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Dr. Browne to his son Edward.-Norwich, Dec. 23, 1668.

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DEARE SONNE,-I wrote unto you eight dayes ago, which Mr. Johnson, of Yarmouth, sent inclosed to Mr. Hovenaer, of Amsterdam, to bee sent unto you, with a bill of credit from him to Vienna; which I hope you have receaved. I sent one to Venice, three weekes ago, inclosed in Mr. Couldham's letter to Mr. Hayles, whereby you might bee accommodated if you fayled elswhere. Hee sayth one Mr. Hobson keepes the howse, though Mr. Hayles bee consul; I beleeve the letter is in Mr. Hayles' hand, if hee left it not with Mr. Hobson; butt you need not retard your journey for the letter only, which will take some time to recover, and there is nothing peculiar in it or private. Yesterday I receaved another from you, which I thought had miscarried, of an elder date, November 24; wherein I understood what accommodation there was for travayl to Prag, Magdeburg, and other good townes, to Hamburch; which, though a great place, is a good way from Amsterdam; and to come from Hamburch by sea, in winter, is very discouraging, from rough seas and benumbing weather. Spare thyself what you can, and preserve your health, which is precious unto us all. I am very glad you are in an howse where you are so kindlye vsed; if Mr. Beck hath any friend in England, wee will endeavour to expresse no ordinarie kindnesse unto him. That I wrote two dayes agoe, I sent to London to your sister, to get Mr. Skoltowe to send it, in some marchand's letter, or deliver to the post, paying the postages part of the way; butt this I send to London, to bee delivered to the forraine post, paying what they require; which I putt to the adventure, though perhaps you may have left that place before this may come unto you. You mention travayling from some places, in three dayes and three nights; but I think travayling by night, in those parts and in winter, very uncomfortable and hazardous unto health. God send you still happy rencountres and good company. It were good to have an Itinerarium Germanicum. Heylin accounts twenty-one universities in Germany, whereof Vienna one (butt I doubt chiefly for divinitie), Coln, Mentz, Heydelberg, Franckford, Leipsick, Jena, Wittenberg in Saxonie, Prag, which is

thought the greatest citty in Germanie, made out of four citties, like Passaw out of three. Studie the mappe of Germanie, and have the chorographie thereof distinctly in your head, with the politicall divisions and governments, which are therein more numerous then in Italie; the lesser owing some acknowledgment to the greater, beside free cities. Just now I heare that Mr. Johnson will write agayne, this night, to Mr. Hovenaer. Dresden is accounted one of the remarkablest places of Germanie; where the duke's court. Magdeburg is I beleeve rebuilt, since burnt by Tilly, in the Suedish warres. Brunswick sayd to bee bigger then Nuremberg. Take the best account you can of Vienna as to all concernes; for tis hard to find any peculiar account of it. Bohemia is a round large country, about two hundred miles diameter, containing many mines, mineralls, and stones. Bohemia granates, and other stones, you may take notice of, if you passe that way; in the country, and at Prag, and at Vienna, such stones may bee seen probably. I have heard that among the emperour's rarities several conversions there are of basser metall into gold. Take notice of the great and many cellars in Vienna. Learne the most authentic account how the half moone was set upon St. Stephen's; which, in Brawne's Booke of Citties, seemes a very noble one. If you can fix any probable place where a letter may meet you, I will endeavour to find out a way to send a letter. Wee have had no winter till this day, and not now like to hold, so that we fear a back winter. A Yarmouth man just now tells mee that about ninety vessells, great and small, went out this yeare to other parts, with red herrings. The king is sending the order of the garter to the young King of Sarden, by my lord of Carleisle. Dr. Merrett's comment upon Neri de Arte Vitriaria is new come out in Latin. His Pinax Rerum Britanicarum not yet published; I send to him agayne next weeke. Mr. Mayoe, of All Souls, his booke De Respiratione et Rachitide, newly come out; also Mr. Boyle's continuation of new experiments concerning the spring and weight of the ayre, English, 4to. I keepe the sheets of the Transactions as they come out, monethly. Our forrein letters do not despayre of Candy. Sir Thomas Allen hath renewed and confirmed the peace with Argiers. Sure you have gazettes at Vienna. Tangier in a good con

dition. The parliament adjourned to the first of March. Mr. Hawkins, White, Rob. Bend. &c. recommend, wishing a good returne. God's blessing bee with you. Your loving father, THOMAS BROWNE.

Dr. Edward Browne to his Father.-Vienna, April 28, 1669.

