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 in 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 tool
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 inveighine,r, against avarice,
draws the character of the miser; and this he does so as
• 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 highest 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 netAniticeet 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 stage by
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 romance 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.-