1826.] [ Sfil ] 



SUPPLEMENTARY ANECDOTES OF DR. PARR. 



My first visit to Hatton was, if my recollection does not fail me, in 

 1812. Dr. Parr Iiad been on a visit at my father's, and in company with 

 one of my sisters and myself, left my father's for Hatton in a post-chaise. 

 When we were within about a mile or so of Warwick, there was a 

 heavy fall of rain ; the Doctor hailed a butcher-like looking man who was 

 walking on the road-side drenched with rain, and offered him shelter 

 in the chaise ; but as my sister and I vehemently objected to the 

 arrangement, and the man himf?elf did not shew any inclination to avail 

 himself of the offer, the Doctor acquiesced, at the same time taxing my 

 sister and myself with an utter want of common humanity. We dined at 

 a lady's in Warwick, and it was mentioned, in the course of conversation 

 after dinner, that there was going to be a duty upon leather ; we 

 arrived at Hatton-parsonage in the evening, and the pastor's return 

 home was celebrated by ringing the church-bells. The first order he gave 

 was, that the shoemaker might come to him next morning at eight 

 or nine — the shoemaker came at the time appointed. " Now, Mr. 



," said the Doctor, " I have a request to make of you ; I have heard 



that there is going to be a new duty upon leather — will you measure me 

 for half a dozen pairs of shoes, and let me have them at the price I now 

 pay for them ?" — " Certainly, sir," said the man, " and shall be much 

 obliged to you." During my stay at Hatton the assizes happened, and 

 Dr. Parr had to preach at Warwick, but not before the judge ; many of 

 die barristers, however, thronged to hear him ; and he gave them an out- 

 of-the-way, but argumentative and striking sermon ; his text was, " His 

 delight was in cursing, and it shall happen unto him ; he loved not 

 blessing, therefore shall it be far from him." The drift of his sermon 

 was to shew, that the horrid imprecations in the 109th Psalm are not to 

 be attributed to David, but to his enemies ; he brought oceans of learn- 

 ing to prove his point. He wrote the sermon in a little smoking, I mean 

 tobacco-smoking, room at the bottom of his garden, and made me his 

 amanuensis ; I had to trot backwards and foi^nards to his library to fetch 

 books, till the little room was nearly full of them. He dictated in a firm, 

 dear manner, and I do not think he had to recall a word ; he rounded 

 his sentences with as much certainty and precision as you could mould 

 bullets. In preaching the sermon, he astonished his hearers not a little, 

 by quothig a translation of an excommunication which is to be found at 

 Rochester Cathedral ; Sterne, if I recollect, quotes the same ; it ends 

 with, '• and from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head let there be 

 no sound part about him." The Doctor delivered the whole apparently 

 con amove, with as much energ)' and heartiness as we could imagine the 

 original author of it to have uttered it ; the people stared, and appeared 

 perplexed to think what he was about. 



Once, at my father's, a lady was holding forth with great loquacity, 

 and not permitting the Doctor to wedge in a word, till he fairly said to 

 her, " Madam, allow me to have my share in the conversation." — " Why, 

 you know. Dr. Parr," she replied, " it is the privilege of ladies to talk." 

 " No, madam," said he, " it is not their privilege, but their infimnity ! 

 Ladies are privileged to talk, because they cannot help it ; as ducks are 

 privileged to waddle, because they can't walk straight." 



I was told at Hatton, that he was once playing at whist with a very 

 unskilful partner, whose mistakes he bore with great good-humour, but 



M. M. New Series.— Yoh. I. No. 4. 3 A 



