the-
way thought, all announced him as marked man.
His duties as pastor OF church were not of long
duration. He refused to administer the Sacra-
ment and of course gave up his charge. His con-
gregation parted from him with deep regret for
they loved him a man, as well as admired him
as clergyman.
But though his refusal to perform the pastoral
sacrament of the Lords Supper dissolved his con-
nection withhis church, he still continued to preach
Accident threw the writer in close contact with
him during summer, when similarity of taste in
the study of natural history led to many ramble,
over fields and through forests and by river banks.
Mr.. Emerson had not yet become great man, and
the boy was not awed by the fame of his COM
panion. But years of study and contemplation, of
travel and secluson, have called forth from the
fertile soil the golden fruitage." He is now
| recognized as one Of the first minds which Ameri-
can institutions have produced. He is as power
full, in his peculiar domain, as Daniel Webster.
He has been lecturing, this winter, at New York,
and produced quite excitement But this proves
nothing. The opinion of the upper ten of New
York is entitled to but little weight; it is all the
mere effect of caprice. But in sober Philadelph
he has been equally fortunate in affecting the pub
lie mind.
There many eloquent men in the United
States, that we will not call him eloquent. There
is not a village bar which does not rejoice in
an Erskine or Curran. We never open a
paper without falling on the name of some distin-
guished orator. In fact, eloquence is weed
SO common, that it grows luxuriantly in soils
which will not sprout peas Mr.. Emerson is not
eloquent in that sense of the word. He is rather
above the middle height spare, with pale COM
plexion, brown hair, large grey, dreamy eyes,
which only wake up when some strange thought
flashes across his mind. His manner is extremely
quiet, with but little gestculation, and that not
studied at the mirror, His voice is low, silvery,
musical, its intonations unearthy; he seems talking
to himself Next to DR.. Charming, he is the most
fascinating man who, in our age, has occupied the
pulpit or the desk of the lecturer.
He has not published much. His thoughts are
to be weighed, not counted. Two volumes of Es-
says and volume Of Lectures, under the style of
Representative Men" and one delicate volume of
poetry are all. These to be found at the book
stores in the city. We commend them to those
who have not already become acquainted wit the
| finest thinker of his times.