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containing three Latin treatises on the science of government, written at the beginning of the seventeenth century, by William Bellenden, or, as he is commonly called, Gulielmus Belendenus, a Scotchman, and professor of classic literature in the university of Paris.

and no man, in this country, had any better authority for believing him guilty, than the ipse dixit of his great accuser, Mr. Burke. The speeches of that wonderful man, in the House of Commons, excited great indignation ; and when Fox and Sheridan opened the following charges, in a strain of highly figured declamation, the world was reminded of the powerful effect produced by Cicero, in his accusation of Verres.

But while the business as yet stood sub judice lis est, it certainly ill became a minister of the gospel, or indeed any other man, to embark, sponte sua, in a cause of which he could know little or nothing but from ex-parte pleadings, destitute of evidence.

The late Dr. Warton, of Winchester, first drew public attention to the works of this obscure author, in his excellent "Essay on Pope;" where, however, he only glanced at the use made of Bellenden's tracts by Dr. Conyers Middleton, in his Life of Cicero. Stimulated by curiosity, Dr. Parr sought for this volume, and having ascertained, beyond all doubt, the | justness of the charge of plagiarism against Middleton, he resolved upon The next publication of Dr. Parr a republication of the original. This was also calculated to excite mixed design he accomplished in an octavo feelings of admiration and concern. volume, elegantly printed, in 1787. Dr. Hurd, the venerable bishop of The three pieces of Bellenden are, Worcester, having completed his "Ciceronis Princeps,"- "Ciceronis long-promised and anxiously expectConsul," and "Liber de Statuprisci ed edition of the works of his early Orbis;" and as that author had in-patron, bishop Warburton, published tended another work, on a more ex- it in a splendid manner in 1787. In tended scale, under the denomination forming this collection, it so happenof "De Tribus Luminibus Romano-ed, for what cause it is impossible to rum;" his present editor from thence account, two of Warburton's earliest caught the idea of making his preface performances were omitted. This the vehicle of his own political senti- editorial oversight, whether arising ments, in a panegyric upon the three from want of taste or forgetfulness, luminaries of his party, Fox, Burke, was certainly no very heinous offence and Sheridan. The eloquent preface in itself; yet it was so treated by to the tracts of Bellenden was soon Parr, who, soon afterwards, supplied afterwards published in an English the deficiency, in a volume entitled translation, and in a separate form; "Tracts by Warburton and a Warbut while readers of taste admired its burtonian." In reprinting the negspirit, and approved the animadver- lected productions of Warburton, a sions bestowed upon Middleton, for service was rendered to literature; his meanness in stealing the finest but it required some strong reasons portions of his valuable history from to justify the revival of two fugitive a book buried, as he thought, in total essays, written and published anonyoblivion ; it struck many, that the mously, by a living author, who had learned editor had himself incurred himself, long before, endeavoured to a charge little less serious. suppress them. The attachment of Hurd to Warburton is well known, and, it cannot be denied, that this friendship was marked, at one period, by too much servility. Warburton was a tyrannical despot in literature, who could not bear a rival, but expected that all his compatriots should take the law from his lips.

At the time when Dr. Parr sent this impassioned performance into the world, the public mind was much agitated by the charges brought against the late governor Hastings, and an impeachment of that gentleman was then actually about to commence, before the highest tribunal of the country, for crimes and misdemeanors alleged to have been committed by him in the East Indies. Now, whatever might be the demerit of Mr. Hastings, none of the matters charged upon him were as yet proved;

Several persons, equal to him, at least, in extent of knowledge, and far his superior in genius, spurned at this usurpation of arbitrary authority, and boldly asserting the right of mental freedom, continued to oppose the de

crees of the self-created dictator. Among these, were Dr. John Jortin, and Dr. Thomas Leland. Dr. Jortin, in the last of his "Six Dissertations," ventured to call in question what Warburton had laid down as the basis of his work on the "Divine Legation of Moses," that the doctrine of a future state did not form a necessary part of faith in the ancient world, and that the representations of it in Homer and Virgil were the mere figments of imagination. Jortin, on the contrary, proved, very clearly, that the two poets, whatever additions they might have given to this article, by the power of imagination, did not invent the doctrine itself, which was much older than either of them, being received from patriarchal tradition. Warburton felt sore for the credit of his system, but not being willing to hazard his reputation in a rencontre with Jortin, of whom he was, in fact, afraid, he devolved the task of answering him upon Hurd, who performed the task more to the satisfaction of his employer, than to that of the learned world, in a "Seventh Dissertation, on the Delicacy of Friendship." A few years after this, Warburton published his "Doctrine of Grace," in which he advanced some singular parodoxes respecting the inspiration of the apostolical writers. These notions Dr. Leland thought proper to controvert, with great modesty, in a "Dissertation on the Principles of Human Eloquence;" to which Hurd replied, in a very long and laboured letter, containing more declamation than argument.

