As the higher classes of Stanmore consisted of youths of more advanced age and more matured intellect, they were exempted to a certain extent, by special privilege, from the restraints properly imposed upon others. They had therefore, with free permission, their morning breakfast-parties, and their evening conversation-parties; and sometimes, too, though without the knowledge of the master—which seems, it must be owned, to imply some want of due vigilance on his part—they had their more convivial meetings, which they called “Attic symposia.” Yet, even on these occasions, we are assured by Mr. Maurice,1 one of their number, that “no intemperance, no indecorum, no rude or riotous mirth, ever disgraced the scholars of philosophy and of Parr!” Though highly social, these meetings, he tells us, were in their essential character literary. To stimulate to mental exertion by exciting rational curiosity, and encouraging free inquiry, was the object, as he states,
1 Mem. part 1. p. 63. |
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Of course the history, the oratory, and the poetry of Greece and Rome, would often afford to them interesting topics of debate; but more usually their choice was fixed, on subjects of English history and English literature. Sometimes, with all the ardour of youthful patriotism, they reviewed the great events, favourable to the progress of civilisation and the arts and sciences among a people, once slightingly noticed as “toto divisos orbe Britannos,”1 or contemptuously marked as “Britannos hospitibus feros;”2 and, especially, they celebrated in their harangues the great events, which contributed to the attainment or the establishment of the civil rights and liberties, so essentially connected with the true glory and prosperity of every country. The fine Alcaic fragment in praise of Harmodius and Aristogiton, the deliverers of Greece, was perpetually recited by them in the original language, and often translated into their own; and the same detestation, in which they held a Grecian or a Persian tyrant, they easily transferred to the tyrants of England. Sometimes, again, the merits of our most distinguished writers were discussed; and Pope, Dryden and Swift, Addison and Johnson, Hume and Robertson, had each his respective partizans. The learned, the
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“Young men of that age,” says Mr. Maurice,1 “will dare to think for themselves; and therefore it cannot excite wonder, if, among us, even Bolingbroke and Akenside had their admirers and their advocates.” But why is the philosophical poet placed in the same class with the philosophical statesman? The youthful censors acted surely under an erroneous impression, which many, indeed, much older than themselves, at that time received—probably from the unjust representations of the great literary tyrant of his age. Warburton had taken offence at some expressions in Akenside’s “Pleasures of Imagination,” and therefore, in remarking upon them, without the smallest hesitation, he ranks the author among “the freethinkers,” in defiance of the satisfactory evidence, which was immediately produced from his writings, of his reverential regard, not only for natural, but also for revealed religion. The same injustice seems to have been done to Dr. Middleton, in the Stanmore school; for even the authority of its great master2 could never induce, at least, the pre-
1 Mem. part l. p. 63. 2 “May not the Christian say of Middleton what Callixtus (a Lutheran divine) shrewdly said of Erasmus? Qui noster profecto non fuit, neque esse vel audiri unquam voluit. S. P.”—Bibl.Parr. p. 74. “He considered Dr. Conyers Middleton as a concealed infidel.” Butler’s Let. to Barker; Reminiscences, vol. ii. p. 249. See also, “Recollections of Dr. Parr, by a Pupil,” New Month. Mag. Aug. 1826. |
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The literary discussions of his pupils were always encouraged by the approbation, if not sometimes sanctioned by the presence of the learned superintendent, himself, who so well knew how, on such occasions, to bend from his dignity, without degrading it, and to invite familiarity without losing his claim to respect. It is mentioned by Mr. Maurice, that Dr. Parr was accustomed to give to his senior pupils frequent invitations to join his own social literary parties. “When engaged in our lessons,” says another of his pupils, Mr. Hargrave, “he assumed a magisterial gravity of manner; but, at other times, he conversed with us as friends, and frequently entertained us with the most amusing anecdotes.”1
Through life, indeed, it was ever gratifying to him, to mingle in the society of ingenuous and intelligent young men, and to impart to them useful instruction or interesting information, in the course of unrestrained conversation. And here, the writer, himself an instructor of youth, cannot suppress the recollection, forcing itself at this moment on his mind, of the high pleasure with which four of the elder of his pupils invited, some few years ago, to dine with Dr. Parr at Hatton, returned home, conveyed in his carriage, purposely ordered out
1 New Month. Mag. Aug. 1826. |
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On another occasion, though of much earlier date, returning home from Nottingham election, where he had been to give his vote in favour of that highly-distinguished lawyer, and truly excellent patriot, Mr. Denman, and stopping on his way at Leam, the place of the writer’s residence, he invited himself to dinner, absolutely insisting, however, on the condition that no separate table, nor second course should be provided for him. “No, no!” said he, “I shall dine with the boys, and fare alike with them.”
