Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Parr
Vol. I CONTENTS
![]()
CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
A.D. 1747—1752.
Family of Dr. Parr on his father’s side—on his
mother’s side—Notice of his father—of his mother—of his stepmother—His early
education
Page 1
CHAPTER II.
A.D. 1752—1761.
Dr. Parr’s admission into Harrow School—Notice of his two
preceptors, Dr. Thackeray and Dr. Sumner—His
progress in learning—His two rival associates, Sir William Jones and
Dr. Bennet—Their voluntary exertions for their own improvement
12
CHAPTER III.
A.D. 1761-1765.
Dr. Parr’s destination for the medical profession—His dislike of
it—His reluctant attention to his duties—Progress of his private studies—Accomplishment of
his wish to exchange the medical for the clerical profession—His opinion of the former—His
father’s proposal of sending him to Cambridge
26
![]()
![]()
CHAPTER IV.
A.D. 1765—1766.
Dr. Parr’s admission into Emanuel College, Cambridge—Notice of
Dr. Richardson, the master—of Mr. Hubbard and
of Dr. Farmer, the tutors—Admission of Dr. Bennet
into the same college—Course of Dr. Parr’s studies—Death of his
father—His pecuniary difficulties—His abrupt departure from Cambridge, in consequence—His
account of the university—Remarks upon it
Page 33
CHAPTER V.
A.D. 1767—1771.
Dr. Parr, head assistant of Harrow School—Some of its distinguished
scholars—Mr. Sheridan—Dr. Parr’s
official labours—His private studies—His ordination—His appointment to the curacy of
Willesden—Death of Dr. Sumner—Dr. Parr’s
inscription for his monument—Intended Memoirs of his Life
49
CHAPTER VI.
A.D. 1771.
Degree of A. M. conferred on Dr. Parr—His nomination as a
candidate for the mastership of Harrow School—His rejection—Reasons for it
assigned—Commotion in the school in consequence—Project of a new
establishment—Dr. Parr’s marriage—Opening of Stanmore
School—Secession of forty boys from Harrow—and of the second assistant
60
CHAPTER VII.
A.D. 1771—1776.
Plan of studies in Stanmore School—The Greek language—Importance of it—The Greek
authors read—Manner of explaining them—Greek versification—Writing Greek—Greek plays
acted—The Latin language—Authors read—Some defects in the public schools noticed—Exercises
of the memory—Study of English Composition
71
![]()
![]()
CHAPTER VIII.
A.D. 1771—1776.
Discipline of Stanmore School—Literary associations of the upper
classes—Dr. Parr’s love of youth—His affection for his own
pupils—His kindness of manner towards them—His private instructions and admonitions—His
correspondence with his pupils—His encouragement of all the active and healthful sports of
youth—Their importance in the opinion of the ancients
Page 88
CHAPTER IX.
A.D. 1776—1777.
Dissolution of Stanmore School—Causes of it—Dr.
Parr’s appointment to the mastership of Colchester School—His removal
to that town—His failure of success—His acquaintance with Mr.
Twining—and Dr. Forster—His opinion of the American war—of
Lord North—of the clerical petition—His appointment to the cures
of the Hythe and Trinity Churches—His mode of preaching
106
CHAPTER X.
A.D. 1779—1786.
Dr. Parr’s appointment to the mastership of Norwich School—His
removal to that city—His discouragements—His engagements as curate of St. George’s
and St. Saviour’s—His four first published sermons—Degree of LL.D. conferred upon him
at Cambridge—His two theses on that occasion—His first preferment—his second
121
CHAPTER XI.
A.D. 1779—1786.
Dr. Parr at Norwich—His religious candour—His high opinion of
Dr. Taylor, minister of the Octagon Chapel—Inscription to the
memory of that eminent divine, written by Dr. Parr—His letter on that
occasion—His friendly intercourse with Dr. Taylor’s successors,
Mr. Bourn and Mr. Morgan—Application to
Parliament for the relief of the dissenting clergy,
![]()
![]()
in the matter of
subscription—Relaxation of the penal-laws against the Catholics—Riots in consequence—Trial
of Lord George Gordon—Dr. Parr’s high
opinion of his advocate, Mr. Erskine
Page 132
CHAPTER XII.
