304: LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1670. 



sums of money from the King to pay your deceased 

 Lord s debts, and enriching yourself by the great 

 Machine [the Water-commanding Engine] and the like.&quot; 



To deter her from proceeding in this course, he 

 points out, as ill effects, &quot; the danger of losing her 

 health and judgment,&quot; and &quot; the probability of offend 

 ing Almighty God.&quot; That she is under &quot; great 

 temptation&quot; he considers certain, &quot; yet I confess (he 

 adds) that the devil, to make his suggestion the more 

 prevalent, doth make use of some motives that seem 

 plausible, as of paying your Lord s debts, &c.&quot; For 

 her future government he recommends her Ladyship 

 &quot; To seek after eternal riches and honours, which your 

 age doth assure you are not far off ; for which you may 

 dispose yourself, before death conies, by retiring into 

 the country for some time, from the distractions of the 

 Court, where you may have the advice and directions 

 of some learned priest, in whose virtue you may wholly 

 confide, for your internal quiet and security.&quot; With 

 this view he recommends a lady s house at Hammer 

 smith, where, &quot; by Almighty God s blessing, you may 

 recover from that most pernicious distemper of body 

 and mind, into which every one sees you to be very 

 near approaching.&quot;* 



He claims &quot; the candour of his intentions,&quot; as a plea 

 for this extraordinary interference, in a matter of per 

 sonal and strictly honourable conduct of a wholly 

 private nature.&quot;}&quot; 



We lose after this all intelligence regarding the 

 Vauxhall Water Engine, and it is in vain to enter 

 on mere conjectures as to what may have been its fate. 

 It is certain, however, that great disadvantages in 



* See Appendix D. 



f She afterwards married Donough O Kearney, and died 26th July, 1681. 



