1815.] Memoir of Dr. Vanderkemp. AS some of your correspondents have taken considerable pains to misrepresent the character of the late Dr. Vanderkemp, give me leave to tell them what he really was, on the authority of the Memoirs of him, not written by himself, as Veritas asserts in your number for December, (p. 409,) but compiled from authentic documents after his death, and published by order of the Directos of the Missionary Society; men as respectable for honour, integrity, and character, as any body of persons in the kingdom. From these Memoirs we learn that Dr. Vanderkemp was descended from a respectable family. "His father was a pious and worthy minister of the Dutch church at Rotterdam, where his son, Johannes Theodorus, was born in the year 1748. At an early age he be came a student in the University of Leyden." ." "His acquirements in the learned languages, in philosophy, in divinity, in medicine, and in military tactics, were deemed extraordinary. On leaving the university, he entered into the army; in which he rose to the rank of captain of horse, and lieutenant of the Dragoon Guards." After marriage he quitted the army, and studied medicine for two years at the University of Edinburgh "Here he composed a Latin work on Cosmo logy, entitled Parmenides. Having obtained the degree of doctor of medicine, he returned to Holland, improved in science, but not in religion; for, by the conversation of some men of infidel sentiments, during his stay in Scotland, he became an avowed Deist." "He commenced his practice as a physician at Middleburg, where he acquired great reputation." "How long he continued in the profession f physic, at Middleburg, it does not appear." In the year 1791 he was residing at Dort, having retired from practice; and on the 27th of June, in that year, he lost his wife and daughter by the breaking of a waterspout while they were sailing on the river. At the same time he narrowly 105 escaped himself, after being carried down the stream nearly a mile clinging to the boat, and, when just ready to perish, he was picked up by some sailors, who discovered him adhering to the wreck from their vessel in the river. (See Memoir, pages 3, 4, and 5.) This providence seems to have given the first shock to his infidel principles, and produced that change of sentiments which induced him to offer himself as a missionary to the London Missionary Society, which he did in the year 1798. (Memoir, page 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12.) Soon after this he came over to London, where he resided some months. While there "he directed his attention to every subject that appeared requisite to promote the great object he had in view;" and apprehending that an acquaintance with the method of making bricks might prove conducive to the comfort of the Africans, to promote the benefit of whom he intended to devote his future days, he engaged in that occupation, and actually employed himself for many days in the mechanical part of the business in the neighbourhood of London.” (Pages 12 and 13.) On the 23d Dec. 1798, he sailed for Africa, and arrived at the Cape of Good Hope March 31, 1799. In that year a work of his was published in Holland, entitled The Theodicee of St. Paul. In the conclusion of the preface to the first volume, Professor Krom says, "I could mention much more respecting the amiable and excellent character of the author, if I were not prevented by his modesty, which prohibits entirely even the appearance of encomium. However, my reader will undoubtedly acknowledge with me, that it is a very great degree of self-denial, if any one who is in want of nothing, but is able to live comfortably and according to his own inclination, in his own country, bids farewell, from the love of Jesus Christ, to all earthly comforts, his dearest friends and relatives," "and proceeds to the most remote parts of the world for the purpose of making known the gospel of our redemption to wild and uncivilized nations." (Memoirs, p. 28.) “It must also be mentioned to the honour of Dr. Vanderkemp, that at various times he procured the manumission of several slaves, the expense of which, amounting to many hundred pounds, was defrayed from his own private fortune;" and he also "generously supported himself as a missionary with little or no cost to the institution. In this point of view, as well as in inany others, he has presented 106 Rev. Mr. Campbell's Description of Bethelsdorp. [March 1, to the world a noble example of disinterested zeal." (Mem. p. 32.) If the above should not satisfy any of your readers, further particulars, I doubt not, may be obtained from the Rev. John Campbell, Kingsland, who returned from Africa last May; or at the Missionary Society's Rooms, No. 8, Old Jewry, Cheapside, where one of the secretaries may be seen every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at twelve o'clock. MR. ELITOR, AFTER the frequent mention of Bethelsdorp in your excellent work, perhaps it might not be unacceptable to your readers to learn the sentiments of the Rev. John Campbell (who is lately returned from Africa) respecting that settlement. The following account is extracted from the Narrative of his Journey to Bethelsdorp, in March, 1813. "This settlement has been every where spoken against; and, had the things been true which I have heard frequently asserted, even by respectable persons, I should have said-The sooner Bethelsdorp is blown into the air the better. I am thankful I was enabled to suspend both my judgment and opinion till I should see it. 1st, "It was said to be a miserablelooking place. This is true; as they built on a most barren part of their land, far from their fields. Their houses were made of reeds, because they always expected to obtain ́from government a better place; and reeds soon rot, and the houses look miserable. 