# Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (1665-1886)/Volume 4/Number 53

Contents:
* Contents
* A Description of Dr. Christopher Wren's Engin, designed for Grinding Hyperbolical Glases.
* Some Inquiries concerning the Salt-springs at Nantwich, answered.
* An Extract of a Letter, concerning the Death of the Bigg-breasted Woman, discoursed of in Numb. 52.⁠
* An accompt of some Books:⁠
** I. CERTAIN PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYES, and other TRACTS by the Honorable ROBERT BOYLE: The Second edition, enlarged. London; printed for H. Herringman in the New-Exchange; A. 1669.⁠
** II.⁠DEL MOVIMENTO DELLA COMETA, apparsa A. 1664: Da PIETRO MARIA MUTOLI in Pisa, in 4°.⁠
** III.⁠ERASMI BARTHOLINI de COMETIS A. 1664. & A. 1665. Opusculum. Hafniæ in 4°.⁠
** IV.⁠SYLVA & POMONA, reprinted with Enlargements, by I. EUELYN. Esquire &c.
Numb. 53.
PHILOSOPHICAL
TRANSACTIONS.
November 15. 1669.
The Contents.
A Description
We shall give it in the Authors owne words, as followeth.
SInt tria Corpora terendo idonea, P. Q. R; quorum P. & Q. sint æqualia & Columnari forma, R verso Corpus Lenti-forinc. P. rotetur circa axin A B; Q, circa C D; & R, circa E G. ​Sint autem A B & C D in diversis Planis, in tamen ut E G producta, sit ad rectos angulos utrique A B & C D: accedant denique ad se invicem Corpora, prout opus fuerit servata tamen eadem inlinatione & situ Axium.
Dico, ex revolutione & mutua attitione Corporum prius positorum exurgere noua corpora Geometrica, quorum P & Q erunt Cylindroidea Hyperbolica æqualia, R. vero Conoides Hyperbolicum, specie & magnitudine datum.
Demostrationem in promptu habemus, nec non Modulum ipsius Machinæ, terendis Lentibus Hyperbolicis destinatæ; quazm operosa pictura & prolixa explicatione describere, mihi & artifici magis fuerit molestum, quam Dædalo cuivis sagaci similem ad-invenire. Postquam enim exposita jam sunt principia Geometrica, facile erit conjicere, quale sit Instrumentum; nempe, tres sint Tabulæ oblongæ, planæ, validæ, labiles, & sibi invicem impositæ: Insima & Media sustinent inæqualia Capitula (sive Ansas mamphur sustinentes) alternatim posita; id postulat utriu que mamphuris obliquitas & quasi decussatio: Summæ Tabulæ æqualia sunt Capitula in longum Tabulæ disposita; & perforato citimo Capitulo mamphur transmittitur. Omitto rotas, rotulas, lora, pondera, cochleas, & reliqua ad motum expedimm & Machinæ firmitu linem necessaria. P pertinet ad infimam Tabulam; Q ad mediam; R, ad summam. R, Lens est vitrea: Q, Modulus Lentem terens; P, Formula Modulum corrigens; quæ, dum motu obliquo, & diverso a motu tam Lentis quam Moduli, fertur, delet continuo & deterit, quicquid vitii imprimitur in Modulum ex Lentis & Materiæ attritione.
Quare, cum adeo simplex & spontaneal sit ista Hyperbolici Conoidis qenitura, ex solis nempe motibus Circularibus; cumque motus sit duplex & varius, credibile est, Lentes Hyperbolicas ex hisce Principiis vel nullis fore explicandas.
1. WHat is the depth of the Salt-springs? The depths are various, in some places not above 3. or 4. yards, In our Town of Nantwich, the Pitt is full 7. yards from ​the footing about the Pitt; which is guessed to be the natural height of the Ground, though the Bank be 6. foot higher, accidentally raised by rubbish of long making Salt, or Walling, as they call it, In other places the Springs lye much shallower for in two places within our Township the Springs break up so in the Meadows, as to frett away not only the grass, but part of the earth, which lyes like a breach, at least halfe a foot or more lower than the turfe of the Meadow, and hath a Salt liquor, ousing, as it were, out of the mudd, but very gently.
