That the college be built after this, or some such manner: That it confift of three fair quadrangular courts, and three large grounds, inclofed with good walls behind them. That the firft court be built with a fair cloifter; and the profeffors' lodgings, or rather little houses, four on each fide, at fome distance from one another, and with little gardens behind them, juft after the manner of the Chartreux beyond fea. That the infide of the cloifter be lined with a gravel-walk, and that walk with a row of trees; and that in the middle there be a parterre of flowers and a fountain.

That the fecond quadrangle, juft behind the first, be fo contrived, as to contain the fe parts: 1. A chapel. 2. A hall, with two long tables on each fide, for the scholars and officers of the house to eat at, and with a pulpit and forms at the end for the pub lic lectures. 3. A large and pleafant dining-room within the hall, for the profeffors to eat in, and to hold their affemblies and conferences. 4. A public fchool-house. 5. A library. 6. A gallery to walk in, adorned with the pictures or ftatues of all the inventors of any thing ufeful to human life; as printing, guns, America, &c. and of late in anatomy, the circulation of the blood, the milky veins, and fuch-like discoveries in any art, with fhort elogies under the portraitures: as likewife the figures of all forts of creatures, and the tuft fkins of as many ftrange animals as can be gotten. 7. An anatomy-chamber, adorned with skeletons and anatomical pictures, and prepared with onveniences for diffection. 8. A chamber for all manner of drugs, and apothecaries' materials. 9. A mathematical chamber, furnished with all forts of mathematical truments, being an appendix to the library. 10. Lodgings for the chaplain, furgeon, library-keeper, and purveyor, near the chapel, anatomy-chamber, library, and

all c

hall.

That the third court be on one fide of these, very large, but meanly built, being deigned only for ufe, and not for beauty too, as the others. That it contain the kitchen, batteries, brew-houfe, bake-houfe, dairy, lardry, ftables, &c. and especially great laboratories for chemical operations, and lodgings for the under-fervants.

That behind the fecond court be placed the garden, containing all forts of plants that our foil will bear; and at the end of a little houfe of pleasure, a lodge for the gardener, and a grove of trees cut out into walks.

of

That the fecond inclofed ground be a garden, deftined only to the trial of all manner experiments concerning plants, as their melioration, acceleration, retardation, conferration, compofition, tranfmutation, coloration, or whatfoever elfe can be produced by art, either for ufe or curiofity, with a lodge in it for the gardener.

That the third ground be employed in convenient receptacles for all forts of creatures which the profeffors fhall judge neceffary for their more exact search into the nature of animals, and the improvement of their ufes to us.

That there be likewife built, in fome place of the college where it may ferve moft for ornament of the whole, a very high tower for obfervation of celestial bodies, adorned with all forts of dials, and fuch-like curiofities; and that there be very deep vaults made under ground, for experiments moft proper to fuch places, which will be undoubtedly very many.

Much might be added, but truly I am afraid this is too much already for the charity or generofity of this age to extend to; and we do not defign this after the model of Solomon's houfe in my Lord Bacon (which is a project for experiments that can never be experimented), but propofe it within fuch bounds of expence as have often been exceeded by the buildings of private citizens.

OF THE PROFESSORS, SCHOLARS, CHAPLAIN, AND OTHER OFFICERS.

THAT of the twenty profeffors four be always travelling beyond feas, and fixteen always refident, unlefs by permiffion upon extraordinary occafions; and every one fo abfent, leaving a deputy behind him to fupply his duties.

That the four profeffors itinerant be affigned to the four parts of the world, Europe, Afia, Africa, and America, there to refide three years at leaft; and to give a conftant account of all things that belong to the learning, and especially natural experimental philosophy, of those parts.

That the expence of all difpatches, and all books, fimples, animais, ftones, metals, minerals, &c. and all curiofities whatsoever, natural or artificial, fent by them to the college, fhall be defrayed out of the treasury, and an additional allowance (above the 120/.) made to them as foon as the college's revenue shall be improved.

