63 
day, says, when discoursing “ on the advantage of fallowing , of which Virgil 
speaks so highly,’ ? 
“ Ilia seges demum yotis respondet avari 
Agricolce, bis quae solem, bis frigora sensit 
Illius immensae ruperunt horrea messes.” 
Georg. II. 
“ That crop rewards the greedy peasant’s pains 
Which twice the sun, and twice the cold, sustains. 
And bursts the crowded barns with more than promised gains!” 
of Mayow to the literary world. The analysis which he gave was, however, very hastily performed. 
His other important avocations hurried him too much in detailing “ the opinions of the philosopher of 
the last century;” and, in a public letter to Dr. Yeats, he candidly acknowledges that this work was 
written in too cursory a manner. Dr. Scherer, of Vienna, and De la Metherie in France, next 
attempted to enlighten their country respecting the merits of Mayow. Dr. Yeats, of Hertford 
College, Oxford, afterwards wished to give the public a fuller account of this extraordinary 
man. A work was undertaken by him for that purpose, entitled, “ Observations on the Claims 
of the Moderns to some late Discoveries in Chemistry and Physiology,” to shew how far the 
recent discoveries in these branches of science were entitled to Novelty. “ I have long,” says this 
gentleman, “ accustomed myself to, and been peculiarly delighted with, reading the works of the last 
century; an age distinguished for the productions of many learned men in every department of science. 
Little did I imagine, at first, that such employment would be the subject of publication; and as little 
did I conceive, that I should trace out facts supposed to be but very recently discovered. I could not be 
surprised, too, when I observed theories, founded upon these facts, very similar to those we now enter¬ 
tain. I mentioned them, during conversation, in the philosophical circles which I had the pleasure 
to attend during my residence in London. Some believed, more disbelieved, and many supposed, that 
from the glow of conversation, exaggeration might creep in. Having collected a sufficient number of 
proofs to justify my observations, I imagined they would afford an hour of entertainment to the 
curious reader.” 
“ It is a source, too, of rational and agreeable amusement to the cultivated mind to examine the 
similarity of opinions, in distant periods, and to trace the progress of science. It is curious to observe 
the co-incidence that sometimes takes place between the philosophical systems of great men. As re¬ 
searches into nature ever afford a pleasing employment to rational minds, and as her operations are all 
directed by fixed and immutable laws, it is not inconsistent to expect, that even in periods the most 
distant from each other, the philosophical pursuits of the literary will converge to the same point. 
The same observations, with respect to facts, have, no doubt, repeatedly occurred to every inquirer; and 
results, which arise from the consideration of general principles, have presented themselves, in a similar 
point of view, to the examination of philosophers. But it is not a loose hint thrown out, nor a system 
founded upon conjectural philosophy, that entitles a man to the merit of a discoverer . An arrangement 
of facts, the result of experimental inquiry and close reasoning alone, claims that honourable appella¬ 
tion. Laborious, indeed, is the investigation which requires it, and tedious the course. How care¬ 
fully, therefore, ought we to avoid wresting from the brow of a discoverer the dear-bought crown of 
literary fame. It affords a grateful pleasure to a feeling mind to observe each man possessing the re¬ 
wards due to his labours, and, however difficult it is, to award the suum cuique ; yet investigation, 
under almost every circumstance, contributes to that end, and promotes the dispensation of distribu¬ 
tive justice.” 
Coinciding perfectly with Dr. Yeats in this just sentiment, yet I cannot help differing from him in the 
opinion he entertains for Mayow, who appears to me, judged by this canon, rather to have approxi ¬ 
mated to the truth by the sagacity of a penetrating genius, than actually to have discovered it. I fear, 
likewise, he borrowed much from Hook, which will be shewn hereafter. 
