60 



it was success in war that ministered to the triumph of the peaceful 

 arts. 



The author enforced his views by reference to the Augustan age in 

 Eome ; to the Italian republics ; to the eras of Elizabeth and Anne, in 

 this country ; and to the period of the American and Napoleonic 

 wars ; observing of the latter — Notwithstanding their alleged crippling 

 influence on the commerce of this country, see that commerce diffusing 

 itself all over the globe, and bringing the more important products of 

 every clime to our island home. See, while strife raged abroad, the 

 gigantic improvements introduced into the arts and manufactui'es ; all 

 the improvements in the machinery for spinning which have given 

 fame or wealth to Arkwright, Strutt, Cartwright, and Peel ; the adap- 

 tation of steam to mining and manufacturing purposes by Watt ; the 

 application of coal gas to artificial illumination, by Mm'doch, Winsor, 

 and Clegg ; the formation of canals by Brindley and the Duke of 

 Bridgewater ; the foundation of the Royal Academy of Arts ; the 

 extension and improvement of periodical literature ; this is all so 

 recent, you do not I'equire to have your memory refreshed with parti- 

 culars, nor need I enumerate more of the names of those who 

 participated in these great works. 



After referring to the corroborative evidence afforded by the Egyptian 

 and Assyrian remains, and commenting upon the general deductions 

 to be di'awn from the examples quoted by history, he observed — Nor 

 let it be hastily supposed that the rapid advance recorded as having 

 been made during the peaceful rule of Pericles or Augustus, was due 

 entirely to that peace. What is called the peace of Europe has 

 subsisted beyond the duration of that of Pericles ; yet, in commercial 

 England, with all the superior advantages we boast, we may look in 

 vain for any adequate rivalry of Atliens or of Rome. The attainment 

 of excellence in any human pursuit of value is not to be compared to 

 Minerva's birth; it is the slow growth of years, sometimes of gene- 

 rations. The consummate skill and grace, therefore, displayed by 

 Phidias aud his contemporaries, had been gradually matured through 

 all the distractions of the Persian invasions and the preceding wars 

 with Sparta aud other states. The siege and ruin of the older Athens 

 prepared a stage on which the excellence attained might be displayed. 

 The inferior productions of the period of pupilage were swept away, 

 and there was no impediment to the free scope of the master mind ; 

 just as the prairie-fire destroys the withered remnants of an exhausted 

 season, from whose ashes spring fresher aud more luxuriant manil'es- 

 tations uf productive energy. 



