The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-26 00:00:00

MARCH 26.

FIRE ARTS.

THE MONUMENT Oi SIR RALPH ABERCROMBIE, EXECUTED '
BY WESTMACOTT, R. A.
To perpetuate the memory of illustrious actions as well as the '
tames of Mose by whom such actions have been performed, has
been esteemed the province of the arts, ever since the arts have
been in existence. Statuary claims particularattention in this re-
spect, because the materials it employs promise the durability of
ages, and the apparent difficulty of its labours awakens astonish
ment and fix attention. The defects under which all the per-
formances of Statuary seem principally to be depressed, are a
want of distinct light and shadow. The glare of white marble
will not permit those delicate hollows which give animation to
features, and expression to a whole figure, to be perceived, at
any considerable distance ; and again the general effect is com-
pletely lost, if these nice touches of the chissel are too closely
contemplated. It is, therefore, manifest that very great atten-
tion ought to be paid to the position of any piece of statuary.
The light should be contrived so to fall upon it as to give every
possible advantage to the chief prominencies ; and if a strong
shadow from any part of the building, in which it is erected, can
generally be thrown upon the sides or inferior parts of the com-
position, such a shadow ought not to be neglected. Indeed there
seems to he a great deal of this sort of light and shade, which the
artist ought to tegard with as much attention as the architect
undoubtedly did in the position of the windows and columns of
the building. I am led to these reflections, on the position of
pieces of statuary, by the subject under contemplation. No shim-
tion could have been more unfavourable to it than that in which
it stands. In front the whole effect of it is entirely lost ; and if
the spectator moves towards his left hand in hopes of placing his
eye in a more commanding point, he soon finds himself wedged
into a corner whence his expected coup d'eeid is contracted into a
miserable side peep, which affords him a very weak conception
of the whole. The window directly behind the monument
throws a dingy light upon the backs of the heads of the princi-
pal figures, and renders them as flat and lifeless, as the profiles
that are instantaneously performed by the new patent machine.
Yet all this is no further the fault of the artist than as the
situation may have been left to his choice, or as be may have
been compelled to conform himself to an appointed place. No
monument ever owed less to its position than does this labour of
Mr. Westmacott.

Placed in such an unfair point of view, this magnificent group
will scarcely meet the justice of such critics as look for general
striking appearance. Its merits are obscured; and, whatever
deficiencies it may possess, those deficiencies are strongly height-
ened by its situation. The figure of Sir Ralph, which is every
where intercepted by that of the Highlander who i• receiving
him in his arms, is still more obscured by the light being imme-
diately behind it. The features of the magnanimous Gen°ral,
when viewed from a small distance, are strongly marked with
that expression of resignation and victorious joy that elevates the
man of patriotic courage ; the features of the Highlander also are
exquisitely touched with regret and warlike ardour; but when
the spectator endeavours to unite these sentiments to the whole
group, as it entirely is presented to him at any point of view he
may endeavour to obtain,' he tinds no rF3ible assimilation of
ideas : the whole, as he sees it, no where corresponds with its
parts.
But, whatever may be allowed for so had a position, I feel
myself obliged to say that a front-view of this monument could
in no direction of the light be good. The back of the High-
lander meets the eye too prominently and destroys the interest,
from the very spot at which a judicious critic will be the most
eager to observe it. It is not but at a considerable distance,
w here every thing except general effect :!; entirely lost, that the
figure of Sir R. Abercrombie rises sufficiently above thegroup
his charger then dw 'tllest ato a Galloway runt, or seems to be

205

intended for oue of the short steeds of the desart on which we are

told the Mamelukes were used to make their ferocious excur-

lions: the hoisc gives us therefore the idea of a conceit or misc..

rable allusion to the country in which the great Unintnancler

terminated his honourable career: I can hardly believe that

Mr. Wegtmacott condescended to consult Theodore }Wok !---1

hope the reins and bit, hs well as the spurs of Sir Ralph are

under the chissel of Mr. W. for the leathern bridle and ru4ty
hit, as well as the painted spur now attached to the figures
have a miserable appearance.

