returned to South-Carolina and was were labouring with him for this settled in the ministry at James grand design. Island near Charleston. Naturally however of a feeble constitution, the warm climate of Carolina was found prejudicial to his health, and he quitted James Island with the reluctant assent of his parishioners sometime in 1761. On his arrival soon after in Boston, he was invited to preach in the Baptist churches here established, and in January 1765 was installed to the care of the First Baptist Church, over which he presided till his death. In the convention of this State which assembled for the consideration of the Constitution of the United States, Dr. Stillman was an active and influential member. His character gave force to his opinions, and his arguments were enforced in that clear, perspicuous and instrucuye manner for which he was always admired. The politics and the character of Washington ever commanded bis respect and esteem, and wherever a just opportunity presented, he The life of a minister of the gos- was never deficient in bestowing pel is distinguished by few of those that praise and admiration which brilliant achievements or connected the Father of his country merited with those remarkable events which from the patriotism and gratitude give interest to the biography of of Americans, His oration delivsuch as move in the more active ered before the town on the annicircles of life. Dr. Stillman how-versary of independence, contains ever was not insensible to the claims the sentiments of a patriot, the lanof his country, and by bearing it guage of a scholar, and the piety of in grateful remembrance to the a christian. Although he was not throne of God, evidenced the spirit educated at the University of Cam of that religion he professedbridge, yet that seminary was deWhen the dispute between Great- sirous of enrolling his name among Britain and her colonies commenc- her sons, and conferred on him a ed, he was known as an advocate degree of Master of Arts; the Colfor the just rights of his country-lege of Rhode-Island likewise gave men, and the great popularity he him the higher honour of Doctor of enjoyed was often judiciously inter- Divinity in the year 1789. posed, as well to raise the true spirit of freedom as to check the licentiousness into which it would some times be drawn. The repeal of the Stamp Act gave him occasion of speaking on this subject from the pulpit, and his sermon on that occasion, which is printed, contains those sentiments which were prevalent at the time among the first characters of the State. At the time wheri party politics began to divide and distract the community, Dr. Stillman made it his endeavour to check that asperity and violence which were so preju dicial to the interest of the community and the principles of religion. Although it was well known that from habit and conviction he was influenced by the sentiments and views of those who have been usualWhen the convention assembled ly denominated Federalists, yet he for the formation of a State Con- never permitted a difference of senstitution, Dr. Stillman was returned timent to interrupt the harmony of as a member for Boston, and his social intercourse, nor did he imability was noticed with applause properly urge the consideration of by those illustrious characters who political topics at times when other above mentioned, all o trate the remarks ve those subjects should more pertinently the clerical profession who look on have engaged the attention. There the writing of sermons as a mewere several other perrences of 'chanical labour and that which is the his en political subject. soonest done is the best finished; and there are others who affect to believe that the importance of theological b-truths requires no aid from style, and can deriveno interest from the beauties of language. These characters are equally inattentive to the elegance oflanguage; the one despising the assistance which the belles lettres could give to religion, and the other too inactive to enlist the recruit. ་ In fact, at ti: les the jects arre mildness oderation of Dr. Sillman sec him the esteem of all parties, tough on every : necessary occ:ion he maintained his own sentiments with spirit and firmness, yet he at the same time laid aside an illiberal and overbear-If however the language and man ing temper, and allowed to every one the liberty he claimed, that of judging for himself ner. of a discourse have any effect on the mind, if attention is arrested and detained not more by the matter than the manner by which it is enforced, the charms of style, and thegraces of delivery should be considered as no unworthy auxiliaries to the cause of truth. The Literary character of Dr. S. is maintained to the world only by Occasional publications. His printed works consist of twenty-seven sermons and an oration. Most of the sermons are adapted to the cirDr. Stillman was peculiarly recumstances and the place which produced them. They required markable for the impressive and ingenuity rather than learning, and energetic manner with which his sermons were delivered. Enjoying a pleasant and engaging manner rather than much study or labori- by nature a clear and melodious ous investigation. We do not discov-voice, he was too well acquainted with its advantages to him as a puber the traces of a deep and scruti lic speaker, not to cultivate it with nizing theologian nor the acute po assiduity. To this was added a lemical divine, but there is a plea- constitutional ardor which carried sant and agreeable manner which arrests and gratifies the attention.every faculty of his soul into the business of devotion. In sentiment His style is commonly plain and he was zealous and fervid; in ac perspicuous, not abounding in orion strenuous