26 Recollections of Dr. Parr. [Jan. 



classical taste, too, prevented the sparkling gaiety, faithful description, 

 and splendid imagerjr, that pervade the works of this admired poet, 

 atoning for the careless versification and simple antique phraseology. 

 From the works of Walter Scott we proceeded, by I know not what 

 metaphysical association of ideas, to those of The Great Unknown, to 

 which the Doctor was disposed to allow as little quarter. He called his 

 novels all " books taken out of other books." A visitor present said, 

 *' Oh, surely, sir, you will allow him merit in dialogue ?" 



Dr. Parr. " No, sir : not in dialogue."* Lord Byron being mentioned ; 

 he burst into the following animated apostrophe : 



" Byron ! the sorcerer ! he can do with me according to his will. If 

 it is to place me on the summit of a dizzy cliff; if it is to throw me head- 

 long into the abyss ; to transport me to Elysium, or to leave me alone 

 upon a desert isle, his power is the same. I wish Lord Byron had a 

 friend, or a servant, appointed to the office of the slave who was to 

 knock eveiy morning at the chamber-door of Philip of Macedon and 

 remind him he was mortal." In perusing these bursts, the reader must 

 ever bear in mind the peculiar character of Dr. Parr — that classical 

 enthusiasm and fire of sensibility and genius which nothing could tame 

 or quench, and that boldness which, " thinking no evil," never sought 

 safety in tame or modified expressions. The introduction to Moore, the 

 poet, displayed in its full light this peculiarity of the Doctor's. It 

 took place about the period of the beginning of these recollections. The 

 poet of freedom, of course, was animated and brilliant, and Dr. Parr de- 

 lighted with him. At parting, he presented him from his library with a 

 volume of poetry of one of the Latin authors of the middle ages, on 

 which Mr. Moore seemed to set a great value. Another time, he de- 

 sired his lady to join him in expressing her sense of his merit ; and, on 

 her hesitating, resumed, in his energetic manner, " She won't speak ; 

 but I'll tell you what she is: she is Jciscinated." He was unfeignedly 

 delighted with " The Fudge Family ;" yet seemed humorously to think 

 an apology necessary for reading it. " It is seldom," he observed (like 

 Parson Adams,) " that I read a modern work. No, no, I have all these 

 in my head," pointing to his classic library. 



The habits of Dr. Parr were favourable both to long life and to 

 literary occupation. " I am a six o'clock man," he used to say, when 

 in the 76th year of his age. The precious time thus gained in the 

 morning was devoted to his books ; and the rest of the day to social 

 intercourse, and the various duties into which his time was divided. In 

 his engagements he was severely punctual, and justly exacted the same 

 punctuality in return. By this means he was enabled to transact a 

 prodigious variety of business — to keep up a constant intercourse of 

 good neighbourhood — and to give advice — good offices — or still more 

 important assistance to the numbers who looked up to him as their tem- 

 poral protector, or spiritual guide. He was adored by the poorer part 

 of his parishioners : being always equally attentive to admmister to their 

 wants, and to promote their innocent pleasures. 



To be continued. 



* It is observable, that although Dr. Parr cherished this distaste for the novels of 

 the Author of Waverley, it did not extend to the other Scotch novels ; I have seen in 

 his library Gait's " Ayrshire Legatees," with the words " presented to Dr. Parr hy 

 the very ingenious author," in the Doctor's own hand-writing ; and, what is more 

 remarkable, that very novel made free with the Doctor's habiliments, describing the 

 Presbyterian clergyman, Mr. Prtngle, as returning adorned with " a parish wig" from 

 kis excursion to London. 



