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

OCT. 24. fir-acids on the occasion. 'After the usual form of Opening the Court, it was moved and seconded, " That an humble wad dutiful Address be presented to His Majesty, praying • that he may be graciously pleased :to order that an Inquiry should be instituted with respect to the cause of the late disgraceful Convention in Portugal; and also beseeching Nis Majesty that he may be graciously pleased to order that such steps may be taken as will insure the punishment of the guilty person or persons in that disgraceful transaction, himever high his rank in society may be." This was sill,- ported by U. Mitford, Esq. Lord Folkestone, and seveilil other Gentlemen. It was opposed by Mr. Serjt. Shepherd and some other Gentlemen. The opposition rested not only on the idea that judgment would by this motion be pronounced before trial, but also on the old Tory principle, of its being improper to offend the Royal Ear, by a sub ject presuming to give his advice in a manner which was known to be contrary to the declared sentiments of the ft 0) al Mind. In reply to both these points, it was argued by the Gen tlemen who signed the requisition, that no individual was implicated, either by the words or tenor of the motion ; it pointedly, no doubt, censured the thing ; but it, at the same time, called for inquiry as to who may be the guilty person, and expressed the anxious hope of the Freeholuerh, that exemplary punishment may follow his trial and conviction. The Motion was then put andcarried by a large Majority. On Monday week the Corporation of Winchester held a Meeting at the Guildhall, for the purpose of considering the propriety of addressing His Majesty on the late Conven tion, when the following Address was unanimously voted : " TO TIIE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. "MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, " We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, in habitants of the city and suburbs of Winchester, beg leave to approach the Throne to express our sincere attachment to your Royal Person and Family, and being sensible that your Majesty's true glory is insepa ra ble f ro m th a t o f y our People, we humbly presume to pray that your Majesty bill be pleased to order a full, free, and effective Inquiry to be made into the causes and circumstances of the Con vention of Portugal—a Convention which has caused gene ral mortification and disappointment, and deprived your brace Soldiers of the expected result of their good and honourable exertions—the uncond:tional surrender of the whole French army. Your Petitioners cannot but deeply lament that such an opportunity was lost ; but as we do out presume to anticipate conviction, if, upon mature in vestigation, it shall be found that your Commanders were compelled by insurmountable obstacles to conclude such a Treaty, justice demands that they should be reinstated in the good opinion of the country ; but, on the other hand, Wale) were actuated by any thing less than imperious ne cessity, we are fully persuaded, front the interest 1%166 your Majesty must ever feel in the fair fame and honour ofyour kingdom, that they will experience such marks of your Royal displeasure as may prcve a severe example to others, and deter them from tarnishing in the Cabinet the glory acApired iu the field." Sir Richard Canton, Bart. and 11. C. P. Mildmay, Esq. the Representatives of the City were desired to present the same, attended by Mr. Alderman Earle. On the ft Jet . le first of the present month was published, No. 192, of the Sporting Magazine, and which completes the TH irty second Volume. The Copper Plates given in this Number are —l. Milo, Frontispiece to the Volume; Vignette Title Page to ditto ; and, 3. His Majesty's Cream-coloured Charger, from a Painrting, by Chalon. Among others, in the Literary Department, is an article, to be continued (lery m on th, ent i tled, Disputes among Gentlemen on Points of Honour, &e. Complete sets, with upwards Of 400 Cop per-plates, on Sporting and other subjects may be bal.-- A• 13. The Work proceeds with great spirit. 4112.• POPULAR PREACHERS. No. XI. The priestly brotherhood, devout, sincere, num mean self-interest and ambitiou clear, As meek as the man Moses, and withal As hold as in Agrippa 's presen,:e Paul, Should LIN the world's contaminating touch, Holy and unpolluted !--- -Co w r La. REV. ROBERT STEVENS, A. M. 685 - - SEVERELY as it has fallen to my lot to animadvert on the Foundling Chapel, and convinced as 1 st ill a►❑ of the justice of my strictures on that occasion, it gives ►nc pleasure, though unequivocally disapproving of all sabt'atic theatri cals, to be able to speak favourably of the worship o►' the Magdalen Chapel. 1 will even ad►nit, with reference to those whose hearts are elevated by sacred invlotty, that the singing of the Magdalens is calculated to excite feelings of devotion; that, in the language of one of our must favuarite bards, they can " regale your ear " With strains it were a privilege to hear." What, however, essentially distinguishes the Magdalen above the Foundling, as to divine service, is the decency with which ils worship is conducted, and the respectful attention of its assemblies. This difference between the two chapels, as it excites observation, calls for investiga tion. Effects arc not without causes. Since the Magdalen &tiers from the Foundling, to what then is this distinction to be attributed ? Both of these chapels exhibit nearly similar public attractions; both employ popular preachers; and they are, reciprocally, frequented by almost the same audiences. What is the inference deducible from these considerations? The business of religion is in one place conducted with decency, white it is elsewhere disgraced by puerile incentives and frivolous accompaniments.-- " Olt, Italy ! thy sabhatits may be, ,00n, " Our sabitaths, clos'd with muintat.ry mid buffoon ; Prearhing and pranks ma% ',hare the nintley scene, " God's worship and the mountebank between." Among the successful characters which Cambridge has produced, and which, in various degrees, reflect lustre on its University, is to be ranked the 'lvy. Mat. STerEvs. He is said, indeed, not greatly to have d.stinguished him self while at college ; but his su!iscquent career has suffi ciently evidenced, that he possesAed talents which were gradually to unfold thenisekcs into notice. happily acquired the countenance of Dr. Andrews, the present ex cellent Rector of St. James's in Piccadilly, Mr. Stevens was by him placed in the '' post of observation," where he became so conspicuous as to be elected Alternate Evening Preacher at the Magdalen. Ile is now, in ildiiition to that appointment, Morning Preacher at the Asylum, and at St. James's Chapel in the Ilampstead Road; the Afternoon Lecturer of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster; and one of the Evening, Preachers at ‘.ilargaret-street Chapel, near .Ca vendish-sq mire. Does it not seem strange. while the members of the established church are &oh decreasing, that our " lords spiritual" should persist in their resistance to measures which alone promise to disconcert the adversaries of the hierarchy? I again advert to the practice of reading, as oppo.ed to that of preaching; and I shall take this oppor tunity of introducing, I hope very generally, a document to which I formerly alluded, connected as it is with my preseatdisq uisit ion. " I 7te-Chancellor and Cenilemcn, " Whereas his Ntaje;ty is informed that the practice of readin,T Sermons it geheral!_ taken up b the preachers before the linivetstv, und therefore continu.:s even before ,‘ tiffs :llnjer,ty hat!) commanded me tc siviiiv to you his pleai:ire, that the practice, which took beginning. from the disorder.: of the lAN; time, v.holit• laid aside ; and that the slid pr , :achers Se;inf.:l› . ., both in Latin .. ic;.;_.,.;,,•, •,~ r• r r• .. •. ~--^~. ••• . 16 dab.-- I . • f 6 , 8 \ •