XL. Account of the Conclave at Rome, and the proceedings upon the election of a new Pope XLIX. Distillation of a Spirituous Liquor from Milk L. Wonderful Effects of a Sympathetic Powder III. Various Anecdotes.-Extraordinary Predictions LIII. Description of a Picture in Windsor Castle, re- LXXXIX. Cold Water recommended for a Scald XC. Sir Ashton Lever's Directions for preserving XCI. Royal Hawk-King James's Hawking.-Sir LETTERS TO AND FROM EMINENT PERSONS. I. From Algernon Sidney, in answer to one persuading his return to England soon after the Restoration. SIR, I AM sorry I cannot in all things conform myself to the advice of my friends. If theirs had any joint concernment with mine, I would willingly submit my interest to theirs; but when I alone am interested, and they only advise me to come over as soon as the act of indemnity is past, because they think it is best for me, I cannot wholly lay aside my own judgment and choice. I confess, we are naturally inclined to delight in our own country, and I have a particular love to mine: I hope I have given some testimony of it. I think that being exiled from it is a great evil, and would redeem myself from it with the loss of a great deal of my blood. But when that country of mine, which used to be esteemed a paradise, is now like to be made a stage of injury; the liberty which we hoped to establish, oppressed; all manner of profaneness, looseness, luxury, and lewdness, set up in its height, instead of piety, virtue, sobriety, and modesty, which we hoped God, by our hands, would have introduced; the best of our nation made a prey to the worst; the parliament, court, and army corrupted; the people enslaved; all things vendible; and no man safe but by such evil and infamous means as flattery and bribery; what joy can I have in my own country in this condition? Is it a pleasure to see all that I love in the world sold and destroyed? Shall I renounce all my old principles, learn the vile court arts, and make my peace by bribing some of them? Shall their corruption and vice be my safety? Ah! no better is a life among strangers, than in my own country upon such conditions. Whilst I live, I will |