ROBERT BOYLE. ij 



better than a collection of dogmas, addressing themselves rather 

 to the implicit faith of men than either to their experience or 

 their reason. These venerable articles of belief he showed the 

 necessity of examining, in reference to their agreement with the 

 ascertained facts of nature ; and, by bringing them to this test, 

 exposed the falsehood of many of them. His successors have 

 only had to contribute each his share in building up the new 

 system ; he had also to overthrow the old one. 



Mr. Boyle died, at the age of sixty-four, in 1691. The ex- 

 perimental science of modern times never had a more devoted 

 follower ; and he claims to be recorded as having not only given 

 us an illustrious example of the ardent pursuit of philosophy in 

 a man of rank, but as having dedicated to its promotion the 

 whole advantages of which his station and fortune put him in 

 possession, with a zealous liberality that has scarcely been 

 surpassed or equalled. Other wealthy patrons of literature and 

 science have satisfied themselves with giving merely their money, 

 and the eclat of their favourable regard to the cause which they 

 professed to take under their protection ; but he spent his life 

 in the active service of philosophy, and was not more the en- 

 courager and supporter of all good works done in that name 

 than a fellow-labourer with those who performed them. For 

 the long period during which he was, in this country, the cliief 

 patron of science, he was also and equally its chief cultivator 

 and extender. He gave to it not only his name, his influence, 

 and his fortune, but his whole time, faculties, and exertions. 



— «*B^€<S*v<&^'^^— 



