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Mr. HARNESS is alternate morning preacher at Trinity Chapel, Conduit-street. A clergyman may be considered in two points of view, as an orator, and as a christian preacher; it is the union of these characters which constitutes the highest excellence of a religious instructor; the effect of both is weakened if they are divided. gyman, who confines his attention principally to the study of eloquence, will amuse more than he will instruct, while the most profound attainments in biblical knowledge, if unaccompanied by the graces of oratory, will be regarded with languid interest, compared with the influence they command when combined with those graces, which shed a halo of brightness around the majestic form even of truth herself. I shall examine Mr. Harness with reference to both these characters; and first as to his qualifications as an orator. His voice is clear, pleasing in its tones, and well modulated; it is powerful, though its compass is not of the greatest possible extent. His enunciation is distinct, and if in the pulpit when strongly excited by his subject, it is occasionally too rapid, its general character is deliberate without being slow, animated without being hurried. His action is frequently graceful, but is too redundant; his habits of leaning forward, and of carrying his sermon from one side to the other, as if he was apprehensive it would fall, are decidedly bad; these are, however, but trifling errors, and may be easily corrected. Mr. Harness has taste and industry sufficient to commit nearly the whole of his sermons to memory, which considerably contributes to the freedom and grace of his deportment, while no one who listens to his periods can ever imagine them to be the production of extemporaneous composition, for his language is exquisitely beautiful, correct in its construction, harmoni

ous in its arrangement in variety limited only by itself, it resembles a finely finished piece of mosaic work, which, perfect as a whole, would be injured by the removal of its minutest part. His similes are appropriate, original, and illustrative. When Mr. Harness considers a subject he does not indolently dismiss it with a superficial investigation, but, converging every ray of his intellect to one focus, he generally terminates by investing it with the charms of interest and novelty. This gentleman never weakens a cause by advancing irrelevant arguments to support it, but brings forward a consecutive chain of propositions, which tending irrefragably to establish the truth of what he is enforcing, he moulds the souls of many into one. He depicts the intricacies of human character with a firm and masterly hand, de velopes the secret springs of action, and detects the subtle windings of the heart, when it endeavours by subterfuge and evasion to palliate the evil that deforms it; he exposes the fallaciousness of the pleas set forth by passion in its defence, and compels it to recognize the incongruities of the reasonings by which it attempts to justify its excesses. The arrangement of Mr. Harness's sermons is simple and perspicuous; there is no vagueness or confusion, either in his ideas, or in the manner in which they are connected, but he sometimes concludes a sermon abruptly, which leaves on the minds of his hearers the impression that the subject is not finished, and consequently that a more gradual would likewise have been a more satisfac

tory termination. He generally places a subject in the most novel, and frequently in the most just and striking point of view, and never attenuates an idea till his auditors begin to think that its continuity will never be broken; neither does he destroy perspicuity and graceful

ness by laboured condensation. His irony is keen, pointed, and well-directed; he employs it to the legitimate purposes of denouncing error, and castigating vice. The tone of his mind is bold, spirited, and buoyant; he never appears apprehensive of not arriving at the truth, but fearlessly brings forward the most plausible arguments of his adversaries, that he may expose and refute them. The powers of his intellect are fertile and inventive; there is no tautology in his ideas, and he possesses a more than usual portion of originality. It is, I should think, nearly impossible to listen to him without being convinced by his reasoning, without feeling the most fortified prejudices, and intrenched opinions, gradually giving way beneath the resistless battery directed against them. The excellencies of Mr. Harness as an orator impart, of course, additional weight and efficacy to his admonitions as a Chistian preacher; for as the flower which grows to maturity beneath the fervid beams of the sun is much more beautiful than one of the same class, which, colourless and sickly, arrives at maturity without the influence of light, so does Christianity, though really and essentially the same, assume a yet brighter form when encircled with the rays of human genius, or the mild but steady light of human learning.

Mr. Harness's mind is not dark ened by bigotry, or contracted by party feeling; he examines with candour, and decides with caution, and does not suffer the warmth of zeal to destroy the gentleness of charity. Those among his sermons, which have for their object the defence of Christianity against the attacks of his adversaries, are powerful appeals in favour of the faith which he advocates. Mr. Har ness does not compromise his duty as a Christian preacher by any subserviency to the probable predilections of his hearers: though his discoures are principally addressed to fashionable congregations, this cir cumstance does not deter him from expatiating upon fashionable levities and vices in terms of reproof and censure. He enforces the observance of the different moral duties with

an earnestness commensurate with their importance; he vividly describes the pernicious consequences which result from their violation, and the advantages attendant upon the pursuance of an opposite line of conduct. In some of his discussions upon these subjects he refers very little to Christianity, which renders them of course much less influential in their effects. Another defect which pervades the general tenour of Mr. Harness's sermons is. that they are not addressed sufficiently to the heart; he frequently appeals to the fears by representing the different considerations which should operate as determents from vice, but however essential this may be, yet, unless a sincere and ardent attachment is created for religion, the conduct will be very little influenced; for, though the judgment may unreservedly assent to the truth of the propositions presented to it, still, if the inclinations are adverse to their reception, no permanent practical effect will be produced.

