The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-11-17
st. sobnsburp Rittrarp snstitutt.


dock was delivered on Friday evening of last
week. The lecture did not abound in brill
liant contrasts and striking an,itheses. like the
one of the previous week but in picturesque
grouping of the principal incidents in the his
tory OF the Peninsula. and in graceful define
alton of the scenery Of that beautiful country,
II was unsurpassed. The flow of narrative
and reflection was often interrupted by brief
episodes, always appropriate and written, like
every part Of the lecture, with singular beau
ty and cIearness
The lecturer commenced by saving that
the eye sees not itself, and tie mind is con-
scions Of its own existence only by the exer-
else Of its powers The distant is often ear
lier known than the near the past is better
understood than the present. This is the
case in every department Of knowledge. For
instance: In history we begin with the ma,
tions of antiquity, and finish last, if at all
with our own. Astronomy is better under.
stood than the geology Of our own globe.
Down 20 the discoveries of the fifteenth cen.
turv, one half of the world was unknown tc
the other Even tne traditions of a common
origin had persisted. Marco Polo and Man
deviIlc made no contributions to the existing
geographical knowledge. aal except perha,.
Nh, .H.,,t tl,.,,, (, L.
have had upon Columbus and the daring n Nv
igatorS ot his time. produced no results. No.
thing had been added to the KNOWLEDGE of the
Romans. Dante's references 20 the situation
Of Jerusalem as being in tie centre of the
earth. anC that Paradise was in the midst of
the Atlantic ocean, was in strict accordance
VITA the belief Of his time Into the midst OF
this darkness the discoveries :he 18th ccr:r.
rv opened new light, and inaucnra,e1 =
new literature. The accounts of the New
World by the early voyarers are fresh Z.
ho.hoo'!, and among The most deli ..l.,fn
ho".> ever written. The daring mariner.
whc went forth TO ex,'or. ~" riches Of :, New
/ Wogld. had hearts lik" little children. and
apl!oahed the wond r. Of that now, ey;s
ffncr WITH reverence" aud a simplicity of
Which We can s"arc. conceive. They lad ,
fu'i III the strange sights they saw and tn,
still stranger tales they heard, which seem
10 Us Is refreshing AS a SIMMER shower Co
i"m u> himself. man OF might, Genius. al,
rcvercnt spirit. pictures all the nrau,v an,
hewi'drriny richness of the West India,
>rrnerv. III \ s.ylc that .ascinates even hin
who Is familiar with the scenes described -
These discoveries broke down the barrier
which had divided The races. and ih.. ,jI
washed westward 'hen.-forwarA with an,,,
rcaSins How. Nothing can equal his inter
conmu'l a'lon Of nen and peoples in rrodu
,iuy nations and men Of sound wrl-,i,,,l
Cpd endowmcn's. Next TO tins i the fr,.
quent Communication by travc. of nan viii
man. cni,rcing his views, and rivinra lrcad,,
al" comprehension O. tharartcr utterly IUi
possible Of a'tainne,., a. home. Totra,cl /;
adv an'a-e requires a, IRA 'i>cd eye AMI ain
tiers l'cncil-'o describe ones travels r,ur,i,,
ira''i>ed pen and a painter, Lana. TA
lecturer Gi>clamci .lr himself .wL,, 9th,
an! more impartial iui.mcut viii readily al
low hlm) these qualifications. but ho,,cd tia
their place would in a good IN, a>urc lc su,
pied ~ tie duration of lis resi- hence. a,1o,.
ana the advantages of his Official position.
The Spanish Peninsula in some respects
is The most remarkable portion Of Europe
Separated on tie North from France l., ih,
fyrcnnccs. II Is every where els. >,Irrorlr,le,
10y water. II is ncar., the slzc Il France
which II also resembles in share tut lis eli
maze is more lovely. lis soil more fertile. an,
lis mineral wealth more abundant. Hv m,
Mediterranean II is brought into contact will
Africa. and the islands of the sea by the At.
lan,ic It receives the fall benefit Of a r,l
south American commerce. destined. vher
the vast resources of the Amazon and IN,
whole tropical regions of that continent are
more fully developed. TO be the mos, inpor.
tant and valuable in the world. l.. h,rhor.
are unsurpassed. and by their midway ro~,.
ticn.>ecm peculiarly alapted to become large
ly participant in the commerce which pas>e.
by them from one end of the world 10 IN,
other
The climate and soil o.. the Peninsula ar.
adapted 10 every variety of vegetation Tn,
grains and roots of the higher temperate lati
tuhes. and the harder Fl urs and plants of
tropical regions are grown in equal perfection
The high mountains and elevated t,be-land,
lie open to the sun. and the valleys are tenn
pcrcd by the ocean breczes Many portion.
OF the country are mountainous and barren
but the richness of the wales which lie be-
tween. nore than compensates. Tree.
are rare in that old country, vet there ar.
forests IN the interior Of considerable extent
and flowers the country is perfect Elder
of flowers. Our most delicate of housc-pl,p,.
there ovprrun the fields. climb the walls Of m.
houses. ana make the landscape bright with
their beauty and sweet with their fragrance
Birds are few, but the mos. admired
OF the airy vOcali>ts are often heard.
In the southern portion of the country, the
seasons are reversed The summer is III,
time for rest. The land is then par,htd with
heat, and with the exception of the vine and
the olive. which are not affected BY the wan
of moisture in their frutinc- time, all veceta