Mother, acting in small different resemblances the tenor & habit of her life. Soe that as to your expedient, I look uppon it, under correction, but as a meere knocking these 4 on the head. And I cannot think myself out of the Bonds of Wedlock while they live. Your owne case & mine (about this age) was quite upon a different foote, & without any proportion. I speake not this in sorrow, for I have wiped that away, & am cheerfully entertaining my selfe heere with my children; & cannot wish for a better Employemt of my life. My son either walks or rides about with me, repeating att a time an 100 of yr verses (of the 100th psalme) with such Accent of delight as would perhaps give you Entertainment to heare him. The Loadstone, Mercury, the Bee, the 4 small Animalls & so too the Stars &c, are all to him as the Marine Compass. And would you have me forgett this Boye, whoe remembers with pride the kiss you gave him for demonstrating at 8 years old, an equilateral triangle? Well of this I have saide enough to justify my rejection of any Salvo that can ever be thought of on this side Heaven, & I will onely add, as to my selfe, that being wonderfully troubled with the Scurvey in my nerves, I am under all the tryalls I can brave to get some deliverance from it.
'As to your good Sentence lately obtained in the Exchequer, I am sure I take reall Comfort in itt, & wish from my hearte that you may see a short & prospering event of that greate perplexitye, that soe the world might have the fruits & treasures which your leisure & tranquiletye would afford.
'My blessing to my Godson, & to his hearty brother. My boy puts in his humble service to his fine Couzins. And I am ever
'Yr Most Hum. Ser.
Sir William Petty to John Aubrey.
'Sr,—I recev'd your kind letter, but have noe sorte of memory or idea of the paper you mention concerning the
- ↑ Petty MSS.
