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 These consisted of the originals of several of his works already printed, some unpublished manuscripts, an extensive correspondence with several friends in England and abroad, the Journal of Locke's travels in France and in Holland, finally some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.,

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

what he shall be found to have done amiss; it being probable that though he may have been thus cautious here, where he knew himself to be suspected, he has laid himself more open in London, where a general liberty of speaking was used, and where the execrable designs against his Majesty, and his Government, were managed and pursued. If he does not return by the first day of January next, which is the time limited to him, I shall be enabled of course to proceed against him to expulsion. But if this method seem not effectual or speedy enough, and his Majesty, our founder and visitor, shall please to command his immediate remove, upon the receipt thereof, directed to the dean and chapter, it shall accordingly be executed by,

"My Lord, your Lordship's

"Most humble and obedient servant,

"J. OXON."

To the Bishop of Oxford.

"WHITEHALL, Nov. 10, 1684.

"MY LORD-Having communicated 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.

"SUNDERLAND."

To the Right Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Bishop of Oxon, Dean of Christ Church, and our trