powerfully; the same is observable in the mandichoca root, which being a strong poison, is harmless being dried. The purgative quality lieth in the middle principle, which goes not away by a gentle heat; for the water purgeth not, the smoke but very doubtfully, and seldom in clysters of the smoke of three or four pipefuls, nor in the salt thereof, neither incineration, but in the middle principles of the nitrous salt, and such parts as are to be extracted by tincture, infusion, or decoction, whose actives remain in the menstruum, and therefore that which is decocted, and after dried, grows faint in the purgative quality, if it returneth.

Of tobacco there is the male and female; the male the best. Yellow rhubarb is often taken for the true plant.

Tobacco may be made or cured without a caldo, and will ferment and grow brown long laid together, and hung up will grow brown. To advance the same the caldo may be added before the rolling up, for then it will have a quicker taste and sweeter smell.

The leaves first ripe make the best when they grow gummy and brittle; they must be often cleared of the sprouts that grow upon the same stem and the baschros left out.

To make the best tobacco, these to be taken, and of the male; and a good caldo used, and kept awhile, till time digest remaining crudities.

[On the Ivy.]

CONCERNING ivy these remarkable:-The leaves less indented, scarce angular toward' the top; like many herbs which laciniate at the lower leaves, little at the upper. It beareth twice a year, spring and . . . . . . . It groweth not readily about every tree; most about oak, ash, elm, thorn; less about wich hazel; hardly observed about firs, pine, yew.

Whether it will not delight about trees that are perpetually green may be inquired. It seldom ariseth about holly or not to great bigness; the perpetual leafing prevents the arise or hindering the growth or twisting.

Whether there be not also a dissimilitude in their motions, not one enduring the approximation of the other.

That they follow the sun in their windings is hard to make out upon impartial observation; hops do it more clearly,

which nothing turning are commonly directed that way by the husbandman.

it

it

Inquire how it ariseth from the primary root.

Try whether ivy will bear when cut from the root; whether may have sufficient stock remaining for once, or whether may not attract somewhat by the cerni.

[On the Fig Tree.]

CONCERNING the fig tree, some things are remarkable from its proper nature; that it is a tree of plentiful sap and milk diffused throughout, which will drop from the trunk and branches if seasonably cut at the spring.

That it is the general plant for admission of insition, engrafting; and though miseltoe seldom or never groweth thereon, yet it becomes a fit stock for most plants.

That it was the coagulum or runnet of the ancients, wherewith they turned their milk and made cheese, as is remarkable from Aristotle de Animal. and illustrates that passage in Homer and Euripides, and might frustrate all the use of other herbs and hath its name from thence and which we find so great effect; and might therefore be medically used in the place of coagulum, which having that virtue may serve for dissolution of blood coagulated.

That they have fruits without any flower, as jessamine flowers without fruit or seeds; that these are the forerunners of fruit the year following, and stay in buttons all the winter, making figs the year after.

Of this two parables, remarkable in the Scripture.

Cursed for barrenness, as being less tolerable in that tree than any, which is the stock of all other trees, and therefore more considerable that nothing grew upon it, on which all other trees will grow, and in this consideration probably the phallus or virile neuter and the image of Priapus the god of fertility and semblance of fecundation was formed out of a fig tree. And whether in the Hebrew notation there be any natural fertility implied, whilst we find it from a word that signifieth twins and plural generations, may admit of consideration.

That our first parents covered their secret parts with figleaves, which tree was after sacred unto Priapus, I shall not deduce upon genteel imagination.

DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE.

THE earliest specimens of Sir Thomas Browne's family correspondence, which have been discovered, are his letters to his younger son Thomas, while in France; of which the following, preserved in No. 391 of the Rawlinson Collection of MSS., at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, seem to have been transcripts by Mrs. Elizabeth Lyttelton, his daughter. The series is entitled, Letters of my Father's which he writ to my Brother Thomas when he went into France, at 14 years of age; 1660. I have not thought proper to alter the spelling of these letters; but would observe that its faultiness must not be charged on Sir Thomas. He wrote so illegibly (as those are well aware who have been fated to decypher his hieroglyphics) that his orthography was left at the mercy of the copyist, who, in the present case, seems not to have been remarkably skilled in that accomplishment.

