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upon the present occasion, to enlarge upon the very different, qualifications for criticism, in those who undertake to explain the sacred writings, and those who are employed upon the classical writers of antiquity. But in justice to Mr. Wakefield, and with frequent and important differences of opinion from him upon controversial questions in theology, I must acknowledge the success, and commend the judgment with which he applied his philological learning to the illustration of the scrip

tures.

The natural vigour of his mind, the great increase of his knowledge, and the gradual improvement of his taste, are visible in many of his later English productions: for in point of elegance and correctness, as well as energy, they far surpass the earlier productions of his pen in his own language.

He seems to have composed in Latin with great ease and rapidity, I mean in his later works, when practice had enabled him to overcome the difficulties of which he complains in his Memoirs. Habit, no doubt, was accompanied by improvement, as well as by facility. But, in common with many other scholars, he had not attained to any eminence in the art of what Wyttenbach calls "vel Latine scribendi, vel bene." Life of Ruhnken, pag. 227.—In the

general structure of his sentences there is something of harshness and embarrassment. His periods are seldom harmonious; and none, I fear, of his Latin productions are wholly free from faults, which he would have been taught to avoid in our best public seminaries, and of which I have seen many glaring instances in the works of archbishop Potter, Dr. John Taylor, Mr.Toup, and several eminent scholars now living, who were brought up in private schools.

In thus endeavouring to account for the imperfections of Mr. Wakefield's writings, I would not be understood to depreciate their real, great, and solid merit. Many who, like myself, discern those imperfections, are far below Mr. Wakefield, not only in industry, but in acuteness; not only in extent, but, perhaps, in accuracy of knowledge; not only in the contributions which they have made, or endeavoured to make, to our general stock of knowledge, but in their capacity to make them so largely or so successfully.

While, therefore, we state what Mr. Wakefield has not done, let us bear in mind what he actually did; and when we enumerate the causes, which might have enabled him to do better, let us remember the obstacles with which he had to contend, when he did so well.

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He had fewer incentives than other men to exertion, from secular emoluments. He had fewer opportunities for improvement than others, from access to public libraries, from the advantages of public education, and above all from the company of persons accurately and profoundly learned. But his diligent researches, his extensive and various knowledge, his zeal for the diffusion of learning, and his solicitude for the discovery of truth, will always be remembered with respect by unprejudiced judges, who consider the numerous difficulties with which he had to struggle, and the virtuous motives by which he was actuated.

For my part, I shall ever think of him as one of the best scholars produced by my own country in my own age; and as one of the best men who, in any country, or in any age, have examined the evidences of Christianity seriously, believed them sincerely, defended them earnestly, and endeavoured to practise the duties which it inculcates, steadfastly and faithfully.

Hatton,

I am, dear Sir,

Your very faithful well-wisher

and obedient servant,

S. PARR.

June 1, 1804.

Arnold Wainewright, Esq.

While the foregoing letter was in the press, some additional remarks were communicated by Dr. PARR in the following letter, addressed as before:

Dallington, near Northampton, June 25, 1804.

DEAR SIR,

I AM now on a visit to my respectable friend, Mr. Rye, and among other excellent books in his possession, I met with the Æschinis Socratici Dialogi tres, edited by Le Clerc, and the Silvæ Philologicæ, which he affixed to that edition.

The whole work seems to have been written, while the mind of Le Clerc was smarting under the barbarous treatment he received from Bentley and Burman, in consequence of the metrical blunders, and unsatisfactory emendations, which may be found in his edition of Menander. But the first chapter of the Silva ought to be read attentively by every man who unites good-sense and good principles with critical knowledge, and it contains a passage, which, in justice to Le Clerc himself, and the illustrious scholars whom he commends, I beg of you to affix to the letter,

which I some time ago wrote to you, about our friend, the late Mr. Wakefield.

I am, dear Sir,

Truly and faithfully yours,

S. PARR.

"Si fuerunt viri litterati acerbiores æquo et superbi, mitiores alii et modesti fuerunt. Dionysius Lambinus, Janus Gruterus, Caspar Scioppius, et Dionysius Petavius insectati sunt, fateor, suâ ætate, Gifanios, Pareos, Gothofredos, Scaligeros et Salmasios, nec hi omnes adversariis semper pepercerunt. Sed non desunt mitiorum exempla, ut Isaaci Casauboni, Gerardi Joannis Vossii, qui, quod equidem sciam, neminem sunt insectati, et Joan: Schefferi, qui Tan: Fabro, a quo irrisus et male habitus fuerat, modestissimè et optimè, in posterioribus notis ad Phædrum respondit. Jacobus etiam Sirmondus, è Jesuitarum sodalitio, bonarum litterarum studia, sine cujusquam injuriâ, coluisse fertur. His subjungere possu mus Joan: Georgium Grævium, ob incruentum calamum, nuper laudatum. Quin et exempla insignia ejus mansuetudinis viva nunc habemus duos illustres quidem illos, munerum amplitudine, sed ingenio et insigni litterarum elegantiorum cognitione, cum summâ humanitate conjunctâ, clariores viros, Ezech.

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