and bold; his public nament nor captiously rejecting it, There is oftentimes a carelessness about it however, which would seem to indicate that the writer was considering points of more serious importance than the collocation of a period or the harmony of a sentence. An attention to style is indeed an improvement that has but recently become a matter of general attention with the clergy of our country. It is not now so much regarded as its importance requires. There are some men in A a neces duties were discharged in a mode To these circumstances he was indebted for that popularity which he acquired on his first appearance in this town, and retained through all the vicissitudes of the times, against the attractions of novelty and the drawback of age. We believe Dr. S. to have been strictly an upright and honest man; the doctrine that he preached was inculcated in his life. To his parishioners and to others who occasionally sought consolation from his mild and engaging conversation in times of depression and grief, he strictly performed the duties of his office. He would rejoice with those who rejoiced, and mourn with such as were of heavy heart. His reproof left a consciousness of guilt, and an affection for the hand that would thus kindly pluck away the thorn. His manners were easy and affable, and conversation in whatever line he directed it was sure to afford satisfaction and improvement. In his domestic circle, although discharging with fidelity the various duties that it enjoined, he had unfortunately much to regret-He had in the course of few years to lament the death of seven of his children, who died at years of maturity, and some of them with infant children thus suddenly made orphans. a The annals of the theatre for the last week contain but few subjects interesting to taste or criticism. The repebeen already sufficiently discussed, and tition of plays, the merit of which has but little introduction of novelty, renders our way barren either of pleasure or improvement. Our dramatic bills of fare have not been attractive enough to exeite crouds to partake them; but we believe they contained inducements suf. ficient to save the expences of the caterers, which in the present fastidious state of the public appetite is all that can well be expected. Public amusement seems to have run its course for peculiar motives are therefore requisite the season, and is now nearly at a stand; to raise expectation and gratify talents, to satisfy desire. Below Stairs. It is seriously to be regretted that a poet like Tobin should have died without producing any other play than the Honey-Moon. The smoothness of its versification, the happy interchange of its sentiments, the vivacity of its diasome of its characters, afford examples logue, and the strength and truth of of much poetical acquirement, strength of judgment, force of imagination, and knowledge of human nature. He does not seem to have possessed in a great His death, which took place on degree the faculty of invention, but the 16th ult. was sudden and un-rests satisfied with improving upon the expected. It is a little remarkable designs of others. Yet time and perthat of seven ministers of the gosties which were only dormant in his severance might have awakened faculpel who have died in the town of breast; for to judge from his genius Boston within a few years, five of in execution, we cannot presume he them have in the same manner ter- did not possess, although he bid not minated their earthly career. shew, a fertile invention. The play he wrote, precludes, in its very plan, the introduction of original fables as no invention was intended, none therefore is to be sought. There is no play of late times which seems more calculated to maintain its ground as a stock-pièce than the one under consideration. The scenes are level with common life, and like those of Shakespeare fare applicable to all manners and all ages. The The years of his life have been many and useful, and his memory will be held in sweet remembrance, not merely by the people of his particular charge, but by his fellow townsmen at large, and by all who had the pleasure of his society. Boston, April 2, 1807. t. sentiments are natural and therefore durable; they do not elevate us above humanity and hurry us into the clouds, neither do they sink us into the lowness of vulgarity and obscene wit. Of the plot of this play it is unnecessary now to speak; it has already occupied one of our previous papers. with pro out knowledge of the cause, or displeasure for want of sympathy. The violation of historical truth in this pr duction, which is so much relied on by the critics,, cannot have much weight when it is considered that the history itself is is not established upon the surest foundations, that much fable is unThe Honey-Moon, as performed this doubtedly intermixed with it, and that evening, was altered in the cast of two whether fact or fable, the circumprincipal characters: those of the stances are so remote that a deviation Duke and Volante. Mr. Fennel in the from them may be very readily admit Duke was generally approved, but not ted for the more important object of witnessing the whole of his perform-interest in the story. So that whether ance ourselves, we can only remark, that what we saw of it would justify a qualified approbation. His prevailing defect in some scenes was a want of life and vivacity, a defect into which verse is too apt to betray the best performers. The sweetness of harmony and regular pauses of poetry do not consist with the rapid conveyance of lively thought and gaiety of expression. We saw Mrs. Poe in a few scenes of Volante, and in some respects were highly gratified; but they had more of the hoiden than perhaps they required. Volante's jokes and