156 
_ance, from the earliest records of our 
history to the accession. of Henry the 
Seventh; and making some incursions 
into the reigns of the Tudors as far as to 
the days.of the Reformation, concluded 
the discussions of the Jast season with a 
comparison of the merits and demerits 
of the houses of Tudor and Plantaganet ; 
and the adyautages and. disadvantages 
resulting to the country from the go- 
vernment of the respective , princes. of 
either dynasty. 
At the discussion of these questions 
I have regularly presided, to point out 
‘the suurces of infor mation, to” inter- 
_ rogate tne speakers as to. the authori- 
ties for dispuied facts, to rectify their 
mistakes, assist them in ¢ appreciating the 
value of Instorical evidence, and. reli- 
giously to enforce the observance, even 
in the ardour of dcbate, of the unde- 
viating language of decorum and urba- 
nity: ‘and as care has been taken that 
the library of my institution should never 
be unfurnished with any books that it 
‘could be necessary to refer to, for the 
ilustration of the subject in debate; 
and as every immediate= pupil at least 
has been obliged to take his share in 
every discussion, though a// may not 
have been formed into orators (a con- 
summation neither practicable nor. de- 
desirable) no member of the society 
could wel! avoid making some progress 
an the attainment of historical know- 
ledge, and in the habit of confident and 
‘fluent utterance. 
For the minuteness with which we 
‘have traced, step by step, the progress of 
eur early history, | had several motives. 
To those who may choose to partake for 
successive years in our discussions, the 
advantages will be obvious of having 
thus laid a firm foundation in the his- 
torical antiquities of their country, whose 
history and institutions they are here- 
after to examine in their more advanced 
stages. To those (the period of whose 
instruction being closed) who have re- 
tired to their distant homes, or are 
closely engaged in their professional vo- 
cations, it will be valuable, to have. been 
so far conducted through the thorny road 
of early investigation, and to he left io 
their own industry and farther attain- 
ment at an era of encreasing interest, 
where the allurements and excitements 
to further enquiry and attainment are 
perpetually unfolding. But I am free 
to confess, that a motive not less power- 
ful in my mind was the desire of not 
Wisiorical and Oratorical Society 
[Sept.. i 
meddling with the more recent periad 
ull the nature of my undertaking were 
popularly understood, beyond the danger 
of suspiciou: for f am well aware how 
much prejudice has tv do in rétarding 
the progress of the most useful esta= 
blishments ; and how important it is for 
a public teacher, or the professor of any 
liberal science, to be armed against 
misrepresentation, and to have his views 
and objects understood for precisely 
what they are. The jealousy of that 
precaution is now no longer necessary. 
Thé objects of my institution are now, 
L believe, pretty well understood to be 
no other than they are professed to be— 
the improvement of English elocution, 
and the cultivation of the accomplish--. 
ments connected with the completion of 
a liberal education, and_the ethcient en- 
dowments for the eligibie departments 
of active life; and the respectable pupils, 
of all parties and of all opinions, who 
have already partaken of the instructions 
of that institution, and of these discus- 
sions in particular, will bear testimony 
for me, that my system interferes not | 
with the parties or the theories of those 
who are entrusted to my care. To 
spread the facts of history before them, 
to guide them to the attainment of a 
thorough knowledge of the institutions 
of their country; to store my shelves, 
impartially, for their edification, with 
every respectable authority, pve and con, — 
for every period or eventof disputed re= 
cord ; to form their taste for the more 
elegant departments of literature, and 
to inspire, at once, a thirst for know- 
ledge and for eloquence, and an eniula= 
tion of utility and distinction in their 
generation, whatever may be their class, 
their party, or their professional destina= 
tion—-these are the views with which, in 
the next session of the historical and 
oratorical society (which, with the re- 
sumption of the customary courses of 
instruction in my establishment, -wilt 
open on the first en, of October) I 
shal! proceed co direct the attention of — 
my pups to these two important periods 
of the English annais; the first of which 
begins with the accession of the house of 
pete and the second of which termi- — 
nates with the abdication of James. 
Whether the whole of the events of | 
those two interesting epochs will be dis- 
cussed during a single session of the 
society, I do not by any means predict : 
but I believe I may venture to announce 
to those who are interested i in the intelli- 7 
: gence, % 
