Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-02-24
DIR. BATRD,s TNTRODUCToRY LECTURE

Uhs bhlhD6 lNIhODDJlOhA LII @AN-@'
The Rev. DR.. BA1aD gave the Introductory to his
course Of Historical Lectures Europe last night,
to large and attentive audience, atthe Cumberland
Presbyterian church. Commencing with few ap-
propriate remarks on the importance, we may say
the necessity even Of knowing well the state Of
Europe-its Institutions its civilization vast in
Auence upon the rest Of the world, own country
inoluded-he proceeded to speak Of several subjects
Of general nature in order to prepare the way for
the seven historical lectures which his course will
embrace.
One Of these subjects was the inequality which
exists between the western and eastern sides Of Eu
rope in regard to population and all that constitutes
high civilization. Western Europe has nearly two
thirds of the entire population, (which DR.. B. esi-
mates at two hundred and sixty-fve millions, or
more than quarter Of the population Of the glObe)
and almost all the science, education, literature,
commerce, wealth and refinement Of that important
part Of the world.
Another was the variety Of race, language, dress,
and religion which still exists in EurOpe-shOwing
how far the work of fusion and homogeneousness is
from being completed. The important languages
are fourteen, which may be ranged, not with strict
accuracy, but in general way, in three great fam
lilies or grOups-the Latin, the Teutonic and the
Savonic. The first embraces the Italian, French,
Spanish, and POrtuguess-the second the German,
Dutch, Danish Swedish, and English-and the
third, the Russian, Polish, and Bohemian. The
Maguritc or Hungarian, the Turkish, and Modern
Greek, belong to none Of these categOries, unless
the last named be ranged with the Latin, of which
it was the basis. His triple division holds good
to religion the Latin nations are mainly Roman
Catholis; the Teutonio Protestant; and the savOnic
Greek or Oriental
A third and most important topic was the number
and variety Of the governments Of Europe, which
sre now sizty-thres, of which thirty-seyen are in
Germany alone, and nine in Italy! But great as the
number Of governments in Europe is in these days,
it is nothing in comparison with the state Of things
in the middle ages, when Germany had more than
$780, and Italy FIVE times as many it has now. As
to the actual governments Of Europe q are Mon
arches, 80 are Duchies, Prinoipalities, and
are Republics. OF the entire number of 63 govern
msnts, Dr.. B. states that there are only Is or IA
that have not something in the shape of a oOnstitu
tiOn, more or less perfect. Constitutional form Of
government has silently made great progress in
Russia, Turkey Austria, Naples, the Kingdom of the
Pope, three Duehies and one Principality in Italy,
and three four Duchies in Germany have not even
the shadow Of a constitution.
When classified in a more simple way, the govern
ments Of Europe may be said to be 81 Kingdoms,
for a Duchy is a small Kingdom) with As MOnarchs
reigntng over them 4Principalites and Republics.
Or we may go further and say that there ere only
eight or nine governments in which people have any
voice. directly or indirectly in the choice Of their
rulers; in the others they have none.
DR.. Baird, next spoke of the twenty Monsrchs who
may be called principal sOvereigns. Two of them
are DoDasH, (he Queen Of England and Spain; , and
eight men, of whomfve are mari led and thirteen
unmarried at this time-n this lat ter category the
Pope is to be ranked Eight Of those soveregns are
Protestants ten Roman Catholics, one of the Greek
Church Cthe EmpsrOrOf Russia) and one (be sutan)
a Mohommedon
DR.. B. then proceeded to say a few things of some
Of the leading sOvereigns now living and some
things Of some that have died sin &c he first visited
Europe OF the Queen of Engls ad he spoke highly,
as a woman above reprOach in b er life and charsc-
ter-an example to the wives and mothers of Eng
laud-and said that the Court Of England was never
better than it is now. He onsidered Louis Napo-
leon to be one Of the ablest one Of the most far
seeing monsrohs of Europe, and on the whole a
good ruler of France, although he reached the
throne by perjury and fraud. The Emperor Of
Austria may have talent enough, but his allowing
empire to be completely sold to the hierarchy Of
Rome, he has done in the late concordat with
the Pope, demonstrates that he is an uuwise Prince
The new Emperor Of Russia is an amiable and we'll
informed man. DR.. B. related several interesting
facts respecting him, for which we have not room.
Nor have we room for the interesting anecdotes
which he related Of the Kings Of Prussia and Swe-
den, both Of whom are evidently near their end.
He spoke highly Of the Kings of Wurtemburg, Bel
GUM, and Sardinia.
With few striking statements respecting the
great progress of Europe, in education, in benef-
cent Institutions, in manufactures, in commerce,
and facilities of travel by railroads, steamboats,, ETC.
Dir. B. closed lecture which contained vast
amount Of information seldom brought into @ single
DISCOURSE by Announcing that the frs, lecture Of the
series will be given tomorrow Might and that it will
embrace the histories Of Russia and Poland. We
hope that the citizens of Nashville will not fail to
avail themselves Of the facilities which these lee
lures so wonderfully give, for acquiring a great
amount Of the most valuable and interesting iDfOr-
nation, and at price which is indeed cheap enough
To all young men, especially, we would say, go and
hear these leefursS!