Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/187

 176 BOYLE informs us that he refrained from marriage at first through prudential motives, and afterwards more philosophically and from a letter of his to the Lady Barrymore his niece, which yet remains, we may infer that it was neither owing to a dislike to the sex, nor to an austerity of disposition, every word in it breathing the truest spirit of gallantry and politeness. In the habit of familiar intercourse with Charles II. James II. and William III. all of whom were much at- tached to him, we might wonder that he was never raised to the peerage, especially as his four elder brothers were all of that rank. He was, however, in the habit of speak- ing his mind freely, with respect to the measures of government, and it might have been conceived that these kings, though pleased with him as a man, might think him unfit for a courtier, were it not that we are informed that the offer of a peerage was frequently made to him, and as constantly declined. That it is not in the power of titles to ensure fame, is evinced by two of his brothers, of whom we now know nothing but the name; while the history of the untitled Robert Boyle remains as a beacon to future ages, which points out exertion as the surest means of arriving at splendid celebrity The posthomous works of Mr. Boyle, are, The general History of the Air, designed and begun;" a work whieh was bighly esteemed by two of the most ingenious men of the time, Mr. Locke, and Mr. Molineus; as is evident from several letters which passed between them on the subject. " General Heads for the Natural listory of a Country, great or small; drawn out for the use of Tra- vellers and Navigators. To which are added, other Direc- tions for Navigators, &c. with particular Observations on the most noted Countries in the world. By another Hand." " A paper of the Honourable Robert Boyle's deposited with the Secretaries of the Royal Society, Oetober 14, 1680, and opened since his death; being an account of his making the Phosphorus, September 30, 1680;" printed