2d, "It was said that the people are idle and lazy that they did nothing: yet they have more cultivated land than I have seen in any one place in Africa, both the Moravian settlements included. The extent of their fields is more than two miles, chiefly on the east side of the river. It was also said, 3d, "That the settlers had brought to the settlement 6,000 head of cattle. which number was now reduced to 2,000. I spent most part of a day in investigating this point, in presence of Mr. Read, and some of the most intelligent of the Hottentots: I should have had great difficulty in finding, in London, six more cautious and judicious men from amongst the lower orders. I found that there has been a gradual increase from 218 to to 2206; that of late years they have had from 3 to 400 calves per annum, of which 100 die annually of a peculiar disease; and no one year has there been more than 50 slaughtered. "They are said to be idle; yet I have found among them 18 trades: viz. smiths, carpenters, waggon-makers, basket-makers, blanket-makers, (viz. of sheep-skins, sewed together very neatly, bought by officers, &c.) pipe-makers, sawyers, turners, hewers of wood, carriers, soapboilers, mat-manufacturers, stockingmakers, tailors, brick-makers, thatchers, coopers, and lime-burners; likewise an auctioneer and a miller. "I find also that there is a fund contributed by the members of the institution, for the support of the poor and sick, which at present amounts to 250 rix-dollars. The people have also offered to build a house for their reception. "There is another fund here, called the Common Fund, for defraying expenses incurred for promoting the prosperity of the institution, which amounts to 130 dollars, and about 30 head of cattle. The original of these cattle were given as a present to the institution by General Dundas, and they have multiplied to the above number. "They have also collected, during the last twelve months, 70 rix-dollars, to aid the funds of the Missionary Society. "If they are lazy and indolent, how is it that so many fields are cleared and cultivated? Do the farmers plough for them? They would sooner shoot them all. If they do not work, how have they so much money to give for useful pur poses? perhaps more than all the farmers in two or three drosdies give. I have walked a good deal about the settlement, aud I never found a single rixdollar: I conclude, therefore, it is the fruit of their own industry. "While I thus speak, I confess there is this fault in the institution, that most of their boys, and many of their girls, are without employment; especially in those months when there is no plough ing, sowing, nor reaping; and these are the very months when most travellers are passing: who, hearing a great noise from various quarters of children at play, conclude that all are idle; and looking at their poor huts, they are confirmed in this opinion. Their fields are two miles off; and few have ever been at the trouble to go and see them; and perhaps the missionaries have seldom asked them." (See No. 25 of the Transactions of the Missionary Society, pages 54, 55, and 56.) 1815.] Author of Εικών Βασιλική-On Church Music. At the meeting of the Sunday School Union, held at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, in May, 1814, the writer was much pleased to hear Mr. Campbell inform the company that a Lancasterian school had been formed at Bethelsdorp, before he left Africa, containing about 300 children; which, it is hoped, will effectually remove the fault in the institution noticed above by Mr. VECLEE. Campbell. MR. EDITOR, IT is a circumstance very remarkable, and, I beieve, not generally known, that in the list annexed to the Winter Evening Conferences, written by Dr. J. Goodman, chaplain in ordinary to Charles II. and published in 1686, the celebrated El Barn is included among the treatises written by him. Could any of your corespondents either establish or refute the claim, thus confidently urged, to this exquisite composition, which has perhaps excited as much controversy in the literary world as the Rowley Poems, or the Letters of Junius, he would be conferring no unimportant service on those who are interested in such questions. At the end of Dr. Goodman's Penitent Pardoned, (1683,) the EIKON is mentioned as an anonymous publication, reprinted for R. Royston, by his Majesty's command. MR. EDITOR, 