Dr. Dibdin has prefixed the subsequent Note to one of these Lectures
(Character of Christ compared with that of Mahomet), which he has
reprinted in vol. iii. of the _Sunday Library_:--
"Of all the sermons preached in this, or in any other country,
THESE are perhaps the most celebrated; or, if this observation
require qualification, the only exception may be in favour of
those of the _Petit Carême_ of MASILLON. For three successive
terms, the church of St. Mary's, at Oxford, was crowded with an
auditory breathless in admiration of the splendour of diction
and vividness of imagery manifested in these discourses. The
subject treated of--'_A Comparison of Mahometanism and
Christianity in their History, their Evidences, and their
Effects_'--was new and striking in the pulpit of the University
Church. A great deal of highly wrought expectation, from more
than a whisper spread abroad of the sources whence the chief
materials had been derived, preceded their publicity; and the
preacher, although by no means remarkable for elegance of
manner, or ductility and melody of voice, applied his whole
energies to the task of giving power and effect to his delivery.
He succeeded, greatly beyond his own expectations; and the
University rung with his praises. The fame which ensued was
merited; for the public, till then satisfied with the tame
polish and cold invective of BLAIR, became delighted by the
union of such harmony of language, skilfulness of argument, and
singularity of research, as were blended in these lectures. Yet
it may be questioned, not only whether a display of similar
talent would _now_ receive the like applause, but whether many
subsequent courses of Bampton lectures have not rendered a more
essential service to Christianity.
"But, extraordinary as was the result of the _preaching_ of
these Bampton lectures, perhaps a more extraordinary history
belongs to their _composition_; and posterity will learn, with
wonder, and perhaps with mingled pity and contempt, that the
measures resorted to by the Laudian Professor of Arabic, in
order to impose upon his best friend and most able coadjutor,
DR. PARR, form such a tissue of petty artifice and intrigue as
scarcely to be believed. The whole plot, however, is minutely
and masterly developed in Dr. Johnstone's _Life of Dr. Parr_,
vol. i. p. 216-281, to which I refer the curious reader for some
very singular particulars. The facts, as there delineated, are
simply these:--A secret correspondence was carried on between
Professor White and Mr. Badcock, a dissenting minister of
Devonshire, who furnished the greater part of the materials of
these lectures; which materials, copied out by Professor White,
with a few emendations and additions, were sent to Dr. Parr as
the exclusive composition of the Professor. Several of the
lectures are wholly Badcock's, by the express admission of Dr.
White; and the undeniable evidence of a douceur of 500l. from
the Professor to Mr. Badcock, is a sufficiently solid proof of
the value in which the former held the labours of the latter.
There could be no violation of any great moral feeling in the
transaction thus simply considered; for the labourer was worthy
of his hire; but the evasive subtleties and shuffling
subterfuges by which the literary intercourse was stubbornly
denied, and attempted to be set aside, by Professor White, is
matter of perfect astonishment! In the mean while, Dr. Parr
steadily continued his critical labours, believing that the
Professor sought no _aid_ but his _own_. He revised, added, and
polished at his entire discretion; and while it is allowed that
_one-fifth_ at least, of these lectures are the work of his
learned hand, he undoubtedly gave to the whole its last and most
effectual polish. The history which belongs to his discovery of
the collateral aid of Badcock, is curious and amusing; but can
have no place here. It does great credit to the head and heart
of Dr. Parr. Thus the reader will observe that no small interest
is attached to the volume from which the ensuing extracts are
made: a volume, full, doubtless, of extensive and learned
research, and exhibiting a style remarkable alike for its
consummate art and harmonious copiousness."
* * * * *