BIOGRAPHTCAL MEMOIR, 



ETC., ETC. 



HE life of a truly good man, distinguished 

 for untiring zeal in promoting public under- 

 takings for the facilitating and extending 

 of learning, as well as for increasing the 

 industrial resources of his country, commands alike 

 our respect and veneration. The incidents, however, of 

 a long career of public and private usefulness are 

 rarely calculated to surprise by stirring scenes of 

 action, or to rivet attention by adventurous story, or 

 a large admixture of lively with serious narrative. 

 But as the character of the scholar and philanthropist 

 possesses its own peculiar gentle attraction, we are led 

 to seek the gratification of being informed respecting 

 the private life, ordinary pursuits, and guiding princi- 

 ples actuating such men, however solitary and secluded 

 may have been their customary habits and predilections. 

 Of the early personal history of Samuel Hartlib, 

 we glean the most interesting portion from a short auto- 

 biographical sketch, written principally, no doubt, for 

 the information of certain persons interested in pro- 



