Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/322

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300 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. would not be easy to adduce an instance of higher endowments, whether we look for the resources and refinements of ordinary society, or the more profound attainments of intellectual and cultivated life. His intimate acquaintance with the arts of music, poetry, and painting, and his enthusiasm with regard to each of these subjects, are well remembered by those who knew him. From their cultivation he derived solace and amusement after many a weary day of toil and anxiety. In all subjects of natural history he was particu- larly interested, and had made extensive collections of minerals, rocks, and organic remains. Whilst the sciences to which these related were yet in their infancy, he had amassed materials which would have grown into volumes, and have supplied impor- tant records in the history of these favourite depart- ments of inquiry. In 1781 he published " Propo- sals for a History of the Fossils of Gloucestershire," the introduction to which was intended to include all that was known on the subject of organic re- mains, and the result of many experiments and ob- servations in which he had been long and ardently engaged. His increasing avocations suspended, and finally prevented, the completion of this work ; but his remaining MSS. are a sufficient proof of his industry, knowledge, and discrimination. Dr. Parry was an indefatigable reader. Besides a continued attention to more severe subjects, he had an intense pleasure in the perusal of works relating to history, voyages, and travels. Of the latter, particularly, there was scarcely a published volume with which he was not familiar. With the classical poets and ancient dramatists of England