Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/171

 BOYLE 160 Incentives to the Love of God, pathetically discoursed of in a Letter to a Friend," which was finished as early as 1648, though not printed till this time. It is said to have been occasioned by a passion which he is stated to have entertained for the daughter of the Earl of Monmouth. Even so early as this period his fame had extended itself beyond the limits of this kingdom, and Mr. Southwell, then resident at Florence, informed him in a letter, dated October 10, 1660, that the Grand Duke of Tuscany (a prince eminently distinguished for his learning and abi- lities) was desirous of engaging in a correspondence with him. The following year appeared "Certain Physiolo- gical Essays and other Tracts;" and, in 1662, he pub- lished his " Sceptical Chemist," a work containing much curious and valuable information; and also a second edi- tion of his “ New Experiments," &c. which we should not have noticed, but for the Appendix which was now first printed, in which the work is defended with much ability and success against the objections which had been urged against it by Mr. Hobbes and Franciscus Linus. In this year a grant of the forfeited impropriations in Ireland was obtained from the king in Mr. Boyle's name, though without his knowledge; but this did not prevent him fronm shewing a lively interest in procuring the application of those funds to the increase and promotion of religion and learning. As governor of the Corporation for propagating the Gospel in New England, he was also very instrumental in procuring a decree in the court of chancery against Colonel Bedingfield; which restored to that society an estate of which they had been unjustly deprived, the colonel having taken possession of it after having sold it to them for a valuable consideration. In 1663 he published "Considerations touching the Usefulness of Experimental Natural Philosophy:" and also, " Experiments and Considerations upon Colours;" to which was added, "A Letter, containing Observations on a Diamond that shines in the Dark." This dissertation is