The naked figure beneath the horse is a piece of admirable
sculpture. The fore-part of the left ara' is however not so well
finished as the rest of the body. The extended hand upon the

ground,and the indentmeot of the muscles on the shoulder, are of
themselves expressive of the agony of intense pain ; while the
hand that still grasps at the fallen standard finely displays the
tenacity of military resolution in the moment of painful death.
This figure, were it original, would do the sculptor the highest
honour. It is however a copy. On account of the execution,
it would be unseemly to regret the want of uniformity in the
costume. Why is the dying French soldier naked when the
British General and the Highlander are correctly clothed in their
proper garb ? surely it is not the custom of the British army to
strip the slain ! —Or does the artist mean this for an allegorical
figure of Gallic power thus conquered and compelled to Lite the
ground? In no manner whatsoever will it agree with the rest of
the group : though I must acknowledge that the worst that cam
be said of it is, that it is too good for the rest.
The Highlander's left hand might surely have been better
placed than under the thigh of the General. The animation of
sentiment is lost in such a regular method of helping a wounded
man from his horse. A common servant would assist his master
in that manner, but an affectionate servant, a warm-hearted
Highland soldier, would clasp his commander with less cere-
mony, and would thereby impress the beholders with more com-
miseration.
The sphinxes are clumsy, and are perhaps designed to be spee
cimens of Egyptian sculpture. They do no accord with the
group above them. Indeed the pedestal dues not sufficiently
elevate the monumental group above them, and they have the
appearance of something more than mere auxiliary figures. The
pedestal ought to have had more of the Egyptian character.
With all its faults, this is nevertheless a finely wrought per-
formance. With respect to secondary considerations, such as
the turns of limbs, the ttow of drapery, the markings of features,
and corporeal muscles and sinews, it is highly finished, and must
he regarded as a piece of workmanship almost unrivalled in
modern (lines. But as a whole, as a massive and interesting
piece of sculpture, ns a group which the pathetic powers of ge-
nius might have exhibited to the feelings of a British public, it
is certainly very defective. Whatever sensibility the sight of
this monument may awaken, that sensibility will be inure due
to the melancholy and never-to-he-forgotten occncion that gave
it rise, than to any pettims emanating from the mind of the
sculls-
tor.

CH I RON.

The Life of the Great John, Duke of Marlborough,
which Bonaparte has sent to the present Duke, is perhaps
the only remaining- example of a few.copies printed upon
vellum paper, and bound in a most superb manner, by or-
der of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, in order to' be
presented to the different monarchs of Europe. Ore of
the ornaments, on which much expence and labour had
been bestowed, was transmitted by the Duchess to the
King of France; and as this original and splendid edition is
now extremely scarce, Bonaparte has returned to the
family of Marlborough the copy which was deposited in
the French National Library. The work was written by
Mallet. the Poet, who received mow. from the Duchess of
Marlborough, as a reward for his labour.

POPULAR. PR EA CH ERS.

No. XX% 111.

What wealth in •outs, that soar, dire, range around;
DiAlaining limit, or from time or place ;
Aud hear at Once, in extensive hear,
the Almighty nut and the Trumpet's Sound !
Youria.

REVS JOLIN HEWLETTi B. Ds
OF THE

FOUNDLING CII.IPP.t:

• A spirit of Oriigious enquiry seems generally excited; It
was natural, hided& that successive ctittracters of the mi-
nisters of religion, extensively disseminated, should attract
more than usual attention towards religion itself. Young
persons especially, with whom the practice oi divine wor-
ship is too () ten the effect of duty rather than of delight, Of
necessity rather than of inclination, perceived that there
was, in the beatific of holiness, something infinitely more
estimable than they were accustomed to anticipate. Thou-
sands, let. it be hoped, living once alike indifferent to
churches or chapels, will now exclaim, with pious Dr.
Watts;—

Lord ! how delightful 'tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee !
I have been there, and still would go;
'Tis like a little Heaven below.
Of this gratifying attendance on ecclesiastical ordinances,
our churches and chapels, reckoning nothing on our many
other religious assemblies; furnish incontestible evidence..
Go where we may, right or left, eastward or westward,
from Lisson-green to the Foundling, from St. James's in
Piccadilly to St. Mary at Hill, or, turning southern, from
6t. George's in the Borough to the Asylum Chapel, as-
*mailed audiences, young and old, however otherwise dif-
fering, testify UnanAnous concurrence in the performance
of devotional engagements: Whatever are the vices of
our age, it is not, as it respects religion, the age of prac-
tical infidelity. Even theoretical infidelity ceases now to
assail our ears, and insult our hearts.

Happy; therefore; am I to observe, independently and
conscientiously, of the present preacher, the REV. JOHN
HEWLETT, that his pulpit labours are eminently calcu-
lated to impress the understandings, and improve the
dispositions, of the numerous and respectable audiences to
which they are eontinir.lly addressed. He is, be it known,
Morning Preacher at the Foundling Hospital ; and his
hearers being chiefly those who attend morning service,
are necessarily less promiscuous, and consequently more
reputable, than numbers of such persons as are seen
thronging to the devotion of the evening. 'The fact is ac-
knowledged ; and the distinction is deserving of obser-
ration.