Dinner, on his own terms, being announced, almost as soon as he was seated in the midst of the youthful company, he began to take some kind notice of each, as each caught his eye. “Where do you come from?” was the first question addressed
1 De Senectute. |
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Guy’s Cliff being mentioned, he adverted to the tragic story of Gaveston, favourite of Edward II., who was beheaded on the summit of a hill near that place. Passing from the second Guy, Earl of Warwick, at whose instigation chiefly that dreadful deed was done, to the first and the most renowned Guy, and talking over the wondrous tale of his valiant deeds, Dr. Parr said that he was very learned in the old legends, and took great delight in reading the history of “Jack, the Giant-killer,” “Tom Thumb,” “Guy, and his wild boar and dun cow,” and all the rest of them.1
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1 “Seven Champions of Christendom (the famous history of the). This very best edition was given me by the learned Dr. Anthony Askew, because it was a favourite book with me when a |
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One boy being pointed out to his notice, as the nephew of the celebrated but unfortunate French leader, Brissot, he turned to him a look of mingled curiosity and commiseration, which spoke the thoughts that stirred within him, though he carefully avoided all inquiries that might revive even transient feelings of pain in the youth’s mind. Another boy being mentioned as the grandson of Dr. Doddridge, he called for him, gazed upon him for some moments with evident delight; then taking his hand between his own, whispered a kind of benediction, and, with a benignant smile, and a tone of affectionate fervour, said, “Be a good scholar, and, above all, be a good man;” and, alluding to his grandfather, added, “He was a good man, and a good scholar.” The name of Doddridge led him to speak of other distinguished men among the non-conforming divines, and he spoke of them with expressions of high regard. He said that he had always lived as if there were no distinction of sects; and, in reply to the observation which this called forth, “So much the more to your honour, Doctor,” he exclaimed—“To my honour?—no! but so much the more to my comfort.”
Conversation, on topics so interesting to youthful curiosity, conducted with so much engaging affability of temper and manner, and accompanied with
boy. It is a most valuable, and not a common book.”—“Parismus folio. When I was a boy, at Harrow, Dick —— lent me a publication, in which, among other jocose romances, was the history of Parismus. Sir W. Jones, Dr. Bennet, now Bp. of Cloyne, and I, were delighted with it.” Bibl. Parr. p. 524-523. |
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The kindly sympathies which adorn our nature, especially when combined with the higher talents which exalt it, are, in every form, a most pleasing object of contemplation; and it well deserves distinct and honourable mention, that, with some sternness of authority as a master, and with much severity of temper as a disciplinarian, Dr. Parr united, in no small degree, the more amiable qualities of a wise and affectionate counsellor and friend.1 According to the report of all his pupils, with only a single exception,2 whilst he was rigorous in exacting their obedience, he, at the same
1 “Cum sibi ad literas monstraret viam, non austeram et inamabilem preceptoris disciplinary sed amici unice fidelis exhibuerit studiura.” Dr. Maltby. See Bibl. Parr. p. 149. 2 Mr. Beloe. |
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It too often happens that young persons, by
1 “True it is, that my conception of men and things is vivid, and that my language about them is seldom feeble. But if my censures are severe, I hope that my commendations are more frequent and not less forcible. I am sure, too, that I have much oftener had reason to repent of my precipitation in praise, than of my injustice in reproach.”—Reply to Combe, p. 20. 2 In his written communication to the author. 3 Mr. Beloe speaks also, “of his terror-striking looks that were irresistible.” Sex. vol. i. p. 23. |
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As he was careful, in every instance, to form a fair estimate of the mental powers and moral merits of those, committed to his charge; so, it may be added, he entertained a secret respect for the judgment which they, in their turn, might be disposed to form of his talents, his principles, and his temper; and when he delivered his opinions, or issued his orders, even though his opinions were respectfully received, and his orders implicitly obeyed, yet he was seldom well satisfied with himself, unless they were, at the same time, generally if not universally approved.
