p>Notes and Queries, Number 67, February 8, 1851 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc
Notes
INEDITED LETTER FROM THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, AUTHOR OF THE "CHARACTERISTICS," TO LE CLERC, RESPECTING LOCKE
[We are indebted to our valued correspondent Janus Dousa, for a transcript of the following important letter—the original of which is preserved in the Remonstrant Library of Amsterdam—and for which our correspondent acknowledges his obligations to the great kindness of Prof. des Amories van der Hoven.]
"Sir,—Having once writt to you in my own Language, I continue to use the same Privilege. I am sorry that I am in no better a condition to acquit my self of my Promise to you. My Recovery has been so slow, that I am scarce yet got up: and I have been unable to hold any Correspondance with my Friends in Town. Mr. King promisd to send me the Papers I mention'd to you of Mr. Lock's; who, it seems, had begun some Memoires of his own relating to my Gd Father. These however imperfect, yet as being Mr. Lock's own I should have been glad to send you with what supplement I could make myself: But Mr. King's Engagements in the Publick affaires has made him delay this so long, that according to the account you have given me of the shortness of your Time, I must wayt no longer: but content my self with giving you what I can out of my own head, without other Assistance.
"Mr. Lock came into my Grandfathers Family in the summer of the year 1666, recommended by his Friend1 Mr. Bennet of ye town of Shaftesbury. The occasion of it was thus. My Grandfather had been ill for a great while after a Fall, by wch his Breast was so bruised that in time it came to an Imposthumation (?) within, and appeard by a swelling under his stomach. Mr. Lock was at that time a student in Physick at Oxford: and my Grandfather taking a journey that way to drink the Waters (having Mr. Bennett in ye Coach with him), He had this young Physician presented to him: who tho' he had never practic'd Physick; yet appear'd to my Grandfather to be such a Genius that he valew'd him above all his other Physicians, the great men in practice of those times. Accordingly on his advice and allmost solely by his Direction my Gd Father underwent an Operation wch sav'd his Life, and was the most wonderfull of the kind that had been heard of, till that time. His Breast was layd open, the matter discharg'd, and an Orifice ever afterwards kept open by a silver pipe: an Instrument famouse upon Record, in the Writings our Popish and Jacobite Authors, who never faild to reproach him with this Infirmity.
"After this Cure, Mr. Lock grew so much in esteem with my Grand-Father that as great a Man as he had experienc'd him in Physick; he look'd upon this but as his least part. He encourag'd him to turn his Thoughts another way. Nor would he suffer him to practice Physick except in his own Family and as a kindness to some particular Friend. He put him upon the studdy of the Religiouse and Civil affaires of the Nation with whatsoever related to the Business of a Minister of State: in wch he was so successfull, that my Gd Father begun soon to use him as a Friend, and consult with him on all occasions of that kind. He was not only with him in his Library and Closet, but in company with the Great Men of those times, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Hallifax and others, who being men of Witt and Learning, were as much taken with him. For together with his seriouse, respectfull and humble Character, he had a mixture of Pleasantry and a becoming Boldness of Speech. The Liberty he could take with these great Men was peculiar to such a Genius as his. A pleasant Instance of it runs in my Mind: tho' perhaps the relation of it may not be so pleasing to another.
"At an appointed Meeting of two or three of these Great-Men at my Gd Father's House, more for Entertainment and good company than for Business, it happen'd that after a few Compliments the Cards were called for, and the Court-Fashion prevailing, they were engag'd in Play before any Conversation was begun. Mr. Lock sate by as a spectator for some time. At least taking out his Table-Book, he began to write something very busily: till being observd by one of the Lords, and ask'd what he was meditating; My Lords (sayd he) I am improving my self the best I can in your Company: for, having impatiently wayted this Honour of being present at such a meeting of the wisest Men and greatest Witts of the Age, I thought I could not do better than to write your Conversation: and here I have it, in substance, all that has pass'd for this hour or two. There was no need of Mr. Lock's writing much of the Dialogue. The great men felt the ridicule, and took pleasure in improving it. They quitted their Play, and fell into a Conversation becoming them: and so passed the remainder of the Day.
"When my Gd Father, from being Chancellor of the Exchequer, was made High Chancellor (wch was in the year 1672) he advanc'd Mr. Lock to the Place of Secretary for the Clergy: and when my Gd Father quitted the Court and began to be in Danger from it, Mr. Lock now shard with him in Dangers, as before in Honours & Advantages. He entrusted him with his secretest negotiations, and made use of his assistant Pen in matters that nearly concerned the State, and were fitt to be made publick, to raise that spirit in the Nation which was necessary against the prevailing Popish Party.
"It was for something of this kind that got air, and out of great Tenderness to Mr. Lock that my Grandfather in the year 1674 sent him abroad to travell: an Improvement wch my Gd father was gladd to add to those he had allready given him. His Health servd as a very just Excuse: he being consumptive as early in his Life as that was. So that having travelld thro' France he went2 to Montpelier and there stayd for some time. He returnd again to my Gd Fathers in the year 1678, and remaind in his Family till the year 1682: wch was the year that my Gd Father retird into Holland and there dyed. Mr. Lock who was to have soon followd him thither, was not prevented in the voyage, by this Death: but found it safest for him to retire thither, and there lived (at our good Friend Mr. Furly's of Rotterdam) till the happy Revolution of King William, wch restord him to his native Country and to other Publick offices of greater Note, wch by fresh Meritts he deserv'd: witness his then Publishd Books of Government, Trade and Coin: by wch he had as considerably servd the State, as he had done the Church and Protestant Interest by his defence of Toleration and support of the Revolution-Principles.
"But of this part of his Life, you need no Information.
"Thus far I have made mention of Mr. Lock as to his station in Publick affaires, under my Grandfather. Now as to his Service in private affaires, and the Concerns of a Family, wch was, in every respect, so happy in him, that he seem as a good Guardian Angel sent to bless it.
"When Mr. Lock first came into the Family, my Father was a youth of about fifteen or sixteen. Him my Grandfather entrusted wholly to Mr. Lock for what remain'd of his Education. He was an only Child, and of no firm Health: wch induc'd my Gd Father, in concern for his Family to think of marrying him as soon as possible. He was too young and unexperienc'd to chuse a Wife for himself: and my Grandfather too much in Business to chuse one for him. The affair was nice, for tho' my Grandfather requir'd not a great Fortune, he insisted on good Blood, good Person and Constitution, and above all, good Education, and a Character as remote as possible from that of Court- or Town-bred Lady. All this was thrown upon Mr. Lock, who being allready so good Judge of Men, my Grand Father doubted not of his equal Judgment in Women. He departed from him, entrusted and sworn, as Abraham's Head-servant3 that ruled over all that he had, and went into a far-Country (the North of England) to seek for his Son a Wife whome he as successfully found. Of Her, I and six more of us, Brothers & Sisters, were born; in whose Education Mr. Lock govern'd according to his own Principles (since publishd by him) and with such success that we all of us came to full years, with strong healthy Constitutions: my own the worst; tho' never faulty till of late. I was his more peculiar Charge: being as eldest son, taken by my Grandfather, & bred under his immediate Care: Mr. Lock having the absolute Direction of my Education, and to whome next my immediate Parents as I must own the greatest Obligation, so I have ever preserved the
"A Gentleman of a Sound Protestant Family allways in great Friendship with ours. Both Father and Son were members of Parlement for that Town, and were Stewards to my Gd Father." (
"It was there (as I take it) that Mr. Lock came so particularly well acquainted with My Lord Pembrock, that great Ornament and Pillar of our Nation. He was then Mr. Herbert, a younger Brother only." —(
"Gen. c. 24." (