That, at their going abroad, they shall take a folemn oath, never to write any thing to the college but what, after very diligent examination, they fhall fully believe to be true, and to confefs and recant it as foon as they find themselves in an error.

That the fixteen profeffors refident fhall be bound to study and teach all forts of natural experimental philosophy, to confift of the mathematics, mechanics, medicine, anatomy, chemistry, the history of animals, plants, minerals, elements, &c.; agriculture, architecture, art military, navigation, gardening; the myfteries of all trades, and improvement of them; the facture of all merchandizes; all natural magic or divination; and briefly all things contained in the catalogue of natural histories annexed to my Lord Bacon's Organon.

That once a day, from Eafter till Michaelmas, and twice a week, from Michaelmas to Eafter, at the hours in the afternoon moft convenient for auditors from London, according to the time of the year, there fhall be a lecture read in the hall, upon fuch parts of natural experimental philofophy, as the profeffors fhall agree on among themTelves, and as each of them shall be able to perform ufefully and honourably.

That two of the profeffors, by daily, weekly, or monthly turns, fhall teach the public fchools, according to the rules hereafter prefcribed.

That all the profeffors fhall be equal in all refpects (except precedency, choice of lodging, and fuch-like privileges, which fhall belong to feniority in the college); and that all shall be mafters and treasurers by annual turns; which two officers, for the time being, shall take place of all the reft, and shall be " arbitri duarum menfarum."

That the mafler shall command all the officers of the college, appoint affemblies or conferences upon occafion, and prefide in them with a double voice; and in his abfence the treasurer, whose business is to receive and disburse all monies by the mafter's order in writing (if it be an extraordinary), after confent of the other profeffors.

That all the profeffors fhall fup together in the parlour within the hall every night, and shall dine there twice a week (to wit, Sundays and Thursdays) at two round tables, for the convenience of difcourfe; which fhall be for the most part of fuch matters as may improve their studies and profeffions; and to keep them from falling into loofe or unprofitable talk, shall be the duty of the two arbitri menfarum, who may likewife command any of the fervant-ícholars to read to them what he fhall think fit, whilst they are at table: that it fhall belong likewife to the faid arbitri menfarum only, to invite ftrangers; which they fhall rarely do, unless they be men of learning or great parts, and fhall not invite above two at a time to one table, nothing being more vain and unfruitful than numerous meetings of acquaintance.

That the profeffors refident fhall allow the college twenty pounds a year for their diet, whether they continue there all the time or not.

That they fhall have once a week an affembly, or conference, concerning the affairs of the college, and the progrefs of their experimental philofophy.

That, if any one find out any thing which he conceives to be of confequence, he fhall communicate it to the affembly, to be examined, experimented, approved, or rejected.

That, if any one be author of an invention that may bring-in profit, the third part of it shall belong to the inventor, and the two other to the fociety; and befides if the thing be very confiderable, his ftatue or picture, with an elogy under it, fhall be placed in the gallery, and made a denison of that corporation of famous men.

That all the profeffors fhall be always affigned to fome particular inquifition (befides the ordinary courfe of their ftudies), of which they shall give an account to the affembly; fo that by this means there may be every day fome operation or other made in all the arts, as chemistry, anatomy, mechanics, and the like; and that the college shall furnish for the charge of the operation.

That there fhall be kept a register under lock and key, and not be seen but by the profeffors, of all the experiments that fucceed, figned by the perfons who made the trial.

That the popular and received errors in experimental philofophy (with which, like weeds in a neglected garden, it is now almost all over-grown) fhall be evinced by trial, and taken notice of in the public lectures, that they may no longer abufe the credu lous, and beget new ones by confequence or fimilitude.

That every third year (after the full fettlement of the foundation) the college fhall give an account in print, in proper and ancient Latin, of the fruits of their triennial industry.

That every profeffor refident fhall have his fcholar to wait upon him in his chamber and at table; whom he fhall be obliged to breed up in natural philosophy, and render an account of his progrefs to the affembly, from whofe election he received him, and therefore is refponfible to it, both for the care of his education and the just and civil ufage of him.

