publick; but he feems to have wafted his fortune in projects *."

Samuel Hartlib was the fon of the King of Poland's merchant, who, when the Jefuits prevailed in that country, was obliged to remove himself into Pruffia, where he fettled and built the first houfe of credit at Elbing, which coft him many thoufand of rixdollars in thofe cheap days. Hence his grandfather, the deputy of the English company at Dantzick, brought the English company to Elbing; and that town came by trade to the fplendour and refult whcih it afterwards attained t.

was

"My family," fays Hartlib, " of a very antient extraction in the German empire, there having been ten brothers of the name of Harilib. Some of them have been privy counfellors to the Emperor, fome to other inferior princes; fome Syndics of Aufperg and Norimberg. Bat they pallet af terwards not to frictly for Udallanta in the Empire, when fome turned merchants, which is derogatory to the German nobility. I may speak it with a fate confcience, that I never, all the days of my life, reflected ferioufly upon my pedigree, preferring my heavenly birth above all fuch va nities; and afterwards findying more, to this very day, to be ufcul to God's creatures and ferviceable to his church, than to be rich or honourable 1."

Warton fays, Hartlib came over into England about 1640. In 1641, he published "A relation of that which hath been lately attempted to procure ecclefiaftical peace among Proteftants." Lond. 1041. See Bibl. Bodl. I. 554.

In 1645, he published "The Dif courfe of Flanders Husbandry." 4to. about 24 pages; not then knowing who was the author: the " Legacy" to his fons, which relates alfo to the cultivation of their ettates, confifts of three quarto pages, and was written on the author's death-bed 1645. The author was Sir RICHARD WESTON, whom Harte apprehends to be the Sir Richard Wetton" who was ambaflador from England to Frederick V. elector Palaune, and king of Bohemia, in 1619, and prefent at the famous battle of Prague, concerning which a curious relation of his, by way of letter, is full preferved in MS." It is remarked in the Philofophical Tranfactions, that England has profited in agriculture to the amount of many millions, by following the directions laid down in this little treatife, which has always been looked upon as a capital performance in hufbandry J.

About 1750, a piece was ignorantly publifhed under Sir R. Welion's name, entituled "A treatise concerning the Hufbandry and natural hifiory of England." 8vo. Which performance is a poor jejune abridgement of" Hartlib's Legacy

It feems that Hartlib afterwards, in order to enlarge and better explain this famous difcourte, publifhed another edition, and annexed Dr. Beati's annotations to it. In his epifile dedicatory to the edition 1655, 4to. he fays,

Agriculture is one of the nobleft and mot neceffary parts of induftry, belonging to a commonwealth, the first ground of mutual trading between men, and the well-fpring of wealth in all well-ordered focieties ++."

In 1652, Hartlib published "His Legacy, or an enlargement of the difcourfe of Hufbandry ufed in Brabant and Flanders." Lond. 4to. This famous work was only drawn up at

++ Th. 1. 22, 23.

Hartlib's

Hartlib's request, and paffing through his correction and remifion was publithed by him. It confifis of one general aufwer to the following query, namely," what are the actual defects and omiffions, as alfo the poflible improvements, in English husbandry ?" The real author of this work was ROBERT CHILD. To it are annexed various correfpondences from perfons eminent for skill in agriculture at this time; as C. D. B. W. R. H. T. Underhill, Henry Cruttenden, W. Potter, &c. as alfo the "Mercurius Lætificans" and 20 large experiments by Gabriel Plattes; together with annotations on the Legacy by Dr. Arnold Beati, and replies to the animadvertions by the author of the Legacy *,

In the preface to the "Legacy," Hartlib laments greatly that no public director of hutbandry was established in England by authority; and that we had not adopted the Flemish cufiom of letting farms upon improvement. Cromwell, as Harte fays, in confequence of this admirable performance, allowed Hartlib a penfion of 1001. a year; and it was the better to fulfil the intentions of his benefactor, that he procured Dr. Beati's excellent annotations beforementioned, with the other valuable pieces from his numerous correfpondents +.

Hartlib fays himself, “As long as I have lived in England, by wonderful providences, I have fpent yearly out of my own betwixt 3 and 4001. a year, fierling; and when I was brought to public allowances, I have had from the parliaments and councils of fate a penfion of 3001. ferling a year, which as freely I have spent for their fervice, and the good of many." He fays be erected a little academy for the education of the gentry of this nation, to advance piety, fearning, morality, and other exercifes of induftry, not ufual then in common fchools."

This probably occafioned Milton's "Tradate on Education," about 1618, addrefied to him; and "Two letters to him on the fame fubject, by Sir William Petty." Lond. 4to. 1647,

Speed in his houfe, whitt he composed his book of improvements in hufbandry*.

