To the learned and illustrious the President and Fellows 

 of the College of Physicians of London. 



HARASSED with anxious, and in the end not much availing 

 cares, ahout Christmas last, 1 I sought to rid my spirit of the 

 cloud that oppressed it, by a visit to that great man, the chief 

 honour and ornament of our College, Dr. WILLIAM HARVEY, 

 then dwelling not far from the city. I found him, Democritus 

 like, busy with the study of natural things, his countenance cheer- 

 ful, his mind serene, embracing all within its sphere. I forth- 

 with saluted him, and asked if all were Avell with him ? " How 

 can it/' said he, " whilst the Commonwealth is full of distrac- 

 tions, and I myself am still in the open sea ? And truly," he 

 continued, " did I not find solace in my studies, and a balm 

 for my spirit in the memory of my observations of former years, 

 I should feel little desire for longer life. But so it has been, 

 that this life of obscurity, this vacation from public business, 

 which causes tedium and disgust to so many, has proved a 

 sovereign remedy to me." 



I answering said, " I can readily account for this : whilst 

 most men are learned through others' wits, and under cover of 

 a different diction and a new arrangement, vaunt themselves 

 on things that belong to the ancients, thou ever interrogatest 

 Nature herself concerning her mysteries. And this line of 

 study as it is less likely to lead into error, so is it also more 



1 [This must have been Christmas, 1650, the year after the violent death of 

 the king. ED.] 



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