The National Register.
London, England, 1808-10-09 00:00:00

DEFENCE OF TILE REV. MR. MOORE.

ON ESISIT',: has this moment received the following Animad-
versions ou his Account of the Rev. James Moore. Vitae does
not note permit him to comment either on the veracity or inge-
nuity of his new antagonist ; but he hers directed it to he 2,7r4.0/.9
inserted, and (though, as the reader w , bri!se is pre-
ferred teithota fee or rtu'ard to the publishers of this paper.
GENTrI7It art. rah, 180 S.
Hyatt will be kind enough to insert the iriclo•ed .liiswer to
Onesimus in your next week's valuable Register You will infi-
nitely Oblige, (;entlemen,
Your most obedient hutnble Servant,
Gen t-
P. S. Not being acquainted with the rules, I don't know w hc-
ther any payment is necessary for the insertion ; if it i•, do not
delay to publish it, but in your note to correspotelein•, let me
know, .and on the word of a gentleman you shall receive the
money the next mooting.
Messrs. Bell and Dr Camp.
The insidious atxl illiberal attack made on the character of
one of the most eminent divines of the ace, (Mr. Moore) by
Onesimus, could not hut excite in every g-enerints and feeling
mind, sentiments of indigoatioe and contempt : influenced by
such sentiments, I cannot resist oir:”i!!tr a few remarks on Onesi-
mus's letter. Ile, in the first uPtance, proves himself preju-
diced and narrow-minded, by mentioottt, titr tirst events at Mr.
M.'s onset in the world : if 'Mr. Moore really did at one period
" take up the hiorionic profession," which I by no means pre-
tend to contradict, is he, on that account. imbued for more sa-
cred ditties? is he less calculated for hi. important office; be-
valise led away into error (if error it may be term-d) by the
inconstancy and thouehtlessness natural to smith ? Have not
some of the most eminent Ministers of Christi-oil:v, tiny, the
Apostles themselves, turned frnm erotally " profane pursuits."
Onesimns recommends Mr. Moore to clear his character of this
supposed speck, by his present exemplary conduct : a recom-
mendation Mr. Al. as perfectly understands and fulfils, us Onesi-
mus can possibly instruct him, and if my noble cnlndcd friend
would trouble himself to make the inquiry, l have not ni doubt
he would find Mr. Mioire's private life as unexceptionable as
even his refitted ideas could wish. With regard to his style of
preaehing,.Mr. M., I will readily admit is totally persuasive;
Out because he thunders not forth the terrors of the laws, does
it consequently follow, that his doctrine is not evangelic and
sound, and that
.his..,ertnons are mere flowery orations ? Is out •
the human heart, in most cases, as open to perseatiou, as Its
threats? Do nut the latter often produce a specie* of stqpitied
despair, which wholly enervates the mind, and sinks it beyond
the power of making those exertions that it ought on so im-
portant a point ? As to my liberal anituativertoe4 observotiei4
on Mr. .Alogre'•eraanuer in the pulpit, they are much too puerile
to be worth fife notice of anx impartial person, and could come
from none hut the pen of invidious calumny or weak envy, and
will never, from: their ystaininess, add am reath to their author's
literary tame. I havemni more to add, than in advise Ocesimes,
whenever he again takes ;upon himself the arduous task of cri-
ticising a man, who rises far shove his contemptible necurstious,
he would have some determined point whereon It, snake los
attack, as without that, neither he nor any other n ill ever make

an effectual stand : a general survey of a character, and 'mina-
ations thrown over every part of it, chews the accuser fearfol
or unwilling to risk a closer examination, than which nothing
can he a greater proof of its impotency and injustice. I should
be sorry to be unjustly severe, but if I mistake not, few will
consider the remarks of Onesimus worthy a second perusal,
either from the truth of the criticism, or the propriety of their
arrangements, and, except his few observations at the conclu-
sion, I think (as he observes in a former part concerning the
gentleman he so unjustly asperses) his literary reputation will
not be increased by this ingenious and liberal production.

•* * I have just received, under the signature of Philo reri-
las, another Defence of the Rep. John Moore. This last worth,
gentleman seems extremel% irritable and even vindictive : hi.
re-entment has evidently superseded his ehristianity. " Cii%vard,
dastardly coward," and I know not what besides. are the epi
*het., n ith which this correspondent thinks it proper to honour
me ! Before my remarks on his reverend friend appeared, I
was, in his estimation, all that was commendahle t hut now—.
I really compassionate Mr. Moore's situation, if he has no bet
ter friends than Gerinanicns and Philo Yet-item: who, under th.
pretence of vindicating his character, appear determined to do
him the most serious injury. I hope, indeed, they will cease to
provoke any further reflections from me.
Oct. 8, 1808.

THE THEATRES.
DRURY LiNR.

ONsirm vs.

