'It is his life's work. He has given up on Natural Philosophy, these last years, to direct all of his energies toward that goal. He wants it because it is best for England – but the High Anglicans and Crypto-Catholics at Court are against anything that smacks of Dissidents. So Wilkins's task is difficult enough – but when those same Dissidents are linked, in the public mind, with the Dutch enemy, how can he hope for success?'