The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-26
LOC A L. NE w 3.

LOCAL NEWS
LEGruRE TiE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LAST NIGnr,
Last night br Whitaker delivered lecture ut the Smith
sonian Institution the life and genius of Sir Walter
Scott The subject appropriate for the birth
day anniversary of that other great Scot Robert Burns
The lecturers remarks both descriptive and anayt
cal The peculiar traits of Sir Walter Scott genius
accurately described and illustrated by passages from his
writings which greeted with great taste and spirit
The lecturer insisted that the great minds and disn
gushed scholars of all ages and nations formed great
literary commonwealth and that community of Ian
guage and the ancestry made the literature OF Great
Britain and of the United States property, and
that had attained 10 its present excellence owing to the
two-fold influence exerted the mind by the genial in
uences of Christianity and the inspirations of civil lib
ery. The icons of Scott We're true to nature and Ia
the main, also to history He had INDUCED in no
overlrawn portraitue of life, but by investing hs hui
man agents with extraordinary powers, had been able to
throw around his charming productions all the iascna-
tions of romance without coming IN conflict with prob
ability He eminently moral and instructive even
in those works in which he exered the most powerful
spell over the intellect With but little manifestation OF
power youth SCOTS genius developed until In matu
rity he became the Homer Of Scotland and made every
part his native land classic ground 1t was difficult to
determine in what department Scott most triumphed
and few writer's have ryaed the beautiful creations of
his heroines.
The lecturer tliscosed considerable length on the
other characteristics of SCOTS style his rich fund OF hui
NOR the ingenuity of his plots, and the fairy mythology
which he has interviewer in Of his novels. His
poetry was next referred to- and several extracts were
cited with good effect The lecture most favoably
received by fashionable and apprecatiye audience
The BURNS CLUB of this city celebrated the anniver-
sary of the birthday of Scoas peasant bard last night
by supper at Gautiers After the sumptuous fare had
been paraken of large bowls of ''reeking punch were
and the president after few eloquent re-
marks proposed ''The Memory of Burns" This was re-
sponded to in brief but brilliant manner by Professor
Donald Mcleod Toasts songs, speeches, and senti-
ments followed in rapid succession until the wee hours
right jovial time. 1S
The officers of the Burns Club for the present year
President Peter c. Hannay LIST vice president, James
Swords I'd vice president, W. r. Smith secretary, Dan
ie Deway treasurer, VIM. Bruce Todd. ssa 81 sV.fx
BRILLIANT ENTERTAINMENT given last night at tho
British legation in this city, honor of the marriage of
the Princess Royal of England to Prince Frederick VIII
liam of Prussia There large attendance Of dstn
gnshed guests present who were entertained with the
wonted elegant hospitality of the present representative
OF the Court of st. James Dancing was kept up with
great spirit until late hour in the night and at the
supper table representatives of almost every civilized
ton Joined the many American guests in pledgng the
royal bride and bridegroom. gsIiaga w. sslttS
The ''OLp Folks musical company which initiates
New England village church choir Of the last century
have arrived in this city and will give concert might
at Odd Fellows Hall. B43 .ssoa alaspss 8Yss
MRS CoMxoDoRR CAssrN, of Georgetown, who was bad
y burned Friday last, relieved from her suerings
by death Sunday morning, and was Inferred yesterday
afternoon The funeral services performed by Rev
Dr. Bocock at the Bridge Street Presbyterian church
and attended hy q large concourse OF people.
BURGLARS and PIcRpocKTs continue their criminal
cations with impuny, bcggars infes the thoroughhres
and nsolent hackmen demand extortionate fares Can
we not have efficient city police? tsat.7& m
THx THFArRE is decided success crowded and enthu-
siasc houses attending to witness the able performances
of Bourcicaut and Agnes Robertson The arrangements
are admirable both the stage and in the auditorium
and the establishment is well worthy of the patronage
bestowed