A.D. 1779—1786.
Dr. Parr at Norwich—Account concluded—His deep interest in the
political events of the times—Termination of Lord North’s
administration—The Rockingham- succeeded by the Shelburne-administration—Coalition
ministry—Commencement of the Pitt-administration—Death of Dr.
Johnson—Dr. Parr’s friendly intercourse with
him—Comparison between them—Interview of Dr. Priestley with
Dr. Johnson—Inscription for Dr.
Johnson’s monument—Intended Memoirs of his Life
147
CHAPTER XIII.
A. D. 1780—1782.
Dr. Parr’s first publications—Sermon delivered in Norwich
Cathedral, on Christmas-day—First Discourse on Education, preached in behalf of the Norwich
Charity-schools—Second Discourse—A Fast Sermon
166
CHAPTER XIV.
A.D. 1786—1789.
Dr. Parr’s settlement at Hatton—His parsonage-house—His
library—Catalogue of his books—His plan of private tuition—His attention to his pastoral
duties—His appointment to a prebend in St. Paul’s—Exchange of Hatton curacy for
Waddenhoe rectory
182
CHAPTER XV.
A. D. 1786—1790.
Dr. Parr’s intimate friends in Hatton and the
neighbourhood—Bree family—Mrs.
Edwards—Dormer family—Mr.
Gaches—Mr. Willes—Mr.
Williams—Mr. Dewes—Mr. and Mrs.
Greatheed—Mr. Morley—Mr. Tomes—Mr.
W. and Mr. J. Parkes—Mr. Fellowes—Dr.
Taylor—Dr. Lambe—Dr. Winthrop
198
![]()
![]()
CHAPTER XVI.
A.D. 1786—1790.
Dr. Parr’s Preface to “The Three
Treatises of Bellendedus”—His Preface to “Tracts
of Warburton and a Warburtonian,” &c.—He is committed by the former
publication to the Whig party, and patronised by them—His near prospect of a bishopric—His
opinions on parliamentary reform—on the fortification-plan—on the late Indian
government—and on the Test Laws
Page 221
CHAPTER XVII.
A.D. 1787.
Publication of “Bellendenus de Statu, Libri
Tres”—Account of the author, and of his work—Of another work by the same
author—Charge of plagiarism against Dr. Middleton—The three
Dedications, to North, Burke, and
Fox—The Preface—Public characters introduced into
it—Beloe’s Translation of it
238
CHAPTER XVIII.
A.D. 1789.
“Dr. Parr’s Republication of Tracts by Warburton and a Warburtonian, &c. with a Dedication and two
Prefaces”—Notice of Bishop Warburton—of Bishop
Hurd—Offence committed by Dr. Jortin—Dr.
Hurd’s “Delicacy of
Friendship”—Offence committed by Dr. Leland—Dr.
Hurd’s Letter to him—Warburton’s two
Tracts—Question considered, Whether the republication of these Tracts is
justifiable?—Dr. Parr’s vindication of himself—His character
of Warburton—of Hurd
259
CHAPTER XIX.
A. D. 1790—1792.
Dr. Parr’s friendship with the Writer—Ordination-service in
Warwick Chapel—attended by Dr. Parr—The public dinner honoured by his
presence—His friendly intercourse with Dr. Priestley—His sympathy with
the sufferings—his testimonies to the merits—his inscription to the memory, of
Dr. Priestley
![]()
![]()
—His opinion of Bishop Horsley—Mr.
Belsham—Bishop Burgess
Page 287
CHAPTER XX.
A.D. 1791—1792.
Birmingham riots—Hatton-parsonage threatened—Dr.
Parr’s opinions—on the causes of the riots—on
Burke’s “Reflections”—on Paine’s “Rights of Man”—on Mackintosh’s “Vindiciæ Gallicæ”—on the French Revolution—on the wars with
France—on the defection of the Whigs—Character of Mr. Burke—of
Mr. Wyndham
304
CHAPTER XXI.
A.D. 1791—1795.
Publication of “A Sequel to the Printed Paper lately
circulated in Warwickshire,” &c.—Extracts from it—Dr.
