The National Register.
London, England, 1813-12-26 00:00:00

Q 6.

MEMOIR.

OF THE

THE NATION.

gfrOt Vcargi

OF THE LIFE OF
W. B. C*L*Y*R D. D.
OTHERWISE DISTINGUISHED AS THE ANGELICAL DOCTOR:

(Resumed and continued.)

With " the lively and enlightened class of hearers," says
the Rev.T. Raffles, " the preacher who secures their admi-
ration instantly becomes their idol. As if irresistibly im
pelled to extremes, they lavish on him, the warmest eulogies
and adulation, often too palpable to be endured. Forgetting
he is a man of like passions with themselves, they heap
their honours on his head ; as though be could remain in-
sensible to the plaudits they bestow, and perfectly superior
to the influence of every principle of pride." Considering
this state of things, acknowledged by even an evangelicalian,
it is not surprising that the subject of this memoir should
have so rapidly attained the very summit of his ambition.
He at once became the idol of the fair ! Although it cam
scarcely be credited, as some formerly reported of him, that
" great part of his Monday mornings was occupied in COlA-
milting to the flames the almost numberless billets which the
revolving Sunday brought from smitten and sighing
nymphs ;" still it has beeu publicly affirmed, that numbers
of ladies did actually wear lockets " with printed likinessev
of the Reverend Preacher." If any additional proof were
needed r.s to the pieference evinced for him by the sex, it
is furn shed in the declwation of a minister whom the stric-
tures the present writer had induced to hear him.—" That
he is loved by the ladies," observed the minister, speAing of
the Doctor, "I do not doubt, (I witnes,rd the
a handsome person, and an emasculated e.iinineace, pudneed
on ilieir susceptible hearts."'
Reflecting on teatements of this kind, who brit must con-
fess that the religion of the metropolis calls aloud for refor-
mation? Yet the critic sees himself censor ed.for stating the
fact . " Not only is Dr. Coe I, YER charged with employing
a feminine oratory, an emasculatiwt el',(l.:ence, and with
s?laphic simpering'," remarks the Monthly Iteview, giving
an account of the first volione ef The Pulpit; '' hut tlrre ladies
of his flock. with whom the Doctor is said to he a favourite,
are charged with indecortitn, (me lar,siiishing fitit:-one being
accused of dropping a handkerchief into the pulpit, and
• others with inserting billets-doux in the Bible." Adinitring
such abuses to have taken place, however, thev.we!e cer-
. tainly just matter for general exposure and critical aninnal-

It might seem superfluous to rerapitulAte what his else-
where ['E'en insisted on tespecting the cloquence of the sub•
iect of this sketch. But indeed it effe.s a fruitful theme.
hilst a Mini-,ter asserts, that though he might " continue
• to please the ladies—win their smiles, and charm Omit hearts,"
yet, wanting something- mote suht:tanti.d, somethiug more
worhy the man and the minister, he w•h never sate snuffs,"

* Regard tor trig 14, 11-2v,_•reitoless, prompts tu, writt:t t,. tAt.• tlris
ocea•lou t) rectify a mistalot into wi.i, II he ,)11;63.1;y 1.l! re-pet:tint;
the I)..ctor. It lard been rumoured vio.t- a I,:clset,

a lady's likeness; %vlieteits, hi, friond, .tty, "Ile had not one in t is 1 0,
sessioa," hitt, on the contrary, li.td worn, • oil particular occasions.
' lout of the pulpit, a medallion, struck i;i cottimatin.);-avian 01 the aboli
(ion of the Slave-Tr:l(k, hottring an ex( Oit•pit i:krcesi of his estvetnen
and intimate friend Air. IVilberforce." TlsSs explattalion %vas evidently,'
given either by the lloctor I.intsc!f, or a most il:t‘liatt7.esst,ciate ; els%.
(asks an :1(11111.4st to t!tols,) Irity could /:e, o: s7:e. "kno A' —that the
Doctor was not pos•:cssc(l of such a tilarLet as a ivcisket ?