The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-09

World aid I'D Old World considered 7hedtresfo
he develspmeas 81 monkind- The learned lecturer
remarked that ii the lectures already delivered, they
had studied successfully the characteristic forms OF
the continents composing the New and the Old
World the characteristic features of the climate
seasons--temperanre and rains, and then the
manifestations of all these different elements OF eli
mate in the new world, referring only by way OF
comparison to the Old World. By summing up all
these features of the New World, and contrasting
them with those of the Old the true physical char
acter of both would be understood and it would be
made clear bow these Worlds were instruments IN
the bands of Providence TO affect the condition OF
the human race. As he had before stated the form
of the New World was marked by simplicity that of
the Old World was complex. The large plains on
the New were immensely fertile, those of the
Old but of little use. In the Old World those plains
situated in good climates were small Climate was
prominent feature of the New that distinguished
it from the Old World. A comparison was here in-l
stituted between the open character of the New
World so accessible to the trade winds and vapors
of the ocean-its immense rivers and rains and fe-
tiity-with the confirmed nature of the Old World,
its small rivers and luctuatng feeble rains and minor
productveness Reference also made to the
immense photographed basins of the Mississippi,
ST. Lawrence and Mackenzie in North America and
the Amazon, Oronoco and LaPlata in South America,
of which there were none in the Old World and to
the interior lakes of North America which contain
ed more than one half of the fresh water the sur
face of the Globe. This great mixture of land and
water was great characteristic of the New World.
The abundance of warm and moist rains caused
L.
This was the vegetative continent, side of the
globe. There were no dry, parched deserts without
vegetation here as on the Old World--the great
plains of the New teemed with magnificent forests
and abundant vegetation.
Professor &. then passed to consider the great diff
ference not only In the form and fertility of the
| two worlds, but in the animals belonging to each
| Where there immense vegetation as in South
| America, there was corresponding variety OF in
sects appertaining to, and directly dependent upon
| that vegetation. Animals OF higher character
| abounded There were forests full Of serpents and
| gigaIti, lizards, and basiisks filled the
| tiers. Birds OF numberless variety and manmalia,
| the greatest in number, species and Perfection
| All these species of mammaia pertaned to regions
| of great vegetation. ..
contrast was then instituted to show that the
| imals of the Old World were of the highest and
most superior and ferocious type. The lion and ii
ger of the Old were compared with the tuna and
jaguar of the New World, thus showing the inferi
ority of the same type of animals in the New
| World. Even the highest caste of animals, the
monkeys here were of the lowest type. The
ng-outang and chimpanzee of the Old World
being of course superior. 1t that the bear,
1
| but as a whole the animal life OF the New World
was secondary to the Old World. Vegetable life of
course, was secondary to animal life, and thus the
| Old World was superior. Comm encing with this
postulate that the Old World was superior to the
new in this respect he carried his position forward.
As people we were the offspring Of the Old
World; and therefore secondary in formation
The first settlers of the Indians of the new-before
us-were inferior to the inhabitants of the Old World
Thenagain in the variety of forms and functions
the different mountains, plains and yalleys-the size
al d groupings of the Old World were superior to
the simple and plain character of the New World
This inferority in nature did not extend however
to the benefit of this New World to humanity. That
was another question.
In contemplating the design of this varied structure
of the globe, the question lrose this varety-a
mere accident of nature he thought not He be-
lieved that all these different countries and forms of
countries were made to be instruments in the devel
opment of MAINLAND to furnish fields for mentaland
physical activity By looking into the history ofthe
past, we would see what part the continents ofthe
Old World had played, what part they would play
in future, and what part the continents with
their peculiar nature would play in the future There
were three historic countries, Asia, Europe and
North America. Here including in general sense,
the temperate part of South America, the lecturer
then traced the historic nature contending that in
the central part of Asia in the region of America,
mankind took its origin All the civilized nations
came down originally from the high heights beyond,
| the Chinese-ths Hindoos from Cashmere, &c. The
first civilization began in this central Asa-the con-
tnent of germs The religion of nations commenced
there. There it was where Christians and Mahom
mechanism started. The Eastern part of the Old or
| Eastern Asia was continent toitself-and
posed of desert plains shut up by mountains. In
| Western Asia there were immense plateaus of land
especially towards the centre. But the starting point
| of humanity not in these low lands but in the
| central heights Of Armenia and Mongolia-civiliza-
tion however, did not commence in the heights; the
first civilization found in the plains and below
| of central ASIA and it expanded from thence. The
high lands and dry hard soil of the heights Induced
patriarchal, simple and wandering life In the low
lands, aggregatons of individuals could follow asri-
cultural and commercial pursuits, and from nations
HAD been done The barriers of nature, mountains.
plains and rivers thus formed the boundaries of diff
| ferent nations, who came from original point
but had spread over the whole continent They
were nations too thatw not mix together-were
hostile to each oher-appearing like tn r own soil
of varied and distinctive character that could scarce
ly be harmonized. Owing to the difficult nature of
this country, almost imperiou, to the improvements
of art for canals could not be built through its i'm,
mense deserts, or railroads oyer its ,ree, ,,o,,r
tains-the people from their origin were slaves to
nature. Hence the religion Of the people had been
and was now chiefly the worship Of objects of ma
ture This was the character of the continent of
| germs. where the first ciyiliz alton nroso