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preacher's eloquence seems too artificial, and his matter is often too speculative and abstruse; but his phrase

DISCOURSE XXXVI.

HENRY MELVILL, B.D.

THE "golden-mouthed Melvill," as he has often been called, was born at Pendennis Castle, Cornwall, on the 14th of September, 1798; so that he has now wellnigh reached the "three-score" of human life. His father, Philip Melvill, was a captain in the army, and lieutenant-governor of Pendennis Castle-a very pious man, whose memoirs have had a wide circulation. "The prayers and instructions of a righteous father and mother," as he states, were the means of his conversion. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, and took the degree of Second Wrangler in 1821. In the year 1824, he was ordained as Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge. From the year 1829 to 1843, he was minister of Camden Chapel, Camberwell. He was then made Principal of the East India College, and in 1846 appointed, by the Duke of Wellington, Chaplain to the Tower of London. In 1853 he was made one of the Queen's Chaplains, and in 1856 appointed, by Lord Palmerston, Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's, London.

The personal appearance of Mr. Melvill is described as not remarkably striking. His features are easily detected from the accompanying portrait, recently taken, and forwarded at our request by the distinguished preacher himself. His face is small and thin, forehead high, and topped with abundant hair; eyes keen and small, and in color light blue; complexion of a darkish hue, and countenance expressive of vivacity and high intelligence. The voice of the preacher is said to be not peculiar for strength or compass, but for its capacity of ever-varying modulations-now like the sobbing of winds among the boughs of the trees-now like the trembling intonations surging along the air; and now like the swell of the trumpet, rolling, subduing, melting, appalling. There is much earnestness of manner in his preaching, but his gesticulation is sparing, and seldom or never violent.

Mr. Melvill's sermons are always prepared with the utmost care. Shutting the door of his study, and refusing to be seen, except at particular hours; compelled to preach but one sermon, where most ministers preach three; seldom visiting his people, except in cases of sickness, he has no lack of opportunity to indulge a fastidious taste in the patient elaboration of his discourses. It is said that he always writes them twice, and often thrice; after which, they are copied off neatly by another hand, when they are prepared to be read from the pulpit.

Discourses thus prepared, could not but possess rare excellences. As sermons, they are defective, we should say, in simplicity and directness of style, especially in close and pungent appeals to the conscience. But, as specimens of beauty and finish in composition, they are not often excelled. The preacher's eloquence seems too artificial, and his matter is often too speculative and abstruse; but his phrase