In this City there was an Academy or School, where with the utmost Decency and Solidity the Liberal Arts were taught. My Host introduc’d me into the Auditory of this School on a particular Day, when a _Madic_, or Doctor of Philosophy, was to be created. The whole Ceremony was this: The Candidate made a learned and elegant Dissertation upon a Problem in natural Philosophy, which being ended, the Governors of the School inserted his Name in the Register of Doctors, who from thence had Authority to teach publickly. My Host asking how I liked it? I answer’d that it appear’d to me a mighty dry Business in Comparison of our Promotions. Then I explain’d to him how Masters and Doctors were created among us, namely, by exhibiting certain Specimens of their Skill in Disputation. At this, contracting his Brows, he desir’d to know the Nature of our Disputations, and in what they differ from the subterranean. I reply’d, that they were usually upon curious and learned Subjects, particularly such as relate to the Manners, Language, or Dress of two ancient Nations who formerly flourish’d in _Europe_, and that I for my Part had wrote three Dissertations upon the Slippers of the Ancients. With that he set up such a Laugh, as made the whole House ring. His Wife, alarm’d with the Noise, flies to know the Cause of it: But I was so much out of Humour, that I disdained to answer her; for I thought it a burning Shame, so grave and solid a Matter should be treated with that Ridicule and Contempt. But understanding from her Husband the Truth of the Case, she laugh’d as violently. This Thing taking Air, gave a Handle to endless Sneers; nay, the Wife of a certain Senator, of herself exceedingly prone to laugh, was so delighted, that she had like to have burst herself. And she soon, after dying accidentally of a Fever, it was thought her Death was occasion’d by that immoderate Laugh, which had inflam’d her Lungs. They were not indeed quite certain that such was the Case; however, so it was whisper’d. She was otherwise a Matron of a fine Understanding, and a most useful Lady, for she had seven Branches, which is something rare in that Sex. All the better Sort of Trees were much concern’d at her Death. She was bury’d at Midnight without the City Gates, and in the same Garments she happen’d to have on when she dy’d. For there is a Provision by Law, that no Body can be bury’d in the City, because they believe the Air may be corrupted by the Effluvia of the Carcases. It is also by Law provided, that the dead Bodies shall be interr’d without any Funeral Pomp, or rich Dresses, inasmuch as all is shortly to be the Food of Worms. And these appear’d to me to be very wise Institutions. Yet they had Feasts in Honour of the Dead, and also Funeral Orations, which simply contain’d an Exhortation to a virtuous Life, and which plac’d before their Eyes an Image of Mortality. At this the Censors were present, to observe whether the Orators rais’d or