The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-12
Mr.. Frenchs Lecture at Village Hall.

MI. FTencH LECTURE dI fNlaSe Hail.
We publish below notice of MIR. French's
Lecture, Wednesday evening, which has been
kindly furnished us by friend. We were una
bic to be present at the lecture, and SO cannot
speak Of it from personal knowledge, but we have
heard it highly commenced by those who had the
good fortune to hear it. Merely adding that this
notice has been unayoidably deferred to this late
moment we give our correspondence commuuica-
ton
The lecture Of Mr.. French on Wednesday eve.
Ming was very fully attended, especially consider
ing the somewhat nclement weather. The lee
turer was Introduced to the audienc,, by Hon. r
Richardson, who took occasion to commend the
enterprise OF The e." Students Geological and De
batting Society" in naugurating a course Of pub
lie lectures, and to express the hope that they
might result in much good,
Mr.. French opened hi, lecture with some re e.
marks upon the caereat means Of education in
America aud mentioned among other, aids to i'm
provement, public lectures. He considered them
to be decidedly republican in their spirit and ten
dency. He did not appear Is professional lee
turer, PHILOSOPHER, a politician or divine, but
only as student among students. He took as
bis subject " True Conservatism, r the Lessons
of the Hour lie reviewed the past decline of
American craftsmanship, and lis lapse from the
pure, enlightened and patriotic standard of the
trainers of the Constitution he referred to the
character of the present conflict, considering it as
the fitting ordeal for our nation to pass through
after years of misrule and of decay in the public
morals it had come none too soon; it would
purify and cleanse this country OF its dregs and
dross he believed that these were the TIRES for
true worth and manljuess to display themselves
-" These be brave times" The fears and doubt
Of the timid and Responding, he ridicucd.
Engand's sham neutrality, her hypocricy, The
inconsistency of her conduct towards our coun-
try during the present Stupenduous conflict, when
compared with her 70 mer pretension8 and opin-
ions, aud her real sordidneSs, as displayed in all
her public measures, were treated in vein Of
mingled humor and irony. The only way for toe
country to regain its former standard of purity
and integrity in its counsels and administration,
he believed to be by eleyating he public morals
through the individual citizens that compose the
grand aggregate. a nasion'o prosperity is not
shown by the figures of its census table,
He spoke of true conservatism in religion, and
believed that creed should be established broad
enough to include every sect, party and race;
that true conservatism in all things should be pro-
gressive that our past and present privileges
should not only be preserved, but should be in
creased aud extended that the future ascent of
our country in the scale of national worth would
be even greater than her decline
1t is not possible TO do justice to Mr. Fench's
discourse in brief notice like this 1t is sufficient
to say that, although the ideas and opinions ad-
vanced were given emphatcally lis own, and
consequently not expected or intended to accord
with those of all his audience, his lecture was lis
tened tC throughout, with the strictest attention,
and was several times warmly applauded His
style was easy, and full OF pquancy and humor.
Mr.. French has shown himself young man of
marked talent and ofd decided originality of thought
and expires ion.
The second lecture Of the course, is, we under
stand, to be given on the 23d inst, by Rev. f.
w. Shelton.