MR. CHARLES BRIGHT’S FAREWELL LECTURE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5257, 29 January 1878, Page 2

MR. CHARLES BRIGHT’S FAREWELL LECTURE.

There was a large attendance at the Theatre Royal last night to hear Mr. Bright’s farewell lecture entitled “A certain Race of Barbarians, or Our Noble Selves.” Pressure upon our space compels us to say much less concerning this witty and sparkling production than we should like to say. It is of a different stamp to those previously delivered, and is a masterly and at the same time goodhumored satire on much of our boasted civilisation. It is interspersed with anecdotes, whicli caused hearty laughter, and underneath it all lies a rich vein of philosophy and a hearty aspiration for halcyon days yet to come, when all shams shall be done away with. “It is ■ through the words and works of the thinkers aud doers,” said Mr. Bright, “ that humanity must eventually, however slowly, be lifted out of ‘barbarism’ into true_ civilisation—out of discord and warfare into the sphere of social harmony and genuine godliness.” At the close of the lecture Mr. Bright, who was loudly applauded, said ha had once more to thank the people of Wellington for th<* hearty reception accorded during his stay in Wellington, which place he should leave next day for the South, aud should not in all probability be here again for a year ; but he hoped then to have the opportunity of revisiting his friends in this part of the colony.