280 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONSi [aNNTO 1668. 



This author's principal intention in his book, is to inform the curious of the 

 origin and progress of chemistiy ; how it sprang up and flourished in Egypt ; 

 passed thence into Greece, Italy, Arabia, China, Spain, France, and all Europe. 

 And because Conringius and Ursinus have called in question this progress, he 

 endeavours to remove the objections which they have urged against it. 



II. An Idea of the Perfection of Painting : originally written in French by 

 Roland Freart Sieur de Cambray, and translated by J. Evelyn,* Esq. F.R.S. 



This excellent idea is drawn in such a manner that it is demonstrated from 

 the principles of art, and by examples conformable to the observations which 



many. He took his doctor's degree at Angers. On his return to his native country in 1666, he was 

 appointed to the professorships of philology, chemistry and botany, in the university of Copenhagen, 

 was made physician to the king, and had other honours conferred upon him. Besides tlie work here 

 mentioned, he wrote a treatise De Hermetis ^Egyptior Sapientia, 4to, l674, (a very learned perform- 

 ance, wherein he further vindicates the merits of the Egyptians in respect to science and inventions, 

 and particularly in respect to medical and chemical science, from the attacks of Conringius) another 

 treatise De Usu Plantar. Indig. in Medicina, 8vo. 1^88 j a Conspectus Chemicor. illustr. published 

 after his death in 4to. 1697 ; various Dissertationes Academicae, and several communications on 

 medical subjects inserted in the Acta Medica Hafniensia. Add to these his classical work De Poetis 

 Gr. et Lat. He died, after undergoing tlie operation for the stone, in 169O, aged 67 ; bequeathing a 

 large sum of money for founding a medical college, to be provided witli a botanic garden, a chemical 

 laboratory, and a library, and endowed with a fund for the maintenance and education of a number 

 of poor students. Borrichius was not only celebrated as a physician and a chemist, but held also a 

 very distinguished rank among the scholars and critics of his days. At the same time he possessed 

 the knowledge and talents requisite to form the magistrate and the statesman ; tlie functions of hoth 

 which he exercised with advantage to his country, in the honourable situations which he filled in 

 the supreme court of justice and in the chancery. 



* Mr. Evelyn was a very ingenious writer, particularly skilled in botany, natural history, and tha 

 fine arts ; and had the honour to be one of the original members on the first establishment of the 

 Royal Society. He was born in 162O, and died in 1706, in tlie 86th year of his age. Though Mr. 

 E. was a very studious man, lie was not of so recluse a character as to neglect public affairs } for on 

 the retiring of Richard Cromwell he labom-ed zealously in bringing about the restoration ; and on the 

 king's return he was honoured with particular marks of his attention. In l664 he was appointed one 

 of the commissioners for the care of tlie sick and wounded : also, after the fire of London, one of the 

 commissioners for rebuilding St. Paul's cathedral, and he paid considerable attention to that greatwork. 

 About 1669 he was named one of the commissioners of the new board of trade. At the accession of 

 James the lid, he was made one of the commissioners for executing tlie ofiSce of lord privy seal ; and 

 after the revolution he was appointed treasurer of Greenwich hospital. At his entreaty it was that 

 lord Howard presented the Arundel marbles to the university of Oxford. Mr. Evelyn was autlior of 

 a number of ingenious works, some of which are the following: In 1 662 appeared his Sculptura, 

 or the History and Art of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper, with an ample enumeration of the 

 most renowned masters and their works ; to which was annexed the mezzotinto manner of engraving, 

 communicated to him by Prince Rupert. In 1664 came out his great work, Sylva, or a Discourse 

 on Forest Trees, (lately edited with valuable notes by Dr. Hunter of York). And in 1 697 appeared 

 his Numismata, or Discourse on Medals. He wrote also several other books, political and philoso- 

 phical, and some papers in the Phil. Trans. 



