was at the period of the revocation of the edict of Nantes; and all those who, throughout Europe, adhered to the proscribed cause, expected and received with the utmost eagerness and with the greatest favor, all the publications of Locke, who, after the appearance of his letter on Toleration, was regarded as their representative. Everywhere the liberal minority which was already formed, and which was the basis of the present majority, had their eyes on the writings of Locke. Hence the prodigious success of the Essay on the Human Understanding; editions and translations multiplied rapidly. During the life of Locke, four editions were published in England, in 1690, 1694, 1697, and 1700; and in all these editions Locke made considerable alterations: the best chapters, for example that on the Association of Ideas, appeared only in the fourth edition. He was preparing a fifth when he died; it appeared in 1705; a tenth edition was published in 1731. Dugald Stewart informs us that he possesses a copy of the thirteenth edition, of 1748. What contributed especially to spread the Essay on the Human Understanding, was the French translation of Coste. The French was becoming the universal language of Europe. This translation, made in 1700, during the life of Locke, passed through five editions, between the years 1700 and 1750. Wynne, bishop of Saint Asaph, published an English extract from the original work, which was translated into French by Bosset, in 1720.* There are three Latin translations: one which appeared in London in 1701, reprinted at Leipsic in 1709, and again reprinted at Amsterdam in 1729; the best is that of Thiele, Leipsic, 1731. There are many Dutch and German translations. Finally, a version in modern Greek was published in Venice in 1796.

Nothing was opposed to the success of Locke except the anger of the enemies of all political and religious liberty. The Univer

* Reprinted at Geneva in 1738.

In fol., with a portrait of Locke.

‡ Three German translations, that of Poleyen, 1727, of Tittel, in 1791, and of Tennemann in 1797

son.

sity of Oxford proscribed his work, as it had proscribed his perIt was agreed in an assembly that if a public manifesto was not made against the Essay on the Human Understanding, all the professors would unite in closing their doors upon him.

What, then, is this work which from its origin attracted the admiration of some and the criticism of others? As I have before said, I mean to consider it here simply in its exterior. The general composition partakes of the agitated life of its author. It is needless to look in it for the rigorous connection and unity of the Meditations of Descartes. The Essay on the Human Understanding has two grave defects: first, it contains innumerable repetitions; then it has considerable variations and contradictions; it is therefore necessary to adhere to the general spirit of the book, and with this spirit to interpret the contradictory passages, to neglect the inconsistencies of detail, and to consider especially the basis and scope of the work, for herein is the system of the author.

In regard to style, it is generally agreed that the prose of Locke is the best of his times; and it requires no great knowledge of the English to perceive in it the manners of a man who has lived in the best society, and who expresses his thoughts without pedantry, in the most clear, most simple, and most familiar terms. There is a certain mundane spirit spread throughout the book which has contributed not a little to its success. Dugald Stewart remarks, that if the style of the Essay has grown somewhat antique, it still preserves a certain ease and elegance which gives us an idea of the fine conversations in which the friend of Ashley must have taken part. I need not tell you that the eminent characteristic of this style is clearness. In order to obtain it Locke prolongs his developments beyond measure; he presents the same thought under an infinite variety

* Discourse, Vol. ii., p. 19. See also the opinion of Shaftesbury, First Letter to a Young Gentleman who is Studying at the University. Mackintosh cites several pieces from Book ii., chap. x., as remarkable for the beauty of its developments.

of forms, as if he wished that this thought might, by some means, be introduced into every mind. Precision is doubtless true clearness, but it is the clearness of the strong; a little diffuseness is necessary for the weak, who, saving error, are destined yet to make a large majority, even among philosophers.

At our next meeting, I shall enter into a philosophical examination of the Essay on the Human Understanding.

ADDITION

TO THE LECTURE ON THE LIFE OF LOCKE.

ALMOST at the same time that this Lecture was published, Lord King published a Life of John Locke, with Extracts from his Correspondence, Journals, and Common-place Books, two volumes in-8, London, 1829; second edition, London, 1830. After the death of Locke all his papers fell into the hands of Sir Peter King, his nearest relation and his executor. These consisted of the originals of several of his works already printed, some unpublished manuscripts, an extensive correspondence with several friends in England and abroad, the Journal of Locke's travels in France and in Holland, finally some small books in which he deposited his notes and recollections. These papers were religiously preserved in the family of King, and from them the inheritor and last head of this family, Lord King, has drawn a new life of Locke founded on authentic documents; this life confirms and develops that written by Leclerc. We will extract a few passages for the purpose of elucidating and enriching our lecture.

William Swan is the name applied by Leclerc and other biographers, to the envoy of the King of England at the German Court, whom Locke accompanied as secretary in 1664. Lord King calls him Vane, an illustrious name in the constitutional his

tory of England. When Locke returned to England, it seems certain, according to several letters cited by Lord King, that he was invited to proceed to Spain, as an attaché to the English legation. He refused the mission thus offered to him.

It was at Oxford, in 1670, that he undertook the Essay on the Human Understanding. It appears that he finished it in 1671, for Lord King declares that he has in his possession a copy dated 1671, by Locke's own hand; and the first sketch of this work may be found in his Common-place Book, with this commencement: "Sic cogitavit de intellectu humano Johannes Locke, ann. 1671." Locke did not publish it until eighteen years after, in 1690, and during this long interval, he made considerable corrections and alterations in it.

We cannot read, without interest, the Journal of his travels in France, and his opinions upon various things. It is France of the seventeenth century seen by the eyes of a liberal of our own times. Lord King merely gives fragments of this Journal; I could wish that he had published it entire. The travels of Locke on the Continent continued four years, from December, 1675, to the month of May, 1679.

Lord King throws light especially upon the persecutions which Locke endured during the years which preceded the Revolution of 1688. All the trickery which was used in 1684 on account of his benefice at Christ's College, Oxford, are exposed in the greatest detail. Lord King cites a very fine passage from the history of Fox in regard to this affair. He cites also a work of Lord Grenville, entitled Oxford and Locke. The following is the entire correspondence between the minister and chief of the college to which Locke was attached, Dean Fell, bishop of Oxford:

To the Lord Bishop of Oxford.

"WHITEHALL, Nov. 6, 1684.

“MY LORD-The King being given to understand that one Mr. Locke, who belonged to the late Earl of Shaftesbury, and

has upon several occasions behaved himself very factiously and undutifully to the Government, is a student of Christ's College; 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 me know the method of doing it.

"I am, my Lord, &c.,

"SUNDERLAND."

To the Right Hon. the Earl of Sunderland, Principal Secre

tary of State.

"Nov. 8, 1684.

RIGHT HON.—I have received the honor of your Lordship's letter, wherein you are pleased to inquire concerning Mr. Locke's being a student of 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 one in the college, however familiar with him, who has heard him speak a word either against, or so much as concerning the Government; and although very frequently, both in public and in 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 concern; so that I believe there is not in the world such a 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 upon want of health; but notwithstanding that, I have summoned him to return home, which is done with this prospect, that if he comes not back, he will be liable to expulsion for contumacy; if he does, he will be answerable to your Lordship for