Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Parr
PREFACE
MEMOIRS
OF
THE LIFE, WRITINGS,
AND OPINIONS
OF
THE REV. SAMUEL PARR, LL.D.;
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES
OF MANY OF HIS FRIENDS, PUPILS,
AND CONTEMPORARIES.
BY
THE REV. WILLIAM FIELD.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
Καί γάρ τό μεμνησθαι του άνδρός, καί αλλου άκούοντα, εμοιγε άεί
πάντων εδιστον.
Plato. Phaed.
LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1828.
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PRINTED BY A. J. VALPY, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
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PREFACE.
It is well known to many of the friends of Dr. Parr, that, some time before his death, amongst other
arrangements made by him, in the contemplation of that last solemn event, he had fixed his
choice, for the office of his biographer, upon one, who had long held a high place in his
esteem and confidence; who has honourably distinguished himself in the literary world; and
who, on his part, signified his willing acceptance of the office, for which he had been
selected. Thus an engagement was formed of a very interesting nature: of which
Dr. Parr often spoke with much satisfaction; and which he has
twice recognised, in most impressive terms, in his last will.
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It soon appeared, however, that the biographer, appointed by Dr. Parr, did not proceed, as might have been expected, to
the execution of the office assigned to him; and that, for reasons with which the public
are at present unacquainted, but of which the writer of these pages is perfectly aware,
that office was transferred to another person, a highly respectable member of the medical
profession; who was chosen, indeed, by the illustrious deceased as one of his executors,
though not as his biographer.
Under the circumstances now stated, the writer conceived that, without in
the slightest degree violating any rule, even of the strictest propriety, he was at full
liberty to listen to the solicitations of his friends, who were pleased to consider him,
from his long intimacy with Dr. Parr, as well
qualified, and, in other respects, not wholly incompetent to trace the principal events of
his life, to mark the distinguishing features of his character, and to record his opinions
on those important subjects to which the attention of his acute and powerful mind was
incessantly directed.
Though it may easily be supposed that some sources of information, of which
the writer would ![]()
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have thankfully availed himself, were not open to
him; yet there are many others to which he did not fail to apply; and the information,
thence obtained, added to his own, which was not inconsiderable, has enabled him to compose
the “Memoirs” as they appear in the following pages. Among the persons, to whom
the writer is indebted for their kind and valuable communications, he is bound to offer his
grateful acknowledgments to Thomas Monro, M.D.,
formerly of London, now of Bushey, near Watford—to Henry Lee, M.D., of
Hackney—to the two medical attendants on Dr. Parr,
Amos Middleton, M.D., and Richard
Jones, Esq., surgeon, both of Leamington—to Barron Field, Esq., late Judge of the Supreme Court, New South Wales—to the
Rev. Dr. Wade, vicar of St. Nicholas, Warwick—to
the Rev. John Kendall, vicar of Budbrooke,
Warwickshire—to the Rev. James Hews Bransby, of
Dudley—to John Parkes, Esq., during thirty years one
of Dr. Parr’s most confidential friends; and to the sons of that
gentleman, Samuel Parkes, Esq., of Liverpool, and
Joseph Parkes, Esq., solicitor, of Birmingham—to
Mrs. Edwards, during many years an intimate
associate in the family of ![]()
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Dr. Parr—and to the eminently-distinguished William Roscoe, Esq., of Liverpool.
It is a subject of much regret to the writer, that, in consequence of
numerous and indispensable engagements, he is able, at present, to send from the press, the
first volume only of his intended work. He trusts, however, that the second will soon
follow it.
And now, respectfully submitting these “Memoirs” to the candid
judgment of the public, the writer ventures to express his hope that they may prove
gratifying to the friends and admirers of Dr. Parr,
and not altogether uninteresting or uninstructive to others.
Leam, near Warwick,
December 14, 1827.
James Hews Bransby (1783-1847)
Educated at a dissenting academy at Exeter, he was a schoolmaster and Unitarian minister
at Moretonhampstead (Sir John Bowring was among his pupils) and from 1805 at Wolverhampton
Street Chapel in Dudley, from which he was dismissed for forgery in 1828.
Hannah Edwards [née Wilson] (1764 c.-1841 fl.)
Of Teignmouth, a friend of Samuel Parr who was twice married, to a Mr Bellamy of Hazeley
House, and to John Edwards of Stankhill. At the time of the 1841 Warwickshire census she
was again living with the Bellamys.
Barron Field (1786-1846)
English barrister and friend of Leigh Hunt, Thomas Hood, and Charles Lamb.
John Kendall (1764 c.-1844)
The son of Wilfred Kendall, he was born in Cumberland and educated at St. Alban's Hall,
Oxford; he was schoolmaster at the Earl of Leicester's Hospital in Warwickshire (1792) and
vicar of Budbrooke (1802-44).
Amos Middleton (1779-1847)
English physician who practiced at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford and at Leamington
Spa.
Thomas Monro (1759-1833)
Of Bushey in Hertfordshire; educated at Harrow under Samuel Parr, he was a
much-criticized physician to Bedlam Hospital (1792-1816), and after his retirement a patron
of the arts.
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).
Joseph Parkes (1796-1865)
Tutored by Samuel Parr and educated at Greenwich under Charles Burney, he was a
correspondent of Jeremy Bentham who pursued a career as an election agent and political
reformer.
Samuel Parkes (1833 fl.)
Liverpool merchant; the son of John Parkes (d. 1851) and brother of Joseph Parkes
(1796-1865), like his father he was a friend of Samuel Parr.
Samuel Parr (1747-1825)
English schoolmaster, scholar, and book collector whose strident politics and assertive
personality involved him in a long series of quarrels.
William Roscoe (1753-1831)
Historian, poet, and man of letters; author of
Life of Lorenzo di
Medici (1795) and
Life and Pontificate of Leo X (1805). He
was Whig MP for Liverpool (1806-1807) and edited the
Works of Pope,
10 vols (1824).
Arthur Savage Wade (1787-1845)
Educated at St John's College, Cambridge, he was rector of St. Nicholas in Warwick, a
friend of Samuel Parr, and a Chartist podium speaker.