Parr’s account of his own principles and conduct—Mr.
Cumberland’s “Retort Courteous to Dr.
Parr”—Publication of “A Letter from Irenopolis to
the Inhabitants of Eleutheropolis”—Extracts from it—Publication of
“Remarks on the Statement of Dr. Combe,”
&c.—Dr. Parr’s critical labours as a reviewer—Utility of
periodical criticism
320
CHAPTER XXII.
A.D. 1794—1795.
Case of Joseph Gerrald, the pupil and friend of
Dr. Parr—His trial for sedition at Edinburgh—Sentence of fourteen
years’ transportation passed upon him—His removal to London—His long confinement in
prison—His expressions of high regard for Dr. Parr in a letter from on
board the Hulks—Dr. Parr’s letter to him—His voyage to Botany
Bay—His arrival—His death
338
CHAPTER XXIII.
A.D. 1794.
Death of Sir Wm. Jones—His character—His literary
attainments—His friendship with Dr. Parr—Lord
Teignmouth’s
![]()
![]()
Memoirs of his Life—Disingenuousness of that biographer in the opinion
of Dr. Paley, and of Dr. Parr—Death of
Mr. Gibbon—Dr. Parr’s high opinion of
him and of his works—His epitaph written by Dr. Parr—His observations
on the state of the Universities—Dr. Parr’s remarks in reply
Page 350
CHAPTER XXIV.
A.D. 1794—1800.
Death of Mr. John Smitheman—of Mr.
Homer—of Bishop Horne—of Dr.
Balguy—Case of Mr. Oliver, who was tried and condemned
for murder at Stafford—His intended defence—Mr. Oliver visited in
prison, and attended to the place of execution, by Dr.
Parr—Ireland’s literary imposture—Spital Sermon
preached by Dr. Parr—Letter to the Secretary of the Humane Society
368
CHAPTER XXV.
A.D. 1794—1800.
Dr. Parr’s opinions—on the execution of Louis
XVI.—on the political changes in France which followed—on the measures of
the Pitt-administration—on the trials of Hardy,
Tooke, and others—on the new laws hostile to freedom—County
meeting at Warwick for the dismissal of ministers—Affairs of Ireland—Trial of
O’Coighley—Dr. Parr’s
thanksgiving-sermon for the naval victories
385
CHAPTER XXVI.
A.D. 1800—1803.
Dr. Parr’s Spital Sermon—Its subject—In the first part a protest
against Godwin’s “Political
Justice”—in the second, an answer to Turgot’s
Strictures on Charitable Institutions—The notes—Quotations from ancient and modern
authors—Remarks on the obligation of gratitude, &c.—Atheism and superstition
compared—Defence of the two Universities—Doctrine of future rewards and
punishments—Dr. Parr’s Sermon on Patriotism—Reply to the
argument of Lord Shaftesbury—and of Soame
Jenyns—True and false patriotism—Conclusion
401
![]()
![]()
CHAPTER XXVII.
A.D. 1801—1803.
Offer to Dr. Parr of the living of Winterbourne—His letter
to Lord Chedworth on that occasion—His recommendation of the
Rev. James Eyre to his Lordship’s notice—His evidence on the
question of the validity of his Lordship’s will—His request of some memorial of his
Lordship’s friendship—Offer of the living of Graffham from Sir Francis
Burdett—Letters on that occasion—Offer from Mr. Coke of
the living of Buckingham—Large increase of income from Dr.
Parr’s prebendal estates
Page 421
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A.D. 1800—1807.
Dr. Parr’s friendly intercourse with Mr.
Roscoe—His opinion of “The Life of
Lorenzo”—and of “The Nurse,” a poem, in
letters to the author—Dr. Parr’s high regard for Mr.
Wakefield—His opinion of him as a scholar and a writer—Letter to one of his
friends on occasion of his decease—Death of Dr. Parr’s younger
daughter—His sketch of her character—Death of Mr. Wm.
Parkes—Dr. Parr’s tribute to his memory—Death of
Professor Porson—Biographical notice of him 437
ERRATA.
P. 194. l.10. for 1779, read 1799.
P. 197. l. 18. for £16,000, read £1600 per ann.
