New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-02
MR.. THACKERAYS LECTURES.

Mr. Thackeray delivered last evening bis first
lecture on George or rather on the couers and court
chIoniciDgs in and around his time. Mr. Chapins
church was densely crowded, but most duly liz;
this threw durky, dreary air around scene
which would otherwise have worn much animation.
Actors who are obliged stady such matters. keeny
,ppeciste the value of light t. a shade both
their Owl appearance and the temperament OF an
audience A more generous illumination would GER
tainly rase the best point or two in eif7c..
Mr. Thsckeray, we rejoice 70 say, looked in excel
lent vgor end bore his cheek fine fresh English
bloom Those who saw him when las: here
observe no change in his appearance, save that
his hair may have worn a somewhat more silvery
tint He was received with teous cordially, but
without that fervor # enthusiasm which breaks from
less cultivated audiences He was listened 10 through.
out with q profound attention. The applause was,
however, inffequeni and sub iued.
To soy that this lecture awakened the same lively
sympathy as these on the men and times Of Queen
Anne. would be making most hazardous state nenti
but the fact IT, having delivered hi. lecture on the
tin es of Queen Anne, he was deprived of the oppor
tp1ity he would have used with such keen ence
In Illustrating the times of her successor, by conn
pairing the dongs under the reign OF one who was
much more Of an English sovereign with those of a
brutal, aptiqustee ll-msnnered old Dutchman. Hi,
lecture certainly lost largely in effect by being ,on-
ceved in spirit Of rather desutory narrative ns cad
Of that compaii.on and analysis Of hear,motiye in
which Mr.. Thackeray is so exquisite proficient.
But if for this reason ii lacked coIorng and striking
passages to captivae the imagination of general or
even highly cultivated audience like that Of last night
il offered most acceptable compensation in rendering
"a oh NJ no fro nm
courts, which, although Mr.. Thackeray with geotie
modesty waived all claims to his orica erudition, yet
we have no doubt will form in time to come most
valuable picture gallery for the scholar aud the stu
dent.
Heaviness OF narrative ia unfortunately inseparaoe
from heayiness of SosteriaL The poet who can draw
Inspiring material ffoh. the dongs at Hanover and
BrsndenbuJgh has still to Cine, ana hen De arrives
Alfred Ternyson must yield his crown Nor is the
ssst In his cement among these prece remains OF
the middle ages for there is much OF the tyrsnnlcal
end brutal mixed with the ridcuo Gus that stronger
and ste-per weapon than delicate.edged satire Is
required to cut them down.
Still there was deep, hores heartfelt tone OF IL
dignaton 10 Mr. Thackeray's Voice when be dwelt on
the agones Of the people upon whose blood and toll
these wrecbed little tyrsnts fatened and reveed, and
there such sly sarcastic cutting at many Of the
German customs OF feuda times still existing in Mr.
TbaIkersy's own country, that we realized and re-
ioiced with the greatest delight in the Intensity OF
truthful Ielub icsn feeling which made Mr.. rn seke
~ protest against all those sutqus ed mummeres,
whether tie farce be played at Wlhemsruhe or at
Wesuirster.
Mr.. Thscktray, after tracing the pedigree Of George
with most minute accuracy, and giving anything
but fsttering picture of the whole stock and after
dwelling with great gusto upon the ways and man
ners Of the Ahssueruses of Hanover succeeded in con-
veyiDg to our mind perfect dsguereotype Of George
Lot so much by yzipg his character as that Of
the atmosphere in which he lived.
But the most brilliant passage in his lecture was the
account Of Georges landing in Eng'aId -s heavy
dispersaiion for England, but yet perfect goisead
comps ed to James a creature Of Versailles and
crew of Jesuis. Mr. Thsckerays account Of the
eres, peers of the realm that udicrousy majestic
occsson, and the sef.hne;s and hypocrisy which
animated their motives and al we're in bis hspp-
est vein; and indeed the applause which encouraged
bm TO 60 with bis mastery picture Of London life
must have convinced him, t. it did u, that he Is
always mOsl slc .essta when pcrrs!rg tie doinss Of