second col worthy your rare virtues; which, some good spirit Your majesty's most humble and devoted servant, Stephens's CCXCIX. A letter of the Lord BACON's, in French, to the Marquis FIAT, relating to his Essays. lection, p. 187. Monsieur l'Ambassadeur mon Fil, VOYANT que vostre excellence faict & traite ma- Vostre très affectioné ami, Sir Tobie CCC. To the Earl of ARUNDEL and SURRY: collection, just before his death, being the last letter he Matthew's p. 57. ever wrote. My very good Lord, I WAS likely to have had the fortune of Caius Plinius the elder, who lost his life by trying an experiment about the burning of the mount Vesuvius: for I was also desirous to try an experiment or two, touching the conservation and induration of bodies. As for the experiment itself, it succeeded excellently well; but in the journey, between London and Highgate, I was taken with such a fit of casting, as I knew not whether it were the stone, or some surfeit, or cold, or indeed a touch of them all three.. But when I came to your lordship's house, I was not able to go back, and therefore was forced to take up my lodging here, where your house-keeper is very careful and diligent about me; which I assure myself your lordship will not only pardon towards him, but think the better of him for it. For indeed your lordship's house was happy to me; and I kiss your noble hands for the welcome which I am sure you give me to it, etc. I know how unfit it is for me to write to your lordship with any other hand than my own; but by my troth my fingers are so disjointed with this fit of sickness, that I cannot steadily hold a pen. C. Baldwin, Printer, New Bridge-street, London. END OF VOL. V. |