288 Notes for the Month. (Serr. 
“One morning I hastily entered his library, and found him calmly occupied 
in dictating to two amanuenses at the same moment. He appeared the very 
personification of the ‘clarum et venerabile nomen ;’ enjoying ‘ otium cum 
dignitate. Seated in his easy chair, and crowned with his bonnet rouge, with 
paper-matches, a lighted candle, and ammunition-saucer of prime Nicotiana, 
upon a very small table to his right, there he held his long pipe witha graceful 
nonchalance ; awaiting in a half-recumbent posture of tranquillity and _ self- 
possession, the transcription of his thoughts. His whole expression of face 
seemed an expansion of intellect, and his ideas to be concentrated in even 
more than an usual profundity of reflection. I was ashamed to have broken 
in upon him ; but he did not manifest the slightest displeasure ; silently bowed 
me into a chair opposite, and left me to the undisturbed observation of what 
was passing. I noticed that according as each amanuensis finished copying 
the portion repeated, Parr proceeded directly, without pause or embarrass- 
ment, to dictate farther to whichever of the two might require it first. I 
remarked, with admiration, that the intervention of the one or the other had 
no effect to snap or even entangle the respective threads of his communica- 
tions. The same distinctness, and acuteness, and energy, were exercised in 
speaking toeach. No matter whether the first he dictated to, was the first to 
have done, or, vice vers ; it was quite the same to Parr. At last, there was, 
of necessity, a stop. The sage’s tube had to be cleared by a couple of smart 
taps on the small table, before he could enter upon the process of replenishing ; 
and while the interlude lasted, he thus accosted me :—‘ My friend, mind !— 
Voltaire could occupy three secretaries at the same time. I am able to cut 
out work for two!’ The pipe was already renewed ; its active fragrance was 
felt; and Parr’s eye bent on me, and his finger at the same instant pressed 
upon his lips, significantly enjoined silence. I readily obeyed the warning, 
while business progressed rapidly, regularly, and without an apparent effort.” 
This idolatrous adoration of mediocrity, is the vice, we are afraid, 
of gentlemen generally who live very much in the country ; but the good 
Doctor’s own view of his havings, it is but fair to observe, fully. bears 
out the estimate of his historians :— 
. “ The Doctor’s pupils in and about Norwich wished to present him with a 
piece of plate. We had a small committee to conduct the business: and found 
it less difficult to raise the money than to provide an appropriate inscription. 
One produced a scrap of Greek, another a sentence of Latin. The Doctor 
having an intimation of what was going forward, relieved us by sending an 
inscription with three superlatives, doctissimo, optimo, integerrimo, in which we 
readily acquiesced.” 
In another case.—This is from the recollections of a clergyman of the 
established church :— 
“ Left to himself Parr was a sloven ; but he was very punctilious, when he 
meant to be dressed. He plumed himself much upon the fulness of his gown, 
and bade me admire it. In the vestry he bade me examine his dress to see 
that all was correct. Observing sometimes, what did not please him in the 
buckling of his shoes, he put up his foot, and with a smile said—‘ Here, you 
dog, alter this.’ ” 
One more anecdote is all that we can afford: although the story of 
Mr. Stewart’s flannel waistcoat, and the half glass of brandy in his last 
cup of tea, is worth the whole price of the book if we had room for it :— 
“ Soon after this I went with him to the gallery of the House of Commons. 
Sir James Mackintosh, I think, went with him. The debate was of great 
importance. The Doctor sate in the side-gallery, from whence he could see « 
and be seen by the leading members of the opposition. Mr. Fox rose, and 
spoke. The Doctor’s eyes sparkled with animation. As Mr. Fox proceeded, 