On Tuesday last Mrs. Orger, from Edinburgh, made her first
appearance at Drury Lane, in the character of Lydia Languish.
in The Rivals. This Lady possesses almost every regnisite for
the stage, ease, grace, a pleasant voice, a handsome countenance,
and an elegant figure. Having been accustomed to meet the
applause of a Scotch audience, she thought too highly of the
taste of a London ow to betray any symptom of fear. Her
modest confidence enabled her to give due effect to her part,
and was rewarded with deserved plaudits. The youthful sim-
plicity that marked her features, and her moderately whining
accent, rendered her imitation of a girl, whose heart is warmed
v.ith romantic love through the perusal of novels, more like
an original than a copy. In the scene when her aunt and Sir
Anthony Absolute are announced, and she bids her maid conceal
the works she was reading, she was rather too tame, and gave
her commands with an air of indifference, which proclaimed her
heart was totally free from the apprehension she so weakly at-
tempted to express. Upon the whole she proved hers •If wor-
thy of the reception with which she met, and we have do doubt
but study will improve her talents, and enable her to occupy :t
distinguished station in the drama.
Elliston, who, through some unaccountable whim, had till
then acted the p:►rt of Faulkland, which nearly concealed his
powers, at last assumed that of Captain Absolute, which, in
his hands, suddenly emerged from the obscurity in which Barry-
more had plunged it, into the brilliancy of liveliness and wit.
Mr. Henry Siddons, in Faulkland, delivered a few speeches
with appropriate energy, but at nearly regular distance•, like a
clock that strikes at certain periods only. Mrs. Sparks dis-
played no small degree of excellence. which, however. shrank
into irsi4niticance at the mere recolleeion of Miss Pope in the
same character• Dowton, as usual, oared above the sphere of
criticism.

TFIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

OCT. 9.

warm reception granted on Friday night to unworthiness by the
crowds that filled the immensity of the King's theatre. Nonsense
is a tree of stupendous magnitude ; planted in the rich soil of
public patronage, it spreads its baneful shade over the whole
domains of modern literature, and cheeks the growth of talent
and genius that spring and wither at its foot. Its roots are nu-
merous, but lay near the surface of the ground; criticism now
and then severs some of them from the trunk, hut their division
serves only to strengthen those that remain, or cause new ones
to sprout. The axe must be continually and unmercifully ap-
plied if we wish to effect its entire destruction. Whilst the au-
Hence of one of our winter theatres is industriously bent upon
the overthrow of this fatal tree, let not that of the other helot!
-ttford it every prop that can secure it from falling. It i, not a
orivate, it is a general benefit that will he obtained by its eradi-
ation. Let the public and periodical critics therefore join
their efforts together; let union be their motto, impartial justice
• heir weapon, uniyer,al advantage their aim, and success
onn prove their reward.

However severely we animadverted in our last parr, on Mr.
Skelfington's Mysteriouv Ride, amt however deficient sse eon.
tinue to deem it. in whatever on4ht to constitute a drama, we
cannot refrain from thinking that he has been vet. much
o rouged by the author of Fite Poret of HermenNtad. The
poo: man who with only sixpence in his pocket is mined by a
.ootpad, loses as much in proportion as the wealthy Cit 4•.•11
should have to deplore the rape ofa guinea; and the criminality of
the deed is equal in both cases. Mr. Skeflinoon w row a bad drama
in three acts, which was acted successfully three higo;s last .ea-
son, and damned the fourth tine it was performed, last week.
Air. Dibdin copied the first act, word for word, and reduced the
two others into one, with the only trilling change of introcincin,
the Bulgarian Ambassador half an hour sooner than Air. Skef:
fington had done. Is this fair? is this honourable? Not ouiy
all the incidents were the same, not only the order in which
they !tap petted was not changed, but the very language through.
out the whole of the first act,and the greatest part of the second,
had suffered scarcely any alteration, and w hen it had, it was
much for the worse. To look for beauties iu Air. Sketfington's
drama, would he vain, yet the jealousy of the innkeeper's nife
gave rise to something like humour, which vanished awas in
Mr. Dibdin's copy. The former gentlennas play sutUred
greatly from the imbecility and want of memory of the actors,
and Mr. Dibdin's was strongly supported, or rather saved, by the
excellence of Liston.

Mr. Skelington hits loudly complained that his piece has been
damned through the influence of a party. We fondly hoped and
believed its condemnation had sprung from justice alone, but are
now almost inclined to give credit to his assertion. It is impossible
that a melo drama evidently stolen from his own, and still less
interesting, should have succeeded unless through the Influence of
a party. the numbers of which were too considerable not to damn
any play against w hie!' their animosity was bent. In order
to hinder the public from perceiving the theft committed on the
Mysterious Bride, it was necessary to crush it on the tir-t night
of its regeneration, and before the Forest of Itermensfad made
its appearance. This was performed, and we have thus a
new proof that good flows front evil. This seletue has host.
ever partly Skeflington is now raised in the estima-
tion of every sensible being as an injured matt, that noblest title
to the commiseration of his fellow-creatures : and Mr. Dibdin
has sunk his fame as an author, still lower, and not added to his
reputation as a man of honour.
The music was pretty, but not new ; it presented us with se-
veral old acquaintance, amongst which 0 Lady fair ! &c. May
public justice overtake this piece at its second representation!