New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-25
SKETCHES OF LECTURES
The Character oil Faistaii.


The third of this series of Lectures was de-
lyercd on Tuesday evening Nov % Mt the Hall OF the
Brooklyn institute before large and highly spprecia
tive auditory, by Rev. II. N Hudson, of Northampton,
Mass upon the Character Of Falstah.
Mr. Hudson commenced by saying that In his former
lecture he had occasion to remark that the First and
Second Parts of King Henry the Fourth are substan.
tsy one drama and that the ground of this unity lies
in the character and history of Prince Henry. II was
also seen how this mans department. King. seemed
to contradict oil that he had given promise OF while
Prince Of Wales He appears to jump all nj once from
the Wild giddy houghtless msdcsp, Prince Hal, into
the brave WHO and heroic Henry the Fifth Thereise
sort OF dramatic necessity for the unimtstcd nuitabie
Fasta whose character stamps itself thoroughly
the proceedings ct Esstcheap as the Kings does on
those at the palace Whatsoever may have been the
facts in the case there strong artistic reason why
he should be just such marvellous congregation OF
charms and vices he is None but old could
be so dissoute and Discerning appear to think 80
much like wise man when talking most unwise
ly and be must have world Of wit and sense, to
conce mind of such native recttude and penetration
10 his rotous and prohigate In the qualities
of Sir John we can easily see how the Prince might be
the madcap reveer that History gives him out aud yet
be all the while laying in choice preparations Of wisdom
and vrtue-thus needing other conversion than the
calls Of duty and the opportunities Of noble enterprise
Falstaf is very mpracicable subject for criticism To
deal with, his character being moro complex and mani
fold than can well be digested into the forms Of logical
statement, lie has more or Is more than that can
oa.y tell what he IT, Diverse and never opposite, are
the qualities that meet inhm yet their opposition only
enrlches not distracts their working and perfect
withal is their usonso happily are they blended and
go easily balanced and they move together 30 smoothly
ard In such mutual goodwll-that no generalitics can
be made to set him off If we undertake TO grasp him
in formal conclusion the best part still escapes be-
tween the fingers 30 that the only way to give any Idea
Of him il TO take the man himself along and show hiu
and he is beth too real, md too plump in his re-
Atty, fer this 10 be cay task. One OF the
wi,iest Of men yet he Is not wt,--one Of the
uos, sensual of n1en-stin he cannot with strict justice
be called sensualist he has quick strong sense OF
DANGER and lively gard 20 bis safety apccuar
vein indeed of cowardice something very eit,
We, he IL not coward he lies aud brags prodgousy,
stI he Ia not liar nor abrogger,-no such general
terms applied 10 him do otherwise than nisead,
causing Ne to think understand him when we do not
LIE in1noraes mostly such wherein the tadieross
element is prominent; and in this he loses aud makes
Us lose sigh. Of their other qualities The animal sus
capabilities Of our nature are in him carried up TO their
highest pitch His severnl appettes hug their respect
i've objects with exquisite gust. His vast plumpness
ali mellow with physics delight and sstacton and he
converts Il al into thought and mirrh. Moreover MS
speech borrows additional hayor and effect from INC
thick oldngs Of fcsh which IL oozes through there-
fare he clories in bis much sesh and chershes IL
being the procreant cradle Of jests II his bodyn faf
IL enables biz tor gue 20 drop atness and In the cham
bers Of his brain all the peasurable stons that per-
vide the structure below are curiousiy wrought into
mental deieetaions With how keen and inexhausta
HE relish does be pour down sack as II he tasted Il
ali over and through his body % the ends OF h fingers
and ,oes RI auch,erl Yet wko does not see that he
bas far mere pleasure IN diseOursing about than In
drinking III And colt through all the particulars OF
his enormous scnsuaisies Bu: cannot leave Sir John
without rtrnsrking how he IL sort Of public brains,
from which shoot forth nerves q communication
through aL the limbs and members Of the common
wealth The most broadly Representative perhaps, OF
al des ehsYaciers his conversations az diversified
a. bis capabilities 20 that through him the Vision IL let
forth long drawn yet clear perspective Of old Eng
sh life and manners What circle Of vices and Oh
,curtes snd nOyel,es are sucked into HE trsini How
various in sze and quality the orbs that reyolve around
him, and shine by MS light from the immediate heir OF
England and the righteous Lord Chief Justice, 10 poor
Robin Os;ler, VINO died Of one idea, having never
lloyd since the price Of osts rose" Verify hes most
1 mutiudirous man-s thorough epstone OF ancient
John Bull and spin fun enough from his marvellous
| brain TO make oil the world laugh snd grow fat
In closing Mr. Hudson briefly glanced at Dame aick
y and remarked that she could neyerthnk or SPEAK OF
things o., of the order of their occurrence. Her
mind runs Altogether in the ruis Of actual events Her
character throughout ssvors strongly Of her whereaoou
in nc and me bss as much of moral of intellectual
ns..ivsne,s But notwithstanding ell this she has al
rv,v, an odor Of womanhood about her Nor Is ner
ehsracter with all I.s sensual qualities unreheved w
those of more generous nature. Upon the whole 'l
So,wsvs, Dame Quickly must be set down one Of tho
w,kea oue.s least the poet evidently meant her 80
The lecture next Tuesday evening Is 70 be delivers
5. H., Iro-,cc Mann on tie stdjec. Of Wnu'n I.