About the time," obferves Hartet, when this author flourished, seems to be an era, when English hufbandry rofe to high perfection; for the preceding wars had made the country gentry poor, and in confequence thereof induftrious; though fometimes the reverfe of this happens in many kingdomis. But thefe wife men found the cultivation of their own lands to be the very beft ports they could be fixed in. Yet, in a few years, when the Rettoration took place, all this industry and knowledge were turned into dilipation and heedlefinefs; and then hutbandry patied almost entirely into the hands of farmers.

Hartlib wrote a little treatife "on Setting Land," which is much effeemed; and fome attribute to him " Adam's Art Revived," though that work feems to belong more properly to Sir H. Platt ‡.

He alfo wrote A trne and ready way to learn the Latin Tongue," 4to. 1654. "A Vindication of Mr. John Durie," 4to. 1650, 3 fheets; and publifhed Twifle's doubting Confcience refolved," 8vo. 1652 §.

Befides thefe, he was author of "The reformed Common-wealth of Bees, with the reformed Virginian Silk-worm," Lond. 1655, 4to. And of “ Confiderations concerning England's Reformation in Church and State," 1647, 4to ||.

He was confulted in a book called "Chemical, Medicinal, and Chirurgical Addreffes to Samuel Hartlib." Lond. 1655, 8vo. and again in a pamphlet "On Motion by Engines," 1051. There were alfo Letters to Hartlib from Flanders," 1650, 4to.

Dury, Hartlib's friend, whom Whitlock calls a " German by birth, a good fcholar, and a great traveller," was appointed in 1649 deputy librarian, under Whitlock, of what had been the roval library. Dury was Milton's friend and correlpondent.

At length the Reftoration brought with it evil days to Hartlib, and all his public fervices were forgotten. In Dec. 1662, his penfion was 7001. in arrears ; and, in a letter to Lord Herbert, he complains he had nothing to keep him alive, with two relations more, a

daughter and a nephew, who were attending his fickly condition." About the fame time he prefented a petition to the House of Commons, by the name of Samuel Hartlib, fen. fetting forth his fervices, and praying relief; in which, among other things, he fays, that for thirty years and upwards he had exerted himfell in procuring" rare collections of MSS. in all the parts of learning, which he had freely imported, tranfcribed, and printed, and fent to fuch as were moft capable of making nfe of them; alfo the beft experiments in hutbandry and manufactures, which by printing he hath published for the benefit of this age and poflerity t."

The event of thefe applications, and the time of the death of this ingenious man, is unknown.

Sprat, in his hiftory of the Royal Society, fays nothing of Hartlib, who feems to have been an active promoter of that inflitution. Nor is it lefs remarkable, that he never mentions MilTractate of Education," although he difcufles the plan of Cowley's philofophical college. Warton.

ton's "

Harte intended to republifh Hartlib's tracts, and those with which he was concerned; and Warton had feen his collection. See T. Warton's Milton, p. 118. 596, who refers alfo to MSS. of Hartlib and Drury, Brit. Muf. Sl. .1465, 4364, 4365.-MSS. Letters from Hartlib to Dr. Worthington, from 1655 to 1661, at Cambridge. MSS. Baker, vol. XXIX, p. 193; and Catalogue of Pamphlets in Bibl. Harl. p.23. Allo to Prynne's Laud, p. 301. See alfo Birch's Hifi. Roy. Soc. IV. 444. FERD. STANLEY.

THE

Jan. 5.

Mr. URBAN, HE following extraordinary narrative of a reclufe is felected from a Fate tourist in Ireland, in a defeription of Mucrufs Abbey, on the lake of Killarney; " Going Eaftwards, "fays our author, the painfula of Mucrufs offers itfelf to the view; it is one of the fineft places I have feen, on account of the chequering of woods and plains; it meanders nearly about two miles. The - venerable ruins of the Abbey infpire a fentiment of religious horror by no incans unpleafing the yew in the middle of it covers it entirely with its branches, and hardly admits the paf fage of a few rays of light, which fall ↑ Ibid.

*Kenn. Reg. 872.

on the tombs and bones at the foot of it. The common people believe that the rafh mortal who would dare to cut it, or even to pierce it, would inevitably perifh that year, &c. &c. Some years ago an old well-looking man came to refide in one of the old chambers of this abbey. He made a bed for himfelf with fome of the boards of the coffins, and placed it in one of the windows, the only place fheltered. Ile foon got a reputation for fanctity; the pealants brought him provifions; and the gentry invited him fometimes, to their table, where he behaved like a perfon accustomed to good company. When asked the reafon of his penance, "that he could never do he answered,

enough for his fins." He was a handfome man, and once obferving a lady looking attentively at him," take care," "thofe eves have done much faid he, harm." He lived about two years in this melancholy folitude, and at length difappeared. People have formed many conjectures, and invented feveral fiories about him, but they are probably the fuggeftions of fancy. The beauties and the enchanting feenery of the lakes of Killarney, have been celebrated by feveral tourilts in profe and verfe*, but

the enthufiaftic and happy profe defeription given by Dr. Smith, in his hiftory of Kerry, is yet unrivalled."

Mr. URBAN,

H. K. B.

Jan. 7.

