In 1769, he proposed to retire from business and from London, for the sake of his health; and, having disposed of most of his books and his fossils with that view, went to Bristol: but soon found it inconsistent with his happiness to forsake all the advantages which a long residence in the capital, and the many connexions he had formed, had rendered habitual to him. He therefore returned to his old house; and died in it, after a week's illness, April 4, 1770. By his last will, dated in October 1766, he gave his whole property to Mrs. Parsons; and, in case of her death before him, to Miss Mary Reynolds, her only sister," in recompence for her affectionate attention to him and to his wife, for a long course of years, in sickness and in health." Something similar to this will soon be seen in Dr. Loefling's Voyage to our Islands and the Spanish Main, especially while he is to be supported by the Royal bounty. And have not we lands that would produce most of these vegetables that the Spaniards just now reap such advantage from? Yes, surely we have; but, as we are ignorant of the proper method of curing and manufacturing them, our people are deterred from running the risk of losing money; labour, or time, in this slow way of getting knowledge of them by experiment, while they have some other commodities that answer tolerably well in the mean time. Mr. Clayton in Virginia, and John Bartram in Pennsylvania, are the only Botanists or Naturalists that I know of, besides Mr. Colden, on the Continent. And I doubt not but you are well acquainted with the character and genius of both these men. Mr. Bartram is certainly a most surprizing man, who, without any assistance of conversation or of books (he understands a very little botanical Latin), should have arrived at so great a knowledge of Plants, especially in a systematical way. It is a great pity that he does not understand Mr. Loefling's Dissertation on Gems; for I am fully persuaded he is amongst the best qualified men to improve that part of the science. How often have I been pleased, delighted, and instructed, by many of his lively and strong natural thoughts on gems, as to their structure, use, time, and properties! I shall not detain you longer, but again beg leave to request the favour of your correspondence, and your forgiveness for this trouble. I am, with great esteem, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant, ALEXANDER GARDEN. "Charles Town, South Carolina, May 5, 1755." It was his particular request that he should not be buried till some change should appear in his corpse; a request which occasioned his being kept unburied 17 days, and even then scarce the slightest alteration was perceivable. He was buried at Hendon, in a vault which he had caused to be built on the ground purchased on the death of his son, where his tomb is thus inscribed: "Here (taken from his sorrowing family and friends, in whom the most dignifying virtues were united to desert Truth, or acquiesce to her opponents. Physic, Anatomy, Natural History, Antiquities, Languages, and the fine Arts, are largely indebted to his skill and industry for many important truths discovered in their or errors detected with which they were obscured. Yet, though happy beyond the general race of mankind in mental endowments, the sincere Christian, the affectionate husband, Here also lies the body of JAMES PARSONS, in the ninth year of his age." A por A portrait of Dr. Parsons, by Mr. Wilson, is now in the British Museum; another, by Wells, was in the hands of his widow, with a third unfinished; and one of his son James; also a family piece, in which the same son is introduced, with the Doctor and his lady, accompanied by her sister. Among other portraits, Mrs. Parsons had fine ones of the illustrious Harvey, of Bp. Burnet, and of Dr. John Freind; a beautiful miniature of Dr. Stukeley; some good paintings by her husband's own hand, particularly the Rhinoceros, which he described in the Philosophical Transactions. She possessed also his MSS. and some capital printed books; a large folio volume, intituled, Figuræ quædam Miscellaneæ quæ ad rem Anatomicam Historiamque Naturalem spectant; quas propria adumbravit manu Jacobus Parsons, M. D. S. S. R. Ant. &c." another, called, " Drawings of curious Fossils, Shells, &c. in Dr. Parsons's Collection, drawn by himself. I have been indulged with a sight of these valuable drawings. Amongst other curiosities, is an exact delineation of a human foetus, which was the subject of an extraordinary imposture; the upper part being well made, and in good proportion, the lower extremities monstrous. It was inclosed in a glass case, and shewn at the Heathcock, Charing Cross, as "a surprizing young Mermaid, taken on the coast of Acapulco." This figure the Doctor drew; and caused the show-man to be turned out of town. She also