any man of his age capable of producing such a work; adding, in a laughing tone, "except myself." Once, after listening to a speech of Fox, he exclaimed,—“had I followed any other profession, I might have been sitting by the side of that illustrions statesman; I should have had all his powers of argument—all Erskine's eloquence-and all Hargraves' law."† As a village pastor, no one ever discharged his duties in a more faithful or exemplary manner. Except on particular occasions, he did not preach his own sermons, but read from Barrow, Clark, Jortin, or sometimes from dissenters. Frequently, when a thought struck him, he diverged extempore from the printed text, and in these digressions would generally consumehis allotted time. If a clerical acquaintance were present, he would now and then introduce learned critical remarks, kindly informing the congregation that this extra quantity of erudition was intended "for the learned brother, who could fully understand it.”‡ Sometimes he bestowed castigation, where he thought it merited, not only on his own immediate parishioners, but on those whom chance placed under his rod. “On one occasion, he was preaching, and had just entered on his discourse, when he observed among his audience one whom he knew, and whom he characterized as a "Brom-wych-am, (Birmingham) bigot." Instantly changing his subject, and slightly apologizing for the change, he proceeded to deliver, as he expressed it, "a wholesome les son" on the meanness and the misery of an intolerant spirit, and the duty, the reasonableness and happiness of cultivating sentiments of kind regard towards honest men of all religious sects." Never was a divine more tolerant in religion; wherever he found virtue he esteemed it, and cherished it in churchman, catholic or dissenter. "Very few and very simple," said he, are the truths which we have, any of us, a right to pronounce necessary to salvation. It is extremely unsafe to bewilder the judgment or to inflame the passions of men, upon those abstruse subjects of controversy, about which bigots, indeed, may dogmatise, with fierce and imperious confidence; whilst they, who are scholars without pedantry, and believers without superstition, are content to differ from each other, with sentiments of mutual respect and mutual forbearance." His Christianity was best seen in his Christian acts,—his attention to the poor, and his visits to the prisons, and the liberal use of his purse and exertions, whenever humanity needed them. His religion was of the most cheerful kind : * Life of Major Cartwright. + Parriana, 498. "It was a fixed opinion in his mind, that above all other means, social entertainments are the most effectual for promoting kind feeliffg and good will among men and neighbours. He often said, that, in nine instances out of ten, where persons are divided from each other by disesteem or dislike,-only bring them together-let them know each other, and from that moment they are friends. Impressed with these sentiments, he always marked with his approbatian, and often encouraged by his presence, balls, concerts, races, theatrical exhibitions, fairs, clubs, and other social meetings; those especially in which the high and the low associate and come into communion with one another."-Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 321. If the Doctor's politics had not always been of the most decided kind in his youth, at a later period he atoned for it by his firm devotion to the cause of civil and religious liberty, and his manly intrepidity in avowing it. He became intimate with Cartwright; had Hone, "a prodigy of genius and heroism," to dine with him; cherished Jeremy Bentham; and, at a public meeting, even made a speech against the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act. On the landing of Queen Caroline, he was one of those who immediately espoused her cause, and was admitted to her confidence. We have touched upon his most important literary labours, and we will mention but one more, which is among his last, viz. "a Catalogue of his numerous books, published since his death, in seven hundred pages, octavo." Day and night was he employed in this fatiguing task, without a secretary, and, from the nature of the business, little assisted by his auxiliaries.* Besides giving a systematic list of the books, to most of them are subjoined notices of their authors, critical observations, &c. It is curious how, in a thing of this kind, he still preserves his usual ornate and elaborate style. Happy in his family, surrounded by friends, enjoying a widespread reputation, possessed of a large fortune, which enabled him to gratify his fondness for society and taste for literature, and above all, cheered by the recollection of a well-spent life, without bodily infirmity or mental decay, Dr. Parr's declining years were eminently happy. It was in his 73d year that he was attacked with his first serious malady-a violent erysipelas, from which he recovered: a second attack, some years after, brought on by imprudent exposure to severe cold, terminated his mortal career, March 6, 1825, at the age of 78 years. It is worthy of remark, that one of his pall-bearers, nominated before his death, was a dissenter— Mr. Field, his biographer. "His reason for this," as he repeatedly declared, "was to proclaim to the world that the same sentiments of religious candour which influenced him through life, were strong in death."* "In his person, Dr. Parr was about the middle height, squarely built, of strong athletic frame, not much inclined to corpulency. His head was large and somewhat cumbrous; his hind-head remarkably capacious; his forehead full and firm; his eyes, of a fine, grey colour, possessed uncommon animation even in his old age, and were finely overhung with large bushy eyebrows. His features, though somewhat coarse, were not irregular, and upon the whole, pleasing; strongly indicating the mental energy, and still more the benevolent spirit which breathed and stirred within him. When thoughtful and silent, the general expression of his countenance was that of serene satisfaction; and when conversing, his looks were those of benignity and goodness-his smile was peculiarly fascinating. In his whole air and manner, there was much of the dignity which commands respect, and still more of the kindness which conciliates affection. His voice was remarkably pow erful, and, in spite of his lisp, he might have been an orator."-Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 356. Perhaps, from what has been said, a sufficient idea can be collected of Dr. Parr, as a scholar, a writer, a theologian, and a man. We had almost added-as a politician; but here, we think little need be said. His exertions cannot be ranked with those of Belsham, Price or Priestly-far less with those of Horne Tooke and Cartwright. We will sum up in a few words :-In Greek and Latin learning, it may safely be asserted, that he was, in his day, without a rival in England. The overrated Porson and more modest Burney probably surpassed him, in an intimate knowledge of the Greek tragic poets, without equalling him in general classical reading-yet, the preface to Bellendenus, some Latin epitaphs, very well written, and a few reviews, close the list of his labours on the ancients. Of his skill and acuteness in emendation, we have little proof; and we fancy tha the must be placed below Dawes and Porson, and far, very far below Bentley. His attainments in languages may be said to be exclusively limited to Latin and Greek-he knew little Hebrew, less French, and no Italian, Spanish or German. In English, his reading was immense, at once varied and profound; yet, of the sciences, with the exception of medicine, he was profoundly ignorant. No mathematics-no botany-no chemistry or geology. Notwithstanding his vast acquisitions in the literature of his country, he has produced no great work, although strong and brilliant passages abound in all his writings. His style, though evidently formed with great care, and evincing a deep * Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 350. knowledge of the force and harmony of the English language, is monotonous and overloaded with epithets, laboured antitheses and balanced periods. In vain do we look for simple elegance, or the happy abandon of colloquial ease. Even where we expect cool disquisition, we find the orator, instead of the philosopher. All his productions show a sensible, learned man-never, we think, an original or acute one. Wherever he attempts metaphysics, it is mystery; and, in politics and religion, though on the liberal side, it is apparent that he was often carried on by good feeling, without analyzing, with philosophic precision, the principles upon which he acted. It may be gathered from his biographers, that much of his fame rested on a ready wit, and the facile display of a richly stored mind. How far his reputation for colloquial powers was merited, very few can judgewe cannot-and it is so evanescent in its nature, that it must soon be left out of the account. At all events, it is a very deceptive test of genius-requiring only a moderate degree of talent, superficial knowledge, a good memory, and a pleasant manner. We might as well attempt to discriminate the colours of the feathered race on the wing, as to subject the rapid flow of conversation to critical analysis. The renown accorded to Dr. Parr, by his contemporaries, and still upheld, with enthusiastic fondness, by his friends, will speedily be reduced within its proper bounds. To the great heroes of the English language—to Addison and Johnson and Hume, he must give precedence; and even take place below Lowth, Jortin and Middleton. His inordinate vanity and love of flattery were great flaws in his character. His rudeness in conversation and inattention to the established usages of the world, were still more censurable. He who habitually disregards the code of good manners is no more fit for the society, by whose tacit agreement that code was formed, than an habitual law-breaker is fit to be the citizen of a well regulated state. Bad manners, in those of ordinary opportunities, are the result of imperfect observation or of bad feeling, and we generally find, that those who claim from society the most indulgence, grant the least to others. No doubt Dr. Parr would have readily perceived and censured in others, the rudeness in which he so frequently indulged. He had, however, redeeming qualities. His active friendship, his diffusive benevolence, and his universal toleration are equally honourable to his head and his heart, and throw all his smaller defects into the shade. After deducting, as we have deducted much, from Dr. Parr's literary pretensions, we think enough still remains to merit him VOL. III.-No. 6. 53 an enviable fame for talents and learning. Had he even written nothing, we are not among those who could view him without veneration, or consider him as having lived in vain. The very acquisition of extensive knowledge is a preparation for extensive utility. It is adding to the brilliancy of a light, which, alone, is to illuminate our path in the occupations of life, or in our searches after moral truth. It is preparing a man better, as the head of a family, to develope the infant mind, and to form its principles-to give impulse to genius and stability to virtue: it is preparing him better, as a member of society, to pursue his avocations with intelligence-to make a more agreeable friend, a more instructive companion, a more sensible adviser-to generously employ the means given him by Providence, in constantly promoting the happiness of the community, without ever overlooking the line where justice to ourselves begins. It prepares him better, as a citizen, to pursue private interest, in conjunction with public duty; to discharge the offices of his country, so as to give the minutest exactness to their details, and the widest scope to their utility; and to aid, more effectually, her councils, when there is need either of the stores of memory or the powers of practised intellect. It prepares him better, as a follower of religion, to be liberal, without lukewarmness, and zealous, without bigotry-to view, with clearer ken, what is allowed to self, and what to society, nor yet to forget what is due to the Giver of all Good. Nothing can be valueless that exerts a sensible, moral influence on society. Who can calculate how many of the rising generation are incited to mental culture, by the contemplation of a richly gifted and richly stored understanding?— or how many of more mature age have their intellectual ardor kept alive, by intercourse with those who can resolve doubts, confute errors, communicate information, or give certainty to opinion? Even when such men, through chance or choice, "along the cool sequestered vale of life have held the noiseless tenor of their way," their effect is widely seen, in the elegance of society-like the orbs which constitute the heavenly galaxyeach distant and viewless; yet shedding, collectively, a mild and extensive radiance. The distinction, too, ever conceded to talent and erudition, is a lesson the most striking and consoling to the scholar. Hope is awakened and exertion strengthened, when he beholds the glitter of wealth fading before the treasures of learning, and titles sink into empty names before the nobility of genius. It is time to notice his biographers. The Memoirs are evidently from the pen of a practised writer; but they are, in general, correct, without elegance, and clear, without force-a monotony |