Professor Goodwin's Lecture.

Sever 11 was filled yesterday at the occasion of Professor Goodwin's first lecture on "Plato, Socrates and the Sophists." The lecture was intended more particularly for the freshmen who are about to begin the Crito and the Apology, but it was likewise enjoyed by a number of upper-classmen and instructors. It is from Plato and Xenophon that we get all our knowledge about Socrates, his philosophy and his personality. It is hard to state in terms what was Socrates' philosophical scheme. In fact, Professor Goodwin said that Socrates was much like our own Mr. Emerson who prided himself on having no scheme of his own. Not-withstanding this fact, Socrates was a prolific parent of philosophical schools and his influence was felt for generations after his death. The one principle of Socrates which we know is "All knowledge is virtue." Mr. Grote has done valuable service in refuting the common opinion held as regards the sophists. He shows that they had no share in corrupting Athenian youth. A strong argument in favor of this view is that Plato in his dialogues, Protagoras and Gorgias, treating on the two greatest sophists, makes no accusations whatsoever against them. Professor Goodwin illustrated the points made in his lecture by copious quotations from the Republic and Protagoras of Plato.

The next lecture will be held on Friday and can hardly exceed this one in interest or in valuable information agreeably communicated.