Volume 4
Diary and correspondence of John Evelyn, F.R.S. : to which is subjoined the private correspondence between King Charles I and Sir Edward Nicholas, and between Sir Edward Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon and Sir Richard Browne / edited from the original mss. at Wotton by William Bray.
- John Evelyn
- Date:
- 1881
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Diary and correspondence of John Evelyn, F.R.S. : to which is subjoined the private correspondence between King Charles I and Sir Edward Nicholas, and between Sir Edward Hyde, afterwards Earl of Clarendon and Sir Richard Browne / edited from the original mss. at Wotton by William Bray. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![steady state of human nature ; let us not murmur then, for we offend; and though in compliance to your present sense of things I could join with you in grieving, having made as particular a loss as ever any did in a friend, I dare not in- dulge your sorrow, especially when I consider how preju- dicial it will prove to yourself and those dear pledges that are left to your care ; but I do rather beg of you cease grieving, and owe that to reason and prudence which time will overcome. Were I in so good health that I could quit my chamber, I would be daily with you and assure you how really I am concerned for you. You cannot doubt the affection of your, &c. To Mr. Bohm. Sayes-court, Jan. 29, 1670-1. SlE, If a friend be of infinite value living, how much cause have we to lament him dead ! Such a friend was Sir Samuel Tuke, who retired out of this life on St. Paul’s day [25 Jan.] at midnight, and has changed the scene to him and us, and left occasion to all that knew him to bewail the loss. You need not to be made sensible by a character of a person you knew so well, and you can enumerate virtues enough to lament and shed some tears justly ; therefore spare me the sorrow of repeating what effect it has wrought on such a mind as mine, who think no misfortune worth re- gretting besides the loss of those I love. Do not blame me if I believe it almost impossible to meet with a person so worthy in himself, and so disposed to esteem me agaiu ; and yet that is not the chiefest cause of my affliction. I might waive much of my own interest, had I not so many partners that will suffer equally. These are the trials which make Christian philosophy useful, not only by a resignation to the Divine decree, but by that hope which encourages us to expect a more lasting happiness than any this world can give, without which we were extremely wretched, since no felicity here has any duration. The greatest conquerors themselves are subject to this unsteady state of human nature, there- fore well may I submit, whose concerns are trivial in respect of others. Yet this I conclude, that we die by degrees when](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28034818_0004_0052.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)