Meetings with English scientists.

SORBIERE, (SAMUEL). A Voyage to England containing many things relating to the state of Learning, Religion and other curiosities of that kingdom... As also Observations on the same Voyage by Dr. T. Sprat Bishop of Rochester. With a letter of Monsieur Sorbiere´s concerning the war between England and Holland in 1652: to all which is prefix´d his Life writ by M. Graverol. Done into English from the French original. I-II. London (J. Woodward) 1709, 08.
8:o. (12), i-xix, (1), 1-97, (3), 101-190 pp. 1 folding engraved plate (all, some discolouration from text).
Contemporary brown full calf, worn, blindtooled decoration in a mirror shape, upper cover loose, cracks in lower joints, faded gilt spine in six compartments, redspeckled edges. Minor foxing. First edition in English.
Samuel [de] Sorbière (1615-1670) was a French physician and man of letters, a philosopher and translator, who is best known for his promotion of the works of Thomas Hobbes and Pierre Gassendi. In 1663-1664, Sorbière visited England, where he was inducted into the Royal Society. In 1664 he published in Paris an account of his stay, Relation d´un voyage en Angleterre, où sont touchées plusieurs choses, qui regardent l´estat des sciences, et de la religion.