Much has been said of Dr. Parr’s severity in the maintenance of school-discipline; and yet there is reason to think that he was too often remiss in
1 European Mag. Aug. 1809. |
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In the “Memoirs of his own Life,”1 Mr. Maurice speaks of what was facetiously called “The Jockey Club,” in Stanmore School, the members of which were accustomed, in the view of an approaching holyday, to hire all “the fleet Rozinantes” of the neighbourhood; and, on the expected day, to scour the whole country round, far and wide, full of fun and frolic, for many hours together; and all
1 Life of Sheridan, vol. i. p. 8. 2 Part 2. p. 3. |
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From the defects—to turn again to the excellencies which distinguished Dr. Parr as a precep-
1 Mr. Maurice confesses the frequency of his own visits to “a certain taberna, near the bottom of Stanmore Hill, ycleped the ‘Queen’s Head;’ where he was initiated into an art, not usually taught in schools, the ars bibendi.” Alas! his case in this instance affords another proof of the powerful influence of early habits, good or bad, upon the conduct of future life. 2 That these irregularities were sufficiently known, but not sufficiently checked, may appear from the following story, which Dr. Parr himself often told. Going out in a carriage one afternoon, he overtook, at some considerable distance from home on the road, a company of his boys, amusing themselves with riding asses. Instantly on the master’s approach, they all dismounted and fled, leaving their coats, which they had taken off, and other articles of dress, behind them in their fright. Coming up, the master alighted, collected the scattered vestments, and putting them in his carriage, returned home. For a day or two, he took no notice of the misdemeanour. But, after having held the delinquents for that time in a state of suspense and alarm, he brought out the collected spoils, and called upon those, to whom they belonged, to come forward and claim them; jocosely observing, that he had, somehow or other, got together a heap of old clothes; that he was not a dealer in such articles; and that it might seem difficult to account for his possession of them. As the claimants severally appeared, covered with confusion at the complete detection of the offence, and fearful of punishment, a significant smile, or a nod, was all the reproof they received. |
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The same anxiety which watched over the improvement and the happiness of his pupils, whilst
1 “Parum contentus singularem illam exantlâsse curam, dum in conspectu ejus ageret, intraque limites scholæ moraretur; defuerit nunquam in se adhortando, eam ut servaret in studiis prosequendis diligentiam, eumque in virtute sedulò excolendâ tenorem,” &c. Dr. Maltby.—See Bibl. Parr. p. 149. 2 Maurice’s Mem. part 1. p. 105. 3 “Dr. Parr holds, that Mr. Bowyer is not a rash conjecturer; that he is not a mere retailer of Markland’s, Bentley’s and Wetstein’s guesses; that the last edition of the ‘Conjectures’ is a book which ought to be read by every scholar and every rational Christian.”—Bibl. Parr. p. 4. |
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To the present writer, long engaged in the business of education, next to the mental and moral improvement of his pupils, it has ever been his great delight to witness, and he has ever felt it an important duty to promote, their innocent amusements, and especially their active and healthful sports. It is, therefore, peculiarly pleasing to him to relate, that Dr. Parr was no less friendly to those feats of bodily exertion, and games of manly contention, which so much contribute to give health, agility, and firmness to the body, and, by a reciprocal effect, to impart also spirit, activity, and energy to all the powers and operations of the mind.
On the high days, specially devoted by the youths of Leam to the noble amusement of a cricket-match, in association with many young men of the surrounding neighbourhood, Dr. Parr
1 Maurice’s Mem. part 1. p. 106. |
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But there is one kind of personal contest, with respect to which the writer and his illustrious friend could not agree. He was the admirer and the advocate, which the writer is not, of pugilistic encounters among boys; and these he defended by the usual arguments, as the exercise of a manly and useful art, calculated to inspire firmness and fortitude, and to furnish the means of defence against violence and insult. It was amusing to hear him speak of the tacit agreement which subsisted, he said, between himself and his pupils at Stanmore, that all their battles should be fought on a certain spot, of which he commanded a full view from his private room; as thus he could see, without being seen, and enjoy the sport, without endangering the loss of his dignity. It must be owned, indeed, that there is more to be advanced in favour of the practice, considered as the least dangerous mode of terminating real quarrels, especially among the lower classes of the people, than can
1 “My good friend,” said Dr. Parr, on one occasion, to the writer, “I was passing, a day or two ago, by your field, and saw all your boys intently and merrily engaged in their sports. Oh! it was a sight which cheered my heart! Pray tell them from me that the old Doctor longed to throw away his hat and wig, and to run and make one among them!” |
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Among the Greeks and Romans, the importance, even at the earliest age, of those bodily exercises, called gymnastics, was highly estimated; and the ancients certainly understood better than the moderns the beneficial influence, mutually exerted by the three great branches of physical, intellectual and moral education. The aid of the first they held to be equally necessary with that of the second and the third, in order to form and to produce the proper model of a man, and to raise up the human creature to his due state of perfection. In their opinion, the highest refinements of the mind, without the exercise and improvement of the body, would leave the business of education only half accomplished; or rather the whole object of it would then be in a great measure defeated, because in that case the mental faculty itself would inevitably sink into a state of inertness or imbecility, either from over-action, and its necessary consequence, exhaustion, or from that strong sympathy which ever subsists between the two great parts of the human system. The mens sana could, therefore, according to their idea, have no possible, or at least no permanent, existence but in corpore sano.
Pliny, in one of his letters, describing the manner in which he was accustomed to unite the handling of the spear and the hunting of the boar with
1 See a sensible paper on this subject, by Dr. Bardsley, in the “Manchester Philosophical Trans.” 2d series, vol. i. p. 164. |
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Let no one, then, who may peruse these pages, think the subject degraded,
when it is noticed with due commendation, that, at Stanmore School, all proper attention
was given to those arts and amusements, which have for their object the culture of the
external senses, and the preservation and improvement of the bodily health and vigour.
Besides the elegant accomplishments of music, drawing, and dancing, the youths of Stanmore
were accustomed to the hardier exercises of archery, fencing, and military drilling; and
were encouraged, during the allotted hours of the day, to engage vigorously
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On the summit of the neighbouring hill, near which the first Duke of Chandos built a mansion, called the “Banqueting House,” there is a spacious area, once used as a bowling-green; and this was the place appropriated to the favourite English sport. Two or three times a week, matches were made, and the skill and strength of the contending parties called forth into full exertion. Around this elevated spot there was, and still is, a plantation of large and lofty firs; and it is amusing to be told that, here, those, who at one time performed the part of the ancient athletæ, would at other times assemble as juvenile philosophers; holding disputations on questions of science and literature, with all the solemn gravity of their venerable ancestors, the disciples of Plato and Aristotle, reposing in the groves of Academus, or walking amidst the deep shades of the Lyceum.1 If the reflecting reader should smile when he peruses these paragraphs, it will not be with the smile of derision or of contempt.
Of the scholars of Stanmore School, there were many, who afterwards appeared with honourable distinction, some more and others less, in the public or private walks of life; and of these, short biographical notices will be found subjoined to these Memoirs.
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1 Maurice’s Mem. part 1. p. 106. |
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