The National Register. — London, England, 1808-10-24 00:00:00

• - THE NATIONAL REGISTER. and English, by memory, without book, as being a way of preaching which his Majesty judgeth most agreeable to the uie of forego churches, to the custom of the University therefore, and to the nature of thmt holy exercise. •• And, that his Majesty's, commands i n these premises may be duty regarded and observed, his further pleasure' is, that the names of all such ecclesiastical persons es shall continue the present supine and slothful way of preaching, be, from time to time, sign teed to me by the vice-chan cellor, for the time being, on pain of his .‘fqiesty's dis-' pleasure. " Mosimotrra." " Oct. 8, 1674." This highly singular document is extracted from the Matee Book of the University etr Cambridge, page 300, Corolla I!. Rex. It is not merely uncommon ; it is, especially at this moment, important. Preaching - , " after the Reformation, was," says Dr. Gregory, in his Letters on Literature, "chiefly extempore; but'm England many complaints were made of those who were licensed to preach, 1 presume On account of the doctrines they advanced ; and, to enai.le thtmi to justO themselves, many of the clergy began to write and rend their sermons. The ease 'which this p cart ice afforded, and the correctness it induced, has eonlinued it in the Church of England ever since." So much, according to this writer's Conjecture, as to the origin of reading sermons. Touching the comparative merit of extemporary and written dis courses, he is also immediately applicable. " It has been debated," adds Dr. Gregory, " whether 4" sermons may be most advantageously delisered from written notes, memory, or perfectly extempore. Dr. Beattie decides in favour of written sermons. Indeed there is scarcely any extempore discourse which is not too l diffuse for the lime usually allotted for the pulpit, that might not, in fact, be comprised in much fewer words ; and which does not-abound in impertinencies, tautologies, or • solecisms. YET a Goon EXTEMPORE DISCOURSE. UAS YORE LFEECT, ill a common audience, 'IRAN A WRITTEN ONE." !sow, if, as this divine confesses, and inethodism proves, extemporary preaching is most efficacious, and if as royally asserted, it. is also most agreeable to the nature of the holy exercise itself, why is it not encouraged among the miuisters of our national church ? To urge diocesan amenability?, as I have recelitly heard it advanced, in ex cusation of the manuscript mode of instructing congrega tions, is to little purpose. This may furnish a pica, but never will it amount to a defence. Excepting visitation, fast and thanksgiving, corporation, or judicial sermons, except on some public occasion, when are the clergy called upon to account to the world for the sentiments they de liver from the pulpit ? I wish to obtain attention to this subject. All men are not eloquent ; for the orator, as well as the poet, 'mist be naturally oratorical : but, were the apostolic eloquence duly countenanced and estimated, I am convinced that the established religion of this country might tower as far above the talents of its rivals, as it does above Moir power. Mr. STEVENS, who seems to have chosen Dr. Andrews for his model, preaches, of conrse, from manuscript. His , deportment is becoming, and his earnestness, n hich is often discernible. entitles him to the ass:icier of sincerity. His talents, generally cousidcrcd, are not of the highest order ; hut he is capable of improving, and will improv?.. Though unaffectedly reverential, Mr. Stevens, resem bling, in this respect the divino whom he imitates, is cul pably hurried in the delivery of his prayers ; nor does he pronounce our beneifictions with that emphasis and im pressiveness which they demand. and of which they are su highly, and uniformly, sisceptible. His voice, though clear and equal, might, by judicious management on his part, be rendered more agreeable. If sometimes he did not endc'avcur so much, probably he would effort more. Exhaustion is not energy. Mr. Stevens seems attlictcd to what I would term plito riot preaching ; a species of excettence to which young speakers frequently aspire, but which, as it is difficu:t ,at `J OCT. 21, attainment, ought to be eircumpectly cultivated. Tlift pictorial preacher, as