Lesley.] 40 S [November 6. 



great ideas of public good and beauty, but on the universal dis- 

 tribution of loaves and fishes to the multitude. A cj^nical herald 

 might escape punishment who gave for its blazon a dragon Ar- 

 gent, couchant, on a field Or, drinking champagne from an 03'ster 

 shell, and holding aloft a liberty cap upon the end of its tail. 



Philadelphia was once governed by an aristocracy of intellect 

 and taste. But our Wistar party is no more. Our Chinese Mu- 

 seum is burnt down. Our Museum of Natural History is per- 

 ishing for want of a few thousands to pay for its proper care. 

 Our Philosophical Society owns scarcely a single book that rep- 

 resents the advanced intelligence of the present generation, and 

 the few that it possesses are acknowledged in its proceedings as 

 donations. 



Is there not an explanation of all this at hand ? Are not pri- 

 vate luxury and public spirit inconvertible forces of nature, — 

 mutually destructive. The associativ^e interests of a democracy 

 produce a uniform balance of rights, and a uniform mediocrity 

 of character; while the personal pride of an aristocrat compels 

 him to shine as a public benefactor. While vulgar men grasp 

 political power to convert it to the base uses of the present 

 hour, men of rank in famil}^, intellect, and taste, regard the 

 future, and love the grand : Noblesse oblige. 



Mr. Poulke did not, indeed, say these things in his anniver- 

 sary address, when he urged the utility of preserving and en- 

 larging the jNIuseum of the Academ}^ of Natural Histor}', for the 

 well-being of the population of his native cit3^ But in pri- 

 vate conversation, no one lamented more that general lack of 

 appreciation for the more spiritual adornments of a common- 

 wealth which is manifested by even those who devote them- 

 selves most zealously to schemes for increasing the material 

 wealth and comfort of the community. 



In this dlscoui'se he exclaims : " Do 3'ou not desire to become 

 participators in some way with those who are hereafter to 

 strenothen and enlarge the resources of such an institution and 

 to apply them to the general good ? As men you have the com- 

 mon interest of the species in whatever can augment and var\' 



the instruments of civilization Surrounded hy luxuries, 



secure in the enjoyments of home, or engaged in the cheerful 

 commerce of societ}'^, have you no oftering to make to the treas- 

 ury of this temple? . . . You have children, Avho may be taught 



