Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-04
HERALD OF THE Times
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MoRSIsG, AT
No. l25 Thar mes Street.
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TERMS.-$2 in advance, or S2,2 ,25
at the end Of the year.
MR.. EBSTER'S ADDRESS
DELivrRED BEFORE THE NEW YORK
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

DELIVERED BEFORE THE NEW YORK
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Niblo's Garden, which is said 10 be
capable Of containing three thousand,
Eve hundred persons, was densey
throDged last evening from the parquette
to the uppermost gallery, by ladies' and
gentlemen, assembled to hear the Hon.
Daniel Webster before the New York
Historical Society, whose forty-eighth
anniversary was thus brilliantly cee-
brated. The officers Of the society, with
the orator of the evening, and invited
guests of distinction occupied seats up
OIL the stage. Among those thus con-
spicuousIy placed, we observed Wash
ington Irving, and George Bancroft
Esqs., and the Rev. Drs. Spring, " ain
wright, and Dewitt, by The last named of
whom the exercises were opened with
prayer. Luther Bradish, Esq, presl-
dent Of the society, then introduced Mr..
Webster 10 the audience, and when the
great statesman advanced he was greet
ed by such enthusiastic cheers as must
have demonstrated TO him The earnest
admiration and regard which are enter.
tained for him by New Workers. Ac-
knowledging this applause with dignity,
he proceeded to read the subjoined ad-
dress, which fastened the unwearied and
delighted attention Of the audience for
nearly two hours, interrupted only by
occasional bursts Of understandable ap-
plause.-N Y. Com. Adv. Of Tuesday,
The object Of your association, gen
tlemen, like thai Of others oi similar
character, is highly important. Histo-
rical societies are auxiliary to histori
cal compositions. They collect the mu-
tcrials from which the great narrative
OF events is, in due time, Ia he framed.
the transactions OF publ: bodies. local
histories, memoirs oil all kinds statistics,
laws. ordinances, public debates and
discussion, works of periodical lliera-
,ure and the public journals, whether OF
political events Of commerce, literature.
or the arts. all find their places in the
collections OF historical societies. But
these collections aie not history. HIS
tory 10 a higher name. and Imports lit
erary productions Of the first OF der.
II is prrsumptuous in me, whose la
Lors and studies lave been SO long de-
voted TO other objects, TO speak in the
presence OF those whom ! see before me,
OF the dignity and importance OF history,
in its just sense and yet find pleasure
in breaking IN upon the course Of dai
ly pursuits, and iudulging, for a time.
in reflections upon topics oil literature,
and ia The remembrance Of the great
examples oi historic art. Well written
history must always be the result OF ge-
MUS and taste, as well as Of attainment.
IL stands next to epic poetry, in the pro-
ductions Of the human mind. IL il re-
Quires less Of invention than that, il is
not behind it's dignity and importance.
The power Of the Epic consists in the
narrative of real or supposed events,
and the representation OF real, or at least
natural characters; and history, in its
noblest examples, is an account OF oc-
currences, in which great events are
comm memora,ed, and distinguished men
appear, as agents and actors. Epic
poetry and the drama are but nara
lives, the ormer partly, and the latter
wholly in the form OF dialogue but
their characters and personages are usu-
ally the creations of the Imagination.
Severe history Sometimes assumes
the dialogue or dramatic form, and,
without departing from truth, is embel-
lished by supposed colloquies or speech
es, as in the production Of that great
master, Titus Livius. or that greater
master still, Thucydides.
The drawing oi characters, consistent
with general truth and fidelity, is no vio-
lation Of historical accuracy it is only
an illustration or an ornament.
When Livy ascribes an appropriate
speech TO one ot his historical persona
Ces, il is only as il he had portray. d the
same character in language prCiessedly
his own. Lord Clarendon's presenta-
ton, il his own words, i!Ee character
OF Lord Falkland. one of the highest
and most successful efforts OF personal
description, is hardly different from what
il would have been, If he had put into
the mouth Of Lord Falkland speech
exhibiting the same qualities Of the
mind and the heart, the same opinions,
and the came attachments. Homer des-
cribcs the actions OF personages, which,
if moi real, are so imagined as TO be con-
formable 10 the general characteristics
Of men IN the heroic ages. II his rela-
ton be not historically true, il is such
nevertheless, as, making due allowance
for poeiical establishment, might have
been true. And in Millions great epic,
which is so almost entirely made up OF
narratives and spec eche-, there is moth
ing repugnant to the general conception
which we form oil the characters Of
those, whose sentiments aud conduct he
] ortrays.
But history, while il illustrates and
ndorns, confines itself to iacis, and 10
the narrative OF actual events. IL is not
lar from truth to ray, that well written
and classic history is the epic oi real life.
II places the actions Of men in an attrac-
tive and interesting light; rejecting what
10 improper and supcfhuous, il 6lls iis
picture with real, just, and well drawn
images.