FOREIGN TRAVEL

To proceed, therefore; presuppose travel ut suscipiatur propter unum aliquem finem as we have already constituted it: we are yet to give our young subject leave to be so far practical as that he do not slip any opportunity by which he may inform himself as well in things even mechanically curious and useful, as altogether in the mysteries of government and polity, which indeed are more appositely termed philosophical. Those who have imposed on themselves and others so many different species of travel as it may be said to contain theoretical parts in it, that is to say, the metaphysical, physical, and mathematical, are, in my apprehension, more exact and tedious in their analysing than perhaps they needed to have been; of them, therefore, I say no more: it shall be sufficient for him whom I send abroad, that he conform himself to such precepts as are only necessary, not cumbersome; which rule he shall likewise do well to observe even in his very necessary accoutrements and portmanteau.

First then, supposing him to be a young gentleman apt for all impressions, but from his primary education inclined to the most worthy having set foot upon the continent, his first study shall be to master the tongue of the country, wherein he resolves to reside which ought to be understood perfectly, written congruously, and spoken intelligently; after which, he may do well to accomplish himself in such exercises as are most commendable at home, and best attained abroad; which will be a means of rendering him very fit and apt for the general society of that nation amongst whom he converses, and consequently the better qualify him to frequent, without blush, such particular places and persons by whom he may best profit himself in the mysteries of their polity, or what other perfection they are renowned for, according as his particular genius and inclinations

import him. But this he shall never attain unto, till he begin to be somewhat ripened and seasoned in a place; for it is not every man that crosses the seas, hath been of an academy, learned a corranto, and speaks the language, whom I esteem a traveller (of which piece most of our English are in these countries at present); but he that instead of taking the tour, as they call it, or (as a late ambassador of ours. facetiously but sharply reproached), like a goose swims down the river, having mastered the tongue, frequented the court, looked into their customs, been present at their pleadings, observed their military discipline, contracted acquaintance with their learned men, studied their arts, and is familiar with their dispositions, makes this account of his time. The principal advantages which a gentleman, thus made, may observe and apply are, truth, taciturnity, facetiousness without morosity, courage, modesty, hardiness, patience, frugality, and an excellent temper in the regimen of his health and affections, especially in the point of drink and tobacco, which is our northern, national, and most sordid of vices. It is (I confess) a thing extremely difficult to be at all times and in all places thus reserved, and, as it were, obliged to a temper so static and exact among all conversations; nor, for mine own part, do I esteem it in all cases necessary, provided a man be furnished with such a stock of prudence as he know how and when to make use even of his companions' extravagances (as then frequently betraying more freely their inclinations, than at times of their more serious recollection and first addresses). Seeing I find it generally impossible for a traveller to evade some occasions and encounters, which (if he be at all practical) he will, nolens volens, perceive himself engaged into at some one time or other. But to recover this deviation, and return to our purpose; the virtues which our traveller is to bring home when he doth repatriare (as Solinus terms it) are either public, such namely as concern the service of his country; or private, and altogether personal, in order to his particular advantage and satisfaction: and believe it, sir, if he reap some contentment extraordinary from what he hath observed abroad, the pains, solicitations, watchings, perils, journeys, ill entertainment, absence from friends, and innumerable like inconveniences, joined to his vast expenses, do very dearly, and by a strange kind of extortion, purchase that small experience and reputation which he can vaunt to have acquired from abroad.

Those who boast of philological peregrinations (falsely so, called) which they undertake merely for the flourish and tongue of a place, possess only a parrot-virtue it is one of the shells of travel, though I confess, the kernel is not to be procured without it; and topical; in which I find the Dutch odoπoρikov generally most accurate and industrious; both of them serve well for the entertainment of women and children, who are commonly more imported with wonder and romance, than that solid and real emolument which is (through these instruments) to be conveyed us from abroad.

It is written of Ulysses, that he saw many cities indeed, but, withal, his remarks of men's manners and customs were ever preferred to his counting steeples, and making tours; it is this ethical and moral part of travel, which embellisheth a gentleman, in the first place having a due respect to the religion which accomplisheth a Christian: in short, they are all severally very commendable, accommodated to persons and professions; nor should a cavalier neglect to be seen in all of them but for that my intention is here to make an introduction only into my own observations, I shall forbear to enter so large and ample a field, as the thorough handling of this argument would insensibly oblige me to do; it having likewise been so abundantly treated of, almost by every pen which hath prevaricated on this subject; though, in my slender judgment, and, under favour, I must confess, without any real and ingenious satisfaction either to truth or curiosity.