OURCorrefpondent, LXXI. p.892,

is not fingular in lamenting "the depredations committed by a large ivv bufh on one of the venerable painted glafs windows of Malvern Church.” He, and your numerous readers, will fee, and I think with painful pleasure, that a poet of no common powers has attered his fweet "Complaint" on the fame fubject: but whether either complaints have got the evil removed, though I live within eight miles of it, I cannot tell. Yet, I believe I may with confidence fay that it will be removed, a gentleman having fucceeded Mr. Philips to the living who is likely to look a little after thefe matters. The poet, above alluded to, is Dr. Booker;

By Mr. Leflie, in 1772, and Mr. Atkinfon, in 1798. Both writers," fays the author of "Living English Authors," have done themfelves credit, though both have failed in doing justice to the scenery of Killarney (cenery which, as all agree, would baffle any powers of defoription.

and:

and the Complaint is very properly made in his "Malvern, a defcriptive and hiftorical Poem," that bids fair to live as long as the language in which it is written, or the mountains which it celebrates shall stand; "mountains," as he jufily fays,

"Of paftoral beauty, fpotted o'er With happy flocks, and cloth'd with livelieft green, [fung:

Where oft refounds the shepherd's ruftic Mountains, furveying trees of richer bloom Than Tempe boafts, or Apennine beholds; Vales more abundant,-fields of kindlier foil,

Woods more umbrageous of imperial Oak,
A nation's bulwark, ornament, and pride.
What marvel, that a (cene fo rich, fo
grand,

Should admiration e'en in Royal breafts *
Awaken ?-Admiration, that infpir'd
Of old, for yonder venerable pile,
Devotion, and munificence, and zeal,
To rear those richly-tinted Windows, now,
Alas! with ivy, and with weedy mess
O'trufive, bung: fome, by the gutty wind,
Or ftripplings-thoughlefs in their boyish

fparts

Fractured, and beadlefly, by hand uncouth, With ill-according workmanship repair'd. -Such-once their grandeur-they, in fequence, told

Reitere, O Piety of modern times ! Reftore them to their pride, What antient zeal,

The generous zeal of better days beftow'd, At least preferve, and let not Ruin's tooth Infatiate prey on pearls. Away! away! With all that is unfeemly from God's houfe. Endure not there what would be noifome [Mule,

deem'd Within your own; nor let the obfervant Who fo much all around fees fit for praise, There only cenfure, where not e'en the found Of Cenfure's voice fhou'd pain the pious [ear."

In the fame ftrong, poetic-and, let me add-pious fpirit, the author goes on, invoking the inhabitants to refiore the "noble, neglected edifice" to its priftine beauty; and concludes his too generally merited reproofs on other neglected churches with this juft reflection::-

"How loft to Piety, to Virtue loft, Who, with fuper Auous pageantry and pomp, Adorn their manfions, and neglect their God!

"

Their own a palace.-His, the Lord of all,
Damp, fœtid, loathfome, a fepulchral cave.'
Worcester.
J. W.

In later time perform'd, depicted there:
His restoration of the fick and lame
To health and foundness,-of the deaf and
blind

To hearing and to fight-the dead to life!
His conqueft o'er grim Death, by dying
gain'd;
[Death

And o'er a monster far more dire than

Soul-damning Sin!-Thele (with eventful [man,

truths

Count'efs, and of concernment great to From Time's beginning to ts laft dread hour)

* The Lichheld MS. concerning Mal vern ftates, that the fituation was fo much admired by Henry VII. his Queen, and their two fons, Prince Arthur and Prince Henry, as to induce them to beautify the church with fta ned glass windows to a degree that made it one of the greatest ornaments of the nation. "Thofe windows," fays the MS. " form a mirror wherein we

may fee how to believe, live, and die." It then enumerates the great mul plicity of facred fubjects delineated: one of which, a reprefentation of the Day of Judgment, is faid not to have been inferior to the paintings of Michael Angelo." See Dr. Nath's Hift. article Malvern.”

Mr. URBAN,

Chefer, Jan. 8.

there is a life of the late Edmund

Burke preparing for the prefs. I hope the plan is a good one; that is, I truft the biographical productions of Jortin, Mafon, or Hayley, may be the model which the author means to follow. As Burke's correfpondence was very exten five, the work may be enriched with feveral of his letters; and feveral paffages from his fpeeches and pamphlets, illuftrative of his life, may be introduced: fo that he may be, in a great degree, his own biographer. Of his early life a good deal, I prefume, might be learned from the fon of his old fchoolmafier. The Rev. Mr. Todd, in his valuable edition of Milton's Poetical Works, gives an account vol. I. cliii, of a literary club in Dublin, to which Burke belonged when he was, probably, a ftudent in the college of that city. In Dr. Campbell's Stricture on the liftory of Ireland, there is a letter of this great man to General Val lancey, which merits the notice of his biographer. Nor thould Mr. Price's obfervations on his Treatife on the Sub

p.