358 INTRODUCTION 



illimitable through, any human agency is electricity. 

 Truly the Marquis of Worcester was a man of no ordi 

 nary stretch of mind. 



The &quot; Century &quot; has but slender claims to our notice 

 as a literary performance. Some persons have even 

 imagined that it would have been fortunate for the 

 character of its noble author had it never been written. 

 This is a mistaken view of the subject. In the absence 

 of his elaborated work, it is fortunate that this precious 

 relic has come down unmutilated to our time. It is but 

 as a sketch compared with the finished picture, but we 

 realize the master-hand in the brief outline, and feel 

 conscious of the intelligence and versatile genius of the 

 mind that could conceive, work out, and minutely 

 register the forming of alphabets, automata, ordnance, 

 and finally &quot; a semi-omnipotent engine.&quot; His work 

 has two dedications, one addressed to Charles the 

 Second, the other to both Houses of Parliament, com 

 posed in a quaint but courtly style. He mingles classic 

 lore with every-day proverbs. He re-entitles his book 

 as a u summary collection,&quot; and a &quot; Century of summary 

 heads of wonderful things,&quot; as &quot; experiments extant 

 and comprised under these heads practicable with my 

 directions,&quot; and is convinced of &quot; The treasures buried 

 under these heads both for &quot;War, Peace and Pleasure 

 being inexhaustible ;&quot; concluding that it is a &quot; Century 

 of Experiences perhaps dearly purchased&quot; by him. 



He also touches on his pecuniary position, offering, 

 in case he is assisted with the patronage and support 

 sought, &quot; to outgo the 6 or 700,000 already sacri 

 ficed;&quot; alludes to &quot; the melancholy which hath lately 

 seized&quot; upon him; and to his work-place at &quot;great 

 expenses made fit for public service,&quot; amounting to 

 about 10,000, &quot; yet lately like to be taken&quot; from him. 



He assures Parliament that his several inventions are 



