Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/331

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304
LIFE OF SIR WILLIAM PETTY
chap. x

'6. Arithmetick and measuring and the Globe.

'7. Map of the world: Europe, England, France, Holland, and, pro re natâ, of the countryes which are the scenes of warre and businesse pro tempore.

'8. Josephus, and the 6 first chapters of Genesis, St. Luke's Gospell, The Acts of the Apostles, The Catholic Epistles of Peter, James, John, Jude; and Homilies, Catechism, Duty of Man, Psalms, Eclesiasticus.

'9. The English Chronicle; Bacon's Collections.

'10. Reynard the fox.

'To know the Inns of Court, Chancery, and Guild Hall; the Sessions Houses; Doctors Commons, Westminster Hall; the great offices and priveleged places; The Arches, &c.

'To hear Tryals of Criminals, and see executions of several kinds.

'To read Latin abreviations in printed books of law.

'To know the names and chambers of all the chief Lawyers and Atorneys.

'A list of 500 great Estates in England, Coats of Armes and Pedigrees.

'At 14 or 15 years old to be with the best attorney for 3 years, and to be entered at some Inn of Court at 17 years old.

'To read Aristotles Rhetorick and Logick; Hobbes de Cive; Logick; Argumentative Discourses; and begin the Law.

'Some more History, Casuistry and Morals.

'His father's writings.'[1]

Southwell himself was constantly consulting his friend on the education of his son Edward—'that honey seeking youth,' as Sir William called him—and was prone to devise elaborate plans for his instruction, according to the most approved methods of the age. On many of these plans Sir William poured good-humoured ridicule. 'You would have me do by deare Neddy's head,' he tells Southwell, 'as my Lady Dutchess of Ormond did to the round tower in Kilkenny; that is, make his walls thinner, breake out lights, make partitions, set up

  1. The above papers are at the British Museum, among the Philosophical Papers, &c., collected by Dr. Hill, Sloane Collection, 2063; also among the Petty MSS.