Dr. Forster of Colchester. I have frequently heard from Mr. Forster, my father-in-law, Dr. F.'s cousin, that, while Dr. Parr lived in Colchester, there was much intercourse between him and Dr. F., and that they entertained a most sincere esteem for each other; and from all that I have heard of the talents and character of Dr. Forster, I can have no doubt that this was the case."

Extract from a Letter dated Jan. 2, 1783, and written by Dr. Forster of Colchester to a friend, on the subject of Dr. Parr as a Master.

But

"I advise nothing. He is, as you well know, the best of scholars, and as far as instruction goes, the best of masters. And, if it be an object with you, at all events to make your son a scholar, you cannot do better than send him to Parr. his theory of discipline I detest. He certainly acts upon principle. He thinks, too, but I fear he is sometimes mistaken, that he studies the disposition of the boy, and treats him accordingly. When I call Parr the best of masters, I mean, according to the present mode of education. This mode especially at the outset, I think absurd and irrational to the last degree. But, while it continues to be the mode, it must in some mea

sure be followed by all at least, who wish to have their sons pass for fine scholars, and get Scholarships and Fellowships at our famous Universities. And long, I fear, will it continue, notwithstanding the many attempts of the most enlightened of the human race to extirpate it." "I am not at all surprised that you have not succeeded as you wish. It is impossible you should. I know but two principles, that can make a child attend to the jargon of our Latin Grammars, or to any jargon. And these are emulation, or fear of punishment: reward will not do. There can be no emulation with a single pupil; and your doses of fear, I am sure, would not be Q. S. I know but one comfortable method, comfortable both to the pupil and the master, of literary education. Begin with English, read the easiest pieces of English, as well in prose as verse. Go on gradually to more difficult writers. Explain such parts as are intelligible; pass over others: in time all will be intelligible. Go on gradually to the grammar of English; give instances of good and bad English in the course of reading: the simplest first. These instances will lead to rules to rules as well of general grammar, as of the English in particular. A little easy metaphysics will come in of course. For in distinguishing and classing words you must distinguish and class ideas. And, unless I am much mistaken, a child will easily comprehend

all this, because he will feel it. When he really knows a little, his curiosity will be piqued to know more. A child reasons by analogy at a very early period. It says gooder before it knows better, because the er denotes the comparative in most adjectives. It always adds ed to the preterperfect for the same reason; and always s to the plural. After two or three or four years spent in this way, nothing will be easier than the Latin. It will be pleasing for the boy to mark the instances, in which the grammars of the two languages agree, and in which they differ. Curiosity will be increased at every step; and he will know the languages, as soon as he knows the meaning of the words."

From Dr. Forster's correspondence with his son, the Rev. Edward Forster, of which only a small portion has been preserved, and for the loan of which I am indebted to the kindness of the son's widow, I shall extract such parts only, or chiefly, as relate to Dr. Parr, or to those literary or metaphysical speculations, in which the powerful and ardent and active mind of Dr. Forster loved to indulge. All the Letters are dated from Colchester, and they all manifest the tender anxiety of the father for the intellectual progress and the moral welfare of the son, who was at that time a student at Baliol-College, Oxford: -

"May 20, 1785. I am afraid that something or other

would prevent the balloon-exhibition this week. Dr. Parr, however, is very kind in pressing you to stay with him till it does take place. My principal objection to so long an absence is, as you say, the neglect of your books. I am glad you have obviated this objection. I hope you will prevail upon yourself to read a little Virgil or Terence, or both, with Dr. Parr. I think you will do best in Virgil. But take care that you read properly as to quantity. You will see what an excellent man he is. Perhaps he will give you some instructions, that may be of use to you afterwards. Pray give my best compliments to him and Mrs. Parr."

"May 23. If you stay, I hope you will not pass a day without reading either Latin or Greek, or both. The more you do with Dr. Parr, so much the better will it be for you. Pray send me the title of Huntingford's book: I never saw it, but I will order it immediately. Dr. Parr is certainly right with respect to exercises, and we will go on in Willymot's Particles, when you return. Pick up all you can from Dr. Parr as to the method of learning the languages. He is a much better judge than I am. Give our best compliments to him and Mrs. Parr, and to the rest of our acquaintance at Norwich."

"Nov. 9, 1788.- I suppose the part of Plato's works, in which you are lectured, are the five Dialogues published by our cousin, the late Dr. Forster. I am glad you do not find the book over-hard. That and every other book will grow more and more easy, if you take care to make yourself master of it as you go on. great difficulty of Plato, in these Dialogues especially, lies in the nice distinctions, which he makes, and in the very artificial manner, in which Socrates confutes his opponents. His doctrines, his philosophy, often want

The

explanation; and I shall be glad to hear that Mr. Matthew has a clear method of explaining things. I would have you by no means drop your Homer, nor neglect your French. Be not, however, so anxious to read much as to understand well what you read. You should not miss a single day without attempting to write a little Latin, till you have got something like a knack of doing it. Perhaps Charles Barker may assist you in this. I own to you that I never could write Latin with fluency and ease. By taking time, however, and pains, I managed pretty well, and generally gained credit by what I did. Your mathematical lecture, I suppose, is Euclid. Pray, take care to be master of every proposition as you go on, so as to have the whole chain of reasoning in your head. And in order to this, it will be often necessary for you to look back, and recall to your memory some of the former demonstrations. The whole theory of the properties of triangles depends, I think, upon the fourth proposition; that is, it depends upon supraposition: and you will remember that in all cases every new proposition, or rather every new demonstration, is nothing more than a new application of former demonstrations. I wish I was now and then at your elbow, to answer any questions you might have to ask. I would advise you to preserve all such Letters of mine, as relate to literary subjects. It may be of use to you to look at them more than once. 1 would also advise you to write your Letters with as much accuracy as you can, even when you write to me. I do not mean by this to find the least fault with those, which you have written to me: far otherwise,-I like them very well. Nor do I mean that you should take any such pains in writing, as to make it a labour or a burthen. Write freely as your thoughts arise. But then I would have