Physiognomy explained in the Croonian Lectures on Muscular Motion,’ London, 1747, 4to. 7. ‘Philosophical Observations on the Analogy between the Propagation of Animals and that of Vegetables (with Remarks on the Polypus),’ London, 1752, 8vo. 8. ‘Remains of Japhet; being Historical Enquiries into the Affinity and Origin of the European Languages,’ London, 1767, 4to.
[Nichols's Lit. Anecdotes, espec. v. 472–89; Munk's Coll. of Phys. ii. 175 f.; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
PARSONS, JAMES (1762–1847), divine, born in 1762, was son of the Rev. James Parsons of Cirencester, Gloucestershire. He entered Trinity College, Oxford, but subsequently migrated to Wadham College, from which he matriculated on 16 Dec. 1777 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886, iii. 1075). He graduated B.A. in 1781, and M.A. in 1786. In 1800 the corporation of Gloucester presented him to the perpetual curacy of Newnham with Little Dean, Gloucestershire. He proceeded B.D. in 1815 from St. Alban Hall, Oxford, of which he was for some years vice-principal. He died on 6 April 1847. His eldest daughter, Sophia, married, on 28 May 1823, Alexander Nicoll [q. v.] His library was sold in June 1847.
Parsons was a good classical and oriental scholar. Shortly after 1805 he returned to Oxford, at the invitation of the delegates of the Clarendon Press, to undertake the continuation of the ‘Oxford Septuagint,’ which had been interrupted by the death of its projector, Robert Holmes (1748–1805) [q. v.] He completed it in 1827. He published a learned volume of ‘Sermons, partly Critical and Explanatory,’ 8vo, London, 1835, with valuable notes, and edited the ‘Sermons’ of his son-in-law, Alexander Nicoll, regius professor of Hebrew at Oxford, 8vo, Oxford, 1830, with a memoir of his life.
[Gent. Mag. 1847 pt. ii. p. 103; Clergy List for 1847; Cat. of Library of Lond. Institution, iv. 333; Nicoll's Sermons, ed. Parsons, introduction; Parsons's Sermons, Preface.]
PARSONS, JAMES (1799–1877), preacher, second son of Edward Parsons (1762–1833) [q. v.], was born in Leeds on 10 April 1799. After attending the school of the Rev. William Foster of Little Woodhouse, Leeds, he was articled, in 1814, to the firm of Tottie, Richardson, & Gaunt, solicitors, in Leeds. In 1818 he accompanied one of the partners to London, where he studied literature and practised oratory at debating societies. In January 1820, on the death of his mother, he abandoned the law, and, resolving to become a minister, entered in the autumn the academy at Idle (afterwards Airedale College, and in 1886 combined with Rotherham Academy to form the United College, Bradford). During his course of study, which, in his case, was limited to two years on account of his proficiency in literature and classics, he preached not only in the neighbouring villages, but also at the Finsbury Tabernacle and Tottenham Court Chapel in London. In 1822 he accepted a call to Lendal Chapel, York. His sermons attracted large congregations. Since no further enlargements were possible to Lendal Chapel, the new Salem Chapel was erected and was opened on 25 July 1839. In 1870, when his eyesight began to fail him, he retired from Salem Chapel and settled at Harrogate, where he took occasional pulpit duties. In 1873 he was elected the first president of the Yorkshire Congregational Union and Home Missionary Society. He died on 20 Oct. 1877, and was buried at York on the 26th. He married, in 1828, Mary Mullis, daughter of John Wilks (attorney in London, and for many years M.P. for Boston in Lincolnshire) and granddaughter to Matthew Wilks [q. v.] By her he had one son, who died young, and four daughters, who survived him. Portraits of him are in vol. xxv. of the ‘Pulpit,’ and in Evans and Hurndall's ‘Pulpit Memorials,’ p. 343.
‘James Parsons of York’ was the most remarkable pulpit orator of his time. Trained for the law, he spoke like a special pleader, and addressed his congregation as an eloquent barrister would a jury. His power of holding his hearers enthralled was rarely equalled. His sermons, always most carefully prepared, were perfect in method and arrangement, and manifested minute acquaintance with the Scriptures. But the most tender pleadings and solemn warnings invariably found place in his oratory. His sermons have been repeatedly appropriated by other preachers (cf. the Pulpit for 1839, p. 161, with that for 1869, p. 249).
His published works include: 1. ‘Excitements to Exertion in the Cause of God,’ York, 1827, 3rd edit. 2. ‘Sermons, Critical and Explanatory,’ London, 1830; 1837, 4th edit. Many of his sermons, chiefly preached at the Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Chapel, and Surrey Chapel, were published in the ‘Pulpit’ between 1824 and 1864. Selections from them were reprinted in 1849 and 1867.
[Miall's Congregationalism in Yorkshire, p. 389; York Herald, 22 Oct. 1877; Leeds Mercury, 22 Oct. 1877; Congregationalist, 1877, pp. 748–753; Congregational Magazine, 1831, pp. 229–
