Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-01
European History.

M n Opening of the Course of Lectures by Dr.
 E.A. Freeman, the English Historian.
 The first in the course of lectures in New Haven by Dr. Freeman, the distinguished English historian and scholar, was delivered last evening at the ample and commodious North Sheffield Hall. The greeting received | by the distinguished historian was one which | must have afforded him pleasure. the hall ! being filled in every part, and by an audience of high refinement and culture. Dr. Free man, while he remains in this city, is the guest of Professor c. s. Lyman. He re- mains in this country until next spring, in the meantime visiting his son, who is resi- dent of Virginia. He is one of the foremost writers of the age, and man who has the courage of his convictions His History of the Norman Conquest is one of the greatest historical works in literature It appeared in five volumes from 1867 to 1876. Previ- ously he published History of Architect ure" and other books on church and cathedral building in England, all standard works in their line, and published before his thirtieth year. Others of his works are: "Old Eng lish History" ssGrowth of the English Con- stitution," sGeneral Sketch of European History two volumes of Historical Essays, atreatise on Comparative Politics" :" and the Ottoman Power in Europe" all im- portant and of permanent value.
 The lecturer was introduced last evening to his audience by President Porter. who also, at the conclusion of the lecture, an- l nounced that the time for the second lecture had been changed to next Saturday evening kr,| |17a | federal union of modern Switzerland. He did not sympathize with the idea of neglect ing small things simply because they were small. He defended the class of men whom | the practical man arraigns impractical, sentimental and pedantic. The speaker noted two things, yiz.: 1st, Things have way of turning out as the impractical, senti- mental men expected; 2d, have noticed that arguments from the past and from past experience are received according to the per son to whom they are addressed. The cause and effect applied in historical deductions, with certain limitations, which the speaker | defined. Men who denounce the results of historical research antiquarian rubbish were generally ready to accept whatever his | torical research reveals if in accordance with their ideas.
 1 History is past politics politics are pres ent history. History in any other aspect hardly rises above antiquarianism. After 1 defining historical records as helps to history l making, he said that 8 true historian must al- ways be an antiquarian at heart, Man was I defined as 8 member of the political commu- nity. Causes have to be traced to their I AL 1 workings of the highest side of human na- ! ture at all times and under all circumstances of which we have knowledge. So political societies must be historically compared, and the difference between their physical and other circumstances. To know truth was a large part of the historians busi- | ness. It was his business to trace out differences between seeming like events and causes to point out the diversities l where found. In one sense it was true that history repeats itself in another sense it was true that there is no historical repetition at all. An exact historical reproduction was a phenomena rarely met with. The speaker explained this point in detail, Illustrating the delicate sitting and patient research necessa- l ry in the work. One set of causes leading to a historical event was often opposed by counter causes not known. He further il- lustrated the point that practical good sense holds certain results as likely to happen, or probable, judging from an exact critical study
 of the past with reference to the subject in
 hand. Pursuing the subject, the speaker de-
 fined the exactitude necessary when in quest
 of historical data for an exact conclusion or guidance in reference to present and future
 political history.
 History is not made alone by the great
 men,-the men of genius but each in his
 humble sphere is an agent in influencing and forming the history of the nation, for good or for evil. Unconsciously or unknow- ingly each is factor in the result the great
 affects the result in a greater degree. Each
 individual in the collection of human beings
 called nation,-each has his influence upon
 it's spirit, it's circumstances, it's traditions | The speaker. after moral reflection based
 upon this set of facts and enforcing the
 thought that the influence of the great diff
 fered not in kind from the small, but only in
 degree, set forth the thought that the great
 thinker living apart from the world, and too
 far in advance of his age to be comprehend
 ed and followed, could not be a leader. Han
 nibal, Alexander, Frederick the Great and
 Charlemagne were referred to in pursuance
 and elucidation of the leading thought of the
 lecture, and the lecture was crowned with 8 logical deduction with reference to the future
 of Greece, the speaker deducing from an ex-
 animation of the history of that nation the
 view that it must at no distant day be free
 nation restored to it's ancient boundaries and
 placed in position to regain again power | and name.
 The lecture was a brilliant effort, heard l with rare satisfaction and pleasure.
 Entertainments.