manners, like those of Beatrice, are rather the effect of art than simplicity or a want of education. Hermoine really killed herself on the body of Pyrrhus, whom Orestes had murdered at her suggestion, or whether she lived and afterwards married Orestes, is of little importance when put in competition with the advantage of assisting the drama... This play is nearly a translation from the French of Racine, and though requiring no great talents, yet the translator has been highly extolled in the Spectator both by Addison and Steele ; and his play propped it is said by the most successful epilogue (written by Addison) that was ever spoken on the English stage. Like the character: of most French tragedies, that of the Distrese'd Mother, is heavy declamation. The rest of the performers acquitted sleeps." The mad scene of Orestes is "Declamation roars, while passion themselves respectably, and we saw no reason, during that part of the exhibi- an exception from this remark, and as tion which we witnessed, to exercise N. Lee was deranged while writing severity of remark or critical reprehen-position of this scene is said to have Alexander, so Phillips during the com sion. Monday, March 30. been completely carried away by his own enthusiasm. Whether it be true The Distress'd Mother (Ambrose Phil or not, the event discribed in the play lips) and Lodeiska. is naturally produced, and both designed and executed in a masterly manner. The language of this production is This play is one among many in-harmonious; but the incidents though stances where a scrupulous adherence forcible so seldom occur, that, whatever to the unities of Aristotle has mot only praise they may severally deserve, yet not produced an interesting drama, but when the whole is summed it will be has destroyed the illusion of the scene but scanty approbation for a whole dra-by the very endeavours of the author toma. The character of Pyrrhus is conpreserve it. This assertion ap-formable to the tenour of history; Orespear paradoxical, but experience every day affords conviction of its truth. When every scene of a drama seems measured by rules, when every sentinti ment is frigid from restraint, and the glow of passions deadened by the author, because it transgresses the bounds prescribed by the Stagyrite, the audience will be affected with languor with tes is well calcalated for the stage, being involved in crimes without malice, and only led to them by the force of his attatchment to Hermoine. Indeed, it is truly observed of all the characters in the piece, that the crimes which they commit are rather the effect of excessive virtue, than of a predisposition to their perpetration. 1 The performance was very respectable. The costume of the characters was in most cases accurate; especially among the principal performers. Those in more subordinate stations, dressed as well as they were able,sometimes, in a Venetian, sometimes in a Gothic garb. Mr. Fennel as Orestes, afforded us much satisfaction, excepting in want of distinctness infhis utterance. In the mad scene, particularly, he evinced a capacity in the delivery of passionate excla...mation, which while it surprised us from $ its novelty, had an universal influence on the audience. For the Emeral!. DESULTORY SELECTIONS.. AND ORIGINAL REMARKS. The name of Gray is a passport to every species of poetry with which it is connected. We have few books more entertaining than the memoirs of his life and writings by Mason, from which work the following Latin lines are takenTheir merit consists in their calm seriousness and in their adaption to Mr. Usher gave Pyrrhus with much the scienery as wellas history of the force of emphasis; but being sometimes place (Le Grande Chartreuse) to we presume imperfect of recollection, which they refer. The translation he hesitated in many of his best-pas-is, worthy, attention, although the sages. ཝཱ Mr. Poe as the friend of Orestes, and Mr. Downie as that of Pyrrhus, mixed with the crowd of supernumeraries, undistinguished by the notice of the audience, or any peculiar talents, of their Own. 1 Andromache by Mrs. Powell had an able representative. She performed with pathos, and gave some passages with superior effect... She was rather deficient in dignity, in the scene with her attendant, in which she discloses ¡ : her intention of destroying herself after becoming the wife ot Pyrrhus, and saving her child; and in which she speaks as became the widow of Hector. Mrs. Stanley gave the heroic passion and dignified love of the Spartan princess Hermoine, with a just apprehension of the character she personated, and great power of execution. The speech to Pyrrhus, alluding to the sack of Troy, his activity there, and thence drawing a motive against his union with Andromache, was spoken with much strength of irony and bitterness of rivalship. Her manners to Andromache, were also well imagined; when she left her, with all the haughtiness of conscious victory, and triumphant exulta tion. Notwithstanding the exertions of the performers, the piece lagged heavily from the beginning, and though the last scene compensated for many that preceded it, it could not allay the general disappointment of high-raised expectation. classical reader may think it inferior Oh! tu, severi Religio loci, Numen habet, veteresque sylvas ; Clivosque præruptos, sonantes Inter aquas, nemorumque noctem; Quam si repostus sub trabe citrea Fulgeret auro, et Phidiaca manu). Salve vocanti rite, fesso et Da placidam juveni quietem. Vetat volentem, me resorbens In medios violenta fluctus Saltem remoto des, pater, angulo Surripias hominumque curis. Translation: Thou, Genius of this awful place, Whate'er, unknown to me, thy name Thee mid thy native streams I trace, Thee do these ancient woods proclaim! |