As an official he was His Majesty's Commissioner for improving the streets and buildings of London, in addition to various other particular duties.

But finally,--and, at the same time, first of all, if it be permissible to emphasise the fact in so paradoxical a manner--he was a courtier; and that at a time when expressions of loyalty to His Gracious Majesty, King Charles II., were somewhat too highly coloured, too servile and sycophantic, to suit our modern taste.
This short work _Fumifugium_, really only a pamphlet, was therefore dedicated to the King in language of the period extravagant in the highest degree, though eminently typical of the Royalists during the early days of the Restoration.

The treatise was thus occasioned:-- 'It was one day, as I was Walking in Your Majesty's Palace at White-Hall (where I have sometimes the honour to refresh myself with the Sight of Your Illustrious Presence, which is the Joy of Your Peoples hearts) that a presumptuous Smoak issuing from one or two tunnels near _Northumberland House_, and not far from _Scotland-yard_ did so invade the Court; that all the Rooms, Galleries, and Places about it were fill'd and infested with it; and that to such a degree, as Men could hardly discern one another from the Clowd, and none could support, without manifest Inconveniency.

It was not this which did first suggest to me what I had long since conceived against this pernicious Accident, upon frequent observation; But it was this alone, and the trouble that it must needs procure to Your Sacred Majesty, as well as hazzard to Your Health, which kindled this Indignation of mine against it, and was the occasion of what it has produc'd in these Papers.
Sir, I prepare in this short Discourse an expedient how this pernicious _Nuisance_ may be reformed; and offer at another also, by which the _Aer_ may not only be freed from the present Inconveniency; but (that remov'd) to render not only Your Majesties Palace, but the whole City likewise, one of the sweetest, and most delicious Habitations in the World; and this, with little or no expence; but by improving those Plantations which Your Majesty so laudably affects, in the moyst, depressed and marshy grounds about the Town, to the Culture and production of such things, as upon every gentle emission through the _Aer_, should so perfume the adjacent places with their breath; as if, by a certain charm, or innocent _Magick_, they were transferred to that part of _Arabia_, which is therefore styled the _Happy_, because it is amongst the Gums and precious spices.' Objectionable cottages had thus apparently only recently, probably during the democratic Commonwealth, been erected to the east of Whitehall, and were surrounded by fields.

These fields were to be divided into blocks of about 20 to 40 acres, and palisades or fences of shrubs were to enclose belts of 150 feet or more between the various fields.