2. What kind of Country 'tis thereabout, where the Springs are, whither Hilly &c.; And what Plants grow near them? Our Country is generally at low ground, witness the name given to it (the Vale Royal of England;) yet 'tis very full of Collicular Eminencies, and various Risings, to distinguish it from being all Meadow. We have also a peculiar sort of ground in this County and some adjacent parts, which we call Moẞes: and they are a kind of Moorish boggy ground, very stringy, and fatt: which serveth us very well for Turfs, cutt out like great Bricks and dried in the Sun, And this kind of ground is so much here, that there are few Townships but they have their particular Mosses. In these is found much of that Wood we call Firr-wood, which serves the Country-people for Candles, Fewel, and sometimes for small Timber-vses; and this the Vulgar concludes to have layn there since the Flood. But generally these Mosses seem to be places undermined by some Subterraneous streams; or by the dissolution of some matter, that made them equal with the rest of the ground formerly: in which conjecture I am confirmed by this, That neat a place of My Lord Cholmomdeley's, called Bilkely, about 9. or 10. years since, not far from one of these Mosses, without any Earth-quake, fell in, a piece of ground about 30. yards over, with an huge noise, and great Oakes growing on it fell with it together; which hung first with part of their heads out, afterwards suddenly sunck down into the grounds, so as to become invisible: Out of which Pitt they drew Brine with a pitcher tyed to a cart-rope, but could then find no bottom with the ropes they had there: Since, the Pitt is filled up with water, and now doth not taste Salt, but a very little brackish, a very small rindlet pulling through it. The ​nearest Salt-springs to this place are at Dartwich about 3. miles from it, belonging to the present Lord Keeper, and My Lord Cholmondeley.
Some Hills we have, but no bigg ones, near our Springs; which generally lye all along the River Weever, as Hankollow Hatherton, Osterson, Batherton, Nantwich, Weever, Lestwich, Northwich; yet there is an appearance of the same Veine at Midlewich nearer the Rivet Dane, than Weever; which notwithstanding seems not to be out of the Line of the Weeverish streame; and these lye all near Brooks, and in Medowish grounds.
As to Plants, I could observe no singularity at all; for, where the Salt reaches the surface, it frets away all (as I said before,) and upon the Turfe neat the old decayed Pitts grows the very same, that doth in the remotest place of the Meadow; only I observe, that, where the Turff was fretted away, Rushes maintain'd their station longest; yet they grow also in other moist grounds, so that they are no friends to the Salt-springs, but I perceive, they resist them best.
3. Whether there be any Hot-springs near the Salt-ones? And Whether the Water of the Salt-springs be hotter or cooler, than other Spring-water? The Water of the Salt-springs here is very cold at the bottom of the Pitt, insomuch that when the Briners sometimes goe about to cleanse the Pitt, they cannot abide in, above half an hour, and in that time they drink much Strong water.
There is not any Hot Springs (that I can hear of) nearer us, than Buckston-well, which is about 30. miles distant near Darby-Peak Hills.
4. Whether they find any Shells about those Springs, and what kind of Earth it is? I cannot hear of any Shells digged up, though of late several new Brine-springs have been both sought, and found by sinking deep Pitts; yet none knows of any Shels, but rather a blackish Slutch mixt with the Sand, which infects the whole Spring (like the Scuttle-fish) black, when 'tis stirr'd; else the water runs very clear.
