Edinburgh Review,  1 (1802–03), 18–24.

Art. II. [Review of Spital Sermon, by Samuel Parr]

[Sydney Smith] *

Genre:

Review

Publications reviewed:

Parr 1801

Subjects:

Politics, Utilitarianism, Morality, Religion, Hospitals, Patronage, Universities, Lecturing


    Reviews Samuel Parr's arguments against both William Godwin's views on universal benevolence and Anne R J Turgot's objections to charitable institutions. Merely alludes to the particular charitable institutions in favour of which Parr's sermon was, in part, preached (namely the five 'royal hospitals' under the superintendence of the Lord Mayor of London: St Thomas's, St Bartholomew's, Bridewell, Bethlehem Hospital, and especially Christ's Hospital). Remarks on Parr's '32 pages of very close printing, in defence of the University of Oxford', rhetorically enquiring whether it is true 'that very many of its Professors enjoy ample salaries, without reading any lectures at all?' (23). Notes that since the publication of Parr's book the university authorities have 'abolished their very ludicrous and disgraceful exercises for degrees, and have substituted in their place a system of exertion, and a scale of academical honours, calculated [...] to produce the happiest effects' (24).



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