prosecuted his researches, soon introduced him to the acquaintance or correspondence of every person distinguished either for science or literature. These connections were the cause of occasional excursions to London, Oxford,&c. in which he formed a personal acquaintance with those scientific men whom he had before known merely by their writings; and he soon became so celebrated, that in 1651, Dr. Nathaniel Highmore, an eminent physician, dedicated to him his "History of Generation;" a work in which he examines the opinions of different authors, particularly those of Sir Kenelm Digby.
In May 1650 he left Stalbridge; and in 1652 went over to Ireland, to arrange his affairs in that country, which detained him till August 1653. He was soon after compelled to return to Ireland again; a circumstance he would have mach regretted, from the interruption caused by it to his studies, had it not been for his intimacy with his distinguished countryman, Archbishop Usher, with whom he studied the Scriptures in their original languages with so great exactness, as to quote readily any remarkable passage in either the Old or the New Testament. He was also intimately acquainted with the celebrated Sir William Petty, in whose conversation he took particular pleasure.
A short time previous to the commencement of the civil wars, a few of the most distinguished philosophers had formed the plan of a society for prosecuting inquiries into nature, on the principle of experiment; an idea which had been originally suggested by the celebrated Bacon. Of this Mr. Boyle was one of the earliest members; and when all academical studies were suspended in consequence of the tumultuous times, this society,which was then called the Philosophical College, continued still to hold its meetings, though with the greatest secresy, first at London, and afterwards at Oxford. This induced Mr. Boyle, on his return to England in 1654, to fix his abode at Oxford, where the society then held its meetings; as he was here surrounded by a number of his learned friends, such as
