CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

CXLIV.

MADAM,

YOu Express'd in your last Letter, that Sir O. B. told an Acquaintance of yours, he

did not Understand my Philosophical and Phy∣sical Opinions, and I believe him, because he hath not a Philosophical Brain, and therefore cannot Understand Philosophical Reasons, but had he said, there was no Sense and Reason in those Opinions, I could not have Believed him, unless he would have Proved it, which I am Confident he Cannot: But it is impossible to Expect my Book should be Understood of every one that Reads it, for there is more Strength of Brain required to Understand it, than to Under∣stand a Horn-book; besides, it is harder, because they are New Opinions, never Vented before; as for Example, if a man did make an Oration in such a Language which his Auditors never heard before, and because they do not Under∣stand the Language, would they Condemn this Oration? that were not only Unjust, but Fool∣ish, to Condemn what they cannot Judg of, as not Understanding it; or would they say, it can∣not be Understood, because they never Learn'd that Language? If every one were of that Opi∣nion, there would be no Languages Taught or Learned, but every one would keep to their Native Language; nay, all Languages would Cease, for they would not teach them their Children, because it would be a Lost Labour, & so they would Forget whatever they did Learn themselves, or else that Opinion could not hold; wherefore, whatsoever hath been Invented, may be Taught, and Learned by good Capacities. But this is only to Express how Simply People

Judg, or Spitefully Censure, and I believe that the Opinions or Doctrines of former Natural Philosophers, were no more Understood at first, than if they had Written, or Spoken in Un∣known Languages, till by Degrees their Lan∣guage was Learned, that is, their Opinions were Understood by those that did make it their Em∣ployment to Study, and so to Understand them, but they had this Advantage, being Men, that they had liberty not only to Write their Opi∣nions, but to Preach, Teach, and Instruct others to Understand them; Pythagoras imposed five years Silence to his Pupils, because he would not have their Speaking Hinder their Studying, or Obstruct their Understanding, and there is not any Famous Philosopher, that ever I heard of, which did not Teach and Explane his Own Opi∣nions, besides Inscribing them either in Letters, Figures, Cifres, or the like. Wherefore I fear the Right Understanding of my Philosophical Opinions are likely to be Lost, for want of a Right Explanation, for they may be Interpreted not that way I Conceiv'd them, that is, not to my Sense or Meaning, for it is not Proper for my Sex to be a Publick Oratour, to Declare or Explane my Opinions in Schools, and if it were, yet I have neither Confidence nor Learning to Speak to an Assembly, nor in such Forms or Phrases, as Masters of Learning Use; Neither is it fit I should be a Private School-Mistress, to Teach and Instruct Scholars, although concern∣ing onely my Philosophical Opinions, nor do I

believe I have so much Patience, being a Woman, for that Profession, as to Hammer, or Beat in Un∣derstanding into Dull Capacities, & Hard Brains; wherefore I must leave that Work of mine Unexplaned by Words, though I have Written it as Plain fot Understanding, as the Nature, or Matter, or Subject, doth Afford, or give Way to; But I leave it to Heavens Protection, and Nature's Reward, as to Favour and Bless my Harmless Labours, and to Reward my Natu∣ral Studies with Right Understanding, and Due Commendations, that neither Spite nor Ignorance may Condemn them, but that Time may Keep, and Fame Divulge them, that they may Live to and in After Ages, so that this VVork that Sir O. B. Under∣stands not, may be Understood when Sir O. B. Lives not, and Live when Sir O. B. is Dead and Forgotten. But, Madam, lest I should Forget my self in writing so Long a Letter, as it may Trouble your Pastime to read it, I rest,

Madam,

Your Ladiships very faithful Friend and Servant.