tended for the superior, or even the subordinate stations, in the two remaining professions of law and medicine. These few remarks contain the substance of many conversations which Dr Parr has held, with the writer and with others, when expatiating, as he often did with delight, upon the utility and importance of his own favorite language.

Among the Grecian writers, the highest place was assigned, in Stanmore School, to the orators and poets, and especially to the dramatic poets. The teaching of the Greek plays, Dr Parr always called "the most difficult and the most honorable of school business:" and there were certain seasons peculiarly and almost exclusively devoted to it. "For three or four weeks," says Dr Monro, "before the usual holidays, Dr Parr was accustomed to make the boys of the upper school read the Greek plays for seven or eight hours together; and he sometimes kept them so employed till near eleven o'clock at night." The orators, too, obtained an almost equal share of close and careful attention.

On these subjects, always so delightful to the young and ardent mind, nothing could be more able and efficient than the manner in which the learned preceptor delivered his instructions. Besides the Grecian and Roman authorities * brought in illustration, he was accustomed to adduce passages from modern writers, principally English, and to point out, in his own masterly way, their characteristic or comparative excellencies. So eloquent and impressive were these recitations, and the remarks which accompanied them, that "it was hardly possible," says Mr Maurice," even for the most stupid boy not to be struck and aroused."-"I have known," continues he, "youth of sensibility affected even to tears; and I believe none who heard them ever forgot them." On these occasions, the notes which Dr Parr delivered, whether explanatory or illustrative, "were written down," says Dr Monro,t "by the pupils, either at the time, or from recollection afterwards."-"I had a large collection of them," he adds, "which I gave to Mr Beloe many years ago."

* "Parr's memory," says one of his pupils," from nature and from application was very capacious. In reading a Greek or Latin author, a stream of illustration issued from him. When we were up at Virgil with him, he thundered out, ore rotundo, all the passages which the poet had borrowed, and whilst he borrowed, adorned, from Homer and Apollonius the Rhodian."-Parriana. New Month. Mag., Nov. 1826.

+ In his written communications to the writer.

The Rev. William Beloe, the person just mentioned, was another of Dr Parr's pupils, who, though unfavorable in his general representation of his early friend and tutor, has rendered due homage to many of his great qualities, and who thus speaks: "His taste was exquisite, acute, accurate, elegant and this he seemed to communicate and inspire. It was really delightful to hear him read; and I do not think that this accomplishment, which is never sufficiently cultivated, can possibly be carried to a higher degree of perfection than it was by him."-"He possessed, also," continues Mr Beloe, "extraordinary powers of eloquence; and his easy flow of words could only be equalled by his nervous, appropriate, and happy disposition of them."

The gratefulness of this praise is, however, lessened by the disparaging words which follow: He was proud of this talent; and somewhat ostentatious in the display of it.' But this little instance of spite-for such it is, though disguised under the apparent moderation and the acknowledged truth, in some degree, of the reflection--is nothing in comparison with the many unjust and shameless aspersions aimed at Dr Parr's character, scattered about in various parts of the work which formed his last literary labor.* Let it, however, be known to the reader, that, on account of some real or supposed grievance in early schoolboy days, from that time to the latest moment of his life, Mr Beloe secretly cherished strong feelings of resentment against one whose friendship he openly courted; and whose favors, on many important occasions, he eagerly solicited and accepted. On this unpleasing subject, a word or two, and only a word or two, will be said by the writer hercafter. At present a more agreeable theme occupies his thoughts and his pen.

With the study of the orators, and the tragic and other poets, was united that of the historians and the philosophers of Greece. In perusing the former, the aids of chronological and geographical science were diligently employed, so far as necessary to illustrate the more important facts; and, in studying the latter, the interest of the young scholar was greatly increased, and his understanding greatly assisted, by an elaborate comparison instituted between the different systems taught in the different schools of Greece; accompanied with a clear and lumious exposition of the theories

* Beloe's Sexagenarian, vol i. p. 24.

adopted by the more enlightened philosopers of modern

times.

Much importance was attached by the learned preceptor to the study of Greek versification, in which he was himself eminently skilled; and earnest and persevering were his efforts to teach its laws, and explain its intricacies to his pupils. But the desired success was not in all, perhaps not in many, cases obtained. So extreme was sometimes the distaste for this difficult study, that it was not to be overcome; and even some of Dr Parr's most intelligent pupils have complained that too much of their time was consumed "in learning to unravel the complicated perplexities of Greek metre; which, after all, they very imperfectly understood."

