The National Register.
London, England, 1811-11-10 00:00:00

7T4

extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Gib-
ri.ltar, dated 15th October, received in Edin- I
,burgh
" The enemy, amounting to 9000 loot and 1000
Itorse,. are now full in our view, On Sunday morn-
ing last, by the rapid movements of the Spaniards,
under General BALLASTEROS, we were apprehensive
that more than .usual was in agitation; and yester-
day the whole of the Spanish forces, ,about 7 or
8000, retreated under
.our guns (where they now
are) ; we were consequently much disappointed, as
an engagement of some sort was looked for. The
French are very daring ; yesterday they advanced
several times considerably within the range of our
guns, in small picquets ; we were expecting an at-
tack upon the Spaniards in the night ; however, all
is as usual. Several of our gun-boats are at anchor
along the beach, to prevent any advance on that
side ; they fired several times yesterday, but we
.could not distinguish if any execution was done.
The main body of their cavalry are in sitht on the
heights about four miles from us; of their infantry
we have seen only small parties and a few sharp-
shooters. The Spaniards ai ein a sad plight, as our
gates are shut upon them, and they dare not ad-
vance ; we, however, supply them with provisions.
The enemy cannot remain long in onr neighbour-
hood in such force, without provisions, ot which
there is a very great scarcity, in consequence of the
Spanish army having been so long here. It is ex-
pected the French will enter Algesiras in the course
of this afternoon or to-morrow. I am afraid we
shall shortly be straitened for supplies ; fresh stock
is now very dear."
The convoys detained so long at Portsmouth, by
conirary winds, have suffered considerable incon-
venience by the late gales, driving some veseels
übeut among the crowd. A letter from a passen-
ger in one ot them, dated the sth inst. from Cowes
Roads, says :
The wind still continues unfavourable, blow-
ing S.W. ; and since•our coming *on board, now a
fortnight since, we have had much blowing weather,
which caused us a great deal of heaving at anchor :
one night we lost our anchor, and were driven about
a good deal. On Wednesday night last, a coal-
brig, which had lost her rudder and anchor, ran
fbul of us, took away our bowsprit, and injured
our rigging. She also ran foul of the Gannet sloop
of war, one of the intended convoy for Lisbon, and
took away her bowsprit. The Gannet has, of
course, been obliged to go up to Portsmouth to re-
pair the damage ; and the Sophia brig of war came
do .vn yesterday evening to take her place in the

convoy."
The North Devon Regiment of Militia were to
have embarked on Wednesday at Plymouth for
Portsmouth, but have been countermanded for the
present. The Cheshire Militia are in daily expec-
tation of a route to march from Plymouth ; and the
First Somerset expect to go to Exeter.
Recruiting parties of the 28th infantry (the ske-
Won of which recently returned from Portugal, is
now at Derryhead) have been very successful dur-
ing rhc. last six days, at Plymouth and that neigh-
bourhood The Roscommon and King's County
Militia have volunteered into this and the sth regi-
ment, in great numbers.

ebe Pulpit.
__........_

No. L.

O It!e-t r:nployttient theirs! 0 happy *tat,.
Who pence 'twiat Goi! and twin tie.4oti to.;
Who, where that' come, his peaceful Liw.tlisperse;
And spread Glad-Tidings round the Universe.

NV E51.E1.3 Life of Chi is/.

Rev. WAT7'S WILA7NSON, B. A.
LECTURER OF ST. MARY ALDERNTARY, AND ST.

THOMAS THE APOSTLE.

Circumstances have unexpectedly delayed my long intended
estimate of this venerable Embassador of Christianity. This
apology is due to superior worth. Merit would have marked,
long since, his niche in this place; but still it is found, they say,
better late than never.

High as the present preacher has stood iN the estimation of
what is called the religious part of the world, it must seem
problematical to assert that his pulpit talents are entnparatively
but little known. -One remark may explain this. Confining
himself strictly within the pale of the established church, and
having preached chiefly in the city, his worth has not been so
genera'ly appreciated by the inhabitants of our extended and ex-
tending metropolis. The city is less favourable than formerly to
high cleric worth. There are great preachers now most hid,
where once great preachers were first known. Such change
have times since wrought! Our sun rose in the east, and will set
iii the west.

The reverend WATTS WittiNsox , B. A. is Chaplain to the
Haberdasher's Company, and Afternoon Lecturer to the United
Parishes of St. Mary Aldermary, and St. Thomas the Apostle,
in 'Watling-street; and he has been, for many years, the Tues-
day Morning Lecturer at St. Bartholomew hehind the Royal
Exchange, where his most valved sermons have been preached,
and have been attentively a1:(1 beneficially heard.
Relli4ton was predominant in the breasts of our pious arttestors;
whose institutions have left us so many perpetual memorials, at
least as far as human power could make them so, that they did
not think one day in seven, however piously observed, quite
sufficient for the treat purposes of religion. Episcopalians and
dissenters, agreeing otherwise in religious principles, belorathed
such i:iitit:rions. Hence the number of week-day Lectureships,
founded by our fathers, the great benefit of which thousands
have felt, and the establishment of which no person of serious
mind can contemplate without true gratitude of heart. They
are as beacons to warn men. They are as light to our feet,—
through the dreary desert of titne,—ard serve as lamps to our
path. Our " oandlestick" shines ! The light that is in us, is not
dark : let us, take heed, and walk by this Vit.

Mr. Wilkinson is (described conformably with prevailing
phraseology) an evangelical man. Whilst there are at least one
hut{dred and seventy Dissenting Ministers, besides twenty of
their places of worship which are variou.,ly supplied, together
with upwards of forty-six chapels belonging to the Wesleyan
Methodists, within ten mile:, of London, employing altogether
more than three hundred ministers; whilst things are in this
state, can any one of her members seriously contend that it is not
high time to encourage such clergymen as are fittest to call back
its flocks into the bosom of the church ? Gospel preaching is
simply wanted. Ethic readers no longer succeed. ' The poor'
must have the Gospel preached to them,' and by Gospel predch-
ers whom they love to hear. The old glossei grow stale. Re.
move this rock of splitting! Dianna is really in danger.
Mr. Wilkinson ranks in the old school, the prophets' school,
the deep but sound and scriptural school. He reminds us
much of what Mr. Romaine was. He has much of the like
eloquent colluquiality, impressive earnestness, and experimental
edification. Now, what do you mean by religious experience