The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-20
The American view or Bu..,o.

The FIRST Of courso OF lectures on this subiect aa
delivered last evening, by Mr. Andrew Foster IN tho
lecture room OF the new Clinton Library Astor place
There were between one and two hundred persons
present, and the lecture listened 20 throughout a
IL deserved with the most earnest interest In sub
stance II sketch of the lifo and dongs Of Peter
the Great and the remarkable revolution he effected in
the manners, customs and character of the issian
people Mr. Fo' ter comms need by referring 10 his en-
tering the shpyard near Deptford England as an
apprentice; bis patient application 10 the trade o,
ship carpenter and the ug energy ami perseverance,
he disphyed in mastering all tho dstss OF the trade
The same In nicmlIable will which he erinced in this
part Of his career might be traced In every act OF his
life He found his people, when he ascenei tho throne
ration OF bsrbarians far behind the rest OF Europe
even IN the rudest arts OF civilized lfc but
the eDd OF his reign he raised them to a pos.
uop OF no mean importance ana cated them to be
fpected by those who had seen alwn nrd
tht With feelings Of contsnpt He otsated an extsn
sive commerce where nonp before existed, balt up a
Eayy and cos mcrcia ri1e wh ch wa inferior oHy
TO the beet IN Europe, fotndei innunscrabie publ.
schools hrcue1o hir d. raised tive scrf above
lfs degrsc ed pocston tho Russan women
who we're held ina state of most abject satsisson aud
slsrry TO the VIII OF the stronger sex cospelled tho
sorsof the mobiles ;, travel thro,g foreign countries
Tor sbe purpose Of .tnying the rts and scece tbat
they might thus be made instrunental In Improving
their own released ,r iron tho tLrssiom OF
fuferson 10 Which hey were EeIt by the priesthood
abolished many OF the foolish customs which aistn.
gnifhri the Russians from the more rednei Poles,
iench inh tnghsn AZ tls no dis in the face "a the
most po~erfnl opso'ioi and opposition supports by
the prerdce OF ayes act ,aed ana by the
clergy, ard fomcn.sd bys tine nGbl.s who saw With
the moht intense feelings " dislike tho encroachmc1t,
which baf besn made gIsn their time honored pri n
leesf ana anfhority Ie, vthnl Peter the Great sth
the lectur'- was himself ~ barbarian, and prey AZ
times to ali the ignobe and bser passions his race
WAS iptemp-ste, nngovrnnbis Ia temper cruel des
Io'c But - never swerved from the high purpose o@
hp soul ara 1aviDg laid tie fyundation of great
pfe, hs exhibited to the worl show truly gat he was
N curbing ths1mretuoSty Of bi ten per- and sub
rcDg even ~ sstroIg passions " his savage nature
his viii and Judgment To hirrRus la Is insiebtei tor
Der present position among tie nona Of the earth aud
sithonRh there ere macy things IN his life which
- Do too strongly condemned YET they than
by the good he effected abe great
mi incaIculable beaehts he conferred upon hia psop
The lecture ~ which we have II, N but outline
y as ". Lave said, but the Of SERIES
he object OF which IL 20 exhibit ths true condition ni
thrneeI 81 the Russian peoplsthe part they des.
tined 90 play in tls worlds futurs and TO show also
sby Amercsns thduh entertain fgyora bile opinion OF
lerafn the present uspect OF arAifA In Europe.