It will be seen, that we are far from taking the part of either of these distinguished prelates; and, in regard to the questions at issue between them and their opponents, we have no hesitation in expressing our confident persuasion, that both Warburton and his obsequious apologist stood upon fairy ground. Notwithstanding this, as the two tracts, written to support the dreams of Warburton, were consigned to obscurity by the author; and as, confessedly, they had nothing in them worthy of a better fate, we must, in strict justice, condemn the conduct of Dr. Parr, in reviving them, for the sole purpose of making them the vehicle of a coarse attack upon the author. They were still the property of the bishop, and

the only two persons ever affected by them were no longer in the land of the living. For what purpose, therefore, could a third person, no way interested in matters which had so long passed away without notice, make them the occasion of a direct insult to the only man likely to be made uneasy by the republication?

Dr. Parr, however, was not only at the trouble and expense of reprinting these forgotten pamphlets; but he ushered them into the world with a dedication to the author, written in a strain of furious invective, and intermixed with a profusion of Greek and Latin quotations; some sufficiently pointed and well aimed, but the greater part inaptly chosen, and as indiscreetly applied. It is impossible for any reader of discernment to peruse this violent diatribe, without, at once, seeing that the author was in a state of uncommon irritation when he delivered it to the world. He appears, indeed, like a lion springing from his lair to attack the passing traveller, not through the impulse of hunger, but out of resentment, the cause of which may be conjectured, but cannot be ascertained. We know that controversy is apt to grow hot in proportion to the lengthened state of the dispute. But, in the present case, there was no subject of controversy at all between the Doctor and the bishop. They were both members of the same college, and, till this period, their mutual friends were unapprized of any occurrence that could have given rise to a coolness on either side. It has been supposed, that the prelate was, in some way or other, instrumental in preventing the advancement of his old fellow-collegian; which offence the latter never forgave, and took the first opportunity to retaliate. The manner in which he performed this, however, did less injury to the bishop than to himself; for such was the estimable character of Dr. Hurd, among persons of all ranks and denominations, that the attempt to depreciate him in the public opinion, was generally viewed with indignation; and it is a certain fact, that personages of the highest rank, who would otherwise have been ready to patronize the Doctor, declined doing so, merely on account of his treatment of the venerable prelate.

But his advancement was further hindered by the freedom of his lan

guage, and the peculiar character of his connexions, at the beginning of the French revolution. His association with Dr. Priestley, and other men of distinguished prominence among that class called political reformers, naturally brought him under suspicion; and this made him so unpopular at Birmingham, that, when the riots broke out there, in the summer of 1791, his house at Hatton was actually threatened with destruction, but was saved, very fortunately, by the interposition of the military.

and immediately charged him with being the author of the offensive paragraphs. Mr. Curtis not only denied the accusation, but actually took an oath that he neither wrote the articles fathered upon him, nor knew by whom they were composed. With this asseveration Dr. Parr ought to have been satisfied; especially as he had nothing beyond mere surmise to oppose to a solemn declaration. But being resolved not to be convinced, he continued, in defiance of every principle of natural justice, to maintain that In the following year, a report hav- the oath of Mr. Curtis was of less ing got into circulation, that the re-weight than the circumstantial eviformers at Birmingham were about to celebrate the annual return of the French revolution, which had already produced such dreadful effects, Dr. Parr published a small pamphlet, to prevent that injudicious measure. To this performance, he gave the quaint title of "A Letter from Irenopolis to the inhabitants of Eleutheropolis; or a serious Address to the Dissenters of Birmingham. By a member of the Established Church." In this seasonable remonstrance, the learned author endeavoured to moderate the resentment subsisting between different parties in religion and politics, by leading them to reflect, that the principles To this multifarious on which they agreed were of a more piece was subjoined an excellent exalted rank, and of more extensive letter, written by Dr. William Thomimportance, than those on which they son, on the Nature and End of Civil differed. He, therefore, solemnly Society;" which, for depth of thought called upon them to regulate their and felicity of illustration, well meritconduct by the sound law of discre-ed the distinction it received. tion, and to forbear from any proceedings that might disturb public tranquillity.

dence which had been adduced against him. Influenced by this extraordinary persuasion, the Doctor published a bulky pamphlet, entitled "A Sequel to the Printed Paper lately circulated in Warwickshire. By the Rev. Charles Curtis, brother to Alderman Curtis, a Birmingham Rector, &c." In this singular performance, the author, after castigating with a heavy hand the object of his displeasure, proceeded to discuss a great variety of important subjects, relating to social rights, and the various political questions which had arisen out of the tremendous revolution in France.

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In thus tracing the literary course of Dr. Parr, it is painful to observe, how generally his publications, though rich in language, and excellent in argumentation, were deformed by the acrimony of private resentment.

Of the next publication by Dr. Parr, we are sorry not to be able to speak in the same unqualified terms of approbation. At the time when he pro- Scarcely had he closed his dispute duced the preceding address, the with the Birmingham rector, when flame of discord still raged furiously another subject of contention arose, in Birmingham, and the asperity with of an opposite description. Mr. which Dr. Priestley, and his adhe- Henry Homer, formerly fellow of Emrents, attacked the whole body of the manuel college, who had materially clergy of the established church, in assisted the Doctor in his republicanewspapers and other publications, tion of Bellendenus, having underproduced replies, in some of which taken a Variorium edition of Horace, Dr. Parr was mentioned with little on a magnificent scale, for the London respect. Instead of treating these booksellers, naturally called upon his ephemeral squibs with that silent con- friend for aid in the prosecution of tempt which became his station in the work. This was very readily conthe world of literature, the Doctor ceded; but the health of Mr. Homer thought proper to fix his suspicions being indifferent, he took for his upon the Rev. Charles Curtis, rector immediate coadjutor, the late Dr. of one of the parishes in Birmingham; | Charles Combe, of the British Museum.

Under the joint management of these two gentlemen, the edition went on, till the fourth book of the odes was advanced in the press, when Mr. Homer died. This was in 1791, and then Dr. Combe became the sole conductor of the work, nor does it appear that Dr. Parr, after the loss of his friend, took the smallest interest whatever in the concern. At the beginning of the year 1794, this edition came out in two splendid quarto volumes, with a dedication to the great Lord Mansfield. A little before this, the British Critic had been established by Mr. Archdeacon Nares, the Rev. William Jones of Nayland, and the Rev. William Beloe. The last mentioned gentleman, as we have already observed, had been the pupil and assistant of Dr. Parr, at Norwich; it therefore became an object with him, on the institution of the new journal, to procure for it occasional contributions from his old friend and preceptor. The publication of the Variorum Horace was just adapted to give an eclat to the review, and, at the same time, to gratify the private feelings of Dr. Parr. Accordingly an article on the edition appeared in the third volume of the Critic, and extended to seventy-one closely printed pages. Perhaps a more valuable body of classical criticism and profound remarks cannot be found in any language; but it is obvious, throughout the whole of this voluminously laboured performance, that the author's aim was to demolish the reputation of the work on which it was expended. In this he so completely succeeded, that Dr. Combe was compelled to print a "Narrative of Facts relative to the Behaviour of Dr. Samuel Parr;" who was accused of having acted with duplicity throughout the whole period of his connexion with Mr. Homer, as far, at least, as regarded the edition of Horace. This pamphlet immediately called forth a reply from Dr. Parr, under the title of "Remarks on the Statement of Dr. Charles Combe. By an occasional writer in the British Critic :" in which the most serious articles of charge were satisfactorily refuted; and here the dispute terminated.

Soon after this, public curiosity was roused in a very extraordinary manner, by the pretended discovery of a number of manuscripts, purporting to

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be the genuine productions of Shakspeare. These papers drew crowds of visitors to the house of the fortunate proprietor, Mr. Samuel Ireland, in Norfolk-street, and, among the rest, Dr. Parr became a frequent visitor, and a zealous believer in the authenticity of the literary relics. He even went so far as to subscribe his name, in attestation of his firm conviction that the entire collection of plays, poems, letters, and other documents, emanated from the genius of the immortal bard whose name they bore. At length, the spell was dissolved, and Dr. Parr, as the great Samuel Johnson had done before him, in the case of Lauder, assisted in drawing up an apologetic confession for the unhappy person through whom he owned he had been so grossly imposed upon. Here, by the bye, it deserves notice, that, though the acute Richard Porson seemed to think the Shakspearian papers genuine, yet, when called upon by Parr to follow his example, he said, No, Doctor; you know I have scruples against subscription to articles of faith."