I have ventured to designate him, is 'be who delights "in descriptive illustrations of established axioms; who, if be treats of intemperance, will embotiv its Weds in representation ; or if inveighin e ,r , against avarice, draws the character of the miser; and this he does so a s • greatly to add to the force of the truths vhieli he iltsigt:s to impart to his hearers. This, however, requires very considerable judgment and ability : it is one of the highe:t achievements of oratory, when successfully accomplished. If, on the other hand, the pictorial preacher does not ris: to perfection, he disgusts good taste, disappoints pla;tl sense, and renders himself unprofitable as well a► ridiculous. While truth will not authorise me to place Mr. ,tevens am,nr the highes t in the scale of pulpit excellence, I nevertheless respect his present exertions, and augur very favourably of his future progress. The prospect, inecuU, brightens. It is gratifying to see Philip Dodd, in the pulpit once occupied by SeptiMus Hodgson ; and to hem- Robert Stevens preach, where Amber Thompson was accustomed only to declaim. Oci. 21, THE THEATRES. DRURY L .1N E. ONEStlic.s. Monday night the Comedy of the !Inv!) Burly was acted, and the Grand Romance of Blue Beard revived at Drury-laue.-- Before the Play began, Mr. Putnam made an apology ler .Ilr. Bannister, who, on account of a domestic calamity, was prr • vented from filling the part of Mari,lot, which 11 r. Lewi, 0 ; Covent-garden Theatre had the k iudnet.s, at it shirt noti,r, to assume. He informed the Public, likewise-, that Mr. .11athew s would be replaced, in the character of Ibrahim. in Blue Ware!, by Mr. Dow ton, and would become the representative of Shwa h ae, intend of his absent friend. The Audience marked their ap probation of these arrangements by loud applause. Miss Duncan, Me:ors. Dnwton, Lewis, and Palmer, displayer; consummate excellence in their respective characters. The lat ter, who had long confined himself to the parts of eccentric beaux, proved, by his delitwatims Of an old man, that he is a more faithful imitator of Nature itself, than of the irregulari ties of fashionable stupidity. The talents which lie tlispho ed in Sir Jealous Traffic must make the Public sincerely w isle be would nut deviate from the new path of acting which he has lately entered. The Mechanist of the Douse seemed desirous to reveal all the creative powers of his genius, for he presented to our eyes scenes which we had 'weer beheld before :--nou, wide-spreading oak intruded into a draw log-moor ; and now, part of a chimney, it ith the one-half of a net A niticeet glass, at tended by to a or three pillars, placed themselves in the midst of a wood. The galleries, w Ito are not fond enough of ill)) el t , hissed most tremendously ; but, cont-eious of beim; right, the Me chanist despised popular clamours, awl persevered veva through the after-piece, in astonishing the audieure by the pleasing in congruity of his scenes. Mac Beard was rev ived in all its macnificeere. The scenery, the dresses, and processions were truly splendid; Mr. I. Smith is not only a }nod singer. but, what is scarcely e% er the case, an equally good performer. Bay mood's .fhomellquc, was mo ther deficient in majesty of action, nor loudness of tone. Pen ley, who gave the lie to Mr. Putnam's assertions, by tilling 11r. Bannister's part instead of Mathews, was so truly excelleut, that he turned the resentment of the disappoiuted galleries is peals of applause. Mrs. Mountain - and Lyon sang 4ht fully. it appears that hulls are committed on the stag e b y Turks, as 4 , 01 as by Christians; far, after having heard eery perfqriler mention the mvsteries of the blue chamber in a ntaimer that convinced us it must have derived its nanw Iran its colour, we found at last when it was unfolded to our view, that it was a rc,l one. This grand rom a nce is the most splendid afterpieee - that has been represewd Inc sevei years, and highly deserves the reception which its rebist.l oat with. IlftNe.i THEATRIt. Wednesday eight Mks Norton *mole her first appearance in the character of Portia, in The Merchant of Venice. We WM hnig regretted that the Maiu should have allowed NIT *with to diq)lay her beat powias in Irelaodp and E4tlvith,taia.- las. % .... ...a.... 1 r I 1,~