5. How string the Water is of Salt? Springs are rich or poore in a double sence; for a Spring may be rich in Salt, but poor in the ​quantity of Brine it affords. Thus they have a rich Brine in their chief Pit atMidle-wich, which yields a full fourth part of Salt, like the rich Burgundian Springs, mentioned in Kircher's Mundus Subterraneus; yet this is so thrifty of its Brine, that the Inhabitants are limited to their proportions out of it, and their quantity is supply'd out of Pitts that afford a weaker Brine. Our, Pitt at Nantwich yields but a sixth part; but then 'tis so plentiful a Spring, that, whereas they seldome Wall, that is, make Salt, in above 6. Houses at a time, and there are or should be about 50. Wich-houses in the Town; this Pitt is Judged sufficient to supply them all: And this advantage would accrew over and above, that such quick Use of the Pitt extreamly strengthens the Brine, perhaps to a degree little less than that of Middle-wich Pitt: For, I have tryed it myself, that a quart of Brine, when the Pitt hath been drawn off 3. or 4. days first, to supply 5. or 6. Wich-houses, hath yielded an Ounce and an halfe more of Salt, than at another time, when it hath had a rest of a week or thereabout. But I conclude, that the nearest conjecture, to be made of the strength of this Brine, is, to yield one pound of Salt for six pounds of Brine; as I have severall times tryed without any operation that might obscure the working: By which proportion you sie, that six Tuns of Brine yield one tun of Salt: which may be built upon; though in their ordinary way of working they make such variety of Additions, that 'tis impossible for any to be confident of the Product.
To adde some particulars, concerning this point; I shall tell you, that March 8. 1668. I weighed two pounds of distilled water in a narrow-mouthed Glass-bottle, that I might make an exact marks for a quart. This Bottle, being fil'd with our Brine to the very same mark, weigh'd (besides the tare of the Bottle) two pounds three ounces and five drachmes. This was taken up, when the Wich-houses but began to work, so that the Pitt was but little drawn. I fill'd up the Bottle with the same Brine, and it weighed just three drachms more. This Brine, boyled away without any addition or clarification, made five ounces and two drachmes of Salt. Five days after, when the Pitt had been drawn all that while for the working of the Wich-houses, vid. March. 13, the same Bottle, fill'd to the Quart-mark ​aforesaid with Brine then taken up, weighed, beside the Bottle, two pound four ounces and one drachme: the same time the Bottle, filled as in the former Experiment weighed just two pounds and an halfe, which is three drachms more than the quart mark before; which boyl'd into Salt made six ounces six drachms and two scrupless which exceeds the former quantity of Salt, one ounce four drachms and two scruples, though the Brine exceeded the former in weight but four drachms.
By which Tryal I confuted also a Tradition, which the Briners have amongst them, viz. That the Brine is strongest at times of the Spring-Tydes, to wit, at the Full and Change of the Moon. For March 8th. aforesaid was only one day past the Full, and then the Brine was weaker than it was the 13th day, when 'twas 6. days past the Full. So that I conclude, there could be no other reason, than that the much drawing makes way for the Salt-springs to come the quicker, and allows the less time for the admission of Fresh Springs.
6. What is the Manner of their Work? or What Time of boyling the Salt-water? Whether they use any peculiar thing to make it granulate, and if so, What that is? Their manner of working is this: They have formerly boyl'd their Brine in 6. Leaden pans with wood-fire; upon which accompt they all claime their interest in the Pitt by the name of so many Six Leads Walling; by which they each know their proportion; but in the memory of many alive they changed their 6. Leads into 4 Iron-pans, something better than a yard square, and about 6. inches deep, still fitting the Content of these to that of the 6. Leads: and of late many have changed the 4 Iron-pans into two greater; and some Wall but in one: But still the Rulers gage it to their Old proportions. Thus much seem'd necessary for understanding the Several Operations.