That the scholar fhall understand Latin very well, and be moderately initiated in the Greek, before he be capable of being chosen into the service; and that he fhall not remain in it above feven years.

That his lodging fhall be with the profeffor whom he ferves.

That no profeffor fhall be a married man, or a divine, or lawyer in practice; only phyfic he may be allowed to preferibe, because the study of that art is a great part of the duty of his place, and the duty of that is so great, that it will not suffer him to lose much time in mercenary practice.

That the profeffors fhall, in the college, wear the habit of ordinary mafters of art in the universities, or of doctors, if any of them be fo.

That they fhall all keep an inviolable and exemplary friendship with one another; and that the affembly shall lay a confiderable pecuniary mulet upon any one who shall be proved to have entered fo far into a quarrel as to give uncivil language to his brotherprofeffor; and that the perfeverance in any enmity fhall be punished by the governors with expulfion.

That the chaplain fhall eat at the master's table (paying his twenty pounds a year as the others do); and that he shall read prayers once a day at least, a little before fuppertime; that he shall preach in the chapel every Sunday morning, and catechize in the afternoon the scholars and the fchool-boys; that he fhall every month administer the holy facrament; that he fhall not trouble himself and his auditors with the controverfies of divinity, but only teach God in his juft commandments, and in his wonderful works.

THAT the school may be built fo as to contain about two hundred boys.

That it be divided into four claffes, not as others are ordinarily into fix or feven; because we fuppofe that the children fent hither, to be initiated in things as well as words, ought to have past the two or three firft, and to have attained the age of about thirteen years, being already well advanced in the Latin grammar and fome authors.

That none, though never fo rich, fhall pay any thing for their teaching; and that, if any profeffor fhall be convicted to have taken any money in confideration of his pains in the school, he fhall be expelled with ignominy by the governors; but if any perfons of great eftate and quality, finding their fons much better proficients in learning here, than boys of the fame age commonly are at other fchools, fhall not think fit to receive an obligation of fo near concernment without returning fome marks of acknowledgment,

they may, if they pleafe, (for nothing is to be demanded) beftow fome little rarity or curiofity upon the fociety, in recompenfe of their trouble.

And, because it is deplorable to confider the lofs which children make of their time at most schools, employing, or rather cafting away, fix or feven years in the learning of words only, and that too very imperfectly:

That a method be here established, for the infufing knowledge and language at the fame time into them; and that this may be their apprenticeship in natural philofophy. This, we conceive, may be done, by breeding them up in authors, or pieces of authors, who treat of fome parts of nature, and who may be understood with as much ease and pleafure, as thofe which are commonly taught; fuch are, in Latin, Varro, Cato, Colu mella, Pliny, part of Celfus and of Seneca, Cicero de Divinatione, de Naturâ Deorum, and feveral scattered pieces, Virgil's Georgics, Grotius, Nemefianus, Manilius: And, because the truth is, we want good poets (I mean we have but few), who have purpofely treated of folid and learned, that is, natural matters (the moft part indulging to the weakness of the world, and feeding it either with the follies of love, or with the fables of gods and heroes), we conceive that one book ought to be compiled of all the fcattered little parcels among the ancient poets that might ferve for the advancement of natural fcience, and which would make no fmall or unufeful or unpleasant volume. To this we would have added the morals and rhetorics of Cicero, and the inftitutions of Quintilian; and for the comedians, from whom almost all that necessary part of common difcourfe, and all the most intimate proprieties of the language, are drawn, we conceive, the boys may be made mafters of them, as a part of their recreation, and not of their task, if once a month, or at least once in two, they act one of Terence's Comedies, and afterwards (the most advanced) fome of Plautus's; and this is for many reafons one of the best exercifes they can be enjoined, and moft innocent pleasures they can be allowed. As for the Greek authors, they may ftudy Nicander, Oppianus (whom Scaliger does not doubt to prefer above Homer hin.felf, and place next to his adored Virgil), Ariftotle's hiftory of animals, and other parts, Theophraftus and Diofcorides of plants, and a collection made out of feveral both poets and other Grecian writers. For the morals and rhetoric, Ariftotle may fuffice, or Hermogenes and Longinus be added for the latter. With the history of animals they fhould be fhewed anatomy as a divertisement, and made to know the figures and natures of thofe creatures which are not common among us, difabufing them at the fame time of thofe errors which are univerfally admitted concerning many. The fame method fhould be used to make them acquainted with all plants; and to this must be added a little of the ancient and modern geography, the understanding of the globes, and the principles of geometry and aftronomy. They fhould likewife ufe to declaim in Latin and English, as the Romans did in Greek and Latin; and in all this travail be rather led on by familiarity, encouragement, and emulation, than driven by feverity, punishment, and terror. Upon feftivals and play-times, they fhould exercife themselves in the fields, by riding, leaping, fencing, muftering, and training, after the manner of foldiers, &c. And, to prevent all dangers and all diforders, there fhould always be two of the fcholars with them, to be as witneffes and directors of their actions; in foul weather, it would not be amifs for them to learn to dance, that is, to learn just so much (for all beyond is fuperfluous, if not worfe) as may give them a graceful comportment of their bodies. Upon Sundays, and all days of devotion, they are to be a part of the chaplain's province.

