Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

Population of London and Paris.-The population of Paris was put down by Sir William Petty, in his "Essay on Political Arithmetic,' published in 1687, on the authority of the best French writers, at 488,000; while her present population, according to the late census, does not amount to 700,000. But the population of London, which now exceeds 1,274,000, is pat down in the same essay at 696,000; which shews that London must have added 578,000 to her greater population, in the same period, that Paris had added little more than 200,000 to her smaller population.

The Misletoe. This most beautiful plant may be propagated by simply taking one of the berries at Christmas, and pressing it against a tree, to which it will adhere by its viscous jaice, and become a plant.

Literary Notices.

Just Published.

In one vol. 12mo. Tales from Afar. By a Clergyman lately resident abroad, Author of an Alpine Tale, Tales from Switzerland, &c.

Letters in Rhyme from a Mother at Home to her Children at School, embellished with a superior engraving. 18mo. 2s. extra bds.

Price 4s. in extra boards, embellished with a cut, Sancho, the Sacred Trophy, and the unparalleled Operations of Episcopacy; with a Presbyter's Hat. By S. H. Carlisle, of Essex. Scientia Biblica. Vol. II. 10s. 6d.

The Deity of Christ the Uniform Testimony of the Holy Scriptures. By the Rev. W. Jones, Minister of Mawdeley Chapel, Bolton. 12mo. 1s. 6d. boards.

Spare Minutes. By Arthur Warwick. 1s.

A Selection of Hymns for Village Congrega. tions. By the Rev. Ingram Cobbin, A.M. Second Edition, bound in sheep, Is. 4d. or stiff covers, Is.

The Eleventh Volume of Dr. John Owen's Works.

Homeri Ilias, ad novissimam Heynii editionem exacta; excisis disquisitionibus, excursibus, et notarum iis, quae ad juniorum conmoditatem minus pertinere videbantur. In one vol. 8vo. 12s. bds.

Homeri Ilias, ad novissimæ Heynii editionis textum expressa. 12mo. 5s. 6d. bound.

Q. Horatii Flacci Carmina Expurgata: in usum Scholarum. Cum Notis Anonymis et Jos. Juventii. Editio nova. 8vo. 9s. bds.

D. Junii Juvenalis et A. Persii Flacci Satiræ Expurgate; in usum Scholarum. Adduntur Juvenali Annotatiunculæ Lud. Pratei et Jos. Juventii. Subjicitur Persio, Interpretationis loco, versio Brewsteri. Editio nova, Svo.

Demosthenis Orationes de Republica Duodecim; cum Wolfiana Interpretatione. Accessit Philippi Epistola. A. Gulielmo Allen, A.M. Editio nova, 8vo. 88. bds.

land. Dedicated by permission to the Bishop of Durham. Price £3. 3s.

An Essay on Baptism: being an Inquiry into the meaning, form, and extent of that ordinance. By Greville Ewing. Second edition. 4s. boards.

Lives of the Rev. John and Charles Wesley. In two vols. 8vo. Vol. I. By the Rev. Henry

Moore. 10s. 6d. bds.

The Italian Interpreter. By S. A. Bernardo. Scripture Natural History, with Reflections. Designed for the young, Vol. I. 3s.

Professional Christianity, or Considerations urging the importance of religious influence on the medical character. By a medical Practitioner.

The Constitution of Friendly Societies upon Legal and Scientific Principles. By the Rev.

John Thomas Becher, M.A. 2s.

A Biographical Portraiture of the late Rev. John Hinton, M.A. By his Son. Svo. Price 10s. 6d. boards.

Humau Subordination: being an elementary Disquisition concerning the civil and spiritual Power and Authority to which the Creator requires the submission of every human being. By Francis Plowden, L.C.D.

Maria's Legacy, or the Experience of a suffering Christian. By John Greeves. 4s. 6d. Reflector and Christian Advocate, or the Busby Lecturer against Infidelity. By the Rev. S. Piggott, A.M. 10s. Bunyan explained to a Child. By the Rev. Isaac Taylor, of Ongar. 12mo.

In the Press.

A Grammar of the Coptic, or Ancient Egyptian Language. By the Rev. H. Tattam, A.M. F.R.S.L. Chaplain to the English Church at Amsterdam.