They use for their Fewell, Pit-coals, brought out of Stafford-shire. These Panns are set upon Iron-barrs, and made in, on all sides, very close (that the flame nor smoak break through) with clay and bricks. They first fill their Pans with Brine out of the Pitt; which coms to them in several Woodden Gutters: then they put into their Panns amongst their Brine a certain mixture, made of about 20. Gallons or Brine, and 2. quarts of Calves Cows and chiefly Sheeps bloud, mixt into a Claret Colour: Of ​this mixture they put about 2. quarts into a Pann that holds about 360. quarts of Brine; this bloudy brine, at the first boyling of the Pann, brings up at scumm, which they are careful to take off with a Skimmer, made with a woodden handle thrust through a long square of Wainscot-board, twice as bigg as a good square trencher: this they call a Loot. Here they continue their fire as quick as they can, till halfe the Brine be wasted, and this they call Boyling upon the fresh. But when 'tis halfe boyled away, they fill their Panns again with new Brine out of the Ship, (so they call a great Cistern by their Panns sides, into which their Brine runs through the Woodden Gutters from the Pump, that stands in the Pitts) then they put into the Pann, 2. quarts of the Mixture following: They take a quart of Whites of Eggs, beat them thoroughly with as much Brine, till they are well broken; then mix them with 20. Gallons of brine, as before was done with the Bloud; and thus that which they call the Whites is made. As soon as this is in, they boyle sharply, till the second Scum arise; then they scum it off as before, and boyle very gently till it Corne; to procure which, when part of the Brine is wasted, they put into each Pann of the Content aforesaid about a quarter of a pint of the best and strongest Ale they can gett: this makes a momentany Ebullition, which is soon over, and then they abate their fires, yet not so but that they keep it boyling all over, though gently; for the Workmen say, that if they boyle fast here, (which they call Boyling on the Leach, because they usually all this time lade in their Leach-brine, which is such Brine, as runs from their salt, when 'tis taken up before it hardens) if I say, they boyle fast here it wasts their Salt. After all their Leach-Brine is in, they boyle gently till a kind of Scum come on it like a thin Jce; which is the first appearance of the Salt: then that sinks, and the Brine every where gathers into Cornes at the bottom to it, which they gently rake together with their Loots: I say, gently; for much stirring breakes the Corne. So they continue, till there is but very little brine left in the Pann; then with their Loots they take it up the Brine dropping from it and throw it into their Barrows, which are Cases made with flat cleft wickers, in the shape almost of a Sugar-loaf, the bottom upper-most. When the Barrow is full, they let it stand so for an hour and an halfe in the Trough, ​where it drains out all the Leach-brine abovesaid, then they remove it into their Hot-house behind their Works; made there by two Tunnels under their Panns, carried back for that purpose. The Leach-brine, that runs from the Barrows, they put into the next Boyling for 'tis to their advantage, being salt melted, and wanting only hardning.
This work is perform'd in 2. hours in the smaller panns, which are shallower, and generally boyle their brine more away; wherefore their Salt will last better, though it does not granulate so well, because, when the Brine is wasted, the fire and stirring breaks the Cornes. But this Salt weighs heavier, and melts not so soon; and therefore is bought by them, that carry it farr. But in the greater Panns, which are usually deeper, they are above halfe an hour longer in boyling; but, because they take their Salt out of their Brine, and only harden it in their Hot-house, 'tis apter to melt away in a moist Air: Yet of this fort of Salt the bigger the grain is, the longer it endures; and generally this is the better granulated and the clearer, though the other be the whiter. Vpon which I rather think, 'tis the taking of the salt out of the Brine before it be wasted, that causes the granulating of it, than the Ale to which the Workmen impute it. This kind measures profitably well; therefore much bought by them that buy to sell again.
They never cover their Panns at all, during the whole time of Boyling. They have their Houses like Barns open up to the thatch with a Cover-hole or two, to vent the steam of the panns. Possibly Tiles may do better, but no body is yet so curious as to try, but the steam is such, that I am confident, no plaister will stick and boards will warp, and their nailes will rust so, as quickly to fret in pieces.
7. Whether the Salt, made of these Springs be more or left apt to dissolve in the Air, then other Salt? And whether it be as good to powder Beef or other Flesh with, as French Salt? This Question I cannot well answer, in regard that French Salt coms not to us, to compare the efficacy of the one with the other experimentally; but this I can assure for our Salt, that with it both Beef and Bacon is very well preserv'd sweet and good a whole year together; and I do apprehend this Salt to be rather more searching than French ​Salt, because I have often observed, that meat kept with this Salt shall be more fiery Salt to the midst of it, than I have observed, when I have eaten powder'd meat on Ship-board, which was probably done with French Salt, I then being on the Southside of England, and in a Dutch Vessel. 'Tis certain, Cheshire sends yearly much Bacon to London, which never yet had any mark of infamy set upon it; and hanged Beef (which others call Martin-mass-Beef) is as good and as frequent in Cheshire, as in any place; so that I conclude, that this Salt is fully effectual for any Use, and as good as any other; and therefore hope, 'twill be prosecuted in the use, that so the Trade of our own Commodities may rather be advanced, than of forraign, especially this of Salt; which if it shall please the R. Society to promote, they will lay an obligation on all our Country never to be forgotten.
