Observations on Monsieur de Serbiere's Voyage into England, written to
Dr. Wren, professor of astronomy in Oxford; printed in octavo, in the
year 1665.

Mr. Sprat in the beginning of his letter acquaints the Dr. with the
motives of his engaging with Monsieur Serbiere, 'Having now (says he)
under my hands, the history of the Royal-Society, it will be in vain for
me to try to represent its design to be advantageous to the glory of
England, if my countrymen shall know, that one who calls himself a
member of that society, has escaped unanswered in the public disgraces,
which he has cast on our whole nation.'--In this performance Mr. Sprat
has given an undeniable proof, that the strength and solidity of an
English pen, is infinitely superior to the gallant air of a French
author, who is sprightly without propriety, and positive without truth.

About two years after, 1667, our author published his incomparable
History of the Royal Society of London, for the improvement of natural
knowledge; a work which has acquired him very great reputation, and has
ranked him with the most elegant and polite writers of that age. Soon
after this, Mr. Sprat lost his amiable and much esteemed friend Mr.
Abraham Cowley, who by his will recommended to the care of his reverend
friend, the revising of all his works that were printed, and the
collecting of those papers which he had designed for the press. This
truth Mr. Sprat faithfully discharged, and to the new edition of Mr.
Cowley's Works, he prefixed an account of his life and writings,
addressed to Mr. Martin Clifford. Happy is it for a good man, when he
has such a friend to close his eyes: This is a desire peculiar to all,
and the portion of few to enjoy.

For who to dumb forgetfulness a prey,
This pleasing anxious being e'er resign'd;
Left the warm precincts of the chearful day,
Nor cast one longing lingring look behind.

On some warm breast the parting soul relies,
Some pious drops the closing eye requires;
E'en from the tomb, the voice of nature cries,
Awake! and faithful to her wonted fires[1].

This life of Cowley, by Dr. Sprat has been esteemed one of the most
elegant compositions in our language; there are several extracts from it
in our account of the life of that amiable Poet.

These are the most material performances of Dr. Sprat: a man, who was
early introduced into an elevated station in life, which he held not
without enemies to his dying moments. Villie