MOST HONOURED FATHER,—I wrote to you the last post. Most of my letter was concerning dampes in mines; which account may be, by it selfe, if you thinke fit, sir, communicated to Mr. Oldenburg; if not, at my returne, which I hope in God will be in a few months, with the rest of my observations. I have now taken up three hundred florins in preparation to goe into Turkey this next weeke; but, if it please God, I hope to be at Vienna again by that time that I can have an answer to this. I hope, sir, you will forgive me this excursion, and helpe me to returne to you by giving me credit again upon the same marchants as formerly, the same way, by Mr. Johnson, for the heirs of Mr. Fuchs: Mr. Triangle particularly, at Vienna; for he tells me that my credit is limited so as I have had all, which I knew not. Since my returne out of Hungary, I have had, since my coming abroad, 700 reichs-tallers: but I hope, with God's blessing, a small summe more will helpe me to come safe home. I shall continue to write still; and shall have many occasions; and it will make me happy at my returne to hear from you, sir, and from any of my friends. My duty to my most dear mother, and love to my dear sisters.-Your most obedient sonne, EDWARD BROWNE.

Dr. Edward Browne to his sister Betty.-Venetia, July 5, st. nov. 1669.

DEAR SISTER BETTY,-Though I make many journeys, yet. I am confident that your pen and pencill are greater travellers. How many fine plaines do they passe over, and how many hills, woods, seas doe they designe? You have a fine way of not onley seeing but making a world; and whilst you set still, how many miles doth your hand travell! I am onely unfortunate in this, that I can never meete you in any of your voyages. If you had drawne your lines more

towards Austria, I should have been a greater emperour, in my owne conceit; but I hope you denied me that favour upon no other account then that I should make the more haste to you, who know not how to live without something of you. If so your intention is good, but, like yourselfe, too severe to your loving brother, EDWARD BROWNE.

Dr. Edward Browne to his Father.—Prague, Nov. 9, 1669.

MOST HONOURED FATHER,-I wrote to you the last of October, just before my leaving Vienna. I am since (thanks be to God) safely arrived here. My greatest joye would be to receive a letter from you, sir; but I know not how to propose any probable way of accomplishing it, unlesse sir, that you would be pleased to write to Hamburg. Sir Nevel Catlin, I beleeve, hath a brother there, a merchant, Mr. James Catlin, formerly my school-fellow; a letter sent to him for me would come to my handes, if that it pleaseth God to give me safe journey thither. Gottenberg, or Cottenberg, is eight Bohemian miles from Prague. They have worked here seven hundred years; there are about thirty mines. I went down into that which was first digged, but was afterwards left for a long time; but now they dig there again. It is called the Cotna, auff der Cotten, upon the Cotten or Coate hill. A monke walking over this hill founde a silver tree sticking to his coate, which was the occasion that they afterwards built these mines, and the place retaines this name of Cottenberg. I have read that the princesse and great sorceress of Bohemia, Libussa, did foretell many thinges concerning these mines; but in such matters I beleeve little; knowing how confident men are in such superstitious accounts. In the mines at Brunswick is reported to be a spirit; and another at the tin mine at Slackenwald, in this kingdome, in the shape of a monke, which strikes the miners, singeth, playeth on the bagpipe, and many such tricks. But I doubt, if I should go thither, I should finde them as vain as Montparions drumme; but the winter, and my great desire to return home speedily, will not permit me to goe so farre out of the way. From Gottenberg by Colline and Bohemian Broda, to Prague; where, I thanke God, I am very well, after such tiresome

voyages as I have made; and when I looke back upon all the dangers from which it hath pleased God to deliver me, I can not but with some assurance also hope that his infinite goodness will also bring me backe into my owne country and blesse me there with the continuance of my dear father's life, health, and prosperity. I have divers thinges to write to you, sir, concerning Turkhia; but I will not trouble you, sir, too much at once. I know, sir, that you cannot but reasonably be offended with my long stay abroad; especially in countryes of small literature; but I hope that your displeasure will not continue, and that you will adde this to the rest of your great goodnesse and indulgence to me, to pardon my rashnesse, and the expense I have put you to. My duty to my most dear mother, and love to my sisters and friends. I am uncertaine which way I shall take. Travelling is not certain here, as in France. If it were not for my portmantle, I would buy a horse, and come streight into the Low Countreys.-Your most obedient sonne,

ED. BROWNE.

Dr. E. Browne, after his travels, settled in London. From the directions of his father's letters, we gather that he changed his residence several times before 1673. In that year he was tempted to another short visit to the continent, which is described in his travels, fol. 1686, at p. 180. July 29, 1675, he was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians, and lectured in that and several succeeding years. He was first chosen censor in 1678. From 1675, throughout the whole of his father's life, he resided in Salisbury-court, Fleet-street. During the long period of his

The following communications from Dr. Edward Browne appeared in the Philosophical Transactions :—

Of two parhelias, or mock suns, seen in Hungary, Jan. 30, 1668: vol. iv. p. 953, published May 10, 1669.

On the damps in the mines of Hungary: iv. 965, June 21, 1669. Relation of the quicksilver mines of Friuli.-Account of the Zirchnitzer sea in Carniola: iv. 1080, Dec. 13, 1669.

Account of the copper mine of Hern Grund, in Hungary, as also of the stone quarries and Talc rocks in Hungary: v. 1042, May 23, 1670. On the mines, minerals, baths, &c., in Hungary : v. 1189, April 25,

1670.

Queries and answers concerning the Zirchnitz sea: ix. 194, Dec. 14, 1674.

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