New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-24
MR.. WEBSTER'S ADDRESS
BEFORE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Niblo's large Theater was densely
crowded last night, chiefly by the members
Oft the New York Historical Society. on the
occasion of the Forty. eighth Anniversary
of that highly distinguished Institution. The
great feature of the evening was the Ami
versary Address by Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER,
Secretary of State. When it was known
duty, the demand for tickets was unpre.
cedented as compared with any occasion
except the Press Dinner to Kossuth. The
Society, however, issued no more than
could be fairly accommodated, and thou
sands were disappointed 1t had been ru-
mored that Mr. Webster's discourse would
be upon the early history of our Republic.
or during the administration of Washington;
but the sequel proved that he was to speak
OF the Dignity and Importance of History.
The house was filled at an early hour
On the stage were the officers and dis
tinguished members of the Society, WASH
ington Irving, Geo. Bancroft, Luther
Bradish, DIR. Dewitt, DR.. Hawks, and many
other well-known citizens.
The proceedings opened by a few re-
marks upon the occasion by Gov. Bradish.
followed by prayer by DR.. Dewitt.
The Hon. Secretary of State was then
introduced, and delivered the following ad-
dress, at the conclusion of which Chief
Justice Jones made few remarks, and
the audience dispersed.
MR.. wEBsTERS ADDRESS.
The object of your Association, gentle
men, like that of others of similar character, 10
highly important. Historical Societies are aux
iliary to Historical compositions. They collect
the materials from which the great narrative Of
events is, in due time to be framed. The trans.
actions of public bodies, local histories, memoirs
of all kinds, statistics, laws. ordinances, public
debates and discussions, works OF periodical
POLITICAL events, of commerce, literature, or the
arts, all find their places in the collections Of
Historical Societies But these collections are
not history they are only elements for history.
pYudurrfuns ttne mrst oroer.
1t is presumptuous in me, whose labors and
studies have been so long devoted TO other OBJ.
jects. to speak in the presence of those whom !
see before me, of the dignity and Importance OF
History, in it's just sense; and yet find pleasure
in breaking in upon the course of daily pursuits.
and indulging, for a time, in reflections upon
topics of literature, and in the remembrance Of
the great examples of Historic art. Well writ
ten History must always be the result Of genius
and taste, as well as Of attainment. Ii stands
next to Epic poetry, in the productions Of the
human mind If it requires less of invention
than that, it is not behind it in dignity and i'm.
portance The power of the Epic consists in
the narrative of real or supposed events, and the
representation of real, or at least natural charac-
tiers and History, in its nobest examples, Is an
account of occurrences, in which great events
are COMMUNICATED, and distinguished men ap-
pear, as agents and actors. Epic poetry and the
Drama are but narratives-the former partly, and
the latter wholly, IN the form Oh dialogue but
their characters and personages are usually tho
creations of the Imagination
Severe History sometimes assumes the dia-
loue or dramatic form, and, without departing
from truth, is embellished by supposed colleagues
or speeches, as in the production oil that great
master, Titus Livius or that greater master SILL
Thucydides. ..-. Ia.
General truth and fidelity, is no violation OF his
torical accuracy it Is only an illustration or ea
ornament
When Livy ascribes an appropriate speech
TO one of his historical personages, II Is only as
| if he had portrayed the same character In IAN
nuaoe nrofessedly his own. Lord Clarendon's
| 1resentation in his own words, OF the character
| Of Lord Falkland, one OF the highest and most
| successf,ll efforts OF personal description, 10
hardly different from what It would have been.
| IL he had put into the mouth oil Lord falkland q
speech exhibiting the same qualities OF the mihd
| and the heart, the same opinions, and the same
| attachments Homer describes the actions OF
| nersonages, which, If not real, are so imagined
| as 10 be confomable TO the general charscteris-
| tics of men IN the heroic ages Ii his relation
be not historically true 1t Is such, nevertheless,
as, making due allowance tor poetical embellish-
ment, might have been true. And In Millions
| great Epic, which is so almost entirely made
1p of narratives and speeches, there Is
| nothing repugnant TO the general concep-
ton which we form of the characters OF those,
whose sentiments and conduct he portrays
But History, while it illustrates and adorns
confines itself TO facts, and to the narrative OF &C
tual events. 1t is not far from truth to say, thai
well written and classic History Is the kpic o.
real life. Ii places the actions OF men In al
attractive and interesting light rejecting wha
is improper and superiuous, It fills Its picture
with real, lust and weltdrawn images.
And the dignity Of History consists inrscitinl
events with truth and accuracy and In present
ing human agents and their actions, in a clea
and impartial light. The first element In Ills
tory, therefore, Is truthfulness and this Iut l1
fitness must be presented in concrete form C.ai
sical History Is not memoir. IL Is not ruoe CO.
lection of acts, occurrences and dates. IL aaop'
nothing that is true, put then 1t does no.
i all minor truths and all minor transactions: W
composttion a prod ucton, which has unity OF %
sign, like a work OF statuary or Of psinuns, ..
Keeps constantly In view one great emo , o.
suit Its parts, therefore, are 70 % piove,
adjusted, and well proporsoned. The nis.'' :,
/ is an arts, as true 10 facA as otneI ars s,use
20 nature, and though hs may somes ncc sson ali
lish he never mifrepTese<ts; he may - sr,lI yislb
nxrbans color too highly bat the trutn - - Sss,
th,amsh The I,ghts and shades This unity vy,,h