THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. 



A 



DISCOURSE, 



DELIVERED CEFOIIE 



TEE ra(D)g(D)]FeiI(S §®(GII]Ef ¥ 



OF THE 



UNIVERSITY O F ALABAMA. 



BY BENJAMIN FANEUIL PORTER. 



" Among themselves all things 

 Have order ; and from hence the form, which makes 

 The universe resemble God. In this 

 The higher creatures see the printed steps 

 Of that eternal vi^orth, which is the end 

 Whither the line is drawn. All natures lean, 

 On this their order, diversely; some more, 

 Some less approaching to their primal source. 

 Thus they to different havens are moved on 

 Through the vast sea of being, and each one 

 With irstinct given, that bears it in its course : 

 This to the lunar sphere directs the fire. 

 This moves the hearts of mortal animals 

 This the brute earth together knits and binds." 



Dante — Paradise. Canto I. 



TUSKALOOSA : 



PRINTED BY M. D. J. SLADE. 



1845. 