107 tending churches where the music and The evil being now pointed out, it re- First, where a sufficient sum is allotted I AM pleased to see that your highly respectable and useful magazine has been made the vehicle for subjects of improvement, as well as amusement, and I have no doubt the candor and liberality of your conduct towards correspondents, will be fully rewarded by the increased circulation of your publication. I am led to these remarks by the observations of your correspondents, P. X. in your number for July, and T. Q. in that for November, on the state of music and psalmody in cathedrals and churches, and am surprized it has not before engaged the attention of the public, especially as this may be justly styled the Age of Music, for never has that delight ful science been so much the object of general pursuit; it is, therefore, remarkable, that, in our established churches only, it should be suffered to fall into such neglect, especially as it has always formed, from the earliest ages to the present day, a prominent part of the worship of the Deity. That it forms a very great source of attraction, every one will allow who is in the habit of at now so completely the amusement of all ranks, Secondly, where a sufficient sum is not allotted for the musical department, to increase it, which may be effected in many ways without falling heavy on individuals. This plan is particularly necessary at Wells, in Somersetshire; where, as T. Q. justly observes, a very sufficient sum is allotted to the choral vicars, but where the organist, if I am correctly informed, receives only thirty pounds per annum. If this statement be incorrect, I hope some of the chapter will inform me; if otherwise, I hope they will increase the sum; especially as I understand one of the canonries of that richly endowed cathedral is always kept vacant, and the income arising from it applied to repairs, and other incidental expenses. If so small and inadequate a salary be general in our churches, cathedrals especially, T. Q. will discover one sufficient cause of the decline and inattention in the musical department: the organist is expected himself, or by deputy, to attend twice he be expected to devote time to the imevery day in the week; how, then, can 108 Holly Hedges-Earldom of Derby-Infinite Series. [March 1, provement of the choir? the wonder is, how he can afford so much for so trifling a remuneration. I also understand, such was the salary nearly a century ago, when every article of life was to be obtained at one third, in many instances at one quarter, its present price. I hope this subject will be taken into serious consideration, and that T. Q. in his nex ramble, will be pleased by observing considerable improvement in our churches as well as cathedrals. I do not wonder at his astonishment at the compositions he heard at Wells cathedral, which with propriety may boast of one of the finest organs in the kingdom, and, certainly, in Mr. Dod Perkins, one of the best players out of London, who, I am very sure, would never have played such pieces by choice; the cause, therefore, must remain to be explained by the Dean who ordered their performance. I remain, Sir, wishing you the success your miscellany merits, Bath, Jan. 20, 1815. VERITE. MR. EDITOR, some one who has had access to the rolls of patents; as I think the greater notoriety of that place was not unlikely to have led him into error. I conclude, with recommending the publication of a new edition of Heylyn's work above-mentioned to some of your correspondents who may have leisure for the undertaking. From the changes which the peerage of England has undergone since Dr. Paul Wright published his edition in 1778, such a work is much wanted, and would prove generally interesting. Staffordshire, Jan. 9, 1815. MR. EDITOR, T. F. THE first of the three series proposed by Mr. Taylor (see Mag. for Oct. and p. 396 of that for Nov.) is, 1 2+1-1 (quotient. ++, &c., instead of 1." Now, in deriving the series +&+ &c. from the quotient -1+1, &c. the proposer has combined an imaginary quotient with the true quotient; for the I HAVE a fine holly hedge, which is latter is evidently, or the first term probably of thirty or forty years growth; in the quotient, the remainder being when I first became its proprietor, about, or o. twelve years ago, it was in a very luxu Thus, 2+1-1) 1 riant state, and appeared to have been regularly clipped or pruned. Disliking its then formal appearance, I suffered it to escape the shears of the gardener; and since that period they have never been employed upon it. The consequence is, that my hedge is become in many places very thin and unsightly, and I wish to try again the effects of clipping it; but, on referring to my gardening books, no directions are there given as to the season in which it is proper to perform that business. I shall be happy to have the opinion of some experienced correspondent of your valuable miscelJany on this subject. I take this opportunity of requesting one of your antiquarian correspondents to favour me with correct information, whether the noble family of Stanley takes the title of earl from the town of Derby, which is the capital of the county of that name, or from the hundred of Derby, in Lancashire, in which latter, I believe, the ancient family-seat of Knowsley is situated? The Peerages in my possession do not decide this ques tion. Dr. Peter Heylyn's useful Help to English History states the title to be derived from the former town; but I could wish my query to be answered by rem. + and consequently to whatever extent the division may be carried, the sum of all be nothing; because, nothing divided by the terms in the quotient (after) will any number, must give nothing for the quotient. 