The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-07
LORD CAB Il s l. Els
(LATE L0RD noRrETH)
LECTURE In EN0LAND ON AMERACA-


LDCTURE In ENGLAND ON AMhH1CA-
From tk< Leeds (Esgissd) Times, Dec. 81
On Friday night, Lord Carlisle delivered his
lecture, a the Leeds Mechanics Institution, In
which he described the Impressions produced
on his mind during his visit to the Uni I'd States
Canada, and Cuba The hall was again densely
crowded, and his lordship was welcomed with
unbourded enthusiasm. In the orchestra were
the Mayor, George Goodman, esq., J. G. Mar
shall, esq, and W. Beskett, ESQ.,, (the members
for the borough) Aid. Sidney, NJ. r., w. X. c.
Stans6sld, esq., N. p, (Huddsrs6eld,) the Hon.
&c, DO. The sister of Lord Carlisle, Lady
Mary Howard, wis present. as we'll as some
other ladies' of distinction.
Lord Carlisle did not commence the delivery
of hiA lecture until about half past eight o'clock,
when, after one or two predatory observations,
he proceeded as follows 1T may BE- known to
some of those whom | have the pleasure to see
around me, that when circumstances to which
need not further allude, accustomed breach,
temporary indeed, and soon repaired, in my con-
nection with the West Riding Of Yorkshire,
when, rs the phrase runs, some of your neigh
bOrs, and probably Of yourselves. had given me
leave to 60 upon my travels, thought could
make no better use of this involuntary leisure
than by acquiring some personal knowledge of
the United States of America. accordingly
embarked in the autumn Of the year I84l, aud
spent about one yenr in North America, having,
within that period, passed nearly over the length
and breadth OF the Republic, trod at least the
soil Of twenty-five out of the twenty-six States
of which the Union was then composed, and
paid short visits to the Queens dominions in
Canada, and to the leland of Cuba. deter
m As,.sn 4
only at the end of them to decide what should
become Of it. When it was completed, found
that it was written in too hurried and desultory
a manner, and was too much confined to my
own daily proceedings, to make it Of much inter-
est to the public at large; still more strongly
felt that, aft having been received with uniform
clvility and attention, nay, may say, with real
warmth and openness Of heart, should not
wish, even where ] had nothing but what was
most favorable to communicate, Immediately to
exhibit myself as an inquisitive observer of the
interior life to which had been admitted: and
this very feeling would probably have disqual-
fled me for the Office of an impartial critic
Now, however, that above eight years have
elapsed since my return, in turning over the
pages then written, it has seemed to me allow
able to endeavor, for purpose like the present,
to convey few of the leading Impressions
which derived from the surface of nature, and
of society, as they exhibited themselves in the
new world.
1t must follow, necessarily, from such limits
as could be allowed to me on an occasion of
this kind, that any account which can put to-
gether, from materials so vast and so crowded,
must be the most superficial Swimming of the
subject that can be conceived; all that can
answer for is that it shall be faithful to the feel
ings excited ut the moment and perfectly honest
as far as it goes. ! must premise one point
with reference to what have just now glanced
at-the use of individual names Icame in con-
tact with several of the public men--the histori-
cal men, they will be, Of the American Republic
| shall think myself at liberty, occasionally, to
depart in their instance from the rule Of strict
abstinence which have otherwise prescribed to
myself, and to treat them as public property, SO
long a. say nothing to their disadvantage
On the other hand, the men of the United States
are not created faultless beings, any more thar
the public men of other countries it must not
therefore, be considered, when mention with
pleasure anything which rebounds to their credit
that am intending to present you with Their
full and complete portraits
II was on the 2lst Of October, upon a bright
crisp morning, that the Columbia steam packet,
upon which | was passenger, turned the light
house outside the harbor of Boston. The
whole effect of the scene was cheerful and pleas
ing; the bay is studded with small islands, bare
oftrees, but generally crowned with some spark
ling white building, frequently some public es-
adjustment. The town rises we'll from the
water, and tife shipping and the docks wore the
look OF prosperous commerce As stood by
some American friends, acquired during the vow
age, and heard them point out the familiar vii.
lages, and villas, and institutions, with patriotic
pleasure, could not altogether repress some
slight but not grudging envy Of those who were
to bring 40 long voyage to an enc in their own
country, amidst their own family, within their
own home. | am not aware that ever again
experienced, during my whole American soiourn,
the peculiar feeling Of the stranger. 1t was in
deed dspelied at the moment when their flag
ship Columbus gave our Columbia a distin-
gushed, and thought rather touching, recep-
ton; the crew manned the yards, cheered, and
their band played first God ave the Queen"
and then Yankee Doodle"
spent altogether, at two different intervals
about a month in Boston. look back with fond
recollections to its well build streets-the swell.
Ing dome its State-house-the pleasant walks
or what is ter ned the Common, park in f,ct OF
moderate size, in the centre of the city, where |
made my first acquaintance with the bright win
ter sunsets of America, and the peculiar trans
parent green and opal tints which stripe the
skies around them. The long wooden cause.
ways across the inner harbor, " hch rather cal
led st. Peter burgh to my recollection. The
newly erected granite obei-k on neiyhborng
height, which certainly Ia no aft ,ity with ST.
Petersburg. as it was 10 mark ,e spot sacred to
an American, of the b,ttle of bunker Hill The
old elm tree Ut the subrrb,p uoiversi of c I'M
bridge, BENEATH which Washington drew his
sword in order TO take command of the national
army. The shaded walks aud glades on Mount
Auburn, the beautiful cemetery of Boston-to
which none We yet have, can be compared but
which, | trust, before long our Cardwicks and
Paxtons may enable us to initiate, and perhaps
to excel; these are some of my external recol-
lections of Boston, but there are some fonder
still Of the most refined and animated social in.
tercourse-of hospitalities which It seemed i'm.
possible 10 exhaust-of friendships, which |
trust can never be effaced Boston appears TO
me certainly, on the whole, the American town
in which an Englishman Of cultivation and lit
erary TASTES, or on philanthropic pursuits, would
feel hi self most at home. The residence here