But with far greater and more general success, the practice of Greek composition, both in prose and verse, was introduced and enforced. It is a practice which has prevailed of late years more than formerly, in most of our private as well as public seminaries; and in the prosecution of a learned education, no employment can be more reasonable or bene ficial. For though composition in Greek is not so often called for as in Latin, by the occasions which arise even among men of letters; yet, as a powerful instrument for acquiring or perfecting the knowledge of Greek itself, it cannot be too strongly recommended. No language can be well understood which is not written as well as read; and if that of Greece be important at all, it surely becomes of consequence that the most effectual means of acquiring it should be adopted and pursued. No professor of Latin would think of teaching that language without the aid of composition, at least in the form of what are called exercises; and why the same advantage should be denied to the professor of Greek, it is not easy to say.

As a proof of the high state of Grecian literature in Stanmore School, it deserves to be related, that one of the most admired tragedies of Sophocles, the Edipus Tyrannus, was acted with applause before a large body of the assembled literati; among whom were, Sir William Jones, Mr Bennet Langton, Mr Lytton, and many other of the most distinguished scholars. The choruses were omitted; but the dialogues were recited by the several performers with a propriety, a fluency, and a force, which reflected equal honor on the preceptor and the pupils. The scenes were furnished

by Mr Foote, and the dresses by Mr Garrick. Dr Monro mentions, that he himself was one of the deputation sent, on that occasion, to Mr Garrick; that he and his associates found him at Drury Lane, engaged in rehearsing the part of Don Felix, in the comedy of The Wonder;' and that they were received by him with the greatest kindness and attention. Some articles of Grecian costume were prepared, under the direction of the learned master, by his own family. The Edipus was acted in 1775; and it was followed, the next year, by the Trachinians of the same tragedian. To these two representations belong the merit of being the first attempts of the kind in England.

But, in Ireland, long before this time, a Greek play, it appears, had been acted by the pupils of that profound scholar and eminent schoolmaster, Dr Sheridan; distinguished as the friend of the celebrated Dr Swift; and still more so as the grandfather of the no less celebrated Brinsley Sheridan. It was in conversation with Sir William Jones, on the subject of that extraordinary representation, that the idea of a similar attempt first suggested itself to Dr Parr, who was also aware, that the plan, as an excellent method for the improvement of young scholars, is recommended by so great an authority as Milton.* After due deliberation, supported by the opinion of his illustrious friend, in defiance of all the ridicule or reproach which so novel or bold an attempt might possibly provoke, the plan was finally approved and adopted. Some invidious reflections were in fact thrown out upon the occasion, and Dr Parr was induced to write some Greek Iambics, for the purpose of vindicating himself from the charge of affectation or singularity.

He was so well satisfied, indeed, with the result of his own experiment, that he fully intended, if he had continued longer at Stanmore, to establish in his school the annual custom of representing a Greek play. He often spoke with pleasure of the good effect which it produced; and as often expressed a wish that his example had been followed in

When all these employments are well conquered, then will the choice histories, heroic poems, and Attic tragedies, of stateliest and most regal argument, with all the famous political orations, offer themselves; which, if they were some of them got by memory, and solemnly pronounced, with right accent and grace, as might be taught, would endue them with the spirit and vigor of Demosthenes or Cicero, Euripides, or Sophocles.-A small Tractate on Education.

other seminaries. By the vigorous exertion of mind called forth in accomplishing so high and arduous a task, he found that his pupils more easily conquered the difficulties of which young scholars usually complain when they first engage in reading and investigating the ancient tragic writers. An important object is gained, as he observed, by compelling that exact attention to Greek phraseology and Greek metre, which becomes so urgently necessary, in preparing for the public recitation of a Greek author. The long, previous, careful study of the drama itself, without which the youthful performer could not hope to appear with honor, or to escape from shame, would of course introduce into his mind clear and correct views of its plan, its incidents, and its characters; whilst the actual representation, aided by the influence of dress, scenery, and company, could not fail to excite a livelier perception, and to produce a deeper impression of all those excellencies, which so eminently belong to the three great tragedians of ancient times, and most of all to Sophocles. The memory, too, must be in a high degree improved, by that severe exercise of it which would on such occasions be demanded.

But though the literature of Greece took the lead, especially among the higher classes of Stanmore School; yet, at the same time, that of its great and successful imitators, the Romans, received all the attention to which it is so justly entitled. Pre-eminent above the rest, in the judgment of Dr Parr, were the writings of the all-accomplished Cicero ; of whom it has been said, that, "for arts and eloquence he has eclipsed the fame of Greece," and that "by explaining all the parts of its philosophy to the Romans, in their own language, he superceded in some measure the use of the Greek language and the Greek lectures at Rome." Large selections, therefore, from his works, and other selections, more or less extensive, from the works of the most distinguished Latin poets and historians, were constantly read in the school; and the numerous instances of beauty or sublimity in the style or sentiments, as they occurred, were noticed and pointed out, with that keenness of perception, that accuracy of taste, and that ardor of feeling, which the learned teacher, in so high a degree, possessed.

In remarking upon the plans pursued in some of our celebrated public seminaries, one considerable defect, which Dr