History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

DR PARR'S PAMPHLET 251
on the third anniversary of the taking of the Bastille. Dr Parr's forcible
rhetoric, and the courage with which he inveighed against oppression or vice
in all stations of life, gave him great influence in the Midlands. He even
contradicted the Prince Regent, when dining at Carlton House, on the respective
merits of the two Bishops who had educated the Prince. He wrote to Edward
Johnstone, May 14, 1792 :
"Private. At our Quarter Sessions I was told that
the Dissenters intended to meet again in July, but I thought it impossible till 1
heard it again yesterday and believe it. Dear Sir, I am frozen with horror.
. . . If it is so, grant me a great request. Some thoughts occurred to
me last night which I will throw into a friendly pamphlet, and by to-morrow
I will finish it. It shall be printed by Thomson at Birmingham, who must be
told to finish expeditiously. I hope that you or your brother will correct the
press, my name must not be known."
The next day he wrote again : " This letter shall not depend upon the
Dissenters not having made up their minds to dine, for I shall publish it
if they have taken any step to give alarm, and I am doing them a substantial
act of friendship if they are wise enough to think so."
John, less engaged than his brother, undertook to correct the press, and to
him Parr wrote in a familiar strain (he was not twenty-four), very unlike the
formal manner (the fashion of the day) in which he addressed the elder
brother : "You must know John that the Socinian writers publish their books in
Holland or Poland with the quaint names of Eleutheropolis or Irenopolis, and I
think it won't be amiss to imitate them in the title page (though to be sure, my
boy, very few of your Oxford doctors will understand it), let therefore the title
run thus, ' A letter from Irenopolis etc. etc.,' . . . ten copies must be
disposed of to the Prince of Wales, Duke of Portland, Earl of Dartmouth,
Mr Mackintosh (Sir James), Mr J. Tweddell, Dr Priestley, Mr Wakefield,
Rev. Mr Martyn, Lord Grey, and Mr Fox. You have done well, well, well."
The result was :
" At a meeting of the Committee appointed
the new and old Meeting Houses in Birmingham
by the Societies belonging to
"Resolved unanimously, that the thanks of the Committee be respectfully
presented to the Rev. Dr Parr for the candour and benevolence he has displayed
in the eloquent and energetic pamphlet lately addressed to the dissenters under
the title of ' A letter from Irenopolis to the inhabitants of Eleutheropolis.'
William Russell, Chairman."
With the Resolution this letter was posted :
" Birmingham, June 23, 1792.
"Rev. Sir,— It is with much satisfaction that I enclose the resolution of a
Committee who represent as honest and independent a body of men as the
kingdom contains. Smarting under unmerited suffering and disgrace, they are
feelingly alive to every generous attempt to restore peace and order in this
distracted town. Their thanks naturally follow your excellent and nervous
address, and I assure you they are deeply sensible of the dignity of your