Nature had indulg'd Des Cartes a ſhining and ſtrong Imagination, whence he became a very ſingular Perſon both in private Life, and in his Manner of Reaſoning. This Imagination could not conceal it ſelf even in his philoſophical Works, which are every where adorn'd with very ſhining, ingenious Metaphors and Figures. Nature had almoſt made him a Poet; and indeed he wrote a Piece of Poetry for the Entertainment of Chriſtina Queen of Sweden, which however was ſuppreſs'd in Honour to his Memory.
He embrac'd a Military Life for ſome Time, and afterwards becoming a complete Philoſopher, he did not think the Paſſion of Love derogatory to his Character. He had by his Miſtreſs a Daughter call'd Froncine, who died young, and was very much regretted by him. Thus he experienc'd every Paſſion incident to Mankind.
He was a long Time of Opinion, that it would be neceſſary for him to fly from the Society of his Fellow Creatures, and eſpecially from his na-