Mean time, if I have related here any thing obscurely or imperfectly, I am ready to answer any new Queries, that shall arise out of this obscurity, or give larger satisfaction to any of the Old, that shall be thought hereby not sufficiently explained.
Fig. 1.This is the Model of an Iron-pann of that proportion, when Four are used in one house.
a a. The Eares to hang the Pann by upon the Brick work.
b. The several Junctures of the Iron plates riveted.
C C. The breadth and length of the Pann near 4. foot.
C d. The depth of the sides of the Pann, about 6. inches.
Fig. 2.a a. The Hot-house between the Wall and the Chimney.
b b. The two Tunnels.
C C. The Chimney-back, into which the two Tunnels conveigh the smoake.
d d d. d. The four Panns.
E. The partition-wall between the Panns and the Hot-house.
f. The Fire-places.
g g. The Ash-holes.
h. The Hearth below.
i i. The descent to the Hearth.
Fig. 3.The Back with his stale, with which they reach brine our of their Ship to fill their Panns withall.
Fig. 4.a. b. Several positions of their Loots, with which they skim, and gather their Salt.
Fig. 5.a.a. Two Barrows newly filled with Salt; set into the Leach-trough to dripp out the Leach or Leak-brine.
b b. The Salt heaped above the Barrows and patted dawn hard.
C. The Leach trough.
Sir,
I Thank you for yours, which by reason of my absence came not to my hands till this day. Elizabeth Travers dyed on Thursday night, October 21. The next morning I sent for a Chirurgion, and some others to be present at the opening, and taking off of her Breasts; though we only took off one, viz. the biggest, which was the left, and having weighed it, we found it of Sixty four pounds weight. Upon the opening of it, (which we made in several places) we could find neither Water, nor Cancerous humors, nor any thing vitious, more than the prodigious bigness; and the Tubuli and Parenchymous flesh were purely white and solid, and no other than what we see in the soundest Breasts of Women, or the belt Udders of other Animals. She had lost her stomach and rest severall weeks before, and made great complaints of her Breasts from their great distention; and her whole Body was exceedingly emaciated. I have sent you inclosed one measure, which was the Breadth of her two Breasts (as she was layd out on a Table being dead;) I mean, from the further end of the one to the other; which you'l find three foot two Inches and an halfe; and another measure, shewing the Circumference of the Breasts long-wise, viz. four foot, and near four inches; and a third, giving the Circumference of the Breadth, viz. three foot four inches and an halfe.
The right Breast we took not off, but we guess, it weighed fourty pounds. I did some weeks since begin a Salivation with her, which lessen'd her Breasts in circumference some inches; but she proving not conformable, I durst not proceed to keep up the flux, but was forc'd to desist. But she was wonderfully revived afterwards for some time. She being weary of that course, I then caused a Caustic to be applyed; upon which the Eschar falling off, yet nothing issued out of the Breast. ​Then I caused an Incision-knife to he used, and made an Incision two inches and an halfe deep (supposing the Caustick had not wrought deep enough) but 'twas to no more purpose, than the former.
An, Accompt of some Books.
WE could not but give the Curious Reader notice of this reprinted and in divers places considerably enriched Book; but chiefly increased by the Addition of a very Philosophical Discourse about the Absolute Rest in Bodies, wherein the Noble Author, with his usual modesty as well as acuteness, delivers his Thoughts concerning the Intestin Motions of the Particles of Quiescent Solids, and in doing so calls the Absolute Rest of Bodies in Question, by undertaking to prove, That some of those Bodies, which we think have their parts most at Rest, are not exempted from having internal Motions in them; to which proof he Judgeth 'twill be consequent, that it must be probable, that in other Bodies, whose Solidity is confessed inferior, the component Particles are not in a State of Perfect Rest.
THis, and the next following Tract, (consisting each of a few sheets only) should sooner have been taken notice of in these Transactions, if they had sooner come to our ​hands. The Subject being Curious and weighty, it was thought fit to advertise the Inquisitive Reader, though somewhat late, of what is discoursed upon it by other Learned men, besides those those whom we have formerly noted.
