The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-02-24
THE DAILY DISPATCH:



Mr.. stmms, Lectsre
". be1 ieave To call the attention OF the nv
m,nd putisc to the fact that w d"n'''o s..
ra Of South Care,ina. will lecture 70 ''sn
f,re the Young Mems Christian
OF this city Mr. sinms ias -.
nstioual reputation % q ~r"e'
~. ne, charming romanees that nave ever
..a ,n this country That reputation
49,. ~. heen even greater and more Drill
hssn q citiT en- of the North. But
..,..-,.,a,n. ths fact Of his location, his great
-. 49,. :, Ear overcome sectional prejudices as
@ II, -, him q lofty and enviable position, even
a. No,,hsrn estimation, among the great critics CT
aD.,,ca. We are sorry, however. that these well
dsserved triumphs were not sufficient to insure
him . courteous reception upon his late iectuIiag
tour ia New York. We have before referred to
the csurlish and even spIseful spirit exhibited to
wards Mr. Simms IN New York, because, In one Of
biz lectures. be defended bis native State, South
Caro- lima, from the unjust and slanderous imputa
sions OF her enemies. la consequence Of the surly
and uncivii temper manifested on tina. occasion,
No Simms relipquished his Northern Ieeiniing
tour. He Is now In the South. among those who
Will think none the less Of him because be has
been f,i,bfal to his country In the midst of adver
sari and has suffered for lis fidelity The South
i,cludios our city of Richmond has now en- op
rortunity of showing that she appreciates South
sru tslent-that she does not require Northern
inprimatur to recommend genius and learD:ag 10
her confidence and admiration, and that she hehoi'
taose who, whatever air they breathe are true 10
the hearths and affairs of their native land
Mr.. s:nms has just delivered two lectures In
Pete, sburg, " hch ara spoken OF In the hignest
terms by the press of that city The lnteii'gencef'
speaking of his frst lecture, says lit was eminenty
philosophical and instructive. 1. was, with refer
9 ICE 20 the great aims and purposes which it en-
bodied, IN exceedingly valuable address, pointing
out a. II so graphically and truly did, the mistakes
shat are 30 often made 10 the choice of Profes .,
slon or 10 other words, the perversions CT genius
Il was calculated and designed TO show the impor'
tance of selecting pursuit, In the first start oil
busin sss life for which ones tastes aud talents
best adapt hm-and this upon the supposi.ion that
every man Possesses . gif: or endowment which
peculiarly qualities him for some one calling, and
disQualifes him more or less for every oher. lie
discussed this proposition very broadly and very
nergetically-demons.raiing the wisdom and ad-
vantages of right choice, and the folly and evils
of sroa9 one, both 10 an individual and social
poMt Il visw.'
The second lecture was upon the early CiscoVe'
ries 10 the Western Wilds-more particularly
those on the Southern shores Of the North Ameri
can continent. The narrative" says the ln;elli-
gencsr, ''of the adventures, achievements, and
fortunes Of the celebrated naviga;ors and soldiers
whose names figure in the Spanish records Of the
last eight years OF the fifteenth and the greater
pat OF th6 sixteenth century, in connection with
their exploration 10 the regions bordering ON the
G aft OF Mexico, was very Interesting. For such
. narrative Nr. Simms is thoroughly qualified by
his familiarity with tie historic details which
IL embraces and his power Of expressing his
thoughts in language Every sentence that lie
spoke testified to the depth and accuracy of hi s
researches In this rich field of terature-aud tes-
tihed also to his eminent AGILITY in the prepare
sion and delivery of his lecture. The voyage of
Columbu She exploits and fate of Ponce de
Laos D. Soto, and the other celebrated Spariards
whe in the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella and
their more Immediate successors contri buted SO
much to enrich and e1alt the proud andithsn Chi.
various land over which they swayed the sceptre-
these were the successive themes of the lecturer,
who ever aud anon threw In an episode of thrill
ing D.erest founded upoa some striking inc ident
Of adventure worthy Of special explanation from
the peculiar clrcumslaL ces and connections which
distinguished it."
We trust that Mr.. Simms will be greeted to-
right by ere wded house, and such reception az
the metropolis of the Old Dominion ought to ex-
tst.d TO the most gifted literary son Of South Caro-
tun,