(From The State of France.)

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

LET us therefore rather celebrate public employment and an active life, which renders us so nearly allied to virtue, defines and maintains our being, supports society, preserves kingdoms in peace, protects them in war; has discovered new worlds, planted the Gospel, increases knowledge, cultivates arts, relieves the afflicted; and in sum, without which the whole universe itself had still been but a rude and indigested chaos. Or if (to vie landscapes with our Celador) you had rather see it represented

VOL. III

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in picture, behold here a sovereign sitting in his august assembly of Parliament enacting wholesome laws: next him my Lord Chancellor and the rest of the reverend judges and magistrates dispensing them for the good of the people; figure to yourself a Secretary of State making his dispatches and receiving intelligence: a statesman countermining some pernicious plot against the commonwealth; here a general bravely embattling his forces and vanquishing the enemy; there a colony planting an island, and a barbarous and solitary nation reduced to civility; cities, houses, forts, ships, building for society, shelter, defence, and commerce. In another table, the poor relieved and set to work, the naked clad, the oppressed delivered, the malefactor punished, the labourer busied, and the whole world employed for the benefit of mankind. In a word, behold him in the nearest resemblance to his Almighty Maker, always in action, and always doing good.

On the reverse, now represent to yourself, the goodliest piece of the creation, sitting on a cushion picking his teeth; his country gentleman taking tobacco, and sleeping after a gorgeous meal ; there walks a contemplator, like a ghost in a churchyard, or sits poring on a book while his family starves; here lies a gallant at the feet of his pretty female, sighing and looking babies in her eyes, while she is reading the last new romance, and laughs at his folly; on yonder rock an anchorite at his beads; there one picking daisies, another playing at push-pin, and abroad the young poacher with his dog and kite, breaking his neighbour's hedges or trampling over his corn for a bird not worth sixpence : this sits basking himself in the sun, that quivering in the cold; here one drinks poison: another hangs himself; for all these, and a thousand more, seem to prefer solitude and an inactive life as the most happy and eligible state of it. And thus have you landscape for your landscape.

The result of all is, solitude produces ignorance, renders us barbarous, feeds revenge, disposes us to envy, creates witches, dispeoples the world, renders it a desert, and would soon dissolve it; and if after all this, yet he admit not an active life to be by infinite degrees more noble; let the gentleman whose first contemplative piece he produces to establish his discourse, confute him by his example; since, I am confident, there lives not a person whose moments are more employed than Mr. Boyle's, and that more confirms his contemplations by his actions and experience;

and if it be objected, that his employments are not public, I can assure him there is nothing more public than the good he is always doing.

How happy in the mean time were it for this ingenious adventurer, could it produce us more such examples, were they but such as himself; for I cannot imagine, but that he who writes so well, must act well; and that he who declaims against public employment in essay, would refuse to essay a public employment that were worthy of him. These notices are not the result of inactive contemplation only, but of a public, refined, and generous spirit; or if in truth I be mistaken, I wish him store of proselytes, and that we had more such solitary gentlemen that could render an account of their retirements, and whilst they argue against conversation (which is the last of the appanages he disputes against) prove the sweetest conversation in the world.

(From Public Employment preferred to Solitude.)

THE WORK OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY

THOSE who perfectly comprehend the scope and end of that noble institution, which is to improve natural knowledge, and enlarge the empire of operative philosophy, not by an abolition of old, but by the real effects of the experimental-collecting, examining, and improving their scattered phenomena, with a view to establish even the received methods and principles of the schools, as far as were consistent with truth and matter of fact, thought it long enough that the world had been imposed upon by that notional and formal way of delivering divers systems and bodies of philosophy, falsely so called, beyond which there was no more country to discover; which being brought to the test and trial, vapours all away in fume and empty sound.

This structure then being thus ruinous and crazy, it is obvious what they were to do-even the same which skilful architects do every day before us-by pulling down the decayed and sinking wall, to erect a better and more substantial in its place. They not only take down the old, reject the useless and decayed, but sever such materials as are solid, and will serve again; bring new ones in, prepare and frame a model suitable to so magnificent a