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Hitherto we have seen little of Dr. Parr in his clerical character; but, in the spring of 1801, he drew general attention in the metropolis, by his famous Spital sermon, preached at Christ Church, Newgate-street, before Harvey Christian Combe, Esq. the Lord Mayor. The church, though large, was crowded to excess, and the Doctor gratified the more intelligent portion of his hearers by a discourse, in which he happily combated the delusive dogmas of those philosophers who ascribe all benevolence and justice to a selfish principle. This sermon was soon afterwards printed, with a number of curious notes, many of which, however, have little relation to the main subject. ance of this volume, it was attacked, in a tone of indignant sarcasm, by Mr. William Godwin, who, conceiving himself to have been alluded to in the discourse and notes, retorted upon the author the charge of inconsistency.

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In 1808, Dr. Parr printed a sermon, preached on the preceding fast-day, in his parish church of Hatton; and, the year following, he ushered into the world two heterogeneous volumes, under the title of "Characters of the late Charles James Fox, selected, and in part written, by Philopatris Varvi

censis." The first volume contains various panegyrics upon the great statesman, which appeared soon after his death in the newspapers and magazines. To these characters, few of which were worth preserving as compositions, one was added by the Doctor himself, written in an admirable style, and superior to all the rest. The second volume is made up of notes, printed in a smaller type, and some of them, particularly that on penal law, well worthy of a more conspicuous situation.

In 1823, Dr. Parr edited, with appropriate notes, four scarce sermons, two by the learned Dr. John Taylor, and the others by two successive bishops of London, Dr. Hayter and Dr. Lowth. With this publication, we close our notice of the literary performances of our author, as far as they have come to our knowledge; but it is possible, as he generally sent his productions into the world without a name, that one or two fugitive pieces may have escaped our inquiry. The Doctor, we know, contributed very liberally to the works of some distinguished writers, particularly the Bamptonian Lectures, delivered at Oxford in 1784, by Dr. Joseph White. We have reason to think, also, that occasionally, though not latterly, he wrote for the Monthly Review; and it is certain that several of his papers are in the Classical Journal published by Mr. Valpy. In 1804, the Doctor lost his old and most intimate friend, Lord Chedworth, whose singular disposal of his property to entire strangers, became the subject of a litigation respecting the sanity of the testator. In the course of this law-suit, Dr. Parr, who had been led to expect a considerable legacy from his lordship, gave such a testimony as to incur some strong animadversions.

Such is the brief outline of the life of this eminent scholar, who, for extent and variety of knowledge, has left few equals, and no superiors. He closed his mortal career at Hatton, on Sunday, the 5th of March, in his eightieth year.

The Doctor was twice married, and by his first lady he had several children, two only of whom grew to maturity, but neither survived him. Sarah, the eldest, became the wife of John Wynne, Esq. of Garthmeilo, in Denbighshire; the youngest, Catherine,

died unmarried. The second wife of the Doctor was Mary, sister of the Rev. James Eyre, of Solihull, by whom he had no issue.

It has been observed, and, we have reason to believe, very justly, that the long residence of Dr. Parr at Hatton, was spent in diligently performing all the duties of a parish priest, in assisting, advising, and befriending the poor; in the exercise of a generous hospitality; in encouraging and patronizing merit; in communicating knowledge, whenever required, from his own inexhaustible stores; in contributing, by a most extensive correspondence, to the general illumination of the literary world; in manifesting, by his words and deeds, that he cultivated a spirit of unbounded philanthropy, as the practical essence of our holy religion, and in endeavours to promote, from the pulpit and the press, whatever is most conducive to the public and private welfare of mankind,

Of the liberality of Dr. Parr we could give many instances, but shall content ourselves with only mentioning his uncommon generosity towards the late Mr. Maurice, of the British Museum. When the Doctor heard of the distressed state into which the mother of Mr. Maurice had fallen, by imprudently marrying a worthless man; he took this youth into his house at Stanmore, though he could ill afford such a charge at that time. After supporting and giving his protegé an excellent education, he procured for him an exhibition at University College, Oxford, where he distinguished himself in a which gave great satisfaction to his patron and superiors.

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In regard to the literary character of Dr. Parr, we shall content ourselves with observing, that his style was vigorous and copious; but somewhat too glittering in phraseology, and affected in construction. Dr. Johnson, he was excessively attached to antithesis; but he did not, in imitation of that great writer, seek new words to express common ideas; neither did he often indulge in archaisms, and epithets compounded from the learned languages. The Latin of Dr. Parr is such as would have commanded admiration in the purest ages of Roman literature. J. W,

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