New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-29
Mr.. Collars Lectuve.

Cooper Hall was crowded to its utmost CO :
pacy last evening TO listen to the lecture OF the hon
Schuyler Colfax Across the Continent The plat.
form occupied by large numbers Of ladies and gen
tlemsn, among whom We noticed number not them.
selves unknown 10 fame. Messrs Cyrus w. Field Peter
Cooper Mr.. Bancroft. Mr.. Barney, and others. The
speaker was introduced 10 the audience by the Hon.
John T. Hoffman. Mayor elect and received with
earnest and long g.eontiDued applause:
He remarked that he appeared before them tonjglS
70 attempt TO sketch in brief manner the outlines Of
bis recen, trip the American continent from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. In an attempt thus 10 con.
dense the observations of an eight months journey
through the most interesting portion Of our county,
into the space Of an hour and half he must
necessarily touch 9pt lightly no, on the ;. more sSs
traversed comprised vast uncutvated and colnpar-
siyey uninhabited tract Of country aboundng ia I'M
mense resources which had bat Just begun 10 be deve
oped Opposite TO this region ON the other side OF the
Pacific lay another similar. r,h undeveloped country
belonging to the Russian Goyern.ent fne speaker
Grew a comparison between the recent history Of the
Russian Government and our own. Each wss Coy.
ernment Of progress. Each had recentiybeen great
seffemaneipatng nation lrhis was greeted by warm
apgRlause.l -,
sympathy which had been manifested by both the
Government and people Of Russia for OR nation during
its late severe struggle and trusted that when the line
Of telegraph now IN progress which is to connecs the
two nations in Dolly Intercourse, shall be completed
we should not forget In the first message which flashes
the wire to acknowledge obligation and grsti'
tudc. He Che speaxer) had often felt, both IN ais
younger and later days. strong desire toyis Enrope
and " ith his eyes all those many objects OF
interest Of which be had heard so cfen; but Wien
at last the time came when there seemed to be possf.
bity of O realization Of this DREAM he thought 1t
first his duty, as an American, to SEQ some OF the
wonders Of his own Land Ho then gave most interest,"
ing description Of his journey Of 2o00 miles by rail-
road and 2 600 by stage-coach. from NewYork to 10.
paka In Kansas TO Denver in Colorado across series
Of plains forming the finest natural road 10 the world;
mat ard
at Denver long enough to view the process
of silver mining, and the expensive machinery
let of hostile Indians, who were plundsring burning
and numbering, before behind. and either side OF
them; passing the Snowy Range Of mountains b5s
singular Church Bues' past FortBridger the lonely
outpost of cvization across the great valley between
the ranges Of mountains, which has communicar
tion with the sea- aud where considerable rivers rise
and flow onward for space to sDk again aud oisap'
pear the earth through the wonderful Echo Canon,
to Salt Lake City.
he described Inc capital city of The Mormons with ito
IS, 900 people gathered from all the nations of Europe
its beautiful site its broad sreet its clear running
streams, and its handsome ond costly buildngs. and
tho singular body Of water from which it derives its
name Then away again, through the valleys and
the 3 ranges Of mountains which intervene be-
vada range. over road in many places dug out
OF the side Of the mountains and where may
DO wtne.sed OF the finest specimens OF
driving in the world past stn, city two years DID,
Virginia City. with its neighbolng settlements nun.
bering 90 600 inhabitants; past Lake Mahne. sheet
of water larger than the District OF Columbia, lying
600 feet above the past Strawberry S.0t0D, TO
San Fran CISCO he gave sketch of the progress and
present condition Of California and in illustration OF
its progress in the manufacturing erts. mentioned
the suit OF clothes be himself was then wear.
ing made of wool grown In the State. aud
woven ao cloth and made into garments in San Franz
cisco. From San Francisco. the party proceeded g
Oregon and explored the wonders OF the Coiumba
River Valley. Thence to the wonderful Yozemite Val.
lev with IT'S perpendicular WALL. 5000 feet high, and
its case aes 900 and 1850 feet in hight Then to the
famous Big Trees" and back again to San Francisco.
and thence by way Of the two oceans and the Ishmus
Of Panama, to New.York
Having concluded his sketch VI the trip the lecturer
gave more foil account Of the Mormons, their social
and gous institutions their character and policy,
tho latter of winch he considered innica to the Ma
tonal Government and deserving Of prompt and care.
f attention. lie spoke of their social institutions m
degrading aud hilarious 70 the o their people es
pecialy the women aud while he deprecated any inter-
terence with their religions creed he thought their Pc
cniar ey Law shoud be modified Of least TO such ex-
tent that the laws Of the United States should no longer
be nuliiy in their Territory.
He also spoke Of the Pacific Railroad urging reasons
why il should be speedily and Thoroughly complete.
The lecture was listened to with great attention and
was warmly sp2audsd both during It's continuance and
at its close