44: A BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR 



be mentioned J. Pell_, Master of Arts^ who wrote ^' An 

 Idea of Mathematics/^ addressed to Samuel Hartlib, 

 Esq., printed in 1651_, duodecimo, at the end of ''^The 

 Reformed School,^^ written by J. Durie, having been 

 previously written in English and in Latin. Hartlib 

 wrote a letter to Dr. Worthiugton, relating the decease 

 of this scholar in abject wretchedness in St. Gileses. 

 But alas ! the catalogue of the wants, miseries, and 

 drudgery of those who are scribes for their daily bread 

 is not limited to the experience of this singularly 

 benevolent man, although he wrote when such dis- 

 tressing cases were conspicuous in our streets. Grub 

 Street is no more ! but the multitude of authors obliges 

 many task-workers to fare as sadly as any of the 

 fraternity in the days of Milton and Hartlib. 



He interested himself in forwarding the early pro- 

 spects of Sir William Petty, while just entering on active 

 life, in very humble circumstances, and in 1647 induced 

 him to write on the Advancement of Learning. 

 And with Petty, Boyle, Wren, and other celebrities in 

 science, he maintained constant correspondence on 

 matters of public value, although they were then but 

 slowly gathering interest among that select few who 

 eventually formed themselves into an organised society, 

 somewhat resembling one of his own contemplated 

 colleges, but on a more simple model. 



Hartlib^ s most prominent scheme was his long- 

 cherished Macaria. This was a thoroughly Utopian 