This Author then doth principally discourse of the Motion and Place of that Comet, and how its odd Appearances may be salved; and in regard that in such a Discourse of the Motion of a Body, seen in the Heavens, 'tis requisite to suppose the Form and Constitution of the Celestial Bodies, and in what manner they make their Revolutions. He thought it requisite, suppose, either to choose some or other of the most famous Hypotheses concerning them, or else to endeavor to solve the Phænomena of this Comet, according to all those Systems: Of which two Tasks he hath chosen the latter; in the prosecution, whereof he seems satisfied, that the Comet of 1664. was above the Moon, it having been found without a sensible Parallax; for the observing of which, he shews an easie way, which needs no Quadrants or Sextants curiously made; nor a precise taking of the Meridian Altitudes; nor the Scituation of the Comet in the Zodiack; not the noting of the precise time of the Observation; nor lastly, needs to fear to be prejudiced by the Consideration of the various Refractions; forasmuch as he works not by the way of taking the several Altitudes from the Horizon, but by observing the Position of the Comet among some neighbouring Fixt Starts: for the doing of which, he saith, he employed only a simple Thread stretch't out by an Arch, to make it evident, whether this Comet had a sensible Parallax, or no.
THis the other Tract, we hinted in the next precedent Accompt; and in it the Author, having first intimated, That the more narrowly this Subject about Comets hath been search't into, the farther have Intelligent and Perspicacious men receded from the opinion of the Peripateticks concerning them; he acquaints the Reader, what Instruments he used in making Observations, among which was a Quadrant of 1½ foot radius; what conveniency he had as to the place of Observation; what Observations he made, viz. A. 1664, Decemb. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. and A. 1665, Januar. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. 12. 24, 31. and Februar. 7. Further, how he found the Longitude and Latitude of this Comet by observing its distances from two Fixt Starts; and having found those, how thence he found its right Ascensions and its Declinations for every day: Besides, How he found the Motion of the Comet in his Orb, and the Place of Intersection and the Angle of Inclination with the Ecliptick. To which he adds his Considerations about the Place of the Comet, and the Parallaxes, vindicating here the Noble Tycho from the Accusation of Ricciolo info in Almag. Nova: Concluding all with an Investigation of the Causes of Comets; where he examins, Whether Comets be co-eval with the World, or produced anew, and if the latter, How: Insinuating withall, that, though he esteems the latter Comet to be different from the former, yet, admitting the Cartesian Hypothesis, we may without any difficulty maintain, that it was the same with the first.
THis is the Second Edition of this Book, very much improv'd and enlarged. It was the first that was written and publisht ​by the express Order of the R. Society, who thought it fit to begin with a special Sollicitation for the good Culture of our own Native Country, that it might be a leading Example to all our Neighbours, and as far as their Instructions are received.
In Sylva our Author provides and directs for sound Timber, and store of the best Fuell in Forrests, Woods, and Groves. Timber is the strength and walls of this Kingdom; and is serviceable for many Domestick uses, and curious Utensils; and to advance the Richess and Accommodations, not only of our own Country, but also of all Forrain parts, as far as may mutually oblige each other by Navigation and Commerce.
And together with his Majesties great Example, Pomona hath already encourag'd the Plantation of many hundreds of Nurseries, or Orchards in England, which by this time begin to reward the industrious Owners with a salubrious Liquor, perhaps more agreeable to our English Temperament, than the Grapes of some Countries do afford; and, if well chosen, more gentle, and more pleading to the palat, than many sorts of French Wines without Sugar; an yet requiring much less labour, less artifice, and fewer hands for the yearly culture.
This Worthy person hath also given us (under a modest veil) an Instructive Touch for Vineyards in England (of which see Numb. 15. p. 262.) And for the behoof of his own Country hath condescended to furnish us with accurate Translations of the French Gardiner; and of the best Writers of Architecture, ans of the Idea of the perfection of Painting (of which last see Numb. 39. p. 784.)