In one volume, royal 18mo. Memoirs of the Rose; comprising Botanical, Poetical, and Miscellaneous Recollections of that celebrated

Flower. In a series of Letters to a Lady.

Patmos, and other Poems. By James Edmeston, Author of Sacred Lyrics. In one vol.

The Preacher, or Sketches of Original Sermons. Vols. VII. and VIII. being the conclud. ing volumes.

Preparing for the Press.

A Lexicon of the Syriac Language, in Syriac and English. By the Rev. H. Tattam, A.M. F.B.S.L.

Mr. W. A. Hails, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has ready for the press, Remarks on Volney's Ruins of Empires. To be dedicated, by permission, to the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. David's.

QUERIES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Two Queries by N. H.-1. In Greenwood's Astronomia Anglicana, lib. 3, p. 77, are tables composed by Alphonsus, (author of the famous Astronomical Tables, conputed about 600 years since,) of the different colours of the solar and lunar eclipses, such as pitch black, pale black, various tints of brown, red, green, &c. accord

A Key to the Gospel of St. Luke : consisting of the original Greek, and an Interlineary li-ing to the position of the luminaries-what reateral Translation, upon the Hamiltonian System. Svo.

Burke on the Sublime and Beautiful, hand. somely printed. 8vo. 6s. bds.

Hunt's Bredow's Tables of the History of the World, chiefly adapted for instruction; divided into, 1. Ancient History, 2. Middle Ages, 3. Modern History. Second Edition enlarged. 3s. in sheets, and 3s. 6d. in covers.

The Holy Bible, arranged and adapted for family reading; with Notes, practical and explanatory. By a Layman of the Church of Eng

son can be assigned for these curious phenomena ? 2. Which is the most effectual method of era. dicating spots of ink, grease, &c. from books, without injuring the print or texture of the paper?

3. B. B. asks-Which may be considered as the most useful, and as conveying most instruction to mankind,-poetry, painting, or

music?

4. Z. Z. Z. inquires-What work (and its price) will best instruct a learner in acquiring a knowledge of the Chinese language?

LONDON: PRINTED AT THE CAXTON PRESS, BY H. FISHER.

[graphic][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

NEW NATIONAL SCOTCH CHURCH IN
LONDON, AND THE REV. EDWARD
IRVING, A. M.

(With an Engraving.)

THE REV. MR. IRVING, though in person about six feet two inches high, possesses a mind still more exalted in its stature. His talents may indeed have been overrated by some of his injudicious admirers, but it cannot be denied that he has drawn around him men, as much distinguished for intellect and science, as others are for title, power, and fashion; and it is equally certain that he has secured an elevation, which the shafts of malevolence, though barbed with malice, and aimed with dexterity, have not been able to reach. His great popularity, which still remains unabated, has rendered every thing connected with his official character peculiarly interesting, both in town and country; and few persons, possessing inquiring minds, visit the metropolis, who do not contrive to gain admission into his chapel.

Some months since, we endeavoured to procure his portrait for the Imperial Magazine; but local obstacles intervening, defeated our intention. By a renewal of our application some time hence, we hope to be more successful, when a sketch of his life will form a pleasing accompaniment. Keeping this in view, we shall, at present, give only a few outlines of his biography, and then turn to a description of his new Church, the front of which is exhibited in the prefixed engraving.

[1824.

sity of Edinburgh; and while in this seminary, he made a considerable proficiency in classical and scientific attainments. At the age of seventeen, he removed from the university, having been chosen to superintend the mathematical school at Haddington, in which situation he remained about three years. From Haddington he repaired to Kirkaldy, to instruct the higher classes in their literary pursuits; and from thence, after some time had elapsed, he again returned to Edinburgh, where he regularly attended the lectures that at stated times were delivered by the learned professors. Having obtained license to preach, he began his ministry by occasionally officiating in various churches, where his services were wanted, without having the care of any particular congregation. He had not long been thus engaged, before his abilities and exemplary conduct attracted the notice of Dr. Chalmers, who, being in want of an assistant, associated Mr. Irving with himself in his ministerial labours, nor does it appear that he ever found occasion to regret his choice.

