next year, he made an excursion to Rome, where he arrived in five days, and surveyed the venerable relies and antiquities of that ancient metropolis of the world. He also visited such of the adjacent villages and towns as contained any object worthy of his attention, but was prevented from making so long a stay as he had intended, the heat of the weather not agreeing with his brother's health. Having visited in his return several of the principal cities of Italy, he arrived at Marseilles in May, where he received letters from his father, informing him of the rebellion in Ireland, which had just commenced, and stating, that it was not without much difficulty he had procured the 250. which be remitted to defray their expenses to England. This money they never received; and after waiting several mouths in expectation of it, their pecuniary difficulties were such as to put them under the necessity of being indebted to their governor's kindness for the means of their conveyance to his residence at Geneva; and finally, after a long stay there, to his credit in obtaining some jewels, from the sale of which he raised a sufficient sum to enable them to reach England, which they did in 1644. On his arrival, Mr. Boyle found his father dead; by whose will he became possessed of the manor of Stalbridge in England, and estates to a considerable amount in Ireland. His first care, after having obtained from the then government, protections for his estates in both countries, was to procure a permission to pass over into France, to remunerate Mr. Marcombes for the kindness he had shewn him in his distress; and from the generosity of Mr. Boyle's character, there can be no doubt of his having done it with great liberality.He staid but a short time on the continent, as we find him at Cambridge the following December.
He now retired to his manor of Stalbridge, where he continued for several years, devoting his time entirely to the study of chemistry and experimental philosophy; in which pursuits, the ardour and abilities with which he
