On the Portraits of English Authors on Gardening,: with Biographical Notices of Them, 2nd edition, with considerable additionsFelton, Samuel
History
On the Portraits of English Authors on Gardening,: with Biographical Notices of Them, 2nd edition, with considerable additions
Felton, Samuel
Gardening -- Bibliography; Horticulturists -- England
Mr. Weston gives much information respecting Mr. Hartlib. I select only
the following:--
"He was a German gentleman by birth, a great promoter of husbandry
during the times of the commonwealth, and much esteemed by all ingenious
men in those days, particularly by Milton, who addressed to him his
Treatise on Education; Sir William Petty also inscribed two letters to
him on the same subject. _Lond._ 4to. 1647 and 1648. Cromwell, who was a
great favourer of agriculture, in consequence of this admirable
performance, allowed Hartlib a pension of £100. a year; and Hartlib
afterwards, the better to fulfil the intentions of his benefactor,
procured Dr. Beatie's excellent annotations on the Legacy, with other
valuable pieces from his numerous correspondents. This famous work,
attributed to Hartlib, and called the Legacy, was only drawn up at his
request, and, passing through his correction and revision, was published
by him." His name will ever stand honoured, from Milton having
dedicated his _Tractate on Education_ to him, and from his having, in
this tract, painted with affection, and with warm and high colours, the
character of Mr. Hartlib.[31]
Dr. JOHN BEALE, author of that celebrated little tract, the
"Herefordshire Orchards, a pattern for the whole of England." _London_
1657, 12mo.; 1724, 8vo. He addresses this to Mr. Hartlib, and thus
commences it:--"Your industrious endeavours for the benefit of all men,
and particularly for the good of this nation, hath well deserved the
grateful acknowledgement of all good men, and of my self in special; for
that in my rural retirement I have received some profit, and very much
innocent and refreshing delights in the perusal of those treatises,
which are by your diligent hand communicated to the publick." He thus
affectionately concludes it:--"I briefly hint unto you what esteem we do
truly owe unto your labours. I pray the Lord to remember your diligence
in the great day of his appearance in glory. Your hearty well-wisher."
In vol. 6 of the works of the Honourable Robert Boyle, are many letters
from Dr. Beale. That dated Oct. 26, strongly paints his attachment to
the fruits of Herefordshire, or whatever may tend to the benefit of that
his native county. Mr. Boyle says of him, "There is not in life, a man
in this whole island, nor on the continents beyond the seas, that could
be made more universally useful to do good to all." And Mr. Gough, in
his Topography, records the benefits he conferred on that county. Such a
testimony as the above, from such a man as Mr. Boyle, is, indeed,
honourable. The learned Boerhaave tells us who Mr. Boyle was: "Boyle,
the ornament of his age and country, succeeded to the genius and
enquiries of the great Verulam. Which of all Boyle's writings shall I
recommend? All of them. To him we owe the secrets of fire, air, water,
animals, vegetables, fossils, so that from his works may be reduced the
whole system of natural knowledge." His charities amounted to £1000.
annually. Dr.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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