The National Register. — London, England, 1808-12-11 00:00:00

DEC. 11. Rowcroft thought it was absolutely necessary to follow thn , e cautions which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had sug gr,ted, and to form a Subscription and appoint a Committee for ' ,waging it; and he trusted that the example of t he C it y of London would be followed by the whole country. 'f he Resolution for a Subscription was then put acid Carried vtianimously. On the question being put on the second Resolution, Mr. Quin in making some observations as to the reports of great disasters having befallen our Allies, expressed a coutident hope that no calamities that might befal those brave men, strug gling for their national independence, would repress the spirit of Englishmen in defeudiog the freedom of their own country. — With respect to the amount of the subscription, as the country had beeore subscribed so nobly for the fund nt Lloyd's, he hoped they would be equally liberal on the present occasion. The stimulus was now much greater, as the tyrant with whom we were contending had since that time greatly increased his force. and now wielded the whole power of the Continent. As to the present situation of Spain, if the cause was even far gone, still rile expiring exertions, and the last convulsions of a people con tending for their independence and against Bonaparte, he accompanied by every proof of British feeling and sympathy. In the Spanish cause, we felt not only sympathy for that nation, but that oar own niost important Interests were connected with that struggle. The City of London once set on foot a subscrip tion, which was liberally filled up, for the unfortunate Pules; but what was Poland then to this country in comparison to what Spain now is? No country was ever more hound to us by sympathy and common interest. Ile hoped, under these consi derations, that the subscription would be liberal, and worthy of the country. A Committee was appointed; and several lists of Subscriptions were read by different Members of the Committee. The Thanks of the Meeting were voted to the Lord Mayor. POPULAR PREACH ERS, No. XVIII. Art titan one whom new opinions sway? One who believes as Tindall led the way ; Whom virtue and a church alike disowns, Thinks that hut words, and this but brick and stones! Ely then, on all the wings of wild desire, And be it hatecr the maddest can admire !—Po REV. LAURENCE GARDNER, M.l. AS long as it is permitted to me to continue my investi. gation of the merit, of our popular preachers, so long nmst I persist. according to the plan first promulged by ine, to expose error and testify truth, unswayed by interest I and undaunted hv intimidation. It is upon this tecling that I have hitherto endeavoured to proceed in the career • of criticism. My aim, however, was not to scourge but to correct, not to ruin but to reform : and, accordingly . , 1 have almost seized every favourable occasion for spealsmg propitiously of the objects which successively presented themselves to my attention. Why am I to deviatt from this system of conduct ? I am open to candid conviction, and should be thankful for generous admonition; but, if it is destined me to cease to write honestly—let me cease to write any thing It happily fulls to my lot, on the present occasion, to an nounce ability, to extol eminence. No man is displeased to find himself fairly praised ; and I therefore commence my task, having nothing to dread, in the execution of it, but from the cavils of those who may happen to envy the very excellences which demand their imitation. The Rev. LAURI:ACE GARD:4 PA early distinguished himself at the University of Cambridge, where he was elected Fellow of St. John's College. His name was ori ginally Panting, which he exe4anged, for that of Gardner, agreeably to the testamentary condition by which he en joys his present fortune. Repairing to the metropolis, long before the acquisition of the estate he now holds, his abilities speedily raised him into reputation. He became Itoister of Suutb-Lambeth Chapel, being the first clergy- • A •- • TILE NATIONAL REGISTER. 797 man who was invited to otliciatc in it. About the same t:m-, he was chosen Evening preacher at the Asylum, and Lecturer of St. Magnus at London-Bridge. He continued nearly eleven years with the congregation at South-Lam beth, whose number increased rapidly under his ministry and of whose attachment he experienced the most decided proof, when, having exchanged his fellowship for matri mony, they voluntarily augmented his income, in order to atone, to him, fur the forfeited produce of his coke pro motion. Mr. Gardner, hitherto Mr. Panting, was however, in 190:1, called upon to resign his early professional engage ments ; to settle on the estate now bequeathed to him, and discharge the duties of his liking, as Rector of the Seeped Portion of Westbury, 'n Salop. Cireumstances have, not wi:listanding, since induced him to alter the resolution that he took as lo residing wholly in the country. He now purposes, it seems, to divide his year between Shropshire and London. lie has, then fare, accept: d the aepoint 'mils of alternate Morning Preachct at the Asylum, and at I"itiroy Chapel ; and he is also ilerk in Orders at St. George's, near IlatioYer-square. Fortunately enabled to act independently of pecuniary considerations, and personally attached to the cause of the ASYULM, Mr. GARDNER, it' my information be correct, declines receiving any compensation froin the funds of that institution. This geutleman, considered with reference to his sacred calling, must be accounted in d of the most distinguished ornaments of our ecclesiastical establishment. His sermons are not the ostentatious vapcurings of meagre morality , but edifying, and almost es:ma:cheat, discourses. They exhibit very considerable information on the sublime sub • jests they are expected to illustrate, and arc delivereol with feelings suitable to the duties they are designed ter enforce, Their author, never ordinary, is always in,trat tive, - often animating, and Sometimes powerful, as a reacher. Conceded, however, as are the discrimination of his mind; and the solidity of his judgment, he has been • censured for delighting in the subtiltics and refinements of theology s but, for one, I do not feel disposed to comdemn him upon this accusatioel. There seems no danger to be apprehended from too rapid an increase of the number of our profonnd polemics, While the pulpit confers dignity on the person of this preacher, person gives additional dignity to the eolpit. Tall and erect in his figure, and of an interesting comae mince, his appearance is becomingly preposseeiing ; his ac tom is generally impressive, without diverging into impro priety ; and he lIUS the talent of uniformly attaching, and of occasionally commanding, the attention of his hearers lle preszits. in evocv respect, a fine contrast to "The things that mou9t the rostrum a ith a skip, " And then skip titian a;t4in ; pronounce a text, '' Cry—' hem !' and readiug n hat they ntaer wrote, " .11t , t fifteen tnituitei, huddle up their work ; " Awl, with a veil-hreit whisper, clue the scene!" Few of these, whom the poet so contetnptuonsly cans l 0 things, - let it he hoped, are node found within the circle of the church. The period of pulpit frivolity seems to have passed away. It occurs to me, indeed, that our present concern is vigilantly to guard against the prevalence of pulpit parade. Either of these abuses afilse demand our resistance. With all the merits which I find in the public character of Mt. Gardner, 1 discover in him, at times, somethitig that is o'4iectionsble. He now and then strikes me tor being too studied; too anxious accurately to accomplish his pro fessional duty. There is sometimes niana , rement about his manner. If he . were less solicitous ; perhaps he svethi be still more satisfactory. There is the possibility _of betas over-excellent, as well as the penance of bei,v, over righteous. I wish this consideration may attract h;s no tice. Many preachers arc sparing enough of t'N''Ht•' but I ain much mistaken if, especially as affeefine . sical strength, this preacher is net too prodigal f , r pit powers. r , y .. ~ !L . .. ` .-tai