Orator Henley, who is said to have restored the antient eloquence of the pulpit, was frequently mentioned in the Newspapers circa 1724 as appointed to preach Charity Sermons. He appears however in 1726 to have entered into the true spirit of eccentricity, and frequently advertised in the following style:
"On Sunday July 31 the Theological Lectures of the Oratory begin in the French Chapel in Newport-market, on the most curious subjects in Divinity. They will be after the manner and of the extent of the Academical Lectures. The first will be on the Liturgy of the Oratory, without derogating from any other, at half an hour after three in the afternoon. Service and Sermon in the morning will be at half an hour after ten. The subjects will be always new, and treated in the most natural manner. On Wednesday next,
at five in the evening, will be an Academical Lecture on Education antient and modern. The chairs that were forced back last Sunday by the crowd, if they would be pleased to come a very little sooner, would find the passage easy. As the town is pleased to approve of this undertaking, and the institutor neither does nor will act nor say any thing in it that is contrary to the laws of God and his country; he depends on the protection of both, and despises malice and calumny." One of the writers of the Weekly Journal says, the fame of Henley led him to visit the Oratory, and adds, "About the usual hour of the Orator's entering the public scene of action, a trap-door gave way behind the pulpit, as if forced open by some invisible hand; and at one large leap the Orator jumped to the desk, where he at once fell to work. I eyed the person of the Orator thoroughly, and could point out in every lineament of his face the features and muscles of a Jew, with a strong tincture of the Turk. But, to come to his oration, which turned on the important subject of Education antient and modern—I had entertained hopes of meeting with something curious at least, if not just, on the great theme he had made choice of; though, instead of it, I heard nothing but a few common sentiments, phrases, and notions, beat into the audience with hands, arms, legs, and head, as if people's understandings were to be
courted and knocked down with blows, and gesture and grimace were to plead and atone for all other deficiencies." The price of admission was one shilling.
Mr. Henley issued his notice of intended lectures in November 1728 in the ensuing strange manner: "At the Oratory in Newport-market, to-morrow, at half an hour after ten, the Sermon will be on the Witch of Endor. At half an hour after five the Theological lecture will be on the Conversion and Original of the Scottish Nation, and of the Picts and Caledonians; St. Andrew's relicks and panegyrick, and the character and mission of the Apostles.
"On Wednesday at six, or near the matter, take your chance, will be a medley Oration on the History, Merits, and Praise of Confusion, and of Confounders in the road and out of the way.
"On Friday will be that on Dr. Faustus and Fortunatus and conjuration; after each the Chimes of the Times, No. 23 and 24. N. B. Whenever the prices of the seats are occasionally raised in the week-days, notice will be given of it in the prints. An account of the performances of the Oratory from the first to August last is published, with the discourse on Nonsense; and if any Bishop, Clergyman, or other subject of His Majesty, or the subject of any foreign Prince or state, can at my years, and in my circumstances
and opportunities, without the least assistance or any patron in the world, parallel the study, choice, variety, and discharge, of the said performances of the Oratory by his own or any others, I will engage forthwith to quit the said Oratory.
J. Henley."
This eccentric gentleman, full of conceit and self-sufficiency, attracted the notice of the Grand Jury for the City and Liberty of Westminster January 9, 1725-9, who presented him thus: