352 INTRODUCTION 



him known and esteemed, as a professor of most polite 

 arts, and given to scientific inquiries. This brought 

 upon him an importunity to be admitted a member of 

 the Koyal Society. But his Lordship never counte 

 nanced the proposal ; and at length, gave his positive 

 denial. He esteemed it a species of vanity for one, 

 as he was, of a grave profession, to list himself of a 

 society which, at that time, was made very free with by 

 the ridiculers of the town : and he could not discover 

 what advantage of knowledge could come to him that 

 way, which he could not arrive at otherwise. 7 



Among his acquaintance were &quot; Sir John Werden 

 very far gone in the mystery of algebra and mathe 

 matics. 



&quot; One Mr. Aubrey of Surrey, a professed virtuoso, 

 and always replete with new discoveries. 



&quot; One Mr. Weld, a rich philosopher, lived in Blooms- 

 bury. He was single, and his house a sort of knick- 

 knack-atary. Most of the ingenious persons about 

 town, sometimes visited him; and, among the rest, (his 

 Lordship) did suit and service there. 



&quot; His Lordship was once invited to a philosophical 

 meal, at the house of Mr. Evelyn at Deptford. The 

 house was low, but elegantly set off with ornaments 

 and quaint mottos at most turns ; but, above all, his 

 garden was exquisite, being all boscoresque. 



&quot; He had a great value for Sir Jonas Moor, a capital 

 mathematician, knowing well his worth and honesty, 

 (he) once invited his Lordship to dine with 

 him in the Tower, and, after dinner, presented Mr. 

 Flamstead . . . the star-gazer (who was) invited 

 to come and see him.&quot; 



He &quot; had another virtuoso acquaintance in the 

 Temple, one Mr. Ball . . . one in the list of his 

 Lordship s ingenious acquaintance.&quot; 



