spoke of Mr. Locke with the highest esteem, and manifested on all occasions a grateful sense of his obligations to him but there are some passages in his works, in which he speaks of Mr. Locke's philosophy with great severity*.

In 1670, and the year following, our author began to form the plan of his Essay on Human Understanding,' at the earnest request of Mr. Tyrrell, Dr. Thomas, and some other friends, who met frequently in his chamber to converse together on philosophical subjects; but his employments and avocations prevented him from finishing it then-About this time, it is supposed, he was made a fellow of the Royal Society.

* In the letters written by a nobleman to a young man at the 'university,' published 1716, which are now known to be lord Shaftesbury's, having observed, that Dr. Tindal's principles, whatever they were as to church-government, yet in morals and theology were very 'different from the author's of the "Rhapsody,"-he proceeds thus: In general, truly, it has happened, that all those they call free-writers 'now-a-days, have espoused those principles, which Mr. Hobbes set a-foot in this last age. Mr. Locke, as much as I honour him on acI count of his other writings, (viz. on government, policy, trade, coin, education, toleration, &c.) and as well as I knew him, and can answer ' for his sincerity as a most zealous christian and believer, did however go in the self same track, and is followed by the Tindals and all the "other ingenious free authors of our time.' The rest of those reflections, which that noble author has thought fit to cast upon the philosophy of his preceptor, (and which have been carefully retailed among many other misrepresentations of Mr. Locke's character, in the Biogr. Brit.) are too gross and groundless to be here inserted; but his lordship's inconsistencies may in part be accounted for from that remarkable change made in his lordship's constitution, when from a sober, serious christian, [as he appeared to be at his writing the preface to that volume of Dr. Whichcote's Sermons, which was published by him] he became both at once a sneering infidel with regard to revealed religion, and a rank enthusiast in morals. Instead of trusting to this author's character of Mr. Locke, we have a much more impartial one given, incidentally, by a better judge, who could not by his education be at all prejudiced in Mr. Locke's favour, and came but late into his system. In the last century there arose a very extraordinary genius for philosophical speculations, 'I mean Mr. Locke, the glory of that age, and the instructor of the present. This gentleman had examined into the nature and extent of human understanding, beyond any person before him, and made such discoveries as have highly obliged the curious,' &c. Bp. Conybeare, Defence of Rev. Rel. c. 5.

In 1672, his great patron lord Ashley was created earl of Shaftesbury, and lord high chancellor of England; and appointed him secretary of the presentation to benefices; which place he held till the end of the year 1673, when his lordship resigned the great seal. Mr. Locke, to whom the earl had communicated his most secret affairs, was disgraced together with him: and assisted the earl in publishing some treatises, which were designed to excite the people to watch the conduct of the Roman catholics, and to oppose the arbitrary designs of the court.

In 1675 he travelled into France, on account of his health. At Montpelier he staid a considerable time; and there his first acquaintance arose with Mr. Herbert, afterward earl of Pembroke, to whom he dedicated his Essay on Human Understanding,' having the highest respect for that noble lord. From Montpelier he went to Paris, where he contracted a friendship with Mr. Justel, whose house was at that time the place of resort for men of letters: and there he saw Mr. Guenelon, the famous physician of Amsterdam, who read lectures in anatomy with great applause. He became acquainted likewise with Mr. Toignard, who favoured him with a copy of his Harmonia Evangelica,' when there were no more than five or six copies of it complete. The earl of Shaftesbury being restored to favour at court, and made president of the council in 1679, thought proper to send for Mr. Locke to London. But that nobleman did not continue long in his post; for refusing to comply with the designs of the court, which aimed at the establishment of popery and arbitrary power, fresh crimes were laid to his charge, and he was sent to the Tower. When the earl obtained his discharge from that place, he retired to Holland; and Mr. Locke not thinking himself safe in England, followed his noble patron thither, who died soon after. During our author's stay in Holland, he renewed his acquaintance with Mr. Guenelon, who introduced him to many learned persons of Amsterdam. Here Mr. Locke contracted a friendship with Mr. Limborch, professor of divinity among the remonstrants, and the most learned Mr. Le

Clerc, which he cultivated after his return into England, and continued to the end of his life.

During his residence in Holland, he was accused at court of having writ certain tracts against the government, which were afterward discovered to be written by another person, and upon that suspicion he was deprived of his place of student of Christ-Church.

