Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Parr
Ch XIV. 1819
Samuel Parr to an unnamed correspondent, 21 August 1819
“Dear Sir,—You will be glad to hear that I am in good
health, and that I have had a most delightful journey. We visited the lakes.
Sanctuary and Sam ascended
Skiddaw, whilst I was on the Derwent-Water. Skiddaw is the grandest mountain I
ever saw in England; but must yield to Ben Lomond. After passing two days with
Mr. Brougham, we finished our English
travels at the fine seat of Sir James
Graham. We are charmed with North Britain. The scenery of
nature, and the improvement from art throughout Scotland, far surpass my
expectation. No part of my journey has been more pleasant to me than the time I
spent at Balloch Castle, the seat of Mr.
Buchanan, finely situated on the banks of Loch Lomond. Pray tell
Mr. Parkes of the delightful visit I
had at his brother-in-law’s. We were well received at Glasgow, Stirling,
Linlithgow, and no less so at Edinburgh. To-day I set off for Mr. Dugald Stewart’s, Kinneil House; and
shall return on Wednesday. Last Sunday I heard an excellent discourse from
Bishop Gleig, primate of the Scotch
Episcopal Church; and to-morrow I shall be a hearer of the celebrated Mr. Allison. I shall leave Edinburgh on
Saturday next, on my return home. We meet with hospitality, rank, affluence,
learning and science, every where; and, after
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these luxuries, physical, intellectual, and moral, I must
be content with the tame and lifeless scenes of Warwickshire. Pray remember me
to all my friends; and especially to my good parishioners, whom I do not forget
amidst all my high and exquisite enjoyments. I am, &c.—
Archibald Alison (1757-1839)
Scottish Episcopal clergyman and author of
Essays on the Nature and
Principles of Taste (1790).
Henry Peter Brougham, first baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)
Educated at Edinburgh University, he was a founder of the
Edinburgh
Review in which he chastised Byron's
Hours of Idleness; he
defended Queen Caroline in her trial for adultery (1820), established the London University
(1828), and was appointed lord chancellor (1830).
John Buchanan (1761-1839)
Of Balloch Castle, Dunbarton, the son of Thomas Buchanan, Glasgow merchant; educated at
Glasgow University he was a Tory MP for Dunbartonshire (1821-26).
John Buchanan (d. 1817)
Of Cambusmore House; he was a Highland gentleman and acquaintance of Walter Scott.
George Gleig, bishop of Brechin (1753-1840)
Educated at King's College, Aberdeen, he contributed to the
Monthly
Review,
Gentleman's Magazine, British Critic, and
Anti-Jacobin Review; he was Episcopal bishop of Brechin
(1810-40).
Sir James Graham, first baronet (1761-1824)
Of Netherby, son of Robert Graham; educated under Samuel Parr at Stanmore and at Magdalen
College, Oxford, he was MP for Ripon (1798-1807) aligned with William Pitt.
John Parkes (1764 c.-1851)
Of Warwick, textile manufacturer and friend of Samuel Parr; he was the father of the
solicitor and election agent Joseph Parkes (1796-1865).
Dugald Stewart (1753-1828)
Professor of moral philosophy at Edinburgh University (1785-1809); he was author of
Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind (1792-93).
William Thomson (1746-1817)
Scottish clergyman and miscellaneous writer who wrote for the
European
Magazine, the
English Review, and London newspapers.
