Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/10

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6
CONNOR.

following general title, "Dissertationes Medico-Physicæ." Many intricate questions are discussed, and several curious facts related in these dissertations, which discover their author to have been a man of deep thought and acute observation, as well as of great reading and general know ledge. In the summer of 1695 he returned to London, where he read lectures as he had done at Oxford, and became soon after a member of the College of Physicians, and of the Royal Society. In 1696 he visited Cambridge, and gave a course of public lectures there; and, upon his return to London, was honoured with an epistle from the Bishop of Pleskof, in which was contained the case of his old master, the King of Poland. His advice was desired on that important affair; but before he could forward it, the news arrived of the monarch's death. In 1697 he published a work which was the subject of considerable discussion, and threw some suspicions upon his faith; it was entitled "Evangelium Medici; seu Medicina Mystica de Suspensis. Naturae Legibus, sive de Miraculis, reliquisque εν τοις βιβλιοις memoratis, quæ Medicae indagini subjici possunt." 8vo., and 12mo. This is an attempt to account for the production of supernatural effects upon natural principles; but it does not seem clear how far he intended to preserve the essential character of a miracle. This little treatise, containing sixteen sections only, was reprinted within the year. The author acquired reputation by the ingenuity and learning he had displayed in it; but his orthodoxy and religion were called in question, as he attempts in this work to account for the miracles of the Bible upon natural principles.

The Polish election, upon the death of Sobieski, having a strong influence upon the general system of affairs in Europe, and being a common topic of discussion at that time, induced many considerable persons to seek the acquaintance of Connor, that they might learn from him the real state o f that kingdom, which being little known, he was entreated to publish what he knew relative to its natural and political state; in compliance with which