The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-06-22
From tho National In,elligencer.

! the nature Ut the contest.
From the National In,eligencer.
MR.. MILLERS LECTURE.
The Lecture Of modern times, and espe-
cially Of America has assumed peculiar
character. The American public speaker,
in the pulpit, at the bar, and in the forum,
has hustled out the professor from his chair,
and has turned his quiet desk and platform
into noisy busting and rostrum. The lee
lures of our day have become orations, and
sometimes they are sermons. This makes
it very difficult to Judge justly Of the merits
of any protested lecturer, especially Of a
new star in the galaxy. The public taste
demands the oratnrica style. and the very
moment this is assumed the lecture ceases.
The happy union of two almost cuntradic-
tory characters perhaps is the art TO be
sought for by the modern lecturer, and Mr..
Miller doubtless is destined to gain an I'M
usual prominence as happily combining these
qualities. The early part OF his discourse
on the Eighteenth Century was lecture
proper, closely read and designed to instruct
rather than to move and this is what il
siould be. Mr. Everett has the rare power
of memory quietly to repeat even minute
historical detalls-memory doing the office
Of the eyes !; but the more natural method Of
the lecturer is to consent 10 be reader. This
method is generally easier and more asreea-
BILE to the bearer; since few men can repeat
well what they have carefully written; and
I since. too, listening even to Mr.. Everett Is
accompanied often with painful sympathy
in his effort. 1t is fault Of our aye that
hearers SO wear out their energies before
coming Ia the lecture as to be sleepy under
what they most needy quiet instruction.
Hence those occasional flashes that belong to
the 0.atorical are an essential ingredient Of
an American lecture.
Some who heard Mr. Miller for twenty
minutes. not worked up 10 appreciate the
depth OF his analysIss might have regarded
his lecture proper as commonplace. The
careful student in the field over which he
passed was soon If different upiniun. The
promise Of his opening quotation from Car
lyie's recently published +" Lille OF Frederick
the Great"-the promise 81 4 new review Of
that eventual century was to be expected.
and was not disappointed. There was an
extent Of reading displayed rarely met with,
hardly possible to be attained III tile PROBES.
sion To- which Mr.. Miller belongs; there
was Just and impartial canlor in present
ing facts which the habit, of special plea
der hardly prepare the mind for; and. most
of all, there was depth of analysis and
clearness Of arrangement which surpassed
many Ut the best productions Of lis knd.
Comparisons OF iaypriie M istcrs in this de.
partment should be carefully avoided; the
oyerweening spirit of ilattery on the nuc
hand and Of drlractiOn the other should be
severely chastened. But this much NAV be
safely and impartiAlly prognosticated Of Mr..
Mlller's lecture. Conceived last December.
delivered in presence Of the intelligent
gathering of the North carolina Legislature
during its late session, and is REPETITION now
called for extensively IN his nun aud ddjoin.
ing States, Mr.. Miller's lecture is likely 10
be second Only To- Mr.. Eyerett's in popu.
larity and, a. he brings TO il the ,igor d
earlier manhuO,. il may III Tie end be as ex.
tensiyely delivered.
The occasional oratorical passages scatter.
ed ihrOu II the discourse, and tie closing
paragraphs presenting the position Of Wash.
lngtOn among the illustriDus men whose
statues Ga tie Pantheon Of that century's
heroes. was mastery IN conception and ar.
tstie in execution. II there we're left any
thing TO be regretted, il was that the philan.
thrOpic element 10 HE man uf biz age higher
than the patriotic was not more fully de-.
yeloped that spirit which. a. an inheritance
u tie Father ii his Country, makes the
American nation aud their leader ID be now
regarded not 80 much lovers of their country
as lovers Of tie human family; for this it was
that made Washington truly great man. and
this alone makes us a great people. Mr.
Eyerctt's lecture Is yet more lacking, as his
theme was more special. Lack Of tine pre-
vented Mr.. Miller IRON celebrating this
point.
1, II Mr. Miller's lecture meets in other TO-.
calities a. in Washington il has. both the
enthusiastic plaudits 81 popular audience
aud The sincere and chastened encomiums Of
those Who have studied the age Of which he
treated aud its reviewers, bis success a. a
lecturer is to be brilliant one. aud the aid
he bring. TO the cause Of the Mount Vernon
fund rich legacy.
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