PERSONAL CHARACTER 69 



[sic] doubtless owing to the very different formation of their 

 minute vessels, whereby an almost infinite variety of combina- 

 tions of the common principles of vegetables is made." He 

 continues in the following delightful passage: "And could our 

 eyes attain to a sight of the admirable texture of the parts on which 

 the specific differences in plants depends [sic] what an amazing 

 and beautiful scene of inimitable embroidery should we behold ? 

 what a variety of masterly strokes of machinery ? what evident 

 marks of consummate wisdom should we be entertained with ? ' 

 To conclude what has been said on Hales' chronological position 

 Ingenhousz, the chief founder of the modern point of view on 

 plant nutrition, was born 1730 and published his book On 

 Vegetables, etc. in 1779. So that what was said of Hales' 

 chemical position is again true of him considered in relation 

 to nutrition ; he did not live to see the great discoveries made 

 at the close of the i8th century. 



There is in his writing a limped truthfulness and simplicity, 

 unconsciously decorated with pretty iSth century words and 

 half-rusticities which give it a perennial charm. And inasmuch 

 as I desire to represent Hales not merely as a man to be 

 respected but also to be loved, it will be as well to give what 

 is known of the personal side of his character before going on to 

 a detailed account of his work. 



He was, as we have seen, entered at Corpus Christi College, 

 Cambridge, in June, 1696. In February, 1702 3, he was admitted 

 a fellow of the College. It was during his life as a fellow that he 

 began to work at chemistry in what he calls " the elaboratory in 

 Trinity College." The room is now occupied by the Senior Bursar 

 and forms part of the beautiful range of buildings in the bowl- 

 ing green, which, freed from stucco and other desecration, are 

 made visible in their ancient guise by the piety of a son of 

 Trinity and the wisdom of the College authorities. It was here, 

 according to Dr Bentley, that " the thieving Bursars of the old 

 set embezzled the College timber 1 ," and it was this room that was 

 fitted up as "an elegant laboratory" in 1706 for John Francis 



1 Quoted by Caroe, in his paper read before the Cambridge Archaeological Society 

 on King's Hostel etc., and "Printed for the Master and Fellows of Trinity Coll." 

 in 1909. 



