The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-18
THE LECTURE SEASON
The Hon. HoratiO Seymour on the g Study
NJ hc Nafurol xcuaucaa

Inc lecture OF the course arranged Tor by
the Mercantile Library Association Of this city do
livered last evening in Metropolitan Hall, by the Hon
Mr. sey mour Governor elect Of New York. the above
subject He introduced by the chairman of the
mttee and welcomed by the audience with demonstra
tons Of respect Mr. Seymour appeared to be In low
physical condition. exhausted probably By his recent po
icsl exertons and in the delivery Of the introductory
portion Of his lecture he became weak TO be unable
for time to proceed He quickly rallied however and
continued his reading TIE attendance by means
large but 1t consisted Of persons capable of apprecapg
the elegant discourse which present In full to our
readers
LECTURE.
When accepted the invitation Of this association to
address 1t this time was influenced By desrs to
manifest my respect for its and objects they
had in view -Four thousand young men, who prepar
rsbe pur Tits have associate together for hs
purpose Of intellectual improvement Engaged in bu
sness which peculiarly exacng in its demsnd upon
their time and upon their exertons they have deter
mined hot only to become successful merchants but intel
ligent liberal united men Most Of them in ciroum
stances Of life which render 1t necessary for them to work
out their own fortunes. Living in great mart
OF commerce. where the pursuit Of wealth presents
Itself in Its most attractive. absorbing aspect,
they have manifested determination not to lose
themselves in their business, or to sink themselves
able pursuit lubservient to tLer as men
They less earnest Industrious and devoted their
do they fail in properly esm asng the dignity mpor
tance Of the American merchant for they intend to in
crease snd elevate them by pacipg them upon broad
comprehensive basis. In few years those whom now
have the honor of addressing will control the
of this great city, and matter not only Of profession
a and local but Of national Importance that they should
be enlightened and liberal men. We great
commeci people, We shall soon be the greatest among
the nations the earth We have extent OF mari
time coast, immense inland lakes and navgable rivers
whose united length would span the world. The mpor-
tant and varied productions of country give great
activity and scope to domestic ana foreign COM
meIce 1t Is impossible to estimate the magnitude
and extent to which they will ultimately swell This city
tn ha tha
tions 1t win give to them the tone and character and
aspect they are to assume. The wealth accumulated
here will be the from which to derive the
means to carry out great of domestic improve
foreign enterprise it is therefore matter of
liberal eplighte ned and educated men. To those who
entertain just views Of the position and duties of the
those who are about assume them appreciate what
they TO themselves and their pursuit. The mem
bers Of this Association have founded one Of the most
extensive libraries in country, they maintain
valuable Of instruction In the various branches
Of literature and science and becoming public bene
factors even before they have entered fully upon
their mercantile pursuits they sustain valuable and in
terestng Of public Lectures Actuated by the
liberal and enterprise which characterzes
them they have induced ofthe most eminent foreign
writers Of the day whose works familiar to as
household words entertain and instruct themselves
this COMMUNICATIVE Of lectures upon literary
topics. deemed honor to be asked to deliver the
nrst or introductory address of the season, to
although want Of time and pressing duties have
engagement My object this time is to CAL the aten
tcn Of this Association to class Of intellectual pursuits
we'll calculsted to give aheslthful tone to the mind
II must be understood they not urged to ths sxcu
sion Of other studies and that when attem mpt to show
there danger that we as people allow ourselves to be
degn to cay anything dsrogation Of value or dig
MY ssdasse1 p.rrvis Whsn Lavsu nys1 ths necss-
believe they calculated to promote the best interest of
the merchant well Of the lam also conscious
that many OF suggestions appear 10 be napplica
BILE to the circumstances Of those whom now address
wish them therefore to be received not recommends
The American people have tight to be proud of their
history their progress and their characteristic energy
naionalitv TO b,eh position among the Of the
earth We have achieved great riumpbs In our struggles
with car older competitors and although these contests
have been mainly of peaceful character they have not
en- less real and vital than if they carried with
all the Violence and pomp and circum stance OF war. We
the second commercial nation Ia the world and can
boast Of splendid victories grea rival that
she has been wont to claim her own peculiar
element We have built finer and faster steamers
elegant and swfter sailing vessels Our domestic tri
umpbs have 5een equally sgoa Our long lines of canals
connecting the western and lakes with the Allan
tic sostthe still wonderful extension Of sys
TEN Of rarcadhe prodgious length Of our teegraphc
and their adaptation TO the transmission
OF business domestic intelligence with economy and
to extent unknown in Europe afford evidence of the
devoted energy with which our people pursue enter
prises calculated to promote their individual in
teres,s the prosperity Of the country Intelligence
Is universally difused throughout land, and the
number and character Of literary institutions. and
extended common school system, prove that educa
ticn highly and Justly appreciated SO TAR our govern
although Of mild character. has afforded that de-
gree of protection to and property that inspires
confdene in the minds of those brought under
other ttutons and taught to disrut the capacity of
q people to govern themselves. However severely
political institutions may be criticised and condemned by
Europeans there some facts which conclusivey
swer their objections In pence as well as in war srug
gle Is constantly going among the nations Of ths
earth for supremacy and in modern times this contest is
conduc ed scale Its the Of the
earthits prize the OF the world Peace has
Its tumphs too well and In the history Of the
world no conaueror in ancient or modern times ever
strength x
annually made for series OF years in drawing from the
ranks Of anss onsts in the Old World three four
hundred Thousands of their subjects partizsns who
leave their homes and kindred to become citizens Of
country We have right to ascribe tho mighty
superiority Of political institutions. for fertile
and abundant lands do not belong to alone The gov
ernment Of great Britain whose subjects constitute
large share of the tide Of emigration endeavors ia vain TO
test the stream to her own vast fcre and thiny in
With honest pride the progress OF country
must not conceal from ourselves the defects OF our
tona character which spring from restless and unit
ring deyson to our business pursuits NOR should we
overlook the danger that these qualities OF enterprise aud
ceaeles toll Degenerate into grapng covitousness
sordd avarce The complete absorption of the Ameri
mind by personal or public pursuits attended by
some conspicuous evils preudiced foreigner has said
success in the future as they are the results Of morbid
and unnatural exctements and that when the paroxym
past we shall ,ink into condition of mental aud phy.
scal weakness There is sufficient cooripg of truth
in this Ill natured remark to make il worth stten-
ton Il is true that we are money loving peops-that
admire wealth and respect its posessor. 1t Is sought
with self sacrificing spirit and with bold and daring
gy unknown in other quarter Of the world The eagle
on the Roman standard not followed with
bravery by the gions Of the C@sars than Is the eagle
the American dollar by adventurous citizens No
knight Grant crusader psriled life with
dey otion than difplay In deliberately working
selves to death We carry this so far that We admire
the very ravagcs which this passion makes upon the
mental and physical constitutions Of people. The
care worn countenance and tho exhausted frame are
looked upon with the reverence that the dented
thed the worn armor and the scared countenaDce Of
the warrior were regarded in the days of chivary.
Our sentiments In this respect attended with phys
cal evils OF no small magnitude We retain the preju
dces OF cur Puritan ancestors against manly
ments will not say how just these may be- but have
always suspected with Wesley that given
to the devil great deal than fairly belongs TO him.
Our public opinion cxactDg Of the business to the
last degree. and we often labor under Of guilt
when devote any Of our time to the preservation OF
health the relaxation OF our minds The English
Statesmen for Of the year. lay aside the
Of government for country and field sports and
| amueenents. For this purpose they suspend the