On the whole the high talent which distinguishes Mr. Harness's mind, and the varied attainments with which his industry has enriched it, frequently render its productions beautiful monuments of excellence; the bitterness of his irony, and the awfulness and force of his denunciations, awaken the conscience which slumbers over forgotten crimes. His delineation of the hidden springs which actuate human resolves, is a mirror in which each individual may view the different features which form his own character. As the teacher of morality he inculcates purity of thought and motion, and the various duties incumbent on man to perform; at the same time he defines their limits with an accuracy and precision calculated to prevent misapprehension or mistake. As the preacher of Christianity he endeavours to defend it from the attacks of misrepresentation, and calumny, and to depict its unfailing tendency to controul and subdue the evil dispositions which deform the soul, and to create and cherish those feelings which constitute the perfection of its nature.

CRITICUS.

"HAVE you heard Mr. Irving?" is a question in the circles of fashion, which has now quite supplanted that formerly trite one, "Were you at the Opera last night?" While the name of the reverend preacher has become as familiar to the ears of the fair and the great, as that of Vestris or Mercandotti. A little plain unornamented Chapel, the scene of his eloquent exertions, presents on a Sunday morning as crowded and as brilliant an audience as ever was attracted to our London Theatre by the performance of Garrick, or, in later days, by that of Mrs. Siddons. Long before the appointed time, pedestrians of all descriptions, and in vast numbers, flock towards Hatton-Garden from every part of this over-grown metropolis, while, from its Western extremity, strings of carriages (not a few of which display the proudest coronets of the United Kingdom) are seen advancing in an unusual direction, and at an unusual hour; and stopping, perhaps for the first time, at a Presbyterian Meeting-House.

So great, indeed, have been for some weeks past the multitudes assembled on these occasions, that latterly, in order to guard against accidents, it has been found prudent to close the doors, and to open them only to such as produce a written order; in spite of which precaution the crash is still tremendous, and

even standing room is not obtained without considerable exertion.

If a particle of vanity be mingled with the higher and better qualities of his mind and heart, how gratifying must it be to Mr. Irving to wit ness the great personal sacrifices which are cheerfully made, in order to enjoy the pleasure of hearing him. How mighty is the power of genius! Possessed of that talisman a young Scotch Dissenting Minister, just arrived from his native mountains, is enabled to raise from the couch of indolence the most luxurious inhabitants of this wealthy capital, and to make them listen in mute attention, and with enthusiastic rapture, “While truths divine come mended from his tongue." Nor is this his only triumph. Not only the young and the gay, the idle, and the dissipated, whom the charms of novelty might, for once, draw to a place of worship, appear among his auditors, but in that number we have found lawyers, magistrates, wits, statesmen, and philosophers; all sects and all parties, as well as both sexes and all classes, seem to unite in bearing testimony to his merits; and among other distinguished personages, who have already heard and praised Mr. Irving, we shall content ourselves with naming the Duke of Sussex, Sir Archibald Macdonald, and Lord Erskine, Mr. Canning and Mr.

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Brougham, Lord Liverpool and Lord Lansdown, Sir James Mackintosh and Lord Stowell. In short, every body at all remarkable for rank, talent, or erudition.

Purposing to give in a future number a more detailed and critical account of this celebrated preacher, we shall at present only offer a few hasty sketches, which may, perhaps, prove not unacceptable to such of our readers as have not yet been fortunate enough to have an opportunity of judging for themselves.

Mr. Irving cannot be more, and, we should think, is rather less than, thirty years of age; about six feet high his figure is colossal, and his whole appearance rather singular than prepossessing. His features are not handsome, and his thick black hair is worn unpowdered. He keeps his eyes closed while repeating the prayer with which he begins the service, and that prayer, delivered in a dull and monotonous manner, is little calculated to satisfy the expectations of that part of his congre gation which has been accustomed to the elegant language, and rich variety of the Liturgy of the Church of England. When, however, he begins to preach, it is impossible not to feel the effect of impassioned eloquence. He by degrees challenges attention, pleases, charms, astonishes; and, though his sermon is seldom of less duration than an hour and a quarter, nobody perceives or complains of its unusual length. His thoughts are strong and original, and the language in which they are conveyed is beautifully figurative, while the exuberance of a brilliant imagination is kept within proper bounds by the united powers of sound sense and good taste. He cannot be called an extemporary preacher, as a written paper is before him; but he refers to it so seldom that his discourse has all the effect without the irregularities of impromptu speaking.