While Mr. Irving was thus employed, the Rev. Mr. Macnaughton, who had officiated in the Caledonian Church, Cross-street, Hatton-garden, London, removed from his situation, in consequence of which, the congregation was for some time without a pastor. To supply this deficiency, an invitation was sent by the elders to Mr. Irving, who, in compliance with their request, repaired to the British metropolis, under the powerful sancMr. Irving was born at Annan, in tion and commanding patronage of Dumfrieshire, we believe in the year Dr. Chalmers. The judges of his ser1792. His family was highly respect-mons approving the specimens which able, and his parents are still living, he furnished of his preaching talents, and no doubt enjoying the accounts in his probationary discourses, he which circulate respecting their son's was shortly afterwards called in a popularity and fame, with those ex-formal manner to take charge of the quisite feelings which parents only congregation. This he accepted; and know. Having been, from an early his hearers increased both in number period, designed for the ministry, he and respectability, with a degree of received his education at the univer- rapidity that is, perhaps, without a No. 68.-VOL, VI.

2 X

parallel in the history of modern | An eligible place also, on which to times. erect the building, was diligently sought, but this in London is not often to be obtained without great difficulty. After much search, however, a con

side of Sidmouth-street, Brunswicksquare, in the immediate neighbourhood of the church now building by the parish of St. Pancras. This has been purchased for the sum of £1500, and the situation is deemed on the whole peculiarly advantageous.

Prior to Mr. Irving's arrival in London, the Scotch Church was in rather a languishing state throughout the metropolis, having never fully reco-venient spot was found on the south vered from that shock which it sustained by the removal and death of Dr. Henry Hunter. Dr. Hunter, who had been distinguished both by his writings and his pulpit eloquence, reached London in 1769, and having preached in most of the Scotch meeting-houses with much acceptance, he soon received an invitation to become the pastor of the Scotch Church in Swallow-street. This, however, he declined; but, in 1771, he undertook the care of the Scotch Church at London-wall, devoting his time and talents to literature, science, and the duties of his office, until a short time before the period of his death, which took place in 1802.

Previous to Dr. Hunter's days, the Scotch Church had but feebly lifted its head in London; and although under his fostering care, its interest and respectability considerably revived, yet, on his demise, it again sunk into a state of comparative torpor; and, notwithstanding the zealous labours of many eminent divines, whose talents and piety cannot be questioned, in this state it remained until the arrival of Mr. Irving, through whose instrumentality it has been raised to a degree of honorary notice, which it had never before attained.

The building in Cross-street, Hatton-garden, which, before Mr. Irving's arrival, was much too large for the congregation, very soon became too small; and so great have been the throngs pressing for admittance, that it was found necessary to issue tickets, both for those who occupied seats, and for such as claimed no higher favour than to stand in the aisles. These inconveniences were suffered for a season, but the leading members of the church, finding that the congregation still remained undiminished, even after the charm of novelty had subsided, turned their attention to the erection of another chapel, the dimensions of which should bear some proportion to the number of persons that regularly crowded for admittance. Having formed this determination, subscriptions were set on foot, and about £7000 have been contributed.

[ocr errors]

From the nature of the site, the only front that could be brought into public notice, is the one facing the north, which is shewn in the engraving; the other faces are entirely concealed by the neighbouring buildings, on which account they are perfectly plain. From this circumstance the architect bad only to depend upon the effect he could obtain by the height and importance of this front; he therefore availed himself of the cathedral-like feature of two towers, to secure this object.

Amongst the numerous examples of similar arrangements to be seen in this country, and in the Netherlands, the west façade of York Cathedral is universally admitted to be the most harmonious in its proportions, and striking in its general effect. This sublime composition Mr. William Tite, the architect of the National Scotch Church, chose for his model, and the principal proportions and features of his church are adopted from that example, modified and chastened by his scientific judgment and exquisite taste, which have imparted to the whole a peculiar degree of elegance.

The three doorways form distinct entrances to the galleries and body of the church; the great central window lights a spacious apartment to be used as committee-room and library, connected with the Scotch establishment, and the towers will be arranged as depositories for the archives of the church and presbytery. The central entrance doorway will open into a vestibule, with a groined ceiling, preserving the character of the edifice. The interior of the church will present one uninterrupted area, ceiled in one span, in imitation of the ancient timber ceilings. The light is introduced from fourteen Gothic windows, seven on each side, glazed with ground glass. The end wall facing the entrance will be divided into three arched compart

« FöregåendeFortsätt »