The National Register.
London, England, 1812-12-27 00:00:00

Ti! E NATIONAL BEGISTF,II.

12

But if faith be not preached, how can we hear ?—And if the
void of God be changed into the word of man, how can we
profit lw hearing ?—1 .et u, trust that mere morality shall not
drive evaigelieism entirely from the Pulpit. Faith wi'l not
follow the preaching of morality—morality will follow the
preaching of faith.
The Reverend JAMES HALDANE STEWART, A. M. the
son Of DUNCAN rEw A RT, Esq. the late I dof Ardsheal,
in A rgyksii,:t •is a nati‘c of A rnei ira. lie was born in New
London, Connecticut, then a British colony, in which his
father resided, in consequence of his being appointed the
principal efficer of his .iajestv's revenue in that state.
On the breaking out of the rebellion, the family returned
to Great Britain, and voung HALDANE was placed at Eton.
Here he went through the usual course of education, and
was entered at the University of Oxiord, where he took his
deiees. Ile afterwards became a student at Lincoln's Inn,
a:id was called to the bar. Successful in his professional
exertions, worldly prospects opened fair before him. But
higher interests than those of-fortune engaged the attention
of his soul. it was fixed on a richer harvest than gold—on
a brighter goal than earth. A zealous and strict performer
of Christian duties, he longed to become a Minister of the
Christian Faith. In the sincerity of his love for God and
man, he wished to impress the belief of a Creator and a
Bedeemet on the minds and hearts of the created. Example
was too weak an instrument to produce much good in the
confined walks of private life—ordination would enlarge the
sphere of his utility. The bar was relinquished, and a pillar
was added to the Church of Chi
After his ordination, Mr. STEWART preached for several
years at lleaning and its vicinity, and occasionally at dif-
ferent churches in London. He was also appointed Chap-
lain to the Earls of DuNtraiEs and BREAD ALBA NE, and has
lately fixed the seat of his pastoral labours in town. He is
now engaged for a number of years at Percy Chapel, Rath-
bone-place, and has already signalized his zeal for the edu-
cation of the poor, in the principles of the Church of Eng-
land, by the establishment of a Sunday school which pro-
mises to be of great utility.
Evangelical i' his doctrine, and resting for salvaticn on
the atoning blood uf Chris!, Mr. STEWART considers Faith
as the chief weapon of Christian warai e, and good works as
the necessary consequence—not :he source of Faith. Clear
in his arguments, in his sentiments he is just. tie speaks
what he feels, and makes his hearers feel what he speaks.
lie not only gains time appiohation or the head, but the a-sent
of time heavt. His voice, without being powerful, is ex-
pressive—his delivery unaffected—his language pure and
el' ,ant. Formerly extemporaneous, he now genet ally meads
1w; sermons, and would do well, whilst holding his book with
his left band, not to keep his right too long in the same up-
position. Ile possesses an impressive dignity—iet it
not be impah a by want of grace.
priva.c life is, we understand, a practical illustration
of his Christian in inciples. Happy the Minister who fol
lows his own doctrine—Happy the congregation who follow
such a Minister.

nrc. 27.

. . .
and a. great el 111 1," exec' m. Th.! 'pits v,',10,
It t for the nice asmistance of the graver, although they bre,k, at
flits the ha, mow/ of the whole, do not 1),cl/rot tli, tillru„nu
eye
nilvto'' reseelog what will be the gnieral effect whet the plat, -1,2
tiitiblied.

DRAMATIC REGISTER.

CONTNT G sl !G% OF DAMASCUS.
Mr BETT Y'S engagement before Christmas closed on
Tuesday last with his first appearance as P/roei,a in Ti„
Siege of Damascus. This tragedy, which was revi‘ot
present him in a new character, possesses few cl.tirns to iLe
admiration which has been expres'ed for its merits by
of former times. It boasts much poetry in its lay gua,o., but
little interest in its plot. Its morality has been re preAluttl
as pure and sublime : but where is the mot ality of maiiio,
the hero sacrifice his honour, his integrity, and his cduti4e,
to save his own life and rescue his mist ross ? lie betrays flit
native city, it is true, on condition that the lies of its cid.
tens, and part of their property, shall be saved ; but he does
it fully conscious that they retained the power of resi,taut.
unimpaired, and that an army was approaching for th&t.
lief. His late repentance, which does not awaken until he
finds himself scorned_ by the object of his love on account of
his treachery, does not proceed from virtue, but from rel.
fishness, and his exertions at the close of the piece are not to
relieve his countrymen from the consequences of his E.,.11r,
but to regain the good opinion of his mistress. He falls at
rast, not a victim to his patriotism, but to his love.
The character of Phocyas would have been still more dcl•
picable, had not the good sense of the Managers at the time
it was first produced, prevailed upon the author to alter 11;s
plan, for in the original the hero was made so weak as to
change his religion, and become a Mussulinan. This altm-
tion is his
lamented by Mr. GIBBONS, the historiv,
(who probably regretted that an opportunity of dvgraditn; the
Christian character should have been lost) in tile following
passage, in which he loads " The Siep,:e of Damascus" with ex-
aggerated praises He represents it as " one of our most
popular tragedies, and which possesses the rare merit of blend-
ing nature and history, the manners of the times, and the
feel-
ings of the heart. The foolish delicacy of the players couwellcd
him (the author) to soften the-guilt of the hero, and the. desp.iir of the heroine. Instead of a base renegado, Pkyq.as
serves the Arabs as an honourable all, ; (Mr. Gi Wigs must
have had strange notions of ho:,our as well as of religion'
" instead of prompting their pursuit, he flies to the succour
of his countrymen, and after killing Caled and DUrdl7, is him.
self mortally wounded, and expires in the presence of Endo-
eia, who professes her re,olution to take the veil at Constati-
tinople. Aft igid catastrophe!"
The author of The Sie f of Damascus, Mr Joust lltliftrc,
son to a citizen of London, and the friend of Sir Mei-LARD
STEEL': and Mr. ADDISON, a skilful poet and an aiii.abe
man, did not live to enjoy the success of his piece: hut
a fatal coincidence, died the very night it was first pet forms
in February, 1719.
To the part of Phocyas, Mr. BETTY gave its full efft:ct.
He was tender, without affectation, in his love. The contoeit
of passions that precedes the surrender of his patriotism an(
honour, was justly and strongly pourtrayed. His address to
death was deiivered in a very impressive manner.
morse was unattended with ranting, and his death was alicet •
ing. The universal plaudits of a most crowded audience
lie(i
re,
comparried him throughout the part, and were reiterate
when the curtain fell.
Thus closvd, in undivided approbation, an engage,'

Milk

n ~'

•••

I% Lt'Cl

st,
tii-

Clui

e'(

ti~,~e