That, for all these ends, the college fo order it, as that there may be fome convenient and pleasant houfes thereabouts, kept by religious, discreet, and careful perfons, for the lodging and boarding of young fcholars; that they have a conflant eye over them, to fee that they be bred up there piously, cleanly, and plentifully, according to the proportion of the parents' expences.

And that the college, when it fhall pleafe God, either by their own induftry and fuccefs, or by the benevolence of patrons, to enrich them fo far, as that it may come to their turn and duty to be charitable to others, fhall, at their own charges, erect and

maintain fome house or houses for the entertainment of such poor men's fons, whofe good natural parts may promise either use or ornament to the commonwealth, during the time of their abode at fchool; and fhall take care that it fhall be done with the fame conveniences as are enjoyed even by rich men's children (though they maintain the fewer for that caufe), there being nothing of eminent and illuftrious to be expected from a low, fordid, and hofpital-like education.

CONCLUSION.

IF I be not much abused by a natural fondness to my own conceptions (that sogyn of the Greeks which no other language has a proper word for) there was never any project thought upon, which deferves to meet with fo few adverfaries as this; for who can without impudent folly oppose the establishment of twenty well-felected persons in fuch a condition of life, that their whole bufinefs and fole profeffion may be to study the improvement and advantage of all other profeffions, from that of the highest general even to the lowest artizan? who shall be obliged to employ their whole time, wit, learning, and industry, to these four, the most useful that can be imagined, and to no other ends; first, to weigh, examine, and prove, all things of nature delivered to us by former ages; to detect, explode, and strike a cenfure through all falfe monies with which the world has been paid and cheated fo long; and (as I may fay) to fet the mark of the college upon all true coins, that they may pafs hereafter without any farther trial: fecondly, to recover the loft inventions, and, as it were, drowned lands of the ancients: thirdly, to improve all arts which we now have: and lastly, to discover others which we yet have not: and who fhall, befides all this (as a benefit by the bye), give the best education in the world (purely gratis) to as many men's children as fhall think fit to make ufe of the obligation? Neither does it at all check or interfere with any parties in allate or religion; but is indifferently to be embraced by all differences in opinion, and can hardly be conceived capable (as many good inftitutions have done) even of degeneration into any thing harmful. So that, all things confidered, I will fuppofe this propofition fhall encounter with no enemies: the only queftion is, whether it will find friends enough to carry it on from difcourfe and defign to reality and effect; the neceffary expences of the beginning (for it will maintain itself well enough afterwards) being fo great (though I have fet them as low as is poffible, in order to fo vaft a work), that it may feem hopeless to raife fuch a fum out of thofe few dead relics of human charity and pablic generofity which are yet remaining in the world.