Studies in the life of Robert Boyle, F. R. S. Part I. Robert Boyle and some of his foreign visitors

Some years after the death in 1691 of the Hon. Robert Boyle, an abridgement (1, 2) * of his works both scientific and theological was made by Richard Boulton (of Brasenose College, Oxford), to the latter being prefaced a life of the philosopher with a commentary on his works. The issue of a collected edition (3) of Boyle’s works was undertaken in the first half otf the eighteenth century by Thomas Birch,† and was published in 1744. The reasons for issuing this collection were adequately stated by him in the preface. W ith regard to the life of Boyle, which was also issued separately, (4) Birch says : (5) `The Life contains Mr. Boyle’s own Account of himself during his minority, extending to the year 1642 ; and is continued to his death from the best materials that could be procured at this distance of time, and without most of those advantages which Dr. Burnet bishop of Salisbury, and Dr. William Wotton, who had the same design near fifty years ago, might have obtained for the execution of it. The only qualities I can engage for are industry and fidelity ; but the genius and abilities of a Gassendus would be requisite to do justice to a character superior even to that of the celebrated Peireskius.’