Of the individual history of Mr. Hewlett, I am enabled
to state, accurately it is believed, that he formerly kept a
school, for some years, at Shacklewell ; with which, how-
ever, he has parted, rather advantageously. He is of Mag-
dalen College, in Cambridge. Mr. Hewlett is known in the
literary world, as author of a Vindication of the Parian
Chronicle;' a tract which displays great learning on the
*abject of the Arundelian Marbles. He has also collected
and published three volumes of his Sermons ; and he is
now editing a New Edition of The Bible, originally under-
taken by the late Dr. Gregory, which appears monthly, in
parts; and which promises to supply a truly valuable de-
sideratum id our theological literature. It must be seen,
even Irvin this hasty specification of his exertions, that Mr..
Bewlett is abundantly qualified for his clerical avocations.
There is much impressive solemnity both in the person
•od manner of this preacher. His professional deportment
is sufficiently dignified, and his countenance is indicative of
his sincerity. His action, however, is little varied; while
his voice, naturally unpowerful, frequently becomes inau-
dible. This latter defect is to be regretted, because, care•

MAIICH 26.

folly as Mr. Hewlett's Sermons are composed, lie never de-
livers an uninteresting sentence: he says nothing but what
merits to be hearri; and much, very much, that his hearers
must be anxious to treasure up for their own service. He
seldom entangles himself, nor does he perplex others,
with the subtilties of theology; or the dogmas of school-
Practieal, rather than theoretical, his reasoning ap-
peals directly to the understandings of his auditors; his il-
lustrations are familiarly intelligible; and his conclusion*
are therefore demonstrative.

Whether we are to impute it to such considerations as
the foregoing, Certainly it is sometimes the defect of Mr.
Hewlett's discourses, commonly with those delivered I.y
many other christian teachers; that he expatiates on the
necessity of possessing faith without explaining the method
by which it can be obtained. We hear satisfactorily, of
" the truth, and the life ;" but we do not learn enough of
66 the way" which .leads•to truth in this world, and to life
in the ne t. Easy is it to -tell men to be good, or to ex-
hort goo men to the practice Of virtue. All the difficulty
cOtiSists,. or it is the work of truth, in explaining to sinners
how It is they are to become righteous ; and to invigorate
even itt the bosoms. of the elect, the trust that " endures to
the end V' This, nevertheless; is the peat task of him
who, as one of the heavenly workmen, needs not to be
ashamed of his spiritual workmanship.
Intelectually illuminated as he is, elevated, as he ought
to feel, above particular prejudices; I was astonished tis
hear Mr. Hewlett preaching against " visionary fanatics."
I fear, indeed, that it is to some feeling of this nature we
must trace his general reluctance to elucidate ' the Mys-
tery of Godliness!" Godliness, however, it still one of the
greatest mysteries with which human being are acquainted;
and well does it behove the " Stewards of its Mysteries,"
whether men will hear or forbear, not to shrink from.
declaring, as they
,may know it, " the whole Council of
God 1" Standing between the Maker and the creature,
the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, let the
minister of religion, wheresoever situated; shake the diet
of this earth from his feet: ONEsiltes.
March 23t1t4 1809.

PROII.NrIA LS.

SURREY ASSIZES.
Ilti*GSTO!l, THURSIS.I Y, MARCH 23.

William John Speed, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the arms', wn
indicted for bigamy, in Marrying Ann Thorn, his former wife he•
ing still living. it appeared that the prisoner at the far, in the
year 17f5, was an Ensign in the Mattines, and became acquaint-
ed with a Miss Nelson, whose father wai then an Alderman, and
who had been a Mayor of London. He married that Lady on
the 9th of September 1189, at the Parish of Furneux Pelham,
In the county of Hertford. He continued with his wife fur
some years, and had children by her,. but in consequence of hat
propriety of conduct on his parts she was compelled to seek re-
fuge with her father, and in the year 1192 articles of separation
were signed between them. The prisoner was abroad for some
time, and in the year 1799 he lodged In the house of a Mr. Thorn
a respectable market gardener, near Putney. Ile soon found
means to insinuate himself into the favour of hii second daughter,
and she was persuaded to marry hini. Ile represented himself
as a Lieut.-Colonel in the Army, and as one having the best ex-
pectations. His marriage with •Miss Nelson, and his identity
being proved, Miss Thorn deposed, that the. Prisoner came to
lodge at hot. father's on the dth of October, 1799, and she mar-
ried him in the November following. After 1w had lived with
her about five filalltilS he went to Halifax, and left her pregnant.
lie never contributed far the support of the child.
The ptkoner said he had erred thrn*-h ignarance. Aftet
signing a deed of separation from his wife, he instituted a suit in
the Ecclesiastical Court, either to compel Iris wife to return td
him, or to get an absolute separations and in a motion, which
was made in the King's Bench, for a prohibition, Lord Kenyon
had said from the Bench, that after that deed he was as free at
air. Thinking himself thus free from restraint, he did marry
Nliss Thorn, and continued with her anti) his tonal'', duties
called biaralma&