The National Register.
London, England, 1808-12-11 00:00:00

DEC. 11.

Rowcroft thought it was absolutely necessary to follow
thn,e cautions which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had sug-
gr,ted, and to form a Subscription and appoint a Committee for
',waging it; and he trusted that the example of the City of
London would be followed by the whole country.
'f he Resolution for a Subscription was then put acid Carried
vtianimously.
On the question being put on the second Resolution,
Mr. Quin in making some observations as to the reports of
great disasters having befallen our Allies, expressed a coutident
hope that no calamities that might befal those brave men, strug-
gling for their national independence, would repress the spirit of
Englishmen in defeudiog the freedom of their own country.—
With respect to the amount of the subscription, as the country
had beeore subscribed so nobly for the fund nt Lloyd's, he hoped
they would be equally liberal on the present occasion. The
stimulus was now much greater, as the tyrant with whom we
were contending had since that time greatly increased his force.
and now wielded the whole power of the Continent. As to the
present situation of Spain, if the cause was even far gone, still
rile expiring exertions, and the last convulsions of a people con-
tending for their independence and against Bonaparte,
he accompanied by every proof of British feeling and sympathy.
In the Spanish cause, we felt not only sympathy for that nation,
but that oar own niost important Interests were connected with
that struggle. The City of London once set on foot a subscrip-
tion, which was liberally filled up, for the unfortunate Pules;
but what was Poland then to this country in comparison to what
Spain now is? No country was ever more hound to us by
sympathy and common interest. Ile hoped, under these consi-
derations, that the subscription would be liberal, and worthy
of the country.
A Committee was appointed; and several lists of Subscriptions
were read by different Members of the Committee.
The Thanks of the Meeting were voted to the Lord Mayor.

POPULAR PREACH ERS,

No. XVIII.

Art titan one whom new opinions sway?
One who believes as Tindall led the way ;
Whom virtue and a church alike disowns,
Thinks that hut words, and this but brick and stones!
Ely then, on all the wings of wild desire,
And be it hatecr the maddest can admire !—Po

REV. LAURENCE GARDNER, M.l.

AS long as it is permitted to me to continue my investi.
gation of the merit, of our popular preachers, so long
nmst I persist. according to the plan first promulged by
ine, to expose error and testify truth, unswayed by interest I
and undaunted hv intimidation. It is upon this tecling
that I have hitherto endeavoured to proceed in the career •
of criticism. My aim, however, was not to scourge but
to correct, not to ruin but to reform : and, accordingly., 1
have almost seized every favourable occasion for spealsmg
propitiously of the objects which successively presented
themselves to my attention. Why am I to deviatt from
this system of conduct ? I am open to candid conviction,
and should be thankful for generous admonition; but, if
it is destined me to cease to write honestly—let me cease
to write any thing
It happily fulls to my lot, on the present occasion, to an-
nounce ability, to extol eminence. No man is displeased
to find himself fairly praised ; and I therefore commence
my task, having nothing to dread, in the execution of it,
but from the cavils of those who may happen to envy the
very excellences which demand their imitation.
The Rev. LAURI:ACE GARD:4 PA early distinguished
himself at the University of Cambridge, where he was
elected Fellow of St. John's College. His name was ori-
ginally Panting, which he exe4anged, for that of Gardner,
agreeably to the testamentary condition by which he en-
joys his present fortune. Repairing to the metropolis,
long before the acquisition of the estate he now holds, his
abilities speedily raised him into reputation. He became
Itoister of Suutb-Lambeth Chapel, being the first clergy-

• A

•-