 raise a Rebellion, unless they might be allowed the Liberty to
speak with their Tongues, after the Manner of their Forefathers: Such constant
irreconcileable Enemies to Science are the common People. However, many of the
most Learned and Wise adhere to the new Scheme of expressing themselves by
Things; which hath only this Inconvenience attending it; that if a Man's
Business be very great, and of various Kinds, he must be obliged in Proportion
to carry a greater Bundle of Things upon his Back, unless he can afford one or
two strong Servants to attend him. I have often beheld two of those Sages almost
sinking under the Weight of their Packs, like Pedlars among us; who when they
met in the Streets would lay down their Loads, open their Sacks, and hold
Conversation for an Hour together; then put up their Implements, help each other
to resume their Burthens, and take their Leave.
    But, for short Conversations a Man may carry Implements in his Pockets and
under his Arms, enough to supply him, and in his House he cannot be at a Loss;
therefore the Room where Company meet who practice this Art, is full of all
Things ready at Hand, requisite to furnish Matter for this Kind of artificial
Converse.
    Another great Advantage proposed by this Invention, was, that it would serve
as an universal Language to be understood in all civilized Nations, whose Goods
and Utensils are generally of the same Kind, or nearly resembling, so that their
Uses might easily be comprehended. And thus, Embassadors would be qualified to
treat with foreign Princes or Ministers of State, to whose Tongues they were
utter Strangers.
    I was at the Mathematical School, where the Master taught his Pupils after a
Method scarce imaginable to us in Europe. The Proposition and Demonstration were
fairly written on a thin Wafer, with Ink composed of a Cephalick Tincture. This
the Student was to swallow upon a fasting Stomach, and for three Days following
eat nothing but Bread and Water. As the Wafer digested, the Tincture mounted to
his Brain, bearing the Proposition along with it. But the Success hath not
hitherto been answerable, partly by some Error in the Quantum or Composition,
and partly by the Perverseness of Lads; to whom this Bolus is so nauseous, that
they generally steal aside, and discharge it upwards before it can operate;
neither have they been yet persuaded to use so long an Abstinence as the
Prescription requires.
 

                                   Chap. VI.

A further Account of the Academy. The Author proposeth some Improvements, which
are honourably received.
 
In the School of political Projectors I was but ill entertained
