New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-11-28
SKETCHES OF LECTURES.
SIUI I AND MAt i Z La /.
~ OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

SCOTT AND MACAULAY.
BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
Last evening Dr. Holmes delivered lecture On
The above subject at Hope Chapel before the heroan
tile Library Association. The house crowded, and
the lecturer Was received with applause. He said
In compliance with the request Ct gentlemen whose
opinions and wishes felt bound to respect have chosen
Sir alter Scott the particular subject OF this evening
lecture instead of Shelley originally announced IL y
rrobate TIC charge comedies with the general wish for
suppose there iOr one reader of Shelley hundred OF
Scot Icougratuaie mys self having avoided lecture
on Shelley who while he protected by tho refoners is
sssaid by The roionists however had edhim at
ALL II would have been as poet. Blu, about good Sir
Water we cannot quarrel All agree in liking him as
rot and the only question ishow mrch in whaiway and
vhy Scott read by the many Shelley BY the few have
elsewhere called Scott romantic zealst, Shelley ph0
foE hicaI dt ast Tie world loves portrait better than
fancy sketch prefers 10 live in the past rather than in the
futuie-hcnce the general preference for Scott Scott
read by children with perfect delight by their fathers
and Inohers-perhaps with more With a glossary for
lis donjon keeps and such other stage properties they
understand him easily as Robinson Crusoe. But you
not for this reason suppose nm les poet man ms
singing brethren who take verse as the vehicle OF high
arguments. Although Hesiod AMI Lucrctius were read
bv the saees Homer and Virgil Ike Scott read BY
every one My business IS with Scott as a poet, not
as prose novelist though may not always keep On my
side Of the line Literature is full OF the works o. weak
bodicdmen yet in intellectual as wei as physical neaih
vigorous action and clear color are pleasing and these
are eminontly found in Scott His frame corrosponded
Indeed in century there are three remarkable IN
stances Of eminent literary powers oea to y{or2 nf,
transfuscd itself through his poetry. When he was
in the midst Of his studies the rumor OF an in
vGsion being heard, he joined a cavalry troop,
and found in Il pleasing occupation At twenty four
years OF age. be formed The acquaintance of Monk Lewis
In his boysh days he had courted the muse but the
criticfm of an apoihecarys wife had checked him He
thought however that he could earn fame by poetry as
well Lewis he got the ballad of Leonora translated
it. and this translation, together with the Wild spirits VIC
"are," were his first publications
Shakespeare first published at about % thus those two
late in the field OF letters
Scott published several minor works, until at lasf IN
his 35th year. at o time OF life when Byron was draw
ing 10 the the close Of his career aud Campbell was Nv
ing on the reputation he had already earned, appear
ed the Lay Of the Last Minstrel and from that
time till his death in 1892 the name OF Scott was kept oe
fore the public by his works There Is pleasure in study
ing any production that is perfect in its kind In reang
roetry We seldom feel that the poet give out al that Is
IN him but in Scott find force and drecness that
akc all clear His battle axe always splits the helmet in
twain every arrow he shoots is "cothyard long, ana
Goes directly TO its mark. Thus there is in him
no hidden significance and the very cpi,S
alrncst unnecessary do not faer myself that can
roin out any trait in Scott overlooked by others JEFFREY
considered the Lady Of the Lake his best poem ohers
with whom agree prefer Marmion There is more pas
zion in H. Byron wien writing Pasina sent for Marmon
TO be sure he had not initiated IT, The Lay has certain
bemshes which seriously impair its beauties; Its spirits
and COLLINS we wish TO get rid Of There are a Few
harsh rhymes and Scotch words in all the poems tha'
would be better away; Scott was CONSERVATIVE IN
politics well in religion he therefore loves more
10 look back than forward and for this reason oyed
rerbars les by the progressive than he ought to be- Gar
iyle denies him the name OF great because ne Is not
sruo his love of the picturesque Is the highest qdai
he can detect in him. Now admit man is not great
without rrea1 purpose and instinct but Scott had these
love of the past and power to make 1t live over again
though not the greatest is yet great instinct Mem
ory as wen as hope, is necessary to the present The
passion was Unborn in Scott. Ills worldly ambition
has been reproached he built castle WIN We Pi.es
Of his genius shakspere did alike; but what or
ference does il make to the reader Of hamet
that II was written 10 buy domain with the price Of
Caryles talk about SCOTS not being martyr VIII no,
do; Carlyle had been reading the HE Oh Lutner sut
CIomyell when he made the observation Inc laee thai
man Is not great unless when hghting the Jew, ~ NV
correct there powers IN nature 10 eooPoIe'c mn
well a. Agencies TO resist these constructive as wen
as Dc sructiye refoer Carlyle undertakes beauty 700
much True Scott has not many aphorsms ne y ot 80
rich In sen noes that be quoted a. Young ana lamp
bn are hut sur,ly Scott was more than their equal his
narratives did not give room for this kind OF
To compare him 10 philosophic writers would % !"
