The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-15

Lecture OF the Rev. DIR. Ryder.

q 'oos~Ao ooAore Inc O8tuoHc destitute OF New
York, on Thursday evening last, On the subject
Lord Baoen's Claims to Greatness Examined"
he commenced his lecture by saying that great
man is great public benefit. He may be COR
sidered as a light that illumines the pathway Of
the rising generation q model for imitation for
the growing youth of the land-as beautiful study
to the youthful aspirant for early fame and repu-
tation. But great many men are called great
who are not really so, and, so far from being
great public beneft-a light to illumine the path
way of the rising generation and whose example
is worthy of being studisd and inflated directly
the reverse. There have been truly great mon in
the world, and think there are some now living !;
but unfortunately there has always been, and is,
great facility, not in canonizing people-for the
Catholic Church only can do that-but ia holding
up to the admiration Of the world, and in GRO wing
as great men, individuals who are far frsm do.
serving the reputation. The name of Bacon has
been enrolled the list of rae great and llustrious
OF past times, and he has been considered By some
as the parent OF natural philosophy. He has been
held up as a demigod ALMOST, Of the sixteenth
science, and who threw iustre over science
and philosophy, which 10 total stranger to
II IN times past. Now, as ! am nat disposed
wantonly to las, assail the memory Of tho dead,
as proper objects for our admiration, it is the
duty OF every reflective mind 10 consider Why hom-
age is paid to such individual In relation to this
individual, whether We CONSIDER him ia the charac-
ter of a civilian or as philosopher, believe the
unprejudieed contemplation Of MS double character
will be satisfied that he was neither great nos
proper that should give IA outline of this man
and OF his philosophy. Lord Francis Bacon
the SOD of Nicholas Bacon who had distinguished
himself by his zeal in propagatog the new religion
in England. He was a tsyorlte of Queen Eliza
beth, and was rewarded with the ample domains of
the abbey Of ST. Edmonsbury, and that was sua
cent to keep him true to the Reformation. His
son was youth of unques ;on lble talent. After
completing his studies he sent to France, where
he perfor med an important service to the En- 1lish
ambassador; and although but eighteen years of
age when he returned, he was quite diplomasst.
Elizabeth took fancy to bia. aud under the aus
pices OF Essex francis Bacon grew up into import.
ance, and hs!d high place in the government. He
was appointed the special advocate OF the crown and
ocourse, under the protection of Essex the road to
cele brty, And fame and fortune almos. gilded.
Essex, however, met his doom. lie ceased to enjoy
the frle odship Of Elizabeth. He to the
preudices of that extraordinary but wanton woman;
and-wili it be believed ?-this very Francis Bacon
the first to justify the death Of Essex, and to
cfer incense to Elizabeth in consequence of the
doom she passed on her former patron. The
English mind was aroused to indignation at his
teachery, and more than once, the assassin's
dagger was ready to shed his blood. When
Bacon survived his popularity, and the new sun
arose after the setting of the STAR Venus, II had
almost said Bacon, presented himself az an humble
servant of James the First and by the force of adu
iaton and hattery was received into the grace of
that monarch That singular king, tickle as the
air. and proud as Lucifer himself had fancied him.
self great orator and a great statesman. He
thought no one was like him and so ready was he
to believe it, that the most lavish in fattering
him was sure to be his favorite Bacon was pro-
NOTED to the office of Keeper of the Seals and to
the Chancellorship. But the white ermine was no
type OF his character. Venal as the loves. petit
fegger. after having honor conferred upon him by
the king, with all the advantages of wealth and
sack asking for aims. Instead of being immove-
able as statue, he was purchased by all, and the
man who bribed him most sure to have the
scales OF justice turned in his favor. Do you call
that great man! Under such state Of things
the poor were oppressed, and were violated with
Injustice; the wealthy man, whether his cause was
Just or not, was sure to succeed. Inc Almighty
God sometimes stops the career of wi,kedness in
this world, and finally the misconduct Of Bacon
made apparent to the community. The peos.e
could not stand bis exactions. and finally he is ma 10
known to the community at liz ge for his injustice
lie was impeached by Parliament He acknow.
lodged The turpitude 81 his coudaot-aoknow leseed
that he vas the assassin OF jIstice, and was the
oppreseor Of the poor He is condemned and fined
by Parliament in the sum of forty thousand pounds
be Is confined in the tower at the will Of the
king he is declared Ineligible to Paria uent, and
unft to hold office, and is excluded perpetually from
the confines of the court Here is man who is
held up as great and iustrious character Is
there anything brilliant in a man who Is condemned
oy his own confession a vensl minister, a tool OF
ordly power, and an oppressor Of the poor lam
aware that Bacon, after short time, was relieved
IF the punishment inflicted on him by James. He
fJas liberated from prison and permitted to come to
court. But did that purge his character q venal
magistrate, as traitor to the institutions of the
country, as an oppressor of the poor Certainly
not. He then retired to his estates and became a
philosopher, and although he has given to the
world number of books, | certainly do not
think there is a man OF the present day, hardly
think there is person living, who has read forty
IF "a tav 1,.VnA ~ -
that his name and his memory should be the pos
session Of scme foreign nation. A pretty bequest,
70 be sure! A man that is degraded in his o vn
country. that is held up to the scorn Of his fellow
his name and his memory to a foreign nation II
shows the callousness of his heart. How did tho
philosopher, expect, and how little did he deserve,
The name q great man Wei, 1t seems that
England spurped for O hundred years, France, in
the day Other liberty, and in paroxysm Of Madness
assumed as precious legacy, and from that day to
this Bacon is great man, the idol of philosophers
and the father OF science. so he was considered by
the ency clopedsts Of France | believe that
n an audience like this the name Of French
encyclopedias is not unknown. will say,
without fear Of contradiction, that club Of
greater villains and notorious aes Of true sol
and philosophy, and greater enemies of liberty,
and order, and religion, could not be found. Ii |
would Of course be impossible to give, occa-
sion like this, outline of Bacons philosophy.
IL difused itself into vast area OF scieat6c objects
and subjects, but rs to his having originated any
new iiea In phlosophy-asto his having discovered
any new principle in the sixteenth century-not one
to be found in all his works. In the first place,
be would not admit that anything was worthy of |
consideration by the intelligent mind, except |
physics, so that really n is almost tempted TO
say, ''throw physics TO the dogs" Now, ask any
intelligent man, whether person who confines the
operations Of his mind to physics or natural PABLO
sopby can be oalleJa philosopher, in the proper
ses Sc of tas wOrd surely before science became
well known as u is now there philosophy in /
The world surely science is not confined to the |
mere m hasism Of matter, the mere enlargement
of matter. This certainly never has been cous /
jtred the Of science. Yet with Bacon nothing
but physical science-nothing but matter IL the /
pronounced bin fool aud madman, and accused \
him of play wing with sylosism like child Syl. /
logism, be enid, only for the poor schoastics-
syllogism u not the means by which science can be
acquired. Nov. akk. If reasoning can at all ex st