The National Register.
London, England, 1808-10-24 00:00:00

OCT. 24.

fir-acids on the occasion. 'After the usual form of Opening
the Court, it was moved and seconded, " That an humble
wad dutiful Address be presented to His Majesty, praying•
that he may be graciously pleased :to order that an Inquiry
should be instituted with respect to the cause of the late
disgraceful Convention in Portugal; and also beseeching
Nis Majesty that he may be graciously pleased to order that
such steps may be taken as will insure the punishment of
the guilty person or persons in that disgraceful transaction,
himever high his rank in society may be." This was sill,-
ported by U. Mitford, Esq. Lord Folkestone, and seveilil
other Gentlemen. It was opposed by Mr. Serjt. Shepherd
and some other Gentlemen. The opposition rested not
only on the idea that judgment would by this motion be
pronounced before trial, but also on the old Tory principle,
of its being improper to offend the Royal Ear, by a sub-
ject presuming to give his advice in a manner which was
known to be contrary to the declared sentiments of the
ft 0) al Mind.
In reply to both these points, it was argued by the Gen-
tlemen who signed the requisition, that no individual was
implicated, either by the words or tenor of the motion ; it
pointedly, no doubt, censured the thing ; but it, at
the same time, called for inquiry as to who may be
the guilty person, and expressed the anxious hope of the
Freeholuerh, that exemplary punishment may follow his
trial and conviction.
The Motion was then put andcarried by a large Majority.

On Monday week the Corporation of Winchester held a
Meeting at the Guildhall, for the purpose of considering
the propriety of addressing His Majesty on the late Conven-
tion, when the following Address was unanimously voted :
" TO TIIE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

" We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, in-
habitants of the city and suburbs of Winchester, beg leave
to approach the Throne to express our sincere attachment
to your Royal Person and Family, and being sensible that
your Majesty's true glory is inseparable from that of your
People, we humbly presume to pray that your Majesty
bill be pleased to order a full, free, and effective Inquiry
to be made into the causes and circumstances of the Con-
vention of Portugal—a Convention which has caused gene-
ral mortification and disappointment, and deprived your
brace Soldiers of the expected result of their good and
honourable exertions—the uncond:tional surrender of the
whole French army. Your Petitioners cannot but deeply
lament that such an opportunity was lost ; but as we do
out presume to anticipate conviction, if, upon mature in-
vestigation, it shall be found that your Commanders were
compelled by insurmountable obstacles to conclude such a
Treaty, justice demands that they should be reinstated in
the good opinion of the country ; but, on the other hand,
Wale) were actuated by any thing less than imperious ne-
cessity, we are fully persuaded, front the interest 1%166
your Majesty must ever feel in the fair fame and honour
ofyour kingdom, that they will experience such marks of
your Royal displeasure as may prcve a severe example to
others, and deter them from tarnishing in the Cabinet the
glory acApired iu the field."
Sir Richard Canton, Bart. and 11. C. P. Mildmay, Esq.
the Representatives of the City were desired to present the
same, attended by Mr. Alderman Earle.
On theft

Jet
. le first of the present month was published, No. 192,
of the Sporting Magazine, and which completes the TH irty-
second Volume. The Copper Plates given in this Number
are—l. Milo, Frontispiece to the Volume; Vignette Title
Page to ditto ; and, 3. His Majesty's Cream-coloured
Charger, from a Painrting, by Chalon. Among others, in
the Literary Department, is an article, to be continued
(lery month, entitled, Disputes among Gentlemen on Points
of Honour, &e. Complete sets, with upwards Of 400 Cop-
per-plates, on Sporting and other subjects may be bal.--
A• 13. The Work proceeds with great spirit.

4112.•

POPULAR PREACHERS.

No. XI.

The priestly brotherhood, devout, sincere,
num mean self-interest and ambitiou clear,
As meek as the man Moses, and withal
As hold as in Agrippa 's presen,:e Paul,
Should LIN the world's contaminating touch,
Holy and unpolluted !--- -Co w r La.

REV. ROBERT STEVENS, A. M.

685

- -
SEVERELY as it has fallen to my lot to animadvert on the
Foundling Chapel, and convinced as 1 st ill a►❑ of the justice
of my strictures on that occasion, it gives ►nc pleasure,
though unequivocally disapproving of all sabt'atic theatri-
cals, to be able to speak favourably of the worship o►' the
Magdalen Chapel. 1 will even ad►nit, with reference to
those whose hearts are elevated by sacred invlotty, that the
singing of the Magdalens is calculated to excite feelings of
devotion; that, in the language of one of our must favuarite
bards, they can

" regale your ear
" With strains it were a privilege to hear."
What, however, essentially distinguishes the Magdalen
above the Foundling, as to divine service, is the decency
with which ils worship is conducted, and the respectful
attention of its assemblies. This difference between the
two chapels, as it excites observation, calls for investiga-
tion. Effects arc not without causes. Since the Magdalen
&tiers from the Foundling, to what then is this distinction
to be attributed ? Both of these chapels exhibit nearly
similar public attractions; both employ popular preachers;
and they are, reciprocally, frequented by almost the same
audiences. What is the inference deducible from these
considerations? The business of religion is in one place
conducted with decency, white it is elsewhere disgraced by
puerile incentives and frivolous accompaniments.--

" Olt, Italy ! thy sabhatits may be, ,00n,
" Our sabitaths, clos'd with muintat.ry mid buffoon ;
Prearhing and pranks ma% ',hare the nintley scene,

" God's worship and the mountebank between."
Among the successful characters which Cambridge has
produced, and which, in various degrees, reflect lustre
on its University, is to be ranked the 'lvy. Mat. STerEvs.
He is said, indeed, not greatly to have d.stinguished him-
self while at college ; but his su!iscquent career has suffi-
ciently evidenced, that he possesAed talents which were
gradually to unfold thenisekcs into notice. happily
acquired the countenance of Dr. Andrews, the present ex-
cellent Rector of St. James's in Piccadilly, Mr. Stevens
was by him placed in the '' post of observation," where he
became so conspicuous as to be elected Alternate Evening
Preacher at the Magdalen. Ile is now, in ildiiition to that
appointment, Morning Preacher at the Asylum, and at St.
James's Chapel in the Ilampstead Road; the Afternoon
Lecturer of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster; and one
of the Evening, Preachers at ‘.ilargaret-street Chapel, near
.Ca vendish-sq mire.
Does it not seem strange. while the members of the
established church are &oh decreasing, that our " lords
spiritual" should persist in their resistance to measures
which alone promise to disconcert the adversaries of the
hierarchy? I again advert to the practice of reading, as
oppo.ed to that of preaching; and I shall take this oppor-
tunity of introducing, I hope very generally, a document
to which I formerly alluded, connected as it is with my
preseatdisq uisit ion.

" I 7te-Chancellor and Cenilemcn,

" Whereas his Ntaje;ty is informed that the practice of
readin,T Sermons it geheral!_ taken up b the preachers
before the linivetstv, und therefore continu.:s even before

,‘ tiffs :llnjer,ty hat!) commanded me tc siviiiv to you his
pleai:ire, that the practice, which took beginning. from
the disorder.: of the lAN; time, v.holit• laid aside ; and
that the slid pr,:achers Se;inf.:l›.., both in Latin