possessed a set of the fine prints engraved at the expence of Mr. Hollis, whose character Dr. Parsons has thus briefly depicted: "Memorabilium quorundam Monumenta, quæ munera mihi sanè sunt gratissima: qui dum est est arrogans; omnibus tamen gratus, neque unquam absentein rodit amicum. J. P. 18 Julii, 1764." Dr. Parsons having sent Mr. Hollis some present in return for these valuable prints, received a reply, dated August 21, 1764, which is worth preserving, as characteristic of the writer: "I return you my thanks for a curious and obliging present, which was received this day, and is already deposited amidst my other choicest virtù. A number of the prints from the plates in my possession having been lately stricken off, and the last set having seemed not unacceptable to you; I have taken the liberty to send you another set of them, for, if you please, friend. My time, I confess, has been greatly engaged, and even finessed on to certain purposes, honest ones it is hoped, for years past; but those purposes will have their end before it is long, and then I shall be able to partake again, happily, in the society of my friends, and of wise and good men. I am, with unfeigned and deep respect, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, T. HOLLIS." I shall add to this letter a short extract from the biographer of Mr. Hollis: "Paid four guineas, the full subscription for six copies of the Remains of Japhet, by Dr. James Parsons; burnt five of the subscriptions. We give this memorandum just as we find it, being uncertain whether a friendly partiality for the author, or the subject, was the motive of this generous subscription. It is certain, that there are positions in that book from which, we apprehend, Mr. Hollis would dissent *." Mrs. Parsons (I was, in 1782, enabled to say on her own authority), had she been properly applied to, was ready to have given, either to the Royal or Antiquarian Society, a portrait of her worthy husband, and a sum of money to found a lecture to perpetuate his memory, similar to that established by his friend Mr. Henry Baker. Memoirs of Mr. Hollis, p. 495. Dr. Dr. Parsons's library was sold by Mr. Paterson, June 7, &c. 1769, and his fossils June 22, &c. the same year; both under the title of "an eminent Physician, who, on account of his health, is retiring into the country." His widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Parsons, died Aug. 8, 1786, aged 86; and was buried at Hendon *. RICHARD RAWLINSON, an eminent Antiquary, and great benefactor to the University of Oxford, was the fourth son of Sir Thomas, and younger brother of Thomas Rawlinson, esq. another eminent Antiquary. Richard was educated at St. John's * See a character of her, Gent. Mag. 1796, vol. LVI. p. 715. + In Mr. Price's possession is a collection of loose papers labelled "Nomen Rawlinsonianum, ex MSS. Cod. erutum," chiefly in Dr. Richard Rawlinson's own hand-writing. For whom Mr. Addison is said to have intended his cha racter of Tom Folio, in the Tatler, No. 158, but with infinitely too satirical a vein. He was a great collector of books; and himself a man of learning, as well as patron of those who were 80. Maittaire has dedicated to him his edition of Juvenal: and Hearne's publication, intituled, "Aluredi Beverlacensis Annales, &c." was printed from the original MS. in this gentleman's possession. Very numerous indeed were the communications that Editor received from Mr. Thomas Rawlinson; for all which, to do him but justice, he takes every opportunity of expressing his gratitude. While Mr. Rawlinson lived in Gray's Inn, he had four chambers so completely filled, that his bed was removed out into the passage. He afterwards removed to Londonhouse, the antient palace of the bishops of London, in Aldersgate-street; where he died, August 6, 1725, aged 44; and was buried in the church of St. Botolph Aldersgate. In London-house his immense library was sold after his decease; and there also lived and died his brother Richard; who left a portrait of his brother Thomas in crayons, another of himself, and another of Nicholas Salmon, LL.D. the Antiquary, to the Society of Antiquaries, all afterwards revoked. His MSS. took 16 days to sell, from March 4, 1733-4. (See some of them in Brit. Top. vol. I. p. 117, 216, 217, 239, 337, 338, 425, 451, 642. vol. II. p. 317, 407, 426, 429, 789.) The Catalogue of his library consists of nine parts. The amount of the first five parts was 24091: 1st part, Dec. 17, 1721, price 1s. 2d part, March 1721-2, price 1s. 4th part, April 1723, price 1s. sold by Tho. Ballard; 6th part, at Londonhouse, Aldersgate-street, March 1726, by Charles Davis, 2s. 6d. ; 9th part, at Paul's Coffee-house, October 1727, and 19 following days, by Tho. Ballard, 1s. Other parts, by Thomas Ballard and C. Davis, 1727-8, took 22 and 23 days; 1729, 26 and 30 days; |