Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28
ADDRESS OF MR.. WEBSTER.
DELIVERED ON MONDAY NIGHT,
BEFORE THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

densely thronged on Monday evening last, from the
parquet to the uppemost gallery by ladies and gem
tlemen, assembled to hear the address of the Hon
DANIEL WEBSTER before the New York Historical
Society, whose forty-eighth anniversary was thus
brilliantly celebrated
The officers of the Society with the Orator of the
evening and invited guests of distinction, occupied
seats upon the stage Among those thus conspcu-
ously placed were WASHINGTON IRVING and Gro.
BANCROFT, Esqs., and the Rev. Drs. SPRING, VAIN
WRIGHT, and DE WITT, by the last named of whom
the exercises were opened with prayer.
LUTHER BRADIsH, Esq, President of the Society,
then introduced Mr.. WEBSTER to the audience, and
when the great Statesman advanced he was greeted
by such enthusiastic cheers as (remarks the Gem
mercial Adyertiser) must have demonstrated to him
the earnest admiration and regard which are enter
tanned for him by New Workers. Acknowledging
this applause with dignity
Mr.. WEBSTER proceeded to read the subjoined
address, which fastened the unwearied and delighted
attention of the audience for nearly two hours, in
terupted only by occasional bursts of understandable
applause:
The object of your association gentlemen, like that Of
others of similar character is highly important Histor
cal societies auxiliary historical compositions They
collect the materials from which the great narrative of
events is in due time be framed the transactions of
public bodies local histories memoirs Of all kinds statis
tics laws, ordinances public debates and discussions
works of periodical literature 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 history they
only elements for history History higher name and
imports literary productions of the first order.
1t is presumptuous in me, whose labors and studies
have been long devoted to other Objects to speak, in the
presence of those whom before me- of dignity and
Importance Of history in its just and yet find plea
in breaking in upon the of daily pursuits and
inSplgng for time in reflections upon topics of era-
ture and in the remembrance of the great examples of
historic art Well written history must always be the re-
suit of genius and TASTE well of attainment 1t stands
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 Importance The power of the Epic
sss in the narrative Of real supposed events and the
representation of real at least natural and
history in its noblest examples is account of
rehces in which great events commemorated, and
distinguished men appear as agents and actors. Epic
poetry and the drama but narratives the former part
y and the latter wholly in the form of dialogue but their
and personages usually the creations Of the
imagination.
Severe history sometimes assumes the dialogue or
matte FORM and without departing from truth, is embe
shed by supposed cooquies speeches. as in the
ducton of that great MASTER Titus Lvus that greater
master still, Thucyddes
The drawing of characters, consistent with general
",
it is only an illustration or ornament.
When Lvy ascrbes appropriate speech of his
historical personages it is only he had portrayed the
character in language professedly his Lord
Carendon's presentation in his own words of the char
acer Of Lord Falkland of the highest and most
cessfu efforts Of personal descriptions is hardly different
from what it would have been if he had put into the
mouth of Lord Falkland speech exhibiting the
qualities of the mind and the heart the opinions,
and the attachments Homer describes the actions
Of personages which, if not real imagined to be
of mi
heroic ages III his relation be not historically true it is
such nevertheless making due allowance for poetical
establishment might have been true. And in Millions
great epic which is almost entirely made up OF MARIA
tves and speeches. there nothing repugnan to the
raj conception which form Of the characters Of those
whose sentiments and conduct he portrays
But history, while il illustrates and adorns, confines
itself facts and to the narrative of actual events 1t
is far from truth to say that weyritten and classic
history the epic of real e places the actions Of
attractive and interesting light; rejecting what
is improper and superfuous it fills its picture with real
Just and well-drawn images
And the dignity of history consists in reciting events
with truth and accuracy and in presenting human agents
and their actions in clear and impartial light The first
element in history therefore is truthfuness and this
truthfuness must be presented in concrete FORM Clas-
steal history is not memoir. 1t is not rude collection
of acts occurrences and dates 1t adopts nothing that
is not but then il does embrace all minor truths
and all minor transactions. II is composition pro-
ducton which has unity of design like work Of stauary
OF painting and keeps constantly in view one great
end result Its parts therefore, to be properly
adjusted and well proportional.
The historian is artist true TO fact other artists
TO nature and though he may sometimes embellish
he misrepresents he may occasionally perhaps
color highly but the truth is still visible through the
lights and shades This unity Of design essential
all great productions With all the variety Of the Had
Homer kept the wrath % Achilles and its consequences
always in view when he sang Of the exploits Of other
heroes they silently subordnated to the Of Pc
leus Still remarkable is the unity, in variety, Of
the Odyssey the character Of which is much
pcated but all the parts artfuly adapted to each
other and they have centre Of interest and
native Ithaca Virgil in the Eneid sang Of nothing bu
the and his acts who brought the Trojan gods Il
Italy and laid the foundation Of the imperial walls
Rome; and Milton Of nothing but
" Mans first disobedience, and the fruit
OF that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world"
And the best historical productions Of ancient and
modern times have been written with equal fidelity
leading thought purpose.
1t has been said by Lord Boingbroke that history j:
philosophy teaching BY examples and before Bongbroke
Shakespeare has said
There IL a history in all mems lives
Figuring the nature Of the times deceased:
The which observed, man may prophesy
With a aim, of the main chance Of things
As yet not 10 life which in their
Seeds and weak beginnings lie entreasured.
Such things become the hatch and brood Of time
And, by the necessary form Of this,
King Richard might create perfect guess
That great Northumberland, then false to
Him, would Of that seed grow greater faseness
Which should not find ground 70 rect upon,
Unless you"
Are thcse things then necessities7
1hCnl ct nam them ke nee