New-York tribune., 1876-12-05
STTDIES or ENGLISH LITERATURE.

TENNYSON CONSIDERED IN THE FIRST or COURSE
OF LECTURES BY JAMES T. FIELDS.
lanes T. Fields delivered the first of n
course Of six lectures subjects connected with
modern English literature at Chckerng Hail. last even
Ing the topic for the evening being Alfred Tcnnyson as
a man and as poet" When Mr.. Fields came on the
platform, alone. and bearing his manuscript carefully
oded and bound he must have noticed that he had be-
fore him the ideal yceum audience, II indeed it can be
found outside OF Boston, there were IN 1t men aud
women who follow literature as profes-
sion: amateurs lawyers, teachers, ana students !
more men tnan women hllng every seat seat III the
parquct all attentive through an honr and three quar-
t,rs of pleasant talk and remnlsctncc, and quick TO
perceive heartily enjoy sally Of wit or flow of
humor. Many passages were applauded MI Fields Is
Of medium stature his features are prominently formed
br wears fine black beard and long black hair aud the
mir OF a literary sage His delivery was pleasing, but
his voice. melodous enough at times, was gwen To
monutonous dropping on final syllables. He explained
a the outsct that the lecture wOlld he unusually long,
nasmuch he had views to advance on The study
of English authors by way OF an introduction.
lie said his not TO be regarded as studies,
but as incentives to study. He desired to awaken
interest English literature It's study Ill charging
mems tastes, would enlarge mems hearts. Other men
mi,ht present the fame Of wicked men OF genius lie
would only talk OF authors who represented nobility of
mind set round by nobility OF purpose. lie was not
looking for who gained great effects by reat de
fects It was enough to 1nd great heroic soul In
hook or life something which would excite and could
hear thc touch OF enthusiasm in the handling, and the
man he said, " who has no enthusiasm might rs wei
have been born n caterpillar" Literature could do more
for national fame than any other human agency stone
and mortar away but few verses addlessed 10 The
human heart would ouve the fall OF empire, and
simple sonnct might grapple with eternity ME Fields
worlds letters; he urged that 10 was not sllHtlenty
studied in schools and colleges, and recommended enter
uy thp Temple Of Literature at the modern portal, ana
leD
DcrS =, -. ...... -,
Wordsworth aud TennysOn, he said were poets who
mayer left their tracks Ia other peoples snow Words
worth named TennsOn the Laureate, and the latter had
since been the crowned mUnalth oI EnSllsh poetry.
TcuuysOn saw the sun trOfl MS Island nome tlt
IInIurr suw II Il said thai he brought too Ettc
thai was strnngly ncw IL should DE remembered that
tucrc WAS nUtnng very new about tne great truths OF
the world lie rcccd the poem, " Home they Drought
her warrior dead Ii contained the hcartS story III
mn slcll I'm it was that touch which made
man "A poet anG which cOull not be simulated lie re-
couted long search for publisher ~ years
ago The poet was 20. The man VINO WAS made
snort BY such men us buwer, VINO WAS rihcuIeu ~
HlIckWOOds now represented the high watcr-inark O
English training and culture Ihc poet otcuuldh Hal
well dscrIbc the quality Of IeunysOus genius Ill VIC
torlnu PCcts" IcnlysUn's works were Truly not tao
rittNOod of accident. Many supposed itnhy son 10 DC
buyr lie usual hight aud might nave set Tor hercules
The singer 1cnnysOu was furnished WIN IL chest tuGI
c,,rr,sp0uted Wtn MS BRAN He could work out his
concel ,ions lie great enough Tor immortality, and
mi Volialrc that great intellect rather than
great manhood. 1eDnysOn was DOtn Ills " queen
MARY" WIS his bost bur U contained description or
Mary Stuart which was truly Shakcspriau Mr. Fields
Isle OF Wight, and read the BuZe Song"
and other selections, III Mr. Tcnnyson's own manner