Volume 5

The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle. In six volumes. To which is prefixed the life of the author / [by T. Birch].

  • Robert Boyle
Date:
1772
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle. In six volumes. To which is prefixed the life of the author / [by T. Birch]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/1052 page 47
    ‘ aduty to the public (though, I muft confefs, that of itfelf a very prevalent motive). “ but becaufe I know you fo vaftly affectionate to that public, that my invention « will furnifh me with no fitter way, than that of my fervices to it, to give you reak “« and accepted teftimonies of my being, &c.” Hz had now gained fo eminent diftinétion in the republic of learning, that in. 1651 Dr. Nathaniel Highmore, a phylician, who had been a member of Trinity col- lege in Oxford, addrefied to him his Treatife, printed at Lomdox that year, under the titleof The Hiftery of Geueration, examining the feveral opinions of divers authors, ef- pecially that of Sir Kenelm Digby in bis Difcourie of Bodies. With a general relation: of the manner of Generation as well in plants as animals, with fome figures delineating the firfe originals of fome creatures, evidently demonfirating the reft. To which is joined a Difcourfe of the Cure of Wounds by Sympathy, or without any real application of medicines to the part affected, but efpecially by that power, known chiefly by the name of Sir Gilbert. Talbot’s powder. The dedication is dated from Sherborne May 15, 1651, with this Corke, my umuch honoured friend, and begins thus : “< Noble Sir, i | : 7 HERE virtue fhall be found in conjun&ion with nobility in. fuch black, 3 Y the lait and worft times, it no lefs invites and amazes the eyes and hearers. “¢ of beholders, than fome new ftar or blazing comet; but with this difference, the “ one is caufe of their fear, the other gives life to their hopes and joy. You have,. « Sir, fo enriched your tender years with fuch choice principles of the beft fort, and: “ even to admiration managed them to the greateft advantage, that you ftand both a «< them, have fo fpent their precious minutes, that they are fcarce able to account for “ ene, or fpend an hour but in vice; that cannot brook virtue, becaufe it is not « born with them; that hate all things, that muft be obtained by induftry ; who « moft degenerately intrufting their wits as well as fortunes with their inferiors, have “ times. But you.have made a better and far nobler choice; you have not thought « your blood and defcent debafed, becaufe married to the arts. You ftick not to. *< trace nature in her moft intricate paths; to torture her to a confeffion, though with: “ your own fweat and treafure obtained.” Ir was about the year 1652, that Mr. Boyle began an Effzy on the Scripture, fill extant in manufcript, from which his Confiderations on the Style of the Scriptures were: chiefly taken. This is evident from a letter of his, dated June 19, 1652, to his. brother the lord Brogbi/l, at whofe requeft he compofed that E/fay , which letter, with: a few alterations, was afterwards made the Epiftle Dedicatory to the Con/iderations on the Style, &c. Under what difadvantages the Effay was written, the reader is in- formed in the preface to the Confiderations: ** The Eflay, fays be, having not been « partly too on fhip-board, it were ftrange, if in what ] writ, there did not appear: « much of unevennefs, and if it did not betray the unleifurednefs, and relith of the « unfettlednefs of the wandering author, who by thus rambling was reduced, for: “ want of a library, to comply with the requeft of his friend, who was more defirous . . o . - . . “ oranges and Jemons fetched from foreign’ parts.” A -dilcourfe written tn this, 2 manner.
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