The National Register. — London, England, 1808-11-06 00:00:00

7 1 /4' #i - - THE NATIONAL lIIWiIgTEIts beighten the 'abet of his peculiarities. I (mid willingly describe his preaching, but the powers of description abso lutely fail me on this occasion. When 1 attempt to catch the features of his oratory, t am so divided between merri ment and admiration, that 1 know not how to express the mingled feelings with which 1 am agitated only by the re men►brauce oI his discourses. Laughing is nut alwa; s scoffing. I do not design to deride Mr. Lindell ; but though he may tell me (as he told the audience at Orange-street, last Sunday Evening), in reprobation of my conduct, •` 1 a'n't a funny preacher," still 1 must persist, if we are to admit the evidence of our own senses, I must still per sist, 1 aver, in thinking him one of the drollest divines that ever pounced into a pulpit.— " I don't come here," indignantly exclaimed our preacher, ' 6 to spout to fine folks ; nor do I preach as a schoolboy reads his lesson, but" —6' Your loins," said he, at another time, speaking of afflictions, " are &sided; and men walk over your heads." 6 ‘ About eighteen fears ago," said *he, retracing his progress in piety, " 1 ound it very hard to separate mysel.f from young persons of both sexes. Then, he shortly after added,—" It is your vile propenSities [flow did I treinble for the " fine folks," just behind him, almost within the reach of his strong and uplifted arm, in the gallery that keep you from Christ. You wilt be dimn'd Or your filthiness!' I suppose some of the female part of the " fine folks" reddened at tins tre inendous denunciation ; for, if I saw rightly, I perceived several ladies attempt to cover their faces with their fans. What can I say more ? Mr. Lindell is, 1 now repeat it, one of the most truly original preachers that ever ascended the stairs of any pulpit. lie is boldly commanding, and he is irresistably humourous. Every where is he great : but at Orange-street, among the "fitte,folks," oh !--- " His happy eloquence is here at home." Mr. GEORGE CLAYTON now claims my consideration. He is youn g . poplar, and aspiring ; tollowed by the Mul titude, and desirous of their distinction. He has recently commenced his labours at Orange-street ; hut, as lie seerns anxious to render himself very agreeable to the frequenters of its chapel, it behoves me to investigate his mmisterial qualifications. I cannot rank Mr. G. Clayton quite so hie' as some part of the religious public seem inclined to exalt hire. He paid his court, howerer, tolerably well to the masters of his new pulpit. svbeii h , preyed chapel mi l :lit be al ways the " of se: , H 7)r !leaven !" if lam dis posed to dispute Ins ability, I cal therefore still praise his dexterity. He is son studied, if he aims to be foremost among extempore preachers ; and he is too re!glii-ent, it he wishes to acquire the honour of being considered bound ly logical. His epithets arc often strangely applied. What reasoning man ever talked of punishment as " the reward due to crimes ?" His metaphors are no less fawity than his epithets ; and, like too many others who labour to preach fluently, he is compelled frequently to correct himself recalling his words. He has the art, rather than the gift, of preaching. There is one master-defect in him, common to those who arc destined to the pulpit from the cradle,- he dues not know enough of human experience and feel ings. He has been too food to do good. Ills illustrations are not sufficiently intelligible ; nor do his exhortations find their way instantly to the heart. He succeeds better in intercession, than in exposition : he prays better than be preaches. I now take my leave of the Managers of Orange-street Chapel. They are happily in possession of one of the most thriving conventicles in this metropolis; and, in order to in sure its stability, they have only to continue to employ their present organisL and singers, and look oui for truly eminent ministers. I siispezt they know better than to flatter themselves with ani icipating blessings on their valise, without taking the measiires necebsary to procure success. immter 4, 180?. O.N Ntittl:,. LEGAL .ABUSLS. TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD ELLENBOR Mr LORD, DEErLy sensible of the evils arising from the pi lice of the law, and determined, for the benefit of to to investigate their Causes and expme their consek whom can 1 so properly address myself as to Lord Illet There existsnuly one opinion, my Lord, respecting yol and, as there seems no doubt eutertaiued of your abil; professional imposition. let me presume Om your ill 4 remedy it where reform is practicable, or to puilis, reformation is hopeless, will be found equally %locum! If it be true of human governments, as Pope asser' " That which is best adininister'd is best, if, and experience appears to corroborate it, there priety in this position of our poet, it most emphatica, to the administration of judicial arairs. Fruitless har vigilance of patriotic ancestors, and vain is the ex, political constitutions, unless the concerns of the coum rected 1) . judgment and transacted with equity. You, must he fully aware of the truth. of this remark, and tent of its application. Of the arts that are employe) public justice, and the efforts that arc made to of counteract it, you cannot be absolutely ignorant. NI , ever, remaius concerning which it were desirable y , still he apprised. There are cases of which it is imp, you to take immediate cognizance ; there are complai, never reach your ears; there are griivances which for in rain fur the scrutiny of your wisdom, and which, try unostentatious, are humble suitors for the intcrpositit authority. Laws ought not to be converted into snare.. It na cites surprise, and may justly awaken indignation, was designed for protection becomes the instrument 'ion. Men do nut commonly expect to be poisoned b, they daily e.tt, or to find them•elves buried in the ri house the,; are accustomed safely to inhabit. This ortl . nary course of thingN. I am, my Lord, perfectly serintr. My language re: strongly metaphorical, b it it is hourly illit i orabil ad% tied. Wnet . ter it accrue fram ignorance or peculatii ness or knavery, elegance or effrontery, multitudes 01 individads are continually smarti,ig under the lash o! whose pr:ife.)sors, with certain illustriow exception , olive to the bar, evince the most sovereign contempt fortunate suderers, and, indeed, for truth and justice. Permit Inv, therefore, to entre.tt your Lordship's ci towards the undertaking in which I purpose to engagi here plead calmly, hut the cause of those wit( advocates else w- here. Iful v case:: 5h.0:41 not al ora demand high considerati.m, let me remind you, my , petty ills, as they incessantly recur, are, like petty pet ultimately product of results the most fatal. They the uniatermi!tial; fever of the social system. The pi di:orice may , retie:in unobserved, hot, if not timely au treated, its consequences may he easily predict/A. It is them to these lesser evils of the state, these I chiefs, that I would occasionally tura your Lordsh ludividtials, my Lord, are not so much alrectet changes, as they are indisposed by the misconduct of proceedings injuriously interfere w itb private interest subversive of social happiness. I have now the honour to subscribe myself, my I. very humble Servant,_ _ A GRATUITOUS BARI:. ** As the GR 4,11111'01;S nA nft f STF,It intenN trial various Lex•al Malpreetieet, he strongly •nolicits an :xwounicatiolis cm the objcets of bis inquiry. He is Pi* . NOV'. q: ROUGH. • irespot prar. ivil Socie t • ?quences, to, enhorini,th ? our talent, ; lily to resist iciiiiation to sh it where rstionable. !led, that , 119 iS any pro- illy atoirhe luts been the Ecellence of ntry are di- u, my Lokl., of the ex- ed to evade ibitruct nod Inch, hoyi- you should po,sible for lints, which If) (often call ying though ion of )uur iturttlly ex- when if hat of ()pyre:, the bread ruing of the s is not tLe tray aprar td exemp!i- -i ilti, Mai •h- -of innocent of the lc, from the for the countenince I 5 hall o retain no s to Lord, that erplexitic y constitute pro,:re , s of lid skilful!! minor 11 1 ;i' lip's reflect .d by public men %Owne sti, and are Lord, your LISTER. king public detetwneJ ~~ . I r .,*