Ivi INTRODUCTION 



to His Gracious Majesty, King Charles II., were somewhat 

 too highly coloured, too servile and sycophantic, to suit our 

 modern taste. 



This short work Fumifugium, really only a pamphlet, was 

 therefore dedicated to the King in language of the period 

 extravagant in the highest degree, though eminently typical 

 of the Royalists during the early days of the Restoration. 

 The treatise was thus occasioned : * It was one day, as I 

 was Walking in Your Majesty's Palace at White-Hall (where 

 I have sometimes the honour to refresh myself with the 

 Sight of Your Illustrious Presence, which is the Joy of Your 

 Peoples hearts) that a presumptuous Smoak issuing from 

 one or two tunnels near Northumberland House, and not far 

 from Scotland-yard did so invade the Court; that all the 

 Rooms, Galleries, and Places about it were fill'd and infested 

 with it ; and that to such a degree, as Men could hardly 

 discern one another from the Clowd, and none could sup- 

 port, without manifest Inconveniency. It was not this which 

 did first suggest to me what I had long since conceived 

 against this pernicious Accident, upon frequent observation ; 

 But it was this alone, and the trouble that it must needs 

 procure to Your Sacred Majesty, as well as hazzard to Your 

 Health, which kindled this Indignation of mine against it, 

 and was the occasion of what it has produc'd in these Papers. 



Sir, I prepare in this short Discourse an expedient how 

 this pernicious Nuisance may be reformed ; and offer at 

 another also, by which the Aer may not only be freed from 

 the present Inconveniency; but (that remov'd) to render not 

 only Your Majesties Palace, but the whole City likewise, one 

 of the sweetest, and most delicious Habitations in the World; 

 and this, with little or no expence; but by improving those 

 Plantations which Your Majesty so laudably affects, in the 

 moyst, depressed and marshy grounds about the Town, to 

 the Culture and production of such things, as upon every 

 gentle emission through the Aer, should so perfume the 

 adjacent places with their breath; as if, by a certain charm, 

 or innocent Magick, they were transferred to that part of 

 Arabia, which is therefore styled the Happy, because it is 

 amongst the Gums and precious spices. ' 



Objectionable cottages had thus apparently only recently, 



