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THE

PREFACE.

R. Henry Needler was born at Horley, in Surrey, in the Year 1690; and educated in a private School at Reygate in the fame County. He was remov'd from thence in 1705; and, in 1708, acceptted a small Place in a Publick Office where he continu'd the Remainder of his Days.

Haud facile emergunt, quorum virtutibus obftat Res angufta domi. Juvenal.

About this time contracting a Friendship with a Gentleman of a like Tafte, who

furnish'd him with proper Books, he apply'd himself, at his Intervals of Leifure, to reading the Clafficks, and to the Study of Logick, Metaphyficks, and the Mathematicks, with which laft he was peculiarly delighted: And in a few Years, by the Force of his own happy Genius and unwearied Diligence, without the Affiftance of any Mafter, he acquir'd a confiderable Knowledge in the most difficult Branches of those useful and entertaining Studies.

By so close an Application, he contracted a violent Pain in his Head, which, notwithstanding the best Advice, daily increas'd. This, and other unfortunate Circumstances concurring, fo deeply affected him; who befides had even in his Constitution a strong Tincture of Melancholy; that he was at laft brought under an almost total Sufpenfion of Reafon. In this Condition he fell into a Fever And, as there was before scarce any Hopes of his Recovery, it may be faid to have happily put an end to the deplo

rable

rable Bondage of fo bright a Mind on the 21st of December 1718; and in the 29th Year of his Age. He was buried in the Church of Frindsbury, near Rochefter.

Mr. Needler's whole Life was influenc'd by Principles of fincere unaffected Piety and Virtue :" And as his Morals were unblemish'd, fo he was full of the Hopes of a bleffed Immortality. On all proper

Occafions, he was a ftrenuous Advocate for univerfal Toleration and Forbearance in Matters of Religion; rightly fuppofing, that no Service can be acceptable to the Supreme Being, unless it proceeds from the Heart; and that Force tends only to make Hpyocrites, but adds no new Light to the Understanding. He was modeft to a Fault; entertaining the most humble Opinion of his own Performances ; and was always ready to do Justice to those of others. His Affection for his Friends indeed fometimes biafs'd his Judgment, and led him to the commending their Writings beyond their A 2

Merit.

Merit. It is hop'd, the Reader will forgive the Inftances of this kind in the following Sheets, as well as any leffer Faults and Inaccuracies of Style; confidering they were defign'd by the Author for the Entertainment only of fome select Friends, and that he liv'd not to correct

"'em.

I may, with the utmost Truth and Juftice, apply to him these beautiful Lines written by Mr. Smith, in his Poem to the Memory of Mr. Philips;

Whom Shall I find unbiafs'd in Dispute, Still fond to learn, not eager to confute ? To whom the Labours of my Soul disclose, Reveal my Pleafure, or difcharge my Woes? Oh! in this faithful Youth for ever ends The beft of Sons, of Brothers, and of Friends!

That which may be fuppos'd to stand moft in need of Apology, is the inferting private Letters in this Collection. It is well known the French have publish'd Volumes of Epiftles loaded with Compliments.