It may, perhaps not unjustly, be said no Subject in _Europe_ had a cabinet so richly and so judiciously filled; to which the correspondence he maintained with the learned in all parts of _Europe_, not a little contributed; nor can there be an higher instance given of his reputation in this respect, than in the king of _Naples_ having sent him the two first volumes of M. _Bajurdi_’s account of the antiquities found in _Herculaneum_, with the additional compliment of asking in return, _only_, a compleat collection of our author’s works, to which was adjoined, an invitation to visit that newly discovered subterraneous city: an invitation that could not but be greatly pleasing to a genius so inquisitive after knowledge, and which he declared, he should very gladly have embraced, had not his advanced years been an insuperable impediment, to the gratification of his curiosity. In short, his character abroad was so well known and established, that a foreigner of any taste, would have thought it a reproach to him, to have been in _England_ without seeing Dr. _Mead_. As his knowledge was not limited only to his profession, the deserving in all sciences had not only free access to him, but always found a welcome reception, and at his table might daily be seen together the naturalist, the antiquarian, the mathematician, and the mechanic, with all whom he was capable of conversing in their respective terms; here might be seen united the magnificence of a prince, with the pleasures of the wise. His munificence was conspicuous in that there was no remarkable publick charity to which he was not a benefactor, particularly he was one of the earliest promoters of, and subscribers to the _Foundling hospital_. Let these specimens of his superior abilities and merit suffice for the present, nor let envy or detraction attempt to sully so exalted a character.--Soon after the publication of his _monita & præcepta medica_, this ornament of his profession, and delight of his acquaintance, grew more and more sensible of the natural infirmities attending his length of years; and with the utmost tranquillity and resignation, quietly sunk into the arms of death on the 16th of _February_ 1754. To whom may, with the greatest propriety, be applied a part of the epitaph inscribed to the memory of the celebrated _Guicciardini_, at _Florence_; _Cujus_ Otium _an_ Negotium _Gloriosius incertum:_ _Nisi_ Otii _Lumen_ Negotii _Famam_ _Clariorem reddidisset_. The END. THE PREFACE.