2+1-1 when If fractions of this kind expanded into a series, produced absolute quantity, we might make that quautity of any magnitude: thus, let <-10+10 2+1-1 be the fraction: now this by division becomes-5+73—63+63—6/+631, &c. ++, &c. which is a descending geometrical series, and the sun (when continued ad infin.) 3. Now we know that this cannot possibly be true; because -10+10. 0 ; it is, there 2+1-1 2+1-1 fore, manifest, that an infinite series, resulting from the differences of the terms, will not bring out the true quotient; but whatever be the number of terms (less than infinite) the true sum may always be found in all cases when the remainder is taken into the account. If the proposer will attend to the re 1815.] Lighting of the Stage-Disengaging Runaway Íorses. mainders when he is performing the division, he will find that when the remain der is positive, it is always greater than the last term in the quotient, but always less when it is negative; but there seems no method of determining whether these remainders become equal when the last term of the series becomes o, because we can form no idea of an infinitely small quantity. MR. EDITOR, THROUGH the medium of your entertaining magazine I shall beg leave to express my surprise, that amongst the numerous improvements of the stage so little attention should be paid to the effect of light on the performers, and in deed on the whole dramatic representation. If to bring every thing as near historical truth as possible, and to carry the illusion to the atmost degree of perfection, be the object of the managers, surely the order of nature should not be inverted by admitting the light from the ground. Those who are in the habit of contemplating the works of nature are forcibly struck with this unnatural effect, and lament that so much should be lost to the performer and to the audience, by the very injudicious arrangement of the light. It will I think be admitted that every thing is best seen in its natural light, and that the human countenance in particular, with all its variety of expression, is only to be observed with fall effect when the rays of light descend and cast shadows. To the performers such an unnatural blaze must be painful in the extreme, and it leaves much to be regretted by those who know how much is lost by a light reflected from below the horizon. The most forcible effects are produced by opposition and by a judicious mixture of light and shade, and I believe those who have written best on NEW MONTHLY MAG,—No, 14, 109 the subject admit that there should be more of the latter than the former. If we refer to the finest productions of ear immortal Reynolds, and other great masters, we shall there find a very small portion of light in comparison with the shade; and they would, I am persuaded, have felt it impossible to make a good picture by giving a faithful representation of any scene as it is now performed, however excellent. Lest I should be misunderstood, you will allow me to say that it is not the quantity, but the qua lity of the light that I condemn. If it is desirable to see all that can be accomplished by our best actors to advantage, and every thing, as far as can be, in the order of nature, we cannot be satisfied with any thing so unnatural as lights where there should be shadows, and the whole effect inverted and destroyed. If I am right in my conjecture, there would be little difficulty in elevating to a proper height the light that now is level with the ground, and by that means giving effect to the whole of the performance, and particularly to the countenance of the performers. I am ready to admit that great improvements have been made in many things connected with the stage, and I am surprised that so little attention should have been paid to that which appears to many to be of the utmost importance. Paddington, Jan. 4, 1815. T. F. MR. EDITOR, YOUR correspondent I. E. (vol. ii. p. 527) will, on reference to the Transac tions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, find accounts of several ingenious contrivances for disengaging runaway horses from a carriage; and in the society's repository he may see the models of them. I need scarcely add, that pursuant to the liberal plan of the society, any person applying to the secretary or housekeeper will be permitted to see the mo dels, which are marked with the number of the volume in which they are respec tively described. Bedford-row, Jan. 4, 1815. MR. EDITOR, T. |