Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/116

 Sankey and Worsley, have shrouded themselves under all parties, and have done scurvy acts to advance every rising interest. I could not therefore hit these vermin without beating the bushes wherein they skulked.' And he then roundly accuses both Worsley and Sankey, interspersing his charges with a good deal of rather Rabelaisian wit, of having attempted to induce him to become a party to several doubtful transactions to their own advantage, in regard to lands at Clontubride bridge and Lismalin; 'indeed,' he says, 'the whole body of future proprietors were always forward with bribes to tempt me.'

But, although confessing the dangers he had brought on himself by the imprudent use of his wit, the passion was nevertheless still strong within him, and before he gets to the end of his 'Reflections' he announces how, in addition to a graver work containing the history of the survey, he will write 'another piece of quite a contrary nature; being indeed a Satyre, which though it contain little of seriousness, yet doth it allow nothing of untruth.' ' ' Tis a gallery,' he announces, 'wherein you will see the Pictures of my chief adversaries hanged up in their proper colours; 'tis intended for the honest recreation of my ingenious friends.... To prepare myself for which work I will read over Don Quixote once more; that having as good a subject of Sir Hierome as Michael Cervantes had, something may be done not unworthy a represention in Bartholemew Fair.' Meanwhile, he says, he looks forward to returning to his too long neglected medical studies and the other pursuits which he had been tempted into leaving, in order to embark on the stormy seas of practical affairs.

It was now safe to remain in London, for Monk had occupied Westminster and Sankey had disappeared. The anxious period which preceded the Restoration accordingly found Dr. Petty in the society of his old scientific friends, many of whom had now settled in the capital. On March 10, Pepys notes in his 'Diary' that Dr. Petty was one of