hiring Int and heat to scale 10 welgh 'hen'
son was somewhat too much of an antquarani inc ek
plaus.ory notes often destroy the effect OF hs 10Y
smrloys the octOsylabic verse, whose iatal iaeh''
sometimes leeds him into caroiessness ihefe Wa =
dmeness in the subjects Of his poems me .rs ~
while the last failed. The Lay appeared IN isOo 11
mion" in ls0s the Lady Of the Lake IN FL LN
fireworks on festival night, these three hah pen snY'
ard fourth was waited for, when meteor appsaIeo,
Childe Harold flashed through the air and SOU
cts grew beside IL the date Of Snian =; is,I
islS then good night g. Marmion But ia loII
Wavereyl A fairy wand had touched him and ne rose
with tenioId brlliancy: Scott hero Is always s.g
81 a
uanter, the cid ballads which his works were -
great extent formed their success 10 their beng true
10 life and nature Carlyle contrasts Scott with SnaHs
rere tire latter he says drew his characters rom within
ouiw ard the former from without, inward the distinction
not original johnson drew such one before SOUS
deiineaons in poetry may perhaps Dc coP "a 20 49,
Of Paul VeroncEe in painting the kind may not DC lns
HIGHEST but the excellence in the kind gives Perma
nent hold on posierly. Scott = not "-..l.s "a
raseeces Of reflection and sentiment Byron ha- haie
him at least twice. his Parsna resembles Constance Ana
rassace in the Seige Of COiuth, the opening OF Tue
bird chrto of the Lay" Scott the nature lover com
rares woman to the elements her cheek Is Ike autumn
on peak Of the CheviOts. Byron, the WOMAN i"'ei
conn ares the elements 10 woman
Ard storm. and darkness 70 are sondrous stoDs'
But lovely IN your sfeuFh a. Il he hsHi
OF dsfk eve In wonsn
Shelley the vision lover. compares woman to dream
Scott las had two imitstoriiorace spnth ons VI lne
authors Of Rejected Addresses and The poet VITA "nou
slnll eloo this lecture II well that scott descennei
ou, poetry 10 prose Scott has passed away and another
lnlr nj des into the field. clad la the asnor ot ancient
isohe he cagfien bowie knife tho shoS;engd s"ofl ="
The American resembles the weapon Of obi houie he
too. says. and la this sliain
ts,s ra,.sns sf clasiaa'
rs tho twelve gods he s~"'"
th., 4te fa.a ssve ~ iatIi"
fLasii ,slss ;. hssas 40 "sris
r,,t ,ts .o.ts face IL rasiiah No bnsw him hetu no
4 tls bss,ian aud saiosinar Maasalsfi Whai h''' ia
n, ,t,,Ai,, ha hoe iona to- rli Eins" hls'Hf wv
Ma. .siay he'd uaiy NV hide. nfi 49, w'''''i ~
,hs aisssss - whth he i@sss """t1'" W"
tL.sa - q siass 90 e,ili.a altogether Htrf" 'Nea'
ne.,a. tDt... las ,klf k.,n ita HNe 80 s'uH"f "ifH
isDI .ia.. ,ts.. It's, stssi go ~ ha'sssA me-
,,-.L ~. n.ii.e t-. shrsil ~ ~ 'Ns's T''t H,s'
IN l. M. ..a.,. ia 49,. L-.tli th- Hr" wNrsa fr.'
l.. MI alle ~ b. .e-d- ii-44As % va. ~ ~ sF'FN :.