Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-06-18
Gbe Dailp Direinian.
From the New York Times, June 2.
The Discovery and Colonization Of
America-A Lecture, by Hon.
Edward Everett.
CONTINUED.

| ing winch events oil tie utmost consequence
follow each other in rapid succession. and the
germs of institutions destined 10 influence the
fortunes OF christendom were planted by hum.
BILE men who little comprehended their own
work. In the course of the seventeenth centu.
ry the French and the English took possess.
ion of all that part of North America which
was not pre- occupied hy the Spaniards. Tho
French entered by the 81. Lawrence; follow.
ed tha: noble artery to the heart the Cont.
nenl; traced the great lakes to their parent riv-
uets and weeping fountains; descended the
Mississippi. Miracles of humble and unavail-
ing herolsm were performed by their gallant
adventures pious missionaries in the depths
of our Western wilderness. The English
stretched along the coast. The geographer
would have pronounced that the French, in
approprialing to themselves the mighty basins
OF the Mississippi and the st. Lawrence, had
got possession of the better part of the Conti-
nent. But it was an attempt TO compose the
second volume of the Fortunes of America, in
advance of the first. This il was ordained
should be written ut jamestown aud Plymouth.
The French. though excelling all Other nations
in tho world in the art Of communicating for
temporary purposes with savage tribes seem
sill more than the Spanards, To be destitute of
the august skill required to found States.
do not know that there is such thing in tho
world "A colony ofFrance growing up into
prosperous Commonwealth. A half million
OF French peasants in Lower Canada. tena.
ciously adhering to tho manners and customs
which their fathers brought from Normandy
Two centuries ago and q third purt of that num-
ber of planters of French descent in Louisiana
nre all that are left 10 bear living witness to the
amazing fact, that not century ago France
was the mistress Of tho better half OF North A
merca.
IL WINS on tho Atlantic Coast and the Colonies
originally planted or soon acquired by Eng.
land, that the great work of tho seventeenth
century was performed ;-slowly .toilsomely.ef-
ieclively. A mighty work for America and
mankind, Of which even we.fond and proud of
ii as are, do but family guess the magni-
tudel 1t could hardly be said. at the time, TO
prosper in any Of its parts. 1t yielded no re-
turn to the pecuniary capital invested. Tho
political relations of the colonies fr IN the first
were those of encroachment and resistance aud
even the moral principle, as far ms there was
one, on which they were founded, was not
consistently carried out. There was conflict
with the savages,-war with the French and
Spaninrds, ,-jarring and feuds between neigh
boring colonles,-pels, cuiion OF dissenting IN
dividuals and sects.-perpetual discord with
main and on th o WHOLE THE WORK went on
Things that did not work singly worked to.
eelher; or if they did not work together, they
worked by reaction and collision. Feeble
germs Of settlement grew to the consistency
ofpowerfu Colonies, habits of civil government
rooted themselves in asoil that was continually
stirred; the fame of future Republics knit itself
as il were in embryo, under monarchical sys.
lem Of Colonial rule; and in the middle of the
eighteenth century the approach OF mighty
changes began TO be dimly foreseen by gifted
spirits A faint streak of purple light blushed
along the eastern sky.
Two things worth mentioning contributed to
the result: One was the absence of the precious
metals The British Colonies were rich in the
want Of gold. As The abundance of gold and
silver in Mexico and Peru contributed, in va
rions ways. to obsiruct the prosperity of the
Spanish Colonies, the want of them acted not
less iavorably here In the first settlement ot
savage wilderness the golden attraction is too
powerful for the ordinary routine OF lfe.-lt
produces a feverish excitement unfavorable to
the healthy growth and calm action OF the body
polite. Although California has had from
tho first the advantage ol being Incorporated
into stable political system. of which as
sister State she forms an integral part, 1t IS
nent well being, the gold is to be blessing to
her, 1t will hasten TO her settlement. but that
would at any rate have advanced with great
rapidly One ofthe most intellectual men in
this country. the author of one of the most adj
mirable works in our language. | mean Two
years before the Mast, once remarked to me.
that "CaIifornia would be one OF the finest
countries in the world to live in If 1T were not
for the gold"
The other circumstances which operated in
the most favorable manner upon tho growth OF
the Ang American Colonies was the fact that
they were called into existence less by the
Government than the people; that they were
settled not by bodies of colonsts but by 'ndi-
vidual emigrants The Grown gave charters
of Government and grants ofland; and con-
siderable expenditure was made by some o. ,. the the
com pa MES and proprietors who received these
grants; but upon The whole the United States.
are settled by indviduals,--the adventurous.
resoIute, high spirited, and in many cases. per-