Of his own Collections, he hath given us an elegant History of Sculpture, and of Engraving in Copper, and the curious Arts thereunto belonging: In which the most excellent Painters of this Age may see themselves either duly celebrated, or directed for the best, and assisted, or at least encourag'd.
And (besides other Treatises, which are Anonymous, as being of a reserv'd nature, but are nevertheless entirely for the honor of the King and this Kingdom, and generally for the good of all Men;) He hath lately made two considerable Excursions: In one of which Tracts, for a Caution to all future Ages, and ​to denote the general aptness of Mankind to be deluded and deceived, he hath publisht a well-grounded History of the Three late famous Impostures; the first, meerly Casual and innocent, in Padre Ottomano; the second, bold and impudent, in Mahomet Bei; the third, a confident Cheat, in Sabatai Sevi, the Jews Counterfeit Messias: In the other Tract, Publick Employment and an Active Life are preferr'd to Solitude.
Thus He, and other Generous persons, can in the crowd of public business, find, or make leisure to oblige all men; whilst Morose Schoolmen, and Narrow Criticks, make it their main business to outgoe Satan in their false Accusations, disingenuous Surmises, and immodest Disturbances of the noblest endeavors and atchievments.
But thrice happy were all England, if every where, with united minds and affections we were as heartily inclin'd, and as active to cultivate this our kind Soil foran Elysium, as this Liberal Author is now busie and preparing for the Press another more August and Noble Work, bearing the Title of Englands Elysium. This was the Method of the Great Creator: He planted the first Paadise for an Entertainment of Innocent Man; and introduced the first Lectures of Experimental Philosophy upon Animals and Vegetables. And again, when Gods peculiar People after the Conquest of their Enemies, were first establisht in peace and prosperity, their Philosophical Monarch was inspired with the sublimest Wisdom, not only for the Building of a Glorious Temple in the Holy City, but also for the Culture of the Land of Promise with the Plantations of Gardens and Orchards; and for the Experimental knowledg of all Vegetables. And thus also, as modern Princes may laudably follow the greatest Examples of all foregoing ages, his Majestie immediately after his Restauration, made it his first work to Recover the Church of its Primitiue Faith and Order: Thence he proceeded, to promote the several Branches of the Antient Wisdom; the knowledge both of Nature, by the proper Test of Gods own Works; and of all Excellent Arts, Medical, Chymical, Mathematical, and Mechanical; Architecture Naval, Civil and Military, for the strengthening of his Royal Navy, the repairing of his Palaces, and the rebuilding of our Chief City incomparably faier ​and safer than ever it was: To send out his Fleets, for a special countenance of Trade, and at the same time for a satisfaction to many considerable Philosophical Inquiries in most parts of the World: To strengthen his remotest Dominions; and to secure and cultivate his American Colonies, for the Silk-trade, and the growth of such beneficial Vegetables, as those several Soils in several distant Climats will bear; Not intermitting those elegant Ingenuities of beautifying his Coyn with the fairest and really Gardian-stamps; and of storing his Cabinets with the Curiosities and Rarities of Art and Nature, for the encouragement of Sculpture, Picture, and of no small number of Artificial Practices and usefull Inventions. To be short, his Majesty soon gave to all the Kingdom, in St. James's Park and Hide Park, in the Approches to his fairest Palaces, and in his Forrests, Illustrious Patterns for the best Improvements, and for a copious Variety of all kinds of Amænities. Now when our idle Multitudes shall be strongly inured to those innocent and profitable Employments, till all our Hills, which are now bald, shall be shelter'd with the Cheinut, the Beech, the Pine, Box, Maple, and the Royal Oak; and all our Valleys adorn'd with the fruitful Knots of Cyrus, and like the golden Gardens of Alcinous; then shall we have fair grounds to hope for the blessings of Peace and Plenty, and the Juncture of found and usefull Philosophy with Christian Charity; and of true Religion and Piety with cheerful Loyalty; and then we shall truly deserve the Old Style of the Fortunate Islands, and the Gardens of Hesperides.
ERRATA in Numb. 52.Page 1048. l. 32. r. 35. pounds. p. 1055. l. 34. r. 231 for 282.
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