362 Sitjypkmentary Anecdotes of Dr. Purr. [April, 



upon a lady's stepping to the table and saying, " Well, Dr. Parr, how do 

 you get on ?" — " Pretty well, madam," said he, " considering I have 

 three adversaries." 



I was told that he was once disputing with a gentleman, who had 

 evidently the worst of the argument, but who was unwilling to give it 

 up though he had nothing more to say. " Well, Dr. Parr, after all," 

 said he, " I will still maintain my opinion." — " No," was the reply, 

 " you may retain it, but you cannot maintain it." 



I was told that he once said to the late Lord Tamworth, " Come, my 

 Lord, button my gaiters for me." — " With the greatest pleasure," said 

 his lordship, and stooped to do so. Upon which the Doctor waved his 

 hand over him with mock solemnity, and said, " There nobility is where 

 it ought to be, at the foot of learning." 



I was told that the rector of Hatton, Dr. Brydges of Bristol, 

 used, at certain times of the year, to come over to Hatton to preach ; 

 his doctrine was as opposite as could be to the vicar's, or perpetual cu- 

 rate's, for I forget which Dr. Parr was called. One Sunday, he had left 

 his gown at Warwick, and came to ask the Doctor to lend him his : " No, 

 sir," said he, " when you come to dispense your quack medicines, 

 take care to bring your mountebank dress with you." This I have no 

 doubt he said jocosely, and that it was followed immediately by com- 

 pliance with Dr. Brydges' request ; good-humour made so inseparable a 

 part of Dr. Parr's disposition, that I had rather believe he did not say it 

 at all, than that he did not say it good-hurtiouredly. I never met with a 

 man of a more kind and obliging temper, or who would take more trouble 

 in the service of others; he often said sharp things, for he had an un- 

 governable wit, and was as devoted to repartee as Shakspeare was to pun- 

 ning ; but his manner was so droll, and exquisitely comic, that things 

 which, when reported, seemed harsh, did not seem so when uttered ; be- 

 sides, I cannot vouch for the authenticity of any of these repartees 

 except that about the ducks waddling. 



I once heard somebody say, hi the Doctor's presence, that Lord Byron 

 was a malignant being, for that nobody ))leased him. " Malignum 

 esse tu dicas," said Dr. Parr, " ego autem miserum, cui nemo placet." 



Whether this was a quotation or not I don't know, nor whether I have 

 given it correctly, for I never was in the habit of writing things down, 

 iand therefore have to depend entirely upon my recollection. 



SONNET. 



IVie Maniac. 



Sweet summer flowers were braided in her hair, 



As if in mockery of the burning brow 



Round which they droopM and witberM : singing now 



Strains of wild mjith, and now of vain despair, 



Came the poor wreck of all that once was iair, 



And rich in high endowments, ere deep woe 



Like a dark cloud came o'er her, and laid low 



Reason's ,jroud fane, and left no brightness there ; 



Yet you might deem that grief was with the rest 



Of all her cares forgotten, save when songs 



And tales she heard of faithful love nnblest, 



Of man's deceit, and trusting maidens' wrongs, 



Then, and then only in her lifted eyes, 



Remembrance beam'd, and tears would slowlj rise. A. S. 



