The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-02-14
DR.. John Lords Lecture.

delivered in the Odd Fellows Hall, Elkton,
on Friday evening of last week, was Il well
written and polished production, fully sus-
tanning the brilliant reputation Of its dis
! tinguished author, who, for forty years, as
, he informed his audience, has been lectur-
ing on history.
AT ~ o'clock, Vim. J. Jones, Est, in
troduced the speaker to the autienoe-o
rather introduced the audience to hi,n-by
stating that for many days past they had
been anxiously awaiting hi>, coming. and
had read every scrap of history they could
obtain bearing in the slightest degree upon
the character of the illustrious individual
that was the subject of the lecture.
DR.. Lord br"an his lecture by a reference
to the ancestors of Elizabeth who united
the blood Of the Tudors and the panta.r-
nets. She was precocious, and early gave
evidence of that power of intellect which
made her the most illustrious sovereign of
her day, and enabled her to deliver extent
pore Latin orations, 4 thing that few Of the
sterner sex are able TO accomplish success
fully. Except Lady Jane Grey, she was
the best educated woman in England. The
speaker then referred to the condition of
society when she assembled the throne, and
spoke of the political troubles in Scotland
and Ireland at this period OF their history,
when the poor people slept on straw pal
let's and used logs for pillows, when coaches
We're unknown, and, when the people not
having much to eat, filled themselves with
beer: when money was scarce and profane
swearing was universal; when the nobility
wore saudy clothing and slittcring jewelry,
and rode on horseback Such, too was the
condition of England when she assembled
the throne and commenced a lifelong con-
test with jealous kings and furious bigots:
only escaping destruction because the in
vincible Armada, by divine nterposition,
was destroyed in 4 storm. She was some
times accused Of chicanery and fraud, but
the speaker remarked that if cheating and
lying We're ever Unsuitable, it was then. II
was Il dark age. and it was not fair to ex-
pect from a sovereign of that time what we
would expect from one Of the present day.
The speaker then referred to Burleigh who
WAS her prime minister for forty wears, and
to Coke and Bacon and the great host of
other eminent men Of the EliZabethean age,
whose names and whose fame have added
lustre and Importance to English history
and literature, and will continue 10 do so
while history survives.
The speaker then referred to her efforts iii
behalf of learning and religion, and said
that she had made an alliance between them
which had continued to the present time.
She WAS jealous Protestant and protected
Professionalism wherever and whenever it
was in her power to do 50. Though she per-
secuted the Puritans, she did so because
they made war on the liturgy and denied
her right to reign. She was superior to any
of her contemporaries in toleration she
kindled no Auto-da-fe, and instigated no
ST. Bartholomew massacre, and has not in
aptly been styled the nursing mother of the
church, which, us established hy her, is
still dear to the hearts of the English peo-
pie. She developed the national resources:
she encouraged commerce; she founded the
British empire in India; and under her ans
plItS ibpISll'i iilt arctic zone
and Drake made the British ensign respect
ell on every sea. The wealth OF the nation
was doubled during her reign: there WAS
security for property and punishment for
crime. This was the character of Elizabeth
as queen. As Il woman, she hated war,
and never engaged in it when she could
avoid it. She made her own glory subser-
Hiert to that of her people. She was fond
of visiting her subjects, and while she was
n tyrannical queen, she did not encroach
upon the constitution. While she was
naughty and artful, and easily BATTERED by
her courticrs but she never allowed herself
to be tiattered TT the council board. She
was a strong minded woman and, compared
with Catharine of Russia or Maria Theresa,
excellcd them both i'll virtue and in intel
lect. Such was Queen BesS, whose fame
was rs immortal us that of pericles or Mar
Gus Aurelius.
The lecture was we'll attended and would
have been more highly appreciated had no:
the speaker been suffering from cold which
prevented him from being distinctly heard
in some parts of the hall.
The lecture last night was upon Madam
ID. Maintenon, who was born in Il prison and
who died in Il palace, which, not having
heeu delivered when we Went to press, will
he reported il our next issue.
~ Mace x Weeks fashionable and Stvl-
iSh ladies CATERS and Shoes of I'LL sizes and
best hand make always on hand at the
GLASS FRONT.