the public in the discourse entitleil Sentinienfs siiifabk to the present Crmn, which raised Mr. Hall's reputation for krjje views and powerful eloquence to the liigliest pitch. In November, 1804, owing chiefly to a disease of the spine, attended by want of sufficient exercise and rest, the exquisitely toned mind of j\[r. Hall lost its balance, and lie who had so long been the theme of universal admiration became the subject of as extensive a sympa- thy. He was placed under the care of Dr. Arnold, of Leicester, where, by the divine blessing, his liealth was restored in about two months. But similar causes pro- duced a relajise about twelve months afterwards, from which he was soon restored, though it was deemed es- sential to the permanent establishment of his health that he should resign his pastoral charge and remove from Cambridge. Two shocks of so humiliating a ca- lamity within the compass of a j-ear deeply impressed Mr. Hall's mind. His own decided persuasion was that he never before experienced a thorough transformation of character; and there can be no question that from this period his spirit was habitually more humble, de- pendent, and truly devotional. It became his custom to renew every birthday, by a solemn act, the dedica- tion of himself to God, on evangelical principles, and in the most earnest sincerity of heart. In 1807 he became pastor of the Baptist church in Leicester, where he soon after married, and where he labored most successfully for nearly twenty years. At no period was he more hapi\v, active, and useful. The church, when he left it, ■was larger than the whole congregation when he took the charge of it. But his influence was not confined to the limits of his parish. He took an active part in aU the noble charities of the age, and by his sermons, speeches, and writings exerted a wide influence on soci- ety, not only in England, but on the continent of Eu- rope, in America, and in India. His review of Zeal irithout Innovation, his tracts on the Terms of Commu- nion, and his sermons on the A dranlaf/es of Knovdedrje to the lower Classes, on the Discouragements and Sup- ports of the Christian Ministry, on the Character of a Chi~istian Missionary, on the Death of the Princess Char- lotte and of Rev. Dr. Ryland, with several others, were given to the public while residing here. Here also, in 1823, he delivered his admirable course of lectures on the Socinian Controversy, partially preserved in his Worls. At last, in 1826, he removed to the pastoral care of his old congregation at Broadmead, Bristol, and here he re- mained till his death, which took place at Bristol on the 21st of Feb., 1831. Besides occasional contributions to various dissenting periodical publications. Hall published various tracts ancj sermons in the last twenty years of his life, which, along with those alr;n<ly mentioned, have since his death been collected under the title of Tlte Works of Robert Hall, M.A., iri/h ii brief Memoir of his Life hy Dr. Gregory, and Observations (m his Character as a Preacher by John Foster, published under the su- perintendence of Olinthus (iregor^-, LL.D.. professor of mathematics in the Koyal Military Academy (London, 1831-32, 6 vols. 8vo; 11th ed. 1853). It was intended that the Life should have been written by Sir James IVIackintosh, but he died (in JMay, 1832) before begin- ning it. Dr. Gregory's jNIemoir, from which we have abstracted the materials of this article, was afterwards published in a sepai'ate form. See (iuECOKY, Oi.ixthus. The first volume of Hall's Works contains sermons, charges, and circular letters (or addresses in the name of the governing body of the Baptist Church) ; the sec- ond, a tract entitled On Terms of Communion (1815, in 2 parts), and another entitled The essential Difference be- ttceeii Christian Baptism and the Baptism of John (a de- fence of what is called the practice of free commimion, which produced a powerful effect in liberalizing the practice of the Baptist community) (1816 and 1818, in 2 parts) ; the third, political and miscellaneous tracts, extending from 1791 to 1826, and also the Bristol news- paper contributions of 1786-87; the fourth, reviews and miscellaneous pieces ; the fifth, notes of sermons and let-
ters. The sixth, besides Dr. (Jrcgory's memoir, contains Mr. Fosters observations, and notes taken down by friends of twenty-one sermons. The American reprint (New York, Harper and Brothers, 4 vols. 8vo) contains, besides what is given in the English edition, a number of additional sermons, with anecdotes, etc., by Kev. .Jo- seph Belcher.
Bobert Hall was one of the greatest preachers of his age. His "excellence did not so much consist in the predominance of one of his powers as in the excunsite proportion and harmony of tliem all. The richness, va- riety, and extent of his knowledge were not so remark- able as his absolute mastery over it. There is not the least appearance of straining after greatness in liis most magnificent excursions, but he rises to the loftiest heights with the most childlike ease. His style as a writer is one of the clearest and simplest — the least en- cumbered with its own beautj-— of any which ever has been written. His noblest passages do but make truth visible in the form of beauty, and 'clothe upon' abstract ideas till they become palpable in exquisite shapes. 'Whoever wishes to see the English language in its perfection,' says Dugald Stewart, 'must read the writ- ings of Rev. Kobert Hall. He combines the beauties of Johnson, Addison, and Burke, without their imperfec- tions.' " He is distinguished, however, rather for ex- pression and exposition than for invention ; he was an orator rather than a great thinker. But as an orator he will rank in literature with Bossuet and Massillon. For critical estimates of him by Mackintosh and other eminent men, see Life of Hall, by Gregorj-, prefixed to his Works; also Eclectic Magazine, \\\, 1; North Brit- ish Rerieic, iv, 454; North American Rerieti; Ixiv, 384; MethndiM Quarterly Review, iv, 516; Quarterly Review (Lond.), xlvii, IflO; English Cyclopcedia ; Jamieson, 7?e- ligious J-j'iiigraphy, p. 246,