The National Register.
London, England, 1812-02-16 00:00:00

FEB. 16.

to the set.ne of his future ministry. Commercial speculation forms no
part of his ministerial occupation. Bence it seems clear, that his trea-
sun. is not laid-up in this world; for we well know that where the trea-
sure is, there will he the heart.
Impressed with this view of the petsonal character of Mr. Spooner, it
is impossible for one not to wish to speak highly of his clerical abilities.
Mail must, however, speak out. Considerable ability he certainly
li.t3, but then his ministerial qualifications are not sufficiently powerful
to attract and attach a metropolitan congregation. Here he seems out
of his sphere. He is a sensible, orthodox, and pleasing preacher, well
fit d fora small country church, but whose eloquence will never per-
ceptibly operate on the town. His deportment is unexceptionable, his
manner soothing and even winning; his sermons are ably premeditated,
and clearly .delivered ; his piety is unquestionlle; and yet, strange
though it may sound. criticism must pronounc,. han not likely to obtain
eminence here. His voice is too weak. I'avl.stock chapel will call for
an oratorical expansion to which he seems wholly incompetent.
Remote from towns, using the words
.of the poet, the Rev. Mr.
Spooner has run, and, did his health permit, might still run, " his godly
race," with more benefit to the interests of the church than he can rea-
sonably look for in London. Tile solitary simplicity of rural scenes, and
the turn of rural minds, seem so suited to his deportment and character,
professionally as well as individually, that it is to be regretted his lndis-
plsition sho'uld have induced MI-. Spooner to relinquish them. Am-
bition had no share in that determination which has directed his steps
'towards this great town, this mart of the earth; or else the rebuke of
the critic might have been proportioned to the fault of the clergyman.
Ile had done good whence he came, and came to do more good. Dis-
tinguished for their goolnesi and their disinterestedness, chara'cters like
this deserve ottr best approbation. Shall men not here take the will for
the deed ? Be it so.
Providence is unarraignable for its distribution of character. Preachers
are now living in obscurity, whose talents might enlighten and ame-
liorate the crowded haunts of men; whilst, on the other hand, there are
preachers placed in the 41 post of observation," who, however otherwise
estimable, are avowedly unqualified to move and guide mankind. 'Tis
well when men are in their spheres, know their spheres, and have sense
to keep to their spheres Providence is not chargeable with our aberra-
or.s. ONESINIUS.

FINE AR T.

BRITISH INSTITUTION.

NORTH ROOM.

No. 11. The Connoisseur, by M. W. SmAßP.—This ingenious ard im-
proving artist exhibited last year a small subject, in the department of
painting called " Conversations," which was admired for high finishing
and mellowness of tunes; but, if we are not mistaken, the correctness
of the drawing was not (gull to the colouring—the piece was humour-
euely called " the Letter 0." (See catalogue of last yeur, No. 13.) We
are much gratified to find that Mr. Sharp's genius has soared higher, that
his talents display themselves with erester success, and that his " Con- 11
noisseur" will he to us a dge of his not stopping in the middle of 1
the career, when he has a fair chance to rival G. I)ow, the Mieris, a
ferhurgli, and a Metzu. The subject is well told, with a mixture of 1
ssrioustiess and joke; the design is good, the perspective correct, and
the various costume of the figures classical and true, the whole is will
finished, and, although the eye of-criticism might still find occasion for
reprehending, we will assert without restriction, that this performance
does honour to the Artist, and is an ornament to the Room. We are
sorry to see No. 13 at once so near to, and so distant from, No.ll.
No. 7. The Angry Parcel, ur Disobedience Detected, and No. 74, The
47:xi las Parent, or Good rlda ce. By P. H etsozasoN.--lii thee. two
small pieces, which, as it appears, are intended for companions, we re-
intrk the attempts of a young man who seems to struggle, with diffi-
culty, in order to improve; and his success is so clear that we doubt
net but he will make soon a great proficiency in his art. Manta-nova
virtztte,puer.
No. 16. A Holy Family. By II PELLEGRINI.—The talents of this
elegant Artist are well known, and it is proved by his former, and the
present, performances, that the Italian muse, who breathed life and ge-
nius into the bosom of Raphael, Readilsarte, da Vinci, and many others,
Who delighted in painting those snhjects, has not refused her blessings to

those crbject,, tia‘ not rt:fti*etl her blet,Dings to 1,1
county of 114;tidlesex what; the,,olleuce WAS ta,a,,.nu LW; U‘. s