OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. LEWIS CASS, President. VIRGIL MAXCY, First Vice President. WILLIAM GUNTON, Treasurer. LEWIS H. MACHEN, Librarian. STANDING COMMITTEE. WILLIAM CRANCH, JAMES KEARNEY, FRANCIS MARKOE, Jun., PHILIP R. FENDALL, RICHARD S. COXE, JOSEPH H. BRADLEY, PISHEY THOMPSON. ADVERTISEMENT. On the 12th of October, 1835—the Anniversary of the Discovery of America— a Society was formed in the Metropolis of the Union, under the title of the American Historical Society. The objects of the institution are declared in the 2d article of its constitution to be "to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to "the Natural, Civil, Literary, and Ecclesiastical History of America in general, "and of the United States in particular." On the request of the Society, the following Introductory Discourse was pronounced by the President. The first volume of its Transactions is now in the press, and will speedily be published. ADDRESS. Gentlemen of the American Historical Society : In looking back upon the history of man, it is obvious that different ages of the world have been distinguished by different characteristics. The progress of events has, from time to time, been marked by some predominating trait, communicating its impress to the moral circumstances around it; and the aspect of human life is brighter or darker, as this controlling principle is worthy or unworthy of the race of beings placed, by the creation of God, in their present state of accountability, and endowed with powers, whose extent, after an existence of sixty centuries, is unknown to us, but whose use or abuse constitutes the advancement or retardation of individuals and of societies. It is thus, that prismatic rays tinge with their hues, while they illumine with their light, the objects upon which they are cast. In the contest for this ascendency over the great world of mind, sometimes the passions of mankind have gained sway and held it for ages; and wars, social, political, and religious, have spread desolation over the earth, and have marked their progress, not less by moral than by physical evils. Then the intellectual powers have asserted their supremacy; at one time, for purposes merely speculative, and at another, for practical action. The one state is illustrated by that wonderful but puerile system of logomachy, which so long passed for philosophy, and which has come down to us as a splendid monument of human wisdom and of human folly; and the other, by those efforts at rational improvement, whose full operation has been reserved for our days. These social paroxysms, though unequal in their intensity and duration, are yet sufficiently perceptible in their operation, whenever we look out upon that ocean of the past, on the brink of which we stand, and where we must soon be. Who can study that most interesting chapter of the history of man, which records the wars of the crusades, without being struch with amazement at the derangement of the human itntellect, which it exhibits, and at the universal mastery which the passion for these expeditions obtained over the nations of Christendom?—when Europe precipitated itself upon Asia, and, in the phrensy of a false zeal, exhausted its energies, means and people, in efforts to conquer a barren region, and to obtain possession of places, hallowed indeed by the scenes they had witnessed, but given over to desolation! Who can look back upon the age of chivalry, and not wonder at the absolute dominion it acquired, with its fantastic ceremonies, its artificial code of manners, not of morals, its iron heart, and steel-clad hand? The feudal institutionsI do not speak of them as a system of civil polity, but as a series of events, occupying the attention and guiding the opinions of society,—the feudal institutions are placed in prominent view, by this retrospect, among the causes, which have exercised the most decided influence upon the progress of nations in modern times: and, as this influence declined, those excitements arose, which led to the dismemberment of the Catholic church, and ultimately to the establishment of the various sects, which now divide the Christian world. Human nature probably never displayed higher or lower qualities than disclosed themselves in this contest-sometimes of argument, but too often of blood! The ordinary business of life seemed to be suspended, and every man brought his tribute of reason, or force, or wealth, or life, and freely offered it upon the altar, which zeal and enthusiasm had erected. What sternness of purpose, what strength of affection, what disregard of all selfish considerations, what power of conscience, what contempt of life, were manifested during this interesting conflict! |