Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/109

Rh which is comparable to London, of all the former, or present Seats of Empire. Babylon, that was the Capital City of the first Monarchy, was situated in a Champion Country, had a clear and uncloudy Air; and was therefore fit enough to promote one part of natural Knowledge, the Observations of the Heavens: But it was a Mid-land Town, and regarded not the Traffick of Foreigners, abounding with its own Luxury and Riches. Memphis was improper, upon the same account; for Egypt was a Land content with its own Plenty, admitting Strangers, rather to instruct them, than to learn any thing from them. Carthage stood not so well for a Resort for Philosophers, as for Pirates; as all the African Shore continues at this Day. As for Rome, its Fortune was read by Virgil; when he said, that it only ought to excel in the Arts of Ruling. Constantinople, though its present Masters were not barbarous, yet is too much shut up by the Straits of the Hellespont. Vienna is a Frontier Town, and has no Communication with the Ocean, but by a long Compass about. Amsterdam is a place of Trade, without the Mixture of Men of freer Thoughts. And, even Paris itself, though it is far to be preferred before all the others for the Resort of learned and inquisitive Men to it, yet is less capable, for the same Reasons for which Athens was, by being the Seat of Gallantry, the Arts of Speech, and Education. But it is London alone, that enjoys most of the other's Advantages without their Inconveniences. It is the Head of a mighty Empire, the greatest that ever commanded the Ocean: It is composed of Gentlemen, as well as Traders: It has a large Intercourse with all the Earth: It is, as the Poets describe their House of Fame, a City, where all the Noises and Business in the World do meet; and therefore this Rh