OF SAMUEL HARTLIB. 13 



who had promulgated many useful things and arts." 

 He further mentions as a subject of conversation that : 

 "He told me of the castles which they set for orna- 

 ment on their stoves in Germany (he himself being a 

 Lithuanian, as I remember), which are furnished with 

 small ordnance of silver in the battlements, out of 

 which they discharge excellent perfumes about the 

 rooms, charging them with a little powder to set them 

 on fire, and disperse the smoke ; and in truth no more 

 than need ; for their stoves are sufficiently nasty. He 

 told me of an ink that would give a dozen copies, 

 moist sheets of paper being pressed upon it, and remain 

 perfect ; and a receipt how to take off any print 

 without the least injury to the original. This gentle- 

 man was master of innumerable curiosities, and very 

 communicative." 



This shortly noticed interview is very characteristic 

 of Hartlib, for here, as in his correspondence, he is ever 

 giving information in respect to some novelty or other 

 of the day suitable to the taste of his visitor or corres- 

 pondent. 



Evelyn had engaged to write a History of Trades, 

 in which he made slow progress, declaring to the Honour- 

 able Eobert Boyle, August 9, 1659, his finding among 

 other obstacles,, as he says : — " I cannot support, of con- 

 versing with mechanical capricious persons, and [I meet 

 with] several other discouragements." He also remarks, 

 that he has prepared the heads of such a work, " a speci- 



