Having taken at the regular periods both his degrees in Arts, he placed himself upon the physicline, in which profession he practised for a short time at Oxford; but finding his constitution unable to bear the fatigue of much business, and being highly delighted with the philosophy of Des Cartes, he transferred his studies to that branch of science.*

In the system, indeed, at that time prevalent in Oxford, Locke found little satisfaction. Scholastic disputations were fashionable at both Universities; and the only philosophy taught on the banks of the Isis, the Peripatetic, was perplexed with obscure

Christian name of the Protector, includes verses from Seaman, Vice-Chancellor and Master of Peter House; Arrowsmith of Trinity, Regius Professor of Divinity; Tuckney of St. John's; Horton of Queen's (no fewer than five distinct copies !); Whichcot of King's; Cudworth of Clare-Hall sugar daλsitors, and Dillingham of Emanuel (three copies). The last extravagantly represents the naval war as having set the sea a boiling, and produced a natural, though not very poetical consequence:

• Quis furor est igni totum fervescere pontum,

Et mitti coctos vicina ad litora pisces?

'What madness, with flames to heat ocean's cold breast, And send to our neighbours their fish ready drest!'

F. W.

J. Duport also, with his ready muse, contributes upon the occasion; and one of the cautious, J. V. of Trinity College, begins his address to Cromwell with

Χαιρο Αγγλων Βασιλευ (τοσα δίδρακας ηδε μενοινας,

Ου θεμιτον ταττειν όνομα μικρότερον)

Χαιρό, κ. τ. λ.

*This is stated on the sole authority of Le Clerc, who being very intimate with Locke, possibly had it from his own mouth.

terms and useless questions, calculated only to furnish matter of controversy. In the room of Aristotle, he substituted several hypotheses from Des Cartes. This writer had now for a considerable period been followed in Holland and at Geneva, and had captivated many others, as well as Mr. Locke, with the variety and perspicuity of his stile, which was admired even by those who did not approve his conclusions.

In 1664, he had an opportunity of going abroad, as Secretary to Sir William Swan, who was appointed Envoy to the Elector of Brandenburgh and some other German Princes.

The year following he returned to Oxford, where he continued to improve his knowledge in natural philosophy and physic; and more particularly, in 1666, he concurred in a plan devised by Dr. Plott for keeping a register of the air, in order to perfect the history of what the physicians call the Nonnaturals.' This he printed at the end of a posthumous piece of Mr. Boyle's, entitled A General History of the Air,' under the name of A Register of the Changes of the Air observed at Oxford by the Barometer, Thermometer, and Hygrometer from June 23, 1660, to March 28, 1667.'

He was thus employed, when accident brought him acquainted with Antony Ashley Cooper, afterward Earl of Shaftesbury. His Lordship having an abscess in his breast, occasioned by a fall, was advised to drink the Astrop waters. The physician, whom he had desired by letter to have some of these waters ready for him upon his arrival, being engaged with other patients at Oxford, his application was

transferred to Mr. Locke: and he failing to procure them as requested, waited upon his Lordship the day following, to excuse the disappointment. Lord Ashley received him with great civility, and delighted with his conversation not only detained him to supper, but also engaged him to dinner the next day, and even to drink the waters, Locke having expressed some intention of that kind, that he might have more of his society.

This nobleman now became his declared patron: he took him into his house, and soon afterward by his advice submitted to the opening of his abscess. He would not even suffer him to practise physic out of his own family, except among his particular friends; and introduced him to several statesmen of his acquaintance, who showed him extraordinary respect, and urged him to direct his application chiefly to the subject of politics.

Three or four of these illustrious characters, as Le Clerc informs us, having met at Lord Ashley's, rather for amusement than business, after a few short remarks sat down to cards. Mr. Locke looked on for some time while they were at play, and then taking out his pocket-book, began to write with great attention. One of the company inquiring what was his subject; "My Lord," said he, " I am endeavouring to profit, as far as I am capable, in your company for having waited with impatience for the honour of being in an assembly of the most eminent geniusses of the age, and having at length obtained this good fortune, I thought I could not do better than write down your conversation; and, indeed, I have noted the substance of what has been said for. this hour or two." He had no occasion to read much

of his dialogue: they felt the ridicule, and quitting their game entered upon a more rational species of intercourse.

In 1668, he attended the Countess of Northumberland into France; but an unforeseen accident obliging him after a short stay to return to England, and Lord Ashley having about this time jointly with some others obtained a grant of Carolina, Locke was employed to draw up the Fundamental Constitutions of that province. The articles relative to religion and public worship, however, being framed upon principles little agreeable to the sentiments of some of the clergy, an additional paragraph was by their management inserted, of which Locke has unjustly borne the blame.

In 1670, and the following year, he began to form the plan of his Essay on Human Understanding,' but was prevented from making any considerable progress in it by other employments; being, in 1672, appointed by his patron (then Lord Chancellor) Secretary of the Presentations.

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The Great Seal being taken from Shaftesbury in the November of the year following, Locke, to whom the Earl had communicated his most secret affairs, fell along with him. He afterward contributed his assistance to some pieces, which that nobleman procured to be published with a view of exciting in the nation a just attention to the interests of liberty. As his Lordship, however, continued President of the Board of Trade, Locke was made Secretary, with a salary of 5001. per ann.; but this, likewise, was an appointment of short duration, the commission being dissolved in the year 1674.

Being still Student of Christ Church, he frequently

resorted thither, as well for the conveniency of books, as for the improvement of his health, the air of London not agreeing well with his constitution. After taking his degree of M. B. indeed in 1675, he went to Montpelier, being apprehensive of a consumption: keeping up however, at the same time, an acquaintance with several of the English faculty, and continuing his studies in the profession.*

At Montpelier, he became acquainted with Thomas Herbert, Esq. afterward Earl of Pembroke, to whom he communicated the project of his celebrated Essay. Thence he proceeded to Paris, where he contracted a friendship with M. Justel the civilian, and at his house met M. Guenelon, a physician of Amsterdam, who read anatomical lectures in that city with high reputation. It was now, also, that the familiarity commenced between Locke and M. Toignard, by whom he was favoured with an early copy of his 'Harmony of the Gospels.'

Upon the discovery of the Popish plot, the Earl of Shaftesbury was again taken into favour and made President of a new Council appointed by Charles II. in 1679: but being a second time laid aside in less than half a year, he had no opportunity of rendering any fresh service to his friend. Not

* What his medical reputation was, may be inferred from the testimony of Sydenham in his book entitled, Observationes Medicæ circa Morborum Acutorum Historiam et Curationem;’ "You know, likewise, how much my method has been approved of by a person, who has examined it to the bottom, and who is our common friend: I mean Mr. John Locke, who, if we consider his genius and penetrating and exact judgement, or the strictness of his morals, has scarcely any superior and few equals now living."