For three successive
terms, the church of St. Mary's, at Oxford, was crowded with an
auditory breathless in admiration of the splendour of diction
and vividness of imagery manifested in these discourses. The
subject treated of--'_A Comparison of Mahometanism and
Christianity in their History, their Evidences, and their
Effects_'--was new and striking in the pulpit of the University
Church. A great deal of highly wrought expectation, from more
than a whisper spread abroad of the sources whence the chief
materials had been derived, preceded their publicity; and the
preacher, although by no means remarkable for elegance of
manner, or ductility and melody of voice, applied his whole
energies to the task of giving power and effect to his delivery.
He succeeded, greatly beyond his own expectations; and the
University rung with his praises. The fame which ensued was
merited; for the public, till then satisfied with the tame
polish and cold invective of BLAIR, became delighted by the
union of such harmony of language, skilfulness of argument, and
singularity of research, as were blended in these lectures.
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