_Copy of Letter from Dr. Parr, without date or address._
Dear Sir,
I send you Johnson's _Life of Milton_. My former feelings again return
upon me, that Johnson did not mean to affirm that Milton prayed not
upon any occasion or in any manner; but that he was engaged in no
visible worship; that he prayed at no stated time; that he had not what
we may call any regular return of family or private devotion. Pray read
the sequel. That he lived without prayer can hardly be affirmed, this
{434} surely is decided in my favour: it may wear the appearance of
contradiction to the former passage, that omitting public prayer he
omitted all; in truth, the expression just quoted is too peremptory and
too general. But the sense of Johnson cannot be mistaken, if you attend
to the different views he had in each sentence; and I repeat my former
assertion, that Johnson did not think Milton destitute of a devout
spirit, or totally negligent of prayer in some form or other.
Yours, very truly and respectfully,
J. PARR.
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