Ad Pricæum jam scripsi. Tibi, uxori, et filiolæ tuæ, a D. O. M. omnia fausta precor.

Dabam Balneopoli, 19. Feb. 1776.

P. S. Mihi Anglice rescribas vehementer oro. Si enim aliter faceres, summam industriam, patientiamque meam superaverit labor ille stupendus epistolæ tuæ legendæ. Sin autem Latine rescribendi te magna lubido invaserit, epistolam tuam postquam scripseris, Shillitoo aut cuivis alii scribæ solerti transcribendam tradas-Jamque iterum vale.

Parr had no fixed clerical duty; he preached occasionally for Mr. Smith, and very often for the Rev. Walter Williams of Pinner, and once had the care of the Church for a month at a time. Whilst at Harrow, he served the church at Kingsbury from Christmas till Easter 1769, immediately after his ordination. His duties in the school at Harrow and Stanmore fully occupied his time.

Whilst at Stanmore, Parr published nothing, except in a review or magazine, some criticisms.

His eldest daughter, Sarah-Anne, was born at Stanmore Dec. 31, 1772.

CHAP. II.

From 1777 to 1786.

I HAVE alluded to the causes which more immediately influenced Parr's determination to leave Stanmore, and to become a candidate for the school at Colchester.

Through Bennet Langton Esq. he applied to Dr. Samuel Johnson for letters of recommendation, which were kindly granted, as will be seen by the following letters of Mr. Langton, and Mr. Boggis, one of the Aldermen of Colchester:

Mr. Bennet Langton to Mr. Parr, dated

DEAR SIR,

London, Feb. 5th, 1777. I hope you will have received, when this arrives, the letter I did myself the pleasure of writing to you on Monday, wherein I mentioned my intention of applying to Dr. Johnson, as you desired. Yesterday morning Mr. Paradise and I went to his house, and were informed that he was expected before dinner in town from Mr. Thrale's; we staid in that part of the town as late as we conveniently could, but as he was not then come we left word that we should call again as this morning, which we did, and found him only then just arrived. It is, I assure you, dear Sir, but doing justice to his expressions, on our application to say, that nothing could be more friendly than they were. He said he knew of few, if of any, that were so well entitled to success as yourself in an application for presiding over a seminary of education; and expressed

the opinion of your possessing all the kinds of learning requisite for that purpose, in very high terms of praise. He said we might apprise you of his intention of immediately complying with your request of writing, and seemed anxious to do it in such a manner as might most fully evince the sincerity of the testimony he should give. I remain, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, BENNET LANGTON.

From Thomas Boggis, Esq. to Mr. Parr.

DEAR SIR,

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 30th ult. Shall be glad to hear of your being rid of your cold. I have now to inform you, I have fixed the election for a master of our free Grammar-school to be on Wednesday, the 19th of this month; at which time, if convenient to you, shall be glad to see you here, when I make no doubt shall be able to give you joy of being elected. I had the honour of a letter this day from your friend Dr. Johnson on your behalf. Have had a meeting of our Corporation, the members of which all wish you success; and I remain, dear Sir, your humble servant, THOMAS BOGGIS. P.S. I hope to see you at my house when you come over.

By Dr. Nathaniel Forster he was received with open arms, and was offered curacies in addition to his school in the following letter:

SIR,

Dr. Forster to the Rev. Mr. Parr.

Colchester, 29th Jan. 1777. Having the pleasure to find that you are now without a competitor for our school (Mr. Causley having declined), I beg leave to mention to you that I have the care of two churches in this town, for which I wish to have a Curate. One of them is small, and very near you; the other not large, but at the distance of near a mile, The duty is service at each

once a Sunday. The weekly duty I have for many years past done myself, but am now under a necessity of giving up the business of burials, on account of my gouty feet. These, therefore, must be undertaken by the Curate. And I am also obliged to load him with the buryings of a third parish in the town, annexed to that which I serve myself. Upon a calculation for seven years past, I found the average number in the three parishes to be 54 in the year. I still mean to do all the other weekly duty. I now give £50 a year for the service of the two churches on Sundays, and I mean to make the salary 50 guineas, in consideration of the additional duty above-mentioned; any part of which, however, I shall be always ready to do when I am able. If you choose employment of this kind, I am confident you will meet with nothing so convenient to you in this neighbourhood. I have, indeed, declined engaging myself with any gentleman for these churches since Mr. Smythies's death, upon the idea that they might be convenient to his successor; and shall still keep them open for you, if you have any thought of closing with my proposal. I must, however, beg the favour of an answer, I do not mean a categorical one, as soon as possible, and am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

The names of the two churches Leonard's.

NAT. FORSTER. are Trinity and St.

Parr succeeded the Rev. Mr. Smythies at Colchester in the mastership of the school, and went to reside there in the spring 1777. He repaired the school house; he took a neighbouring house for the reception of scholars; and though the success of his endeavours to establish a flourishing seminary was very inconsiderable, he always looked back with pleasure to that period of his life.

But at Colchester, no more than at Harrow, or at Stanmore, was he perfectly at peace. He had a contest with the Trustees of the School concerning

a lease; and on this subject printed a pamphlet, which, however, he never published. Sir William Jones was his legal adviser, and to him the sheets of the pamphlet were sent, as they came from the press; and his remarks are constantly "too violent, too strong:" he seems to have considered it a trifling concern. The pamphlet is marked with all the peculiarities of Parr's style; its vigour, its vehemence, its clearness, its pointed antithesis, and its copious illustration, and splendid imagery. The pamphlet itself, being written on a temporary and local subject, will not be re-printed. The following extracts exemplify its character and manner:

That day, indeed, I expected to find a day of fierce contention, and therefore I had arrayed myself in a panoply of the trustiest armour; in the breastplate of innocence, the shield of the law, the sword of indignation, and the helmet of intrepidity. When I first entered the lists against these hardy combatants, I determined to throw away the scabbard, and, firmly as I confided in the strength of my cause, I imagined that my antagonists would not yield me the dulcem sine pulvere palmam, that they would dispute every inch of ground with me, and at least save their credit, by retreating with their weapons in their hands. But my expectations were altogether disappointed; instead of the fury of a contest, we had not even the mockery of a skirmish; not one threat was denounced, not one argument was produced, nor one allusion was dropped upon the offensive topic of the agreement.

The sum of £483 would furnish no despicable portion for the daughter of a clergyman; it would make up such a capital for any man of the meanest extraction, as, with the concurrence of industry, good fortune, and avarice, might enable him. to amass daily wealth in his town house; to enjoy occasional relaxation, the otium cum dignitate, in his country house; to buy estates, to plant parks, to govern a borough, and even