Dr. Browne to his son Thomas.Decr. 22, Norwich, [1660.]

HONEST TOM,-I hope by God's assistance you have been some weeks in Bourdeaux. I was yesterday at Yarmouth where I spoke with your uncle Charles Mileham who told me Mr. Dade would accommodate you with what moneys were fitting for defray of your charges in any kind, and therefore would not have mee at present send you any bill to receive any particular summ, but however when I hear from you I will take care for such a bill to be sent to Mr. Dade to whom in the mean time present my true respects and service and be sure to be observant of what he shall advise you; be as good a husband as possible and enter not upon any cours of superfluous expences; be not dejected and malencholy because you can yet have litle comfort in conversation, and all things will seem strange unto you.

Remember the camells back and be not troubled for any thing that other ways would trouble your patience here, be courteous and civil to all, put on a decent boldness and avoid pudor rusticus, not much known in France. Hold firm to the Protestant religion and be diligent in going to church when you have any litle knowledge of the language. God will accept of your desires to serve him in his publick worship tho you cannot make it out to your desires; be constant not negligent in your dayly private prayers, and habituate your heart in your tender days unto the fear and reverence of God. It were good you had a map of France that you might not be unacquainted with the several parts, and to resort unto upon occasion for your information; view and understand all notable buildings and places in Bourdeaux or near it, and take a draught thereof, as also the ruind Amphitheatre, but these at your leisure.

There

is I think a book in french calld Les Monuments or les Antiquites de Bourdeaux, enquire of the same; read some books of french and latin, for I would by no means you should loose your latin but rather gain more.

Ned comes not home this Xtmas1. I shall God willing remember your new years gift. Give me an account of your voyage by sea as perticuler as you can, for I doubt you had a rough passage; be temperate in dyet and wary to over heat yourself; remember to compremere et non extendere labra. To God's providence I commit you. I have sent a little box by this ship.-Vostre tres chere Pere,

THO: BROWNE.

Dr. Browne to his son Thomas.-Jan. 31, Norwich, [1660-1.]

HONEST TOM,-I was glad to receive your letter, where you gave a good account of your voyage; take notice of all things remarkable, which will be pleasant unto you hereafter; if you goe to Saintes you may better learn the languadge and I think there is a Protestant church; be as good an husband as you can; to write and cast account will be necesarie; for either singing painting or dancing if you

1 From Cambridge where he then was, at Trinity College.

learn let it be but for a while; painting will be most usefull if you learn to draw landskips or buildings, the other takes up much time and your own private practise will sufficiently advantage you. I would be glad you had a good handsome garb of your body, which you will observe in most there, and may quickly learn if you cast of pudor rusticus, and take up a commendable boldness without which you will never be fit for anything nor able to show the good parts which God has given you. I would think it very happy if you had more Latin, and therefore advantage yourself that way if possible; one way beside learning from others will be to read the scripture or chapters thereof dayly in french and Latin and to look often upon the grammars in both languages. Since you went, there was a little box with 4 knives and a pair of gloves, &c. in it which I hope you received. Commend my humble service and respects to Mr. Dade and when you send unto him acknowledge your obligations to him, and how industrious you will be in all returns of gratitude which shall ever fall within your power. Sir Joseph Pain2 writes often to Mr. Dade. Some riseings there have been in London of the Anabaptists, fift Monarchie men and others, but soon suppresd and 13 executed. Upon the King's letter 5 of our Aldermen were put out which had got in in the usurpers time in other mens places, Andrews, Allen, Davie, Ashwell, &c. Yesterday was an humiliation and fast kept to divert the judgments of God upon us and our posteritie for the abominable murther of King Charles the first and is by act of Parliment to be kept yearly on that day for ever. Ned is at Cambridge. Naney still in London. God's mercifull providence guide and protect you. -Your ever loveing father, THOMAS BROWNE.

Dr. Browne to his son Thomas.-March 10, stylo. vet. [1660-1.]

HONEST TOM,-I presume you are by this time at Xaintes. If you live with an apothecairie you may get some good by observing the drugs and practise which will be noe burden and may somewhat help you in latin; I would be at some reasonable charge if any young man would assist you and

2 Of Norwich.