And indeed

that was never thought on. the conceit was half spoiled by changing the numbers; that of four being much more cabalistic, and therefore better expofing the pretended virtue of numbers, a fuperftition there intended to be ridiculed.

Another thing to be obferved is, that there generally runs an irony through the thread of the whole book, which the men of taste will observe and distingush, and which will render fome objections, that have been made, very weak and infignificant.

This apology being chiefly intended for the fatisfaction of future readers, it may be thought unneceffary to take any notice of fuch treatises as have been written against the ensuing discourse, which are already funk into wafte paper and oblivion, after the usual fate of common answerers to books, which are allowed to have any merit: they are indeed like annuals, that grow about a young tree, and feem to vie with it for a fummer, but fall and die with the leaves in autumn, and are never heard of any more. When Dr. Eachard writ his book about the contempt of the

clergy,

clergy, numbers of those answerers immediately started up, whofe memory if he had not kept alive by his replies, it would now be utterly unknown, that he were ever answered at all. There is indeed an exception, when any great genius thinks it worth his while to expofe a foolish piece; fo we ftill read Marvel's answer to Parker with pleasure, though the book it anfwers be funk long ago; fo the Earl of Orrery's remarks will be read with delight, when the differtation he exposes will neither be fought nor found: but thefe are no enterprizes for common hands, nor to be hoped for above once or twice in an age. Men would be more cautious of lofing their time in fuch an undertaking, if they did but confider, that to answer a book effectually, requires more pains and skill, more wit, learning, and judgment, then were employed in the writing it. And the author affures thofe gentlemen, who

Parker, afterwards bishop of Oxford, wrote many treatifes against the diffenters, with infolence and contempt, fays Burnet, that enraged them beyond measure; for which he was chattifed by Andrew Mar

vel, under fecretary to Milton, in a little book called the Rehearfal tranfprofed.

Boyle's remarks upon Bentley's differtation on the epiftles of Phalaris, fee page 155.

have given themselves that trouble with him, that his difcourfe is the product of the ftudy, the obfervation, and the invention of feveral years; that he often blotted out much more than he left, and, if his papers had not been a long time out of his poffeffion, they must have ftill undergone more fevere corrections: and, do they think fuch a building is to be battered with dirt-pellets, however envenomed the mouths may be that discharge them? He hath feen the productions but of two anfwerers, one of which at first appeared as from an unknown hand, but fince avowed by a perfon, who upon fome occafions hath discovered no ill vein of humour. It is a pity any occafion fhould put him under a neceffity of being fo hafty in his productions, which otherwise might often be entertaining. But there were other reafons obvious enough for his miscarriage in this; he writ against the conviction of his talent, and entered upon one of the wrongest at

• Supposed to be Doctor William King, the civilian, author of an account of Denmark, a differtation on famplars and other pieces of bur

lefque on the Royal Society, and the art of cookery in imitation of Horace's art of poetry, &c.

tempts