4 HER OES OF INVENTION AND DISCO VER Y. 



was cynically disposed, and a very nice critic both of words and 

 men ; which humour he used to exercise so freely with Philo- 

 retus, that at last he forced him to a very cautious and 

 considerate way of expressing himself, which after turned to his 

 no small advantage. The worst quality he had was his choler, 

 to excesses of which he was excessively prone ; and that being 

 the only passion to which Philoretus was much observed to be 

 inclined, his desire to shun clashing with his governor, and his 

 accustomedness to bear the sudden sallies of his impetuous 

 humour, taught our youth so to subdue that passion in himself, 

 that he was soon able to govern it habitually and with ease." 



Under the guidance of this gentleman, who, although not 

 much fitted, apparently, to make his pupils profound scholars, 

 or even to imbue them with a taste for elegant literature, was, 

 probably, very well qualified both to direct their powers of 

 observation, and to superintend and assist the general growth 

 of their minds at this early age, the two brothers passed through 

 France to Geneva, where they continued some time studying 

 rhetoric, logic, mathematics, and political geography, to which 

 were added the accomplishments of fencing and dancing. 

 " His recreations during his stay at Geneva," says Mr. Boyle ot 

 himself, " were sometimes mall, tennis (a sport he ever passion- 

 ately loved), and, above all, the reading of romances, whose 

 perasal did not only extremely divert him, but (assisted by a 

 total discontinuance of the English tongue) in a short time 

 taught him a skill in French somewhat unusual to strangers." 

 The party afterwards set off for Italy; and, after visiting 

 Venice and other places, proceeded to Florence, where they 

 spent the winter. 



While residing here Mr. Boyle made himself master of the 

 Italian language. But another acquisition, for which he was 



