would, doubtless, have made large additions to an inquiry into vulgar errours.  He published, in 1673, the sixth edition, with some improvements; but I think rather with explication of what he had already written, than any new heads of disquisition.  But with the work, such as the author, whether hindered from continuing it by eagerness of praise, or weariness of labour, thought fit to give, we must be content; and remember, that in all sublunary things there is something to be wished which we must wish in vain.

This book, like his former, was received with great applause, was answered by Alexander Ross, and translated into Dutch and German, and, not many years ago, into French.  It might now be proper, had not the favour with which it was at first received filled the kingdom with copies, to reprint it with notes, partly supplemental, and partly emendatory, to subjoin those discoveries which the industry of the last age has made, and correct those mistakes which the author has committed, not by idleness or negligence, but for want of Boyle’s and Newton’s philosophy.

He appears, indeed, to have been willing to pay labour for truth.  Having heard a flying rumour of sympathetick needles, by which, suspended over a circular alphabet, distant friends or lovers might correspond, he procured two such alphabets to be made, touched his needles with the same magnet, and placed them upon proper spindles:  the result was, that when he moved one of his needles, the other, instead of taking, by sympathy, the same direction, “stood like the pillars of Hercules.”  That it continued motionless, will be easily believed; and most men would have been content to believe it, without the labour of so hopeless an experiment.  Browne might himself have obtained the same conviction by a method less operose, if he had thrust his needles through corks, and set them afloat in two basins of water.

Notwithstanding his zeal to detect old errours, he seems not very easy to admit new positions, for he never mentions the motion of the earth but with contempt and ridicule, though the opinion which admits it was then growing popular, and was surely plausible, even before it was confirmed by later observations.

The reputation of Browne encouraged some low writer to publish, under his name, a book called [84] Nature’s Cabinet unlocked,—­translated, according to Wood, from the physicks of Magirus; of which Browne took care to clear himself, by modestly advertising, that “if any man had been benefited by it, he was not so ambitious as to challenge the honour thereof, as having no hand in that work [85].”