PEEFACE. ix 



Indeed^ just at the close of his labours the author has 

 been introduced, through the kind attention of John 

 Wilson, Esq., of Bloomsbury, to Daniel Benham, Esq.,* 

 author of ''^ A Sketch of the Life of J. A. Comenius/' 

 1858, and obhgingly recommended by him to consult 

 Dr. Yaughan's " Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell,'^ 

 2 vols. 8vo. 1838. The former work contains numerous 

 references to Hartlib, who principally influenced the 

 Commonwealth ParHament to invite Comenius to Eng- 

 land ; and whose measures for improving education he 

 earnestly laboured to promote. In one of his manu- 

 scripts Comenius says of Hartlib, — ^'1 don't know his 

 equal in the extent of his knowledge.'' Dr. Vaughan 

 gives the correspondence of the Rev. Dr. John Pell, who 

 frequently alludes to Hartlib, and he is named by him to 

 Sir Samuel Morland, and others ; as also various 

 letters from Hartlib, in which he repeatedly mentions 

 his severe bodily sufferings, being '^ afflicted with three 

 tormenting diseases,^' (5th May, 1658.) But the his- 

 torian is wrong in attributing any inventious to him, 

 for when he speaks of clepsydra, and other inge- 

 nious contrivances, he only records the productions as 

 the works of others, and not his own. A careful 

 perusal of this additional information has satisfied the 

 author that no distinguishing trait of character has 

 been overlooked in his own notice. 



* See " Comenius' School of Infancy, with Sketch of his Life;" 

 by Daniel Benham, post 8vo. 1858. 



