The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-03-03
LOCAL MArTzRs.

LOCAL MATTERS.
Lxcrr1x AT TIE ArHKKEuM.-The Rev. DR.
BAIRD delivered his introductory lecture to the
course he IL about to give at the Athenwum, Tues.
day night. The inclemency OF the evening was
such a. to forbid the idea Of the assembling of
large audience and 1t was therefore very well that
the Doctor did nor begin with one of the regular
lectures OF the course
The Introductory of DR.. BAIzD was very in.
teresting lecture. 1t was pronounced to the very
respectable audience present. in familiar CONVEX.
saiional STYLE and greatly interested them. lives
cursory glance at Europe-giving some general
views relative to Its pecuiartes and their causes-
and some nasty sketches of the leading govern.
ments and the most prominent rulers. He com
menced BY remarking upon the greater density of
the population, and the greater advances of civza
ton upon the Western shores of Europe than
in the East. The figures presented by him showed
the contrast to be rem arkable, indeed. While pop
ulation and civilization were greatest on the Yves
tern shores of Europe, they were greatest en- the
Eastern shores of America. In America the fact
was accounted for By the colonization Of the con-
tnent from Europe, beginning on the Atlantic
shores. In Europe the barbarous races were in
duced by the inhospitable chimes they inhabited, to
make incursions in past ages, to the more genial
and happy regions of the South and West of Eu-
rope The lecturer gave brief sketch of the va.
riety and direction of these incursions, and their
effects upon the character of the population OF the
different nations of Western Europe the varieties
of physiogromy, the different dialects and even
costumes The traces of the different races were
often to be detected in the dresses worn in various
localities Of Western Europe. Mr. Baird consider.
ed that these differences which had been very
gradually diminished during past centuries, were
now more rapidly disappearing under the infuen.
ces of steam and railroads-which, by the rapid
INSTRUMENTATION, social and commercial, they
were establishing among nations, were also tend.
ing to accelerate another change which was going
on in Europe, viz the diminution of the number
of governments and the consolidation of smaller
ones with the larger and more powerful. The Ian
gusses of these most powerful nations were grad
uslly extending Themselves and in course of time
he thought, would prevail on the continent
In the course of his remarks on the difference eff
physic gnomy among the races-the Northern be,
ing marked by fair compilations, blue eyes, light
or auburn hair the Southern, by black eyes, black
hair and da comprehensive related an anecdote
in point. Among the muItifarious orders it was his
fortune to receive while in Paris, was one for an
assortment of artificial eyes, for gentleman in
Cincinnati. He procured a lot from the Partisan
manufacturer, and, without examining them, sent
them off; but they were found MOTTO answer at all
being nearly all black. He went second time
and instructed the artist to put up lot as if they
were for Northern latitude, and he gave exactly
what was wanted
DR.. Baird's sketches of the different Kings and
Queens and the Grand Dukes OF Tuscany and Ba-
den, (Which were the only Dukes he considered
worthy of especial notce) were exceedingly inter.
esting. The world knows much more OF those
rulers who are dead, and whose lives are embalm'
ed in history, than it does of the living. From the
the Doctors opportunities, he has been enabled to
learn great deal of the personal characters of the
crowned heads of Europe, and his statements about
them had the attractions of being most of them
new and reliable. They will doubtless be in a
great degree repeated in his regular lectures. His
opinions seemed to be generally very just We
were especially struck with his remarks about the
young Emperor OF Austria He is mildlooking,
blue-eyed, fair skinned man, who would be taken
to be very aniable but the Doctor regarded him
as one who was destined to give Europe trouble
His brief career had shown him to be exceedingly
fond of war; During the shocking scenes of the
massacre at Mantua, this young man and his bro
Their seemed to revel with delight in what appalled,
some of the most experienced officers of the Aus.
trian army-indeed what had driven one of them
mad, 80 that he was now in insane asylum
They roamed about amidst scenes of carnage like
bol
blood. The Emperor Of Austria, he thought would
enter upon a war with alacrity, and would hardly
allow opportunity to escape, if he did not seek
it. Somewhat in connection with his remarks
about the Austrian, the Doctor expressed his opn
ions of Louis Napoleon. He considered him man
of very decided talents-a very shrewd man indeed
and one who had shown great deal of tact in
the execution of his schemes but his past career
did not justify any confidence in his integrity.
Viewing Europe in its present condition, although
the surface of affairs seemed placid the Doctor thought
there permanency in existing political rela
tons What to happen he could not undertake
to predict but he satisfied that violent upheav
ing of the political structure of Europe to take
place and that great revolutions would follow it. The
principal kingdoms were jealous of one another and
their standing armies had been sweled to the highest
pguTes-eVen Deyono the means OF SOME OF them; the
people in some were dissatisfied and excited by de-
sires for change in their condtion-and slight dis
turbance might set all Europe in commoton. He be-
eved that when the convulson did take place would
advance the of popular liberty, which has been
gaining ground since the establishment of the indie
pendence o: the United States To this he said
we had but to look back and observe how very few
written constitutions there the globe at the
time of the Declaration of independence and how
many had been since written and proclaimed He was
satisfied that this tendency would not be stepped but
would be accelerated by the great events happen in
Europe, which were, he thought, not very remote.
DR.. BAIRD is very clear and satisfactory lecturer,
and is possessed of fund of information ACQUIRED bv
his travels and longs oourn in Europe, which enables
him to mpart agrea deal of instruction. He will be-
gin his regular lectures Saturday ght.
BELvIDERE MANUFACTURING CoMPANY-We
examined, yesterday, some envelope or post Office
paper, manufactured by this company, which OBJ
tanned prize medal in the Worlds Fair in 1851 at
tracted general attention and elected warm encomi
ums, because of its superior finish and texture II
is, indeed, beautiful article and is accounted the
best manufactured in the United States. We would