The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-06

dity Of all this was seen even by the Captain
the embargo on the Crescent City was con
cerned, as seon as our Commissioner opened
the case to him. The embargo is removed
the ship may enter, even though Purser Smith
be on board, but that gentleman is not to land
THE RICHMOND SACRED Music SOCIETY
We fell into an error yesterday with regard
10 the disposal OF this Society's petition TO the
Common Hall. 1t has not yet been finally act
ed on, and will not be until the Slh The CON-
mittee having charge CT the Lyceum, has, how,
ever, reported uniav orably on it. As we do not
agree with that committee, we propose to offer
few suggestions to the consideration of the
Council.
Music is certainly a science, and as such
forms $50 we have heard) a portion of sle regu.
lar course of instruction in many of the institu-
tons upon the continent of Europe, as we'll as
many seminares of the Northern States. II
such be not the fact. it ought to be, for we can
not see what stronger claim Chemistry or Ma
tural Philosophy can have to be considered
sciences. The Council, III this view of the
case, by granting the petition, will be acting in
strict accordance with the 25th section of the
City Charter, which provides that it 'may es-
tablish schools and regulate the system there
in may provide or aid in the support of pub.
lie libraries, to which the citizens may resort !;
and may establish an AthenGum or Lyceuns,
for tie diffusion Of knouiedge by lectures or
OMerwise." I'VE iialicize the part most suit
able to our present purpose.l
Diffusion Of knowledge" Why not mus-
Cal knowledge as we'll as mathematical, CLASH
cal, or historical knowledge ? Surely that
knowledge in which Luther delighted, and
which soothed the weary hours of the blind
old Milton, cannot be unworthy of considera-
ton cannot be of nature too low to be
classed among the valuable acquisitions of the
mind. "By lectures or otherwise - We learn
that provision will be made for series of lee.
lures on this, the sister art of Poetry and of
Painting. By granting this petition, the Coun-
Gil will have fulfilled the acquisitions of the
25th Article to the very letter.
htiC hCsSi mas uCCH, ioA " Ill tlICIC Dt, any
proposition to devote the funds of the city to
the purposes of this Society. All that it asks
is to be allowed the use of the room for one
night in each week, and this is objected to on
various grounds, all of which, with due defer
ence 10 the committee, we hold to be entirely
untenable.
First, it would be no departure from the prin
ciple of the ordinance which extends equal
privileges to every citizen, for by the constitu-
ton of the Society, every citizen can receive
instruction gratis, where the circumst ances of
the party do not allow him or her to pay, for
small consideration where they do. The Ma
sonic Brethren, the Odd-Fellows, and the
Sons of Temperance do not profess to teach
any art or science, and therefore cannot have
any claim, under the clause empowering the
Council to establish Lyceums and Athenaums
Tor the diffusion OF knowledge by lectures or
otherwise. The grant of the petition, there.
tore, could affect them in no manner whatever.
Secondly. ltwould not curtail the time en-
ployed by those who resort TO the Library for
study, at best. more than one night out of s;x
Under proper regulations it would not do !. n,
ali Tor 1t would be very easy, and not greatly
more expensive, TO close the Library at 10. in
stead Oily as is now the practice, therebv nm
ply making up Tor the loss of one night in the
week. Besides, from all we can learn. the ~.
tendance at the Library does not average one
per night. Of course the disturbance conld
mol at any rate, be very widely extended.-
Inc Library is lit up at sunset, aud closes -,
J. The Musical Society propose to commence.
on an average, al 81 O'Clock. So thu, the ave.
rage disturbance would amount 10 exac,Iv tx
minutes per week, or 80 hours a wear. "De
mtHaHts mon cur0t leI' is a maxim of ley
| He Ia" does NOT descend to trifles, nor, we
venture 10 Suggest, should the makers thereof.
Thirdly. So far from injuring the lecture
foom' or IFS furniture, the presence Of the So.
clety one e week would be decided benefit "a
both. Al present, it is open only between 80
and ~ nights in the year. Now, everybody
knows that the walls of room shu, up so con.
siantiy must suffer, aud the furniture Also
The introduction Of fresh air, once week.
would be beneficial TO both in fact, il is es-
sental tostheir preservation, As 10 the snnno