New-York tribune., 1878-12-31
THE Address

tons in institutions ike THIS my pur
pose TO give to you what ere called Impressions OF
America" Even IL the circumstances OF my journey dd
not render sucn a. undertaking impossible should
have felt that before audience at Birmingham,
the ground had already been preoccupied by
distinguished pastor well known TO all OF you whose
activity and zeal must be admired even by those VINO
most widely differ from him, and whose controversial
ygor OF style few initiate emulate. propose 10
cOnane myself TO that side OF American life which per-
haps was Of interest to me than TO most travellers
its purely historical aspect that aspect presented by the
original Eastern States to which my journey was CON
fined It part Of history OF which, for whatever rea
son. Engishmen strangely ignoraDt-at least speak
for mysel-unt their imagination has been touched by
the actual sight OF that vast continent with ITS inspr
ing suggestions and recollcctions.
There are two remarks which an EnS!ishman con
staDy hears from the lips OF Americans uttered with
kind Of plaDtive apology: "We are a yOunG people,
and We have antiquities" The truth OF the first OF
these remarks every must admit the truth OF the
second venture question There is sayiug OF Lord
Bacon. pant OF which been made familiar from Its
having become the title OF an interesting work by an
eloquent and multarious writer Of our own times
"Annquitas sGeeuli itrCHtuS mWdj" "The age OF the
world is also youth" But there is the reverse OF
this saving which is equally rue The youth Of a
tion is also its antiquity" II fundamental maxim
of the historical philosophy Of a great teacher once
well known IN tho neighbOrhOOd OF Birmingham and
trust not vet forgotten Thomas Arnold, OF Rugby that
every nation has its ancient and modern history ire
spectiyey OF the chronological place which suen nation
may hold the general succession Of events This IS
Btrkingly Illustrated in the case Of America Iis youth
brings IL within the category OF period 0f history
which truly be called ancient, because II su
breathes something OF the freshness OF ITS first begin
nmgs, because 1t still exhibits society not in the shape
OF absolute achievement but OF gradual formation No
doubt the scientific aud material appliances
carried to a. further extent in the New World
than In the Old, give an appearance Of novelty
gether alien the tirst origin OF people; but when
we penetrate below tuIs shah find that there are
ioro primitive aspect OF American history The youth
OF America corresponds to the antiquity of Europe II
present and its future which constitutes its peculiar
95TT Hehty Gfs II is m Tss whc IN large M
ure it shares with Russia but which in America Is
career II has hitherto run.
TIE ERA OF THE FOUNDERS
The history Of the United states may be said to class
itself into four different epOchs which emerge from the
level which the part Ofits annals cOnned
Tho first epoch is what we may call the Era Of the
Founders. 1t Is rarely that are able nearly TO
place ourselves within the reach OF the first inhabitants
and the first cheftans OF powerful people What most
resembles this epoch s perhaps the accounts historical
or legendary, Of the foundation Of the Greclan
States. whether in the mother country or its
dependencies. But the Greek founders are, for
the part, moro or less involved in
cloud OF fable, whilst those Of the American Common
wealth stand out in all the distlnctness Of living and
actual personalities. II extraordinary sensation
which experienced when, two days after landing in
America found assisting the celebration OF the
25Otn anniversary of the town Of Saemin Massachusetts,
Around guests and speakers who derived their
lineage and name from those who had first Get foot on
what was then uesOlae wilderness On one side was
distinguished judge the representative Of Endicott,
first Governor the other side the venerable and
accOmpllshed descendant Of Winthrop not the first
actual the first undputed Governor OF the Colony The
Office itself was well oy the hOnoIed CISH
right hand aud the left the Satonstals, the Bow
bitches, aud the Hgnnsons-names obscure here but
household words there Their progcnitors not shad
owy phantoms-hke the heroes of Ossian's poems
staHnrt l art yeomen, or merchants or clergy, Ike
ourselves; eacn home IN The place claimed some
connection with one or other Of theso ancestral
patriarchs; their portraits their letters. the trees
were stil amongst us It was as one were sitting at
table back in the opening OF English or European
history, VITA the grandsons or greatgrandson OF Hen
gst and Horsa. CLOVIS and Pepln 1t was t1at sense
ofnear proximity to The oemn9ngs ot tRe Htate t %nSs
novel or "Ivanhoe," where, with perhaps too close
TedTe and Ahestan Front de Bout and tho TempiaTs,
s breathed the spirit OF the Saxon monarchy and OF
IooE for a moment at some OF the separate gronps
into which founders Of the American states arrange
themselves In the brilliant pages OF the venerable his
toran Of United States, George Bancroft,
them by one, from Florida TO Quebec, emerging,
ns If from the ocean, under the guidance OF those
ancient heroes. Take first that which is still in
Old Dolnnion Of Virginia. WHAT can be more stirring
more prmeyal tnan the account OF those DrlIiant
beha age fired with the hope OF perpetuang the
the rSt P9ect1a oi si Tue wnr ci@b R pGS s m %
toTla1 ascGSerGr re- s msSr Ina M rua 9 ndpment 5GS n
Is the Colony OF Virginia LOOK at the strange hguIe
Epgland' OF him who though bearing tue hoIrely
name OF JOhu Smyth, was the life and soul OF
before and afterward, was chequercd with a series
OF marvellous risks. which might well have belonged
To CirPcian ArgUnHut MEDIEVAL crusader. with
scientific and nautical ardor wlien mas descended to ms
lineage this country, including the late renowned
hydrographer Admiral smytn wascombined an lmpetu-
GUS passion for adventure which had previously led linn
through the Of Hungary and plunged HIM into the
dungeons the Turkish corsairs; and which, in Amer
ica won tue affection Of the Indian tribes, against whom
he alone was able guard the infant colony. Thrice
was hs life saved by the interest which MS presence
inspired IN three prlucesses, whom ne encountered
in these various hazards-Calanea, the lady Of Hun
PocahoIas the young daughter Of the Indian chief Pow
haitian who threw herself between hln and her fathers
anger II l. bY singular rate that whist focahont
tine earliest almost the earliest Christian convert OF
the native tTbe' OF North America lles buried within
the parish chaicn OF GIdfeSeho WIere She ciosea nc
life the remains OF JOhu Smy tn, alter his long and
srmy career should reposc In the solemn gloom Of the
Church OF ST. 5epucAre IL TIE City OF London Here
such his epaph ne lies conquered VINO conquered
all" ,,-,,,,.
above the Bay OF Plymouth, III New-EnSiand and see
without a yearulug toward the cradle OF sacred
state, the MayhOwer winding her dhicnlt way from
prOmOntOry 10 promOntory' from Island 10 Island,
rock ON that level shUTe-the rock OF which the re-
maine are sill visited by hundieds OF pilgrims from
record OF the heroic age when VIC Iead the
narratve Of the wasting in that cold De'cm'
hidiBg thclr dead under namecss graves, lest the
neIghDOring Indians suOuld perceive the diminishing
determination with Whcn they the vessel, after
flvc months, return its hOmeward voyage without
doning the cause which they came and retraciuS
their steps TO comfort and plenty what Dramatic
circle K that which contains the stern General Bradford,
the Yorkshire soldier Of fortune doubtful Puritan.
aud doubtful Catholic, Miles standisn; the hrst
chilI born on tue Atlantic. OCeanus HOpklnsi tie
flrst child bern IN New-Lngland Peregune Wbite Or
again. look at tb0t singular eccentric enthusiast Roger
ondeaVOrcd lay upon him not less odlOus than those
which caused thOso c9ohlsS themselves 10 tne