would it be for mankind if the leisure of those who rule the destiny of nations was often employed in the same innocent manner. It is more than probable that Mr. Fox gave a fashion and a currency to classical discussions; for we see him in the letters which I have inserted in the Appendix, referred to as an arbitrator on the meaning of the most celebrated of all Greek Odes.

The name of Lord Holland, connected by the ties of blood with that of Mr. Fox, naturally coheres to it also, from many kindred qualities of the heart and understanding, and from a like course of political sentiment and conduct. Dr. Parr became acquainted with this illustrious nobleman when he was pursuing his studies at Christ Church, and they occasionally corresponded ever after. Their more intimate acquaintance displayed itself, however, during the latter days of Mr. Fox, and after his death their friendship was cemented by their mutual reverence for the departed statesman. It would be a useless task to enumerate those high qualities which peculiarly attached Dr. Parr to Lord Holland-his large views of foreign and domestic policy-his patronage of unlimited toleration-his love of liberty-his supereminent accomplishments as a scholar, both in ancient and modern lore-his correct taste-his unswerving attach

* About the same time he became acquainted with the late Mr. Canning, having been introduced to him by Mr. Sheridan ; but his acquaintance with him was not continued after Mr. C. had a seat in Parliament.

ments-all, and more than all could be proved from the correspondence which has been placed in my hands. I shall publish only a portion of it, regretting that the space will not allow the insertion of every word written by such men as Lord Holland and Dr. Parr, when their minds were in free communion one with the other.

of

To Mr. Coke, his patron, Parr dedicated Philopatris Varvic., in which his character is so justly delineated, that it is superfluous to add the language any other feeble testimony; a few letters, however, will at once gratify the reader, and bear witness to the fact, that the friendship of Mr. Coke and Dr. Parr was continued to the last hour of Dr. Parr's life, and that it survives in the breast of Mr. Coke, and still sheds a lustre over the character of our friend.-Vide Appendix.

625

CHAPTER XV.

Persons protected.

THE Philopatris Varvicensis was read throughout with unusual interest; but the note on the revisal of the laws met with general approbation. The Appendix contains all that encomium can utter on these profound inquiries, and the spirit of mercy in which they are conceived and composed. To love mercy was a part of Parr's nature, and his abhorrence of capital punishment was always expressed when justice was too rigorously exercised, especially on juvenile offenders. This happened to be the case, in his estimation, in one of the sentences of Mr. Burton, a Welsh Judge, and he stated it erroneously, according to the following letter of Mr. Leycester, in the notes to Philopatris :

SIR,

Cheltenham, July 18, 1809. In a dissertation upon the criminal law, understood to be written by you, which I was turning over a few days ago, you quote part of a speech of Mr. Burton upon a motion made by Sir S. Romilly on the 15th June, 1808, in which Mr. Burton is supposed to say, that two boys were capitally convicted and suffered judgment (meaning a judgment of death) for privately stealing; this you state on the authority of a newspaper, and though you say you set it forth without venturing to answer for

the correctness of a newspaper, yet, without inquiring whether it was correct or not, you do venture upon assumption of its correctness, to publish several sarcastic remarks, much to the prejudice of the supposed speaker, a gentleman as respectable, and of as much rational humanity, and sound discretion in the administration of the criminal law as any man intrusted with it. As a particular friend of Mr. Burton, I think it proper to inform you that no such punishment was inflicted upon the boys alluded to, and that Mr. Burton never said so; but that "of four boys convicted of that offence, two were transported for seven years and two for life." Whatever concern you may feel for the reflection of your having given publicity, duration, and credit to the misrepresentation of a newspaper, and still more for the unmerited imputation you have thought fit to found upon it, I have no doubt you will be glad to be set right, and to have an opportunity of showing your regard to truth and justice, which I am most ready to believe nobody feels more than you do, by correcting the mistake in such manner as you may judge most expedient for that purpose. I must also take the liberty of observing, that if in the proclamation of impunity, p. 401, you refer, as I presume you do, to the expression of Mr. Burton in the same speech, and if by the blockhead, however stupid, you meant to refer to Mr. Burton, or to associate him with that idea, you will find the expression was applied by him to a transportation for years, I think for seven years, and certainly not for life; and that it clearly appears so from the very words of the speech as you yourself have quoted them. I cannot help adding that your information, mentioned in p. 777, that a Scotch lawyer, high in station, had moved for leave to bring in a bill to extend the English punishment of child murder to Scotland, is still less founded, the motion alluded to being for a purpose directly opposite to your representation of it. I trust you will think the occasion justifies the liberty I have taken in giving you this trouble. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, H. LEYCESTER."

This letter produced an answer, for which see Appendix, dated July 26.

Against general philanthropy and benevolence,

unsupported by particular acts of kindness and undirected to private and to local circumstances, all those who can read, must have read with pleasure the theological and moral discussions of Dr. Parr, in all his discourses, and especially in the Spital Sermon and the notes attached to it. A kind feeling towards his fellow-creatures, and above all towards his kindred and his friends, we have seen, was an early part of his nature. I trust the affecting narrative of the declining health and the death of his cousin, Mr. Francis Parr, cannot have failed to impart some impression of his benevolent feelings and munificent actions, and more than all of his holy-mindedness and piety. The short abode at Stanmore and Colchester witnessed examples of the same character: and at Norwich they were emblazoned in charity and mercy to many of those who were sick, and needy, and in prison. The case of Matthew Barker, the protection of Mr. Bourn, a learned man of sentiments directly contrary to his own, were specimens of his active and personal benevolence at Norwich. I have hinted at some of the cases which might be adduced to illustrate it in Warwickshire, particularly those of Mr. Oliver and Mr. Brooke, both persons labouring under mental derangement; and perhaps there was no Assize at Warwick in which his humanity was not appealed to, and in which he did not endeavour to mitigate the harsh penalties of law to one or other of the prisoners. Nor did his endeavours and personal exertions stop there. I will appeal to a competent witness, and to a person exemplary and