Harvey appears to have devoted much of his time in his later years to a study of general literature, which must always have had many attractions to his cultivated mind--a study which is indeed absolutely necessary as a relaxation to one whose mind is bent upon the solution of obscure scientific problems if he desires to make his results intelligible. Writing to Nardi on the 30th of November, 1653, to thank him for a commentary on Lucretius' account of the plague, he goes on to say, "Nor need you plead in excuse your advanced life. I myself, though verging on my eightieth year and sorely failed in bodily health, nevertheless feel my mind still vigorous, so that I continue to give myself up to studies of this kind, especially connected with the sacred things of Apollo, for I do indeed rejoice to see learned men everywhere illustrating the republic of letters." It would seem too as if he had gained some reputation as a judge of general literature, for Howell in his familiar letters writes to him:-- "To Dr. Harvey, at St. Lawrence Pountney. "SIR,--I remember well you pleased not only to pass a favourable censure but gave a high character of the first part of 'Dodona's Grove,' which makes this second to come and wait on you, which, I dare say, for variety and fancy, is nothing inferior to the first. It continueth an historical account of the occurrences of the times in an allegorical way, under the shadow of trees; and I believe it omits not any material passage which happened as far as it goes. If you please to spend some of the parings of your time and fetch a walk in this Grove, you may haply find therein some recreation. And if it be true what the Ancients write of some trees, that they are fatidical, these come to foretell, at least to wish you, as the season invites me, a good New Year, according to the Italian compliment, Buon principio, miglior mezzo, ed ottimo fine. With these wishes of happiness in all the three degrees of comparison, "I rest, Your devoted Servant, "J. H. "LOND. _2 Jan._"