The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-02 00:00:00

THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.

(From an Article on the recently-published Collection
of his admirable Writings, in the Scotsman.)
Mr. Sintli was one of' the triumvirate who esta-
blished the Edinburgh Review, and his numerous con-
tributions to that journal entitle him to stand on a leve
with his two distinguished coadjutors. Less abundani
and varied in his intellectual resources than Brougham ;
less subtile, acute, and eloquent, than Jeffrey, he is yel
in some respects superior to both. In strong common
sense, in knowledge of the world, in wit and pleasan-
try, he is without a match among living authors .
and it is in truth the happy union of these qualities
which has made him by far the most popular didactic
writer of the present age. His style is occasionally
somewhat rough, but always marked by precision and
vigour. It is the style of a well educated man of thi
world, who would be ashamed to display the smallest
tincture of literary pedantry. His wit, though thi
quality which strikes the reader most, is by no
means superior to his logic ; it. is seldom the mere gar-
nish of his theme, but usually belongs to the very
substance of his argument; for it will be found, that
while apparently playing with a subject, he is analyz-
ing it with the dexterity of a skilful disputant. H,
loves the practical above all things, and never wanders
into the abstruse or the recondite, and has no vocation
to fabricate or retail systems of philosophy. Indeed,
judging from his writings, one would say, that he had
never opened a volume of metaphysics, or dipt into a
work of pure speculation, in his life. In discussing a
subject he avoids minute points and arguments, which,
though sound, cannot be rendered palpable to common
understandings, but seizes its great features, and having
placed them in strong lights, sets them off by abundant
illustrations, which are sometimes satirical, sometimes
droll, sometimes picturesque, but
-always appropriate and
striking. The consciousness of great powers and good
aims renders him remarkably frank and fearless. N•.
clergyman—and very few laymen, have spoken upon
delicate questions with such edifying plainness, or cas'
aside conventional falsehoods and sophisms with so
little ceremony. His range of subjects is not great,
but within that range he is master. He is the Bacon
of common sense applied to practical questions. In read-
ing his works, we are often reminded of Swift. Like th,
Dean of St. Patrick's, he has great gra,p of mind, much
decision of character, much plainness of speech, and
surprising fecundity of wit and humour. Like him, hi
handles common topics, which he embellishes with fa-
miliar illustrations ; like him, he hates cant and fanati-
cism, and is at no pains to conceal it. But the spirit o.
Swift was dark, morose, and cynical, while Sydney is
hearty, social, and philanthropic. ' Swift libels Kumar•
nature itself, while Sydney libels only its most mis
chievous specimens. Each wields the club of Hercules
but the one as a freebooter, against all who cross his
path, the other as a true knight, to redress wrongs and
demolish oppressors. We regret to see Mr. Smith
publishing a collected edition of his works ; it looks so
much lib closing his literary career, and erecting his
own monument. His works have done a world of
good, and his Letters to Archdeacon Singleton show
that his powers are still as brilliant as ever. We be-
lieve there is more sterling wit and sterling sense in
these three volumes than in any equal quantity of let-
ter-press published in the last hundred years.

MARYLEBO •IE VESTRY.

THE LATE DISGRACEFUL MUTILATION OF TOMBSTONES

On Saturday the members of Marylebone vestry as-
sembled, as usual, at the Court-house, Marylebone-
lane, for the dispatch of business.
Mr. A. DANIEL, parochial churchwarden, having
been appointed to the chair—
Mr. JOSEPH said he had to call the attention of the
vestry to a subject of great importance in connexion
with the mutilation of inscriptions on tombstones, now
undergoing an investigation in Committee. It was
known that the keys of the church were left in the care
of parties who might be lamv.red with in reference to
the burial register, during the investigation that was
now going on respeating the alleged interpolation of the
register, and whilst the register books were made a
subject of reference, the greatest care should be taken
that n' one, unless those on whom they could implicitly
rely, had any means of access to them ; he should there
fore move, " That the keys of the church be brought to
Mr. Daniel, the parish churchwarden, when the duties
of the church were over."

Mr. FOSTER should like to know whether the church-
warden or the rector had the right to the custody of the
keys ?

Mr. FLOOD (vestry clerk)—They have a joint righ
to the care of th4ln.

Mr. FLOOD—AS the rector was 70 miles from town,
;And his warden (Lord Keynon) 300, he thought there
could be no objeciton to placing the keys in the hand
of their chairman the parish warden.
The CHALRMAN—If I have the right to keep the
keys I will enforce it ; if I have not the right, a vote
of this vestry cannot give it me.
Mr. Josr..m—From the answer of the clerk of the
the vestry, and seeing that the rector and his warden
arc out of town, you, Mr. Chairman, have a right to
keep the keys.

Mr. KENSETT—You should, Sir, keep the keys,
as there is now suspicion and danger that they may be
used for improper purposes, pending the present severe
investigation.

Mr: JoSEPH, consulting a book of minutes, said
that he found there was a reso!ution pissed in vestry
at the time of the building of the church, which stated
that the church keys were to be kept by the church-
wardens.

CHAIRMAN—I think that confirms my right.
Mr. SODEN—Toe churchwarden's keeping the keys
%could be only security for the time he kept them ; if
the books th,qnselves were placed in his safe custody,
the security would be much better. Whilst the keys
were out of the churchwarden's possession, of mornings,
the burial registers might be taken out and altered.
Mr. JOSEPH, having been satisfied that the parish
warden had a right to keep the keys, and would exercise
it, withdrew his motion.