MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 22, 14 May 1857, Page 3

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Mr. Richard Hill’s Lecture on Thomas Moore. The enjoying faculty is not the same in all, or by any two persons capable of being employed on precisely the same objects. One man loves music, another has a passion for sculpture, while a third finds supremest delights in creature comforts; preferring the mutton chop, with sundry bottles of stout, to less substantial things, just as the cock of fable preferred some few grains of wheat to all the precious stones in the world. In reply to dunces who were unable to appreciate his admirable wit, Sterne used to say that capacity for the enjoyment of wit was a gift of God, and that a genuine feeler always carried half the entertainment along with him. The remark applies to every kind of man in relation to every kind of art. The quart bottle cannot hold a gallon. Wanting the gift of God, no man can enjoy wit, and, assuredly, without such'gift no man can take delight in poetry. Men otherwise talented have been unable to admire poetry, or when dipping into the poets, to carry the least imaginable entertainment along with them. Every great poet of modern days has been thought rather latitudinarian. The poetry of Shakspere is familiar to millions ; but the religion of Shakspere cannot, even by commen tators, or other curiously learned critics, be determined. Claimed as Shakspere was and is by Protestants as well as Catholics !• presume not to decide for or against either. Shakspere’s case is the case of almost all the great poets who have flourished at various epochs. It was the case with Moore—• Tom Moore—lreland’s greatest poet, or rather the only great poet to which Ireland has given

birth since it became an appendage to the British Crown. It appears that as seven cities contended for the honor of being the birth-place of Homer, two cities (Dublin and Wexford) contended for the honor of being the birthplace of Moore. Mr. Hill, wishing to get prec’sa information touching so stoutly contested a point, asked an Irish friend, now in Auckland, what he knew concerning the matter. “ Why, faith,” said he, “ I believe he intended to be born in Dublin, but couldn’t help being born in Wexford.” This, and many another anecdote, Mr. Hill told very well. Indeed the comic part of his Lecture was truly comic, and by far the most successful. What pleased best of all was the Gridiron story, which he recited with much gusto, and decided success. It is a pity the Melodies were not vocally illustrated. Should Mr. Hill at some future period return to the subject, which he on Tuesday by no means exhausted, we hope be will be able to act upon this hint. o Choral Society.—This evening a public rehersal of the Auckland Choral Society takes place at the Mechanics’ Institute. Next week we hope to have the pleasure of recording a favorable performance.