The National Register. — London, England, 1812-12-27 00:00:00

Ti! E NATIONAL BEGISTF,II. 12 But if faith be not preached, how can we hear ?—And if the void of God be changed into the word of man, how can we profit lw hearing ?—1 .et u, trust that mere morality shall not drive evaigelieism entirely from the Pulpit. Faith wi'l not follow the preaching of morality—morality will follow the preaching of faith. The Reverend JAMES HALDANE STEWART, A. M. the son Of DUNCAN rEw A RT, Esq. the late I dof Ardsheal, in A rgyksii,:t •is a nati‘c of A rnei ira. lie was born in New London, Connecticut, then a British colony, in which his father resided, in consequence of his being appointed the principal efficer of his .iajestv's revenue in tha t state. On the breaking out of the rebellion, the family returned to Great Britain, and voung HALDANE was placed at Eton. Here he went through the usual course of education, and was entered at the University of Oxiord, where he took his deiees. Ile afterwards became a student at Lincoln's Inn, a:id was called to the bar. Successful in his professional exertions, worldly prospects opened fair before him. But higher interests than those of-fortune engaged the attention of his soul. it was fixed on a richer harvest than gold—on a brighter goal than earth. A zealous and strict performer of Christian duties, he longed to become a Minister of the Christian Faith. In the sincerity of his love for God and man, he wished to impress the belief of a Creator and a Bedeemet on the minds and hearts of the created. Example was too weak an instrument to produce much good in the confined walks of private life—ordination would enlarge the sphere of his utility. The bar was relinquished, and a pillar was added to the Church of Chi After his ordination, Mr. STEWART preached for several years at lleaning and its vicinity, and occasionally at dif ferent churches in London. He was also appointed Chap lain to the Earls of DuNtraiEs and BREAD ALBA NE, and has lately fixed the seat of his pastoral labours in town. He is now engaged for a number of years at Percy Chapel, Rath bone-place, and has already signalized his zeal for the edu cation of the poor, in the principles of the Church of Eng land, by the establishment of a Sunday school which pro mises to be of great utility. Evangelical i' his doctrine, and resting for salvaticn on the atoning blood uf Chris!, Mr. STEWART considers Faith as the chief weapon of Christian warai e, and good works as the necessary consequence—not :he source of Faith. Clear in his arguments, in his sentiments he is just. tie speaks what he feels, and makes his hearers feel what he speaks. lie not only gains time appiohation or the head, but the a-sent of time heavt. His voice, without being powerful, is ex pressive—his delivery unaffected—his language pure and el' ,ant. Formerly extemporaneous, he now genet ally meads 1w; sermons, and would do well, whilst holding his book with his left band, not to keep his right too long in the same up position. Ile possesses an impressive dignity—iet it not be impah a by want of grace. priva.c life is, we understand, a practical illustration of his Christian in inciples. Happy the Minister who fol lows his own doctrine—Happy the congregation who follow such a Minister. nrc. 27. . . . and a. great el 111 1 , " exec' m. Th.! 'pits v,',1 0 , It t for the nice asmistance of the graver, although they bre,k, at flits t h e ha, mow/ of the whole, do not 1) , cl/rot tli, tillru„nu eye n i l v t o ' ' res eelog what will be the gnieral effect whet the plat, - 1 , 2 tiitiblied. DRAMATIC REGISTER. CONTNT G sl !G% OF DAMASCUS. Mr BETT Y'S engagement before Christmas closed on Tuesday last with his first appearance as P/roei,a in Ti„ Siege of Damascus. This tragedy, which was revi‘ot present him in a new character, possesses few cl.tirns to iL e admiration which has been expres'ed for its merits by of former times. It boasts much poetry in its lay gua , o., but little interest in its plot. Its morality has been re preAluttl as pure and sublime : but where is the mot ality of maiiio , the hero sacrifice his honour, his integrity, and his cduti4e, to save his own life and rescue his mist ross ? lie betrays flit native city, it is true, on condition that the lies of its cid. tens, and part of their property, shall be saved ; but he does it fully conscious that they retained the power of resi , taut. unimpaired, and that an army was approaching for th&t. lief. His late repentance, which does not awaken until he finds himself scorned_ by the object of his love on account of his treachery, does not proceed from virtue, but from rel. fishness, and his exertions at the close of the piece are not to relieve his countrymen from the consequences of his E.,.11r, but to regain the good opinion of his mistress. He falls at rast, not a victim to his patriotism, but to his love. The character of Phocyas would have been still more dcl• picable, had not the good sense of the Managers at the time it was first produced, prevailed upon the author to alter 11;s plan, for in the original the hero was made so weak as to change his religion, and become a Mussul i nan. This altm tion is his lamented by Mr. GIBBONS, the historiv, (who probably regretted that an opportunity of dvgraditn; the Christian character should have been lost) in tile following passage, in which he loads " The Siep,:e of Damascus" with ex aggerated praises He represents it as " one of our most popular tragedies, and which possesses the rare merit of blend ing nature and history , the man ners of the times, and the feel ings of the heart. The foolish delicacy of the players couwellcd him (the author) to soften the - guilt of the hero, and the. des p.iir of the heroine. Instead of a base renegado, Pkyq.as serves the Arabs as an honourable all, ; (Mr. Gi Wigs must have had strange notions of ho:,our as well as of religion' " instead of prompting their pursuit, he flies to the succour of his countrymen, and after killing Caled and DUrdl7, is him. self mortally wounded, and expires in the presence of Endo eia, who professes her re,olution to take the veil at Constati tinople. Aft igid catastrophe!" The author of The Sie f of Damascus, Mr Joust lltliftrc , son to a citizen of London, and the friend of Sir Mei-LARD STEEL': and Mr. ADDISON, a skilful poet and an aiii.abe man, did not live to enjoy the su ccess of his piece: hut a fatal coincidence, died the very night it was first pet forms in February, 1719. To the part of Phocyas, Mr. BETTY gave its full efft:ct. He was tender, without affectation, in his love. The contoeit of passions that precedes the surrender of his patriotism an( honour, was justly and strongly pourtrayed. His address to death was deiivered in a very impressive manner. morse was unattended with ranting, and his death was alicet • ing. The universal plaudits o f a most crowded audience lie(i re , comparried him throughout the p art, and were reiterate when the curtain fell. Thus closvd, in undivided approbation, an engage,' Milk n ~' ••• I% Lt'Cl s t, tii- Clui e'( ti~,~e FINE ARIS. E-ery lover of the Tine Arts must have observed, how much the art :A Enoavitig 11.,s ittip,oved of Ltte years in all its btanclics, but su• st cwaret.!:llrly in that w:,ich seutus to be its basis and principal ft,uti &Lion ;leAn ont iati(n 01 the ague ortis. We had occasion to Mei aim, i7t soon- of cur teregoing Numbers, the Erchit,rs of several site. well ktloN‘ , ll Pictures ; and uow we have the stitisfaction to find, that 7dr, ttAlDleAc t , et hi s Etching of the " VIII lUe Pokticians," b,) . Mt. iVlLtilk, has stlown au tuicutuluva deg,rec, inttifigorce, as to hi! alliel erec ti ii anti ele: f cx- woi at