His doctrines, drawn entirely from the Holy Scriptures, are free from sectarian violence, while it is doing him but an act justice to add, that, unawed by the presence of the great, he lashes with merited seve rity the vices and follies of the higher ranks.

Among his many merits we could perceive but one fault; we mean a disposition to exert his mighty ta lents, in defending a paradox. So, at least, it appeared to us, when he took for the subject of one of his sermons the difficulty of intellectual men "inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven." In the course of his argument he told us that a person might be born a poet, a lawyer, a physician, or a philosopher, but that no one can become a religious man without long and deep application to the pages of holy writ. In elucidating this doctrine he mentioned Homer, and, after eulogising that great and ancient bard in language of peculiar beauty, shewed how impossible it was for imperfect man, unaided by Revelation, to form a due conception of the Majesty of God, by reminding us that even the father of poetry, in spite of all his genius, had allowed the foibles and defects of poor human nature to disfigure the divinities with which he had peopled his imaginary hea

ven.

With respect to that part of Mr. Irving's discourse which to us appeared paradoxical, we must beg leave to remark, with due deference to his superior judgment, that, as a competent knowledge of the Scriptures forms an essential part of all good education, at least in England, we do not see why the scholar or the man of letters should be less religious than his more ignorant brethren; and we recollect with pride and pleasure, that, in contradiction to this supposition, Locke, Newton, and Milton, were all splendid examples of the union of poetry with talent and learning. Nor can we think it more imperative on intellectual persons to abandon their favourite pursuits, in order to devote their time exclusively to the study of the Scriptures, than it is on the countryman to leave his plough, or the mechanic to lay aside his art, or on the merchant to forego his trade. But we will not pursue the subject, as it is possible that we may have mistaken the eloquent preacher, while lost in admiration we listened to a discourse which, in metaphorical splendour, reminded us of the finest efforts of Edmund Burke.

No. 5. The Captive; the property of the Rev. WILLIAM LONG.-A rich and glowing head; at once firm and transparent. The tones of the flesh are equal to those of the best colourists that ever lived. The title, how ever, is quite inappropriate. But

What's in a name? That which we call a rose,

By any other name would smell as sweet."

No. 7. The Piping Boy; the property of Geo. PHILLIPS, Esq. M.P. Great breadth, character, and beauty. The handling has all the facility of the crayon.

No. 14. Miss Bowles; the property of C. O. BOWLES, Esq.-Nothing can exceed the animation of this beautiful child; who is hugging a pet-dog in her arms. She is absolutely alive. We were pleased to observe the admiration which this charming picture excited in a living artist of great genius, who happened to be at our elbow when we were contemplating it. We mean Mr. Wilkie.

No. 15. The Countess of Euston, Countess of Waldegrave, and Lady Horatio Seymour,daughters of James, Earl of Waldegrave; the property of the EARL OF WALDEGRAVE.. There is not in the whole room a more striking illustration than this pieture affords of the justice of the following passage in the Preface to the Catalogue: "Taste and fashion seldom go hand-in-hand, but they never Eur. Mag. July, 1823.

were more at variance than when Sir Joshua was in the full exercise of his powers: female dress was never more unfavourable to the painter's art than at that period; and yet female beauty was never represented with more fascinating charms than by his pencil. The truth is, that he was one of the greatest masters of grace and elegance that ever lived."

No. 17. The late Duke of Orleans; the property of HIS MAJESTY. Although we cannot concur with the Hon. Secretary of the Admiralty, who, in the conversation which recently took place in the House of Commons, on the presentation of a petition from Mr. Haydon, praying for the encouragement of Historical Painting, said that Portrait Painting was true Historical Painting; we are willing to admit that the best Portrait Painters, and Sir Joshua Reynolds par preference, have communicated a powerful historical character to many of their portraits. This fine whole-length is a confirma

tion of the truth of the remark.

No. 20. The Fortune Teller; the property of the DUCHESS OF DORSET. -As charity covers a multitude of sins, so does genius frequently hide a multitude of defects. Notwithstanding the manifest inaccuracy of the drawing, in more than one respect, this is a very fascinating pieture. The sly glance of the gypsy, the earnest attention of the lover, and the unbounded mirth of the delighted girl, whose hopes that she may marry "a dark haired man,

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