Being observed, (says the very unfair writer of his article in Biographia Britannica) to join in company with several English malecontents at the Hague, this 'conduct was communicated by our resident there to the earl of Sunderland, then secretary of state; who ac' quainting the king therewith, his majesty ordered the proper methods to be taken for expelling him from the college, and application to be made for that purpose 'to bish. Fell, the dean: in obedience to this command, the necessary information was given by his lordship, 'who at the same time wrote to our author, to appear and answer for himself, on the first of January ensuing: but immediately receiving an express command to turn him out, was obliged to comply therewith, and accordingly Mr. Locke was removed from his student's place on the sixteenth of Nov. 1684.'-But in order to a more complete view of these iniquitous proceedings, it may not be improper to annex the several letters between lord Sunderland and bp. Fell on the occasion, from Dr. Birch's papers in the Museum. The first from lord Sunderland runs thus: " Whitehall, Nov. 6, 1684. The king having been given to understand that one 'Locke, who belonged to the late earl of Shaftesbury, and has, upon several occasions, behaved himself very factiously against the government, is a student of Christ-Church; his majesty commands me to signify to your lordship, that he would have him removed from being a student, and that, in order thereunto, your lordship would let him know the method of doing it.' &c. The bishop answered, Nov. 8, 1684. To the right hon. the earl of Sunderland, principal secretary ' of state right honourable, I have received the honour ' of your lordship's letter, wherein you are pleased to inquire concerning Mr. Locke's being a student of

' concern.

<this house, of which I have this account to render: 'that he being, as your lordship is truly informed, a 'person who was much trusted by the late earl of Shaftesbury, and who is suspected to be ill affected to the government, I have for divers years had an eye upon ' him; but so close has his guard been on himself, that ' after several strict inquiries, I may confidently affirm, there is not any man in the college, however familiar with him, who had heard him speak a word either against or so much as concerning the government; ' and although very frequently, both in public and private, discourses have been purposely introduced to the ⚫ disparagement of his master, the earl of Shaftesbury, ' his party and designs; he could never be provoked to take any notice, or discover in word or look the least So that I believe there is not a man in the 'world so much master of taciturnity and passion. He has here a physician's place, which frees him from the 'exercise of the college, and the obligation which others ' have to residence in it, and he is now abroad for want ' of health; but notwithstanding this, I have summoned ' him to return home, which is done with this prospect, 'that if he comes not back, he will be liable to expul◄ 'sion for contumacy; and if he does, he will be an'swerable to the law for that which he shall be found to have done amiss. It being probable that, though ' he may have been thus cautious here where he knew ' himself suspected, he has laid himself more open at 'London, where a general liberty of speaking was used, and where the execrable designs against his majesty ' and government were managed and pursued. If he 'don't return by the first of January, which is the time ' limited to him, I shall be enabled of course to proceed against him to expulsion. But if this method seems 'not effectual or speedy enough, and his majesty, our 'founder and visitor, shall please to command his im'mediate remove, upon the receipt thereof, directed to 'the dean and chapter, it shall accordingly be executed, by your lordship's,' &c. Lord Sunderland's second letter to the bishop of Oxon: My lord, having com

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'municated your lordship's of the 8th to his majesty, he has thought fit to direct me to send you the inclosed 'concerning his commands for the immediate expulsion of Mr. Locke.' The inclosed warrant, addressed to the dean and chapter, Nov. 12. Whereas we have re'ceived information of the factious and disloyal behaviour of Locke, one of the students of that our college; we have thought fit hereby to signify our will and pleasure to you, that you forthwith remove him from his student's place, and deprive him of all rights and 'advantages thereunto belonging, for which this shall 'be your warrant. And so we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court of Whitehall, the 11th day ' of Nov. 1684. By his majesty's command, Sunderland.' The bishop answered thus: Nov. 16. Right honourable, I hold myself bound to signify to your lordship, that his majesty's command for the expulsion ' of Mr. Locke from this college is fully executed.' The last letter from lord Sunderland to the bishop of Oxon: I have your lordship's of the 16th, and have acquainted his majesty therewith, who is well satisfied 'with the college's ready obedience to his commands for the expulsion of Mr. Locke.'

With regard to bishop Fell's conduct on this occasion, Dr. Birch observes, that notwithstanding his many good qualities, he was capable of some excesses in cases where the interest of party could bias him. Life of Tillotson, p. 100, first edition. What has been urged on the bishop's side as rather favouring Mr. Locke, seems only to prove that all he acted against him might be done with some degree of reluctance; but yet notwithstanding the respect and kindness which he bore toward Mr. Locke, bishop Fell, it seems, on the clearest conviction of his inoffensiveness, under so many trials, had no thoughts of serving him so far as to run the least hazard of suffering for him, or with him. His candour towards Mr. Locke on a former occasion, when application was making for his being admitted to a doctor's degree at Oxon, on a visit from the prince of Orange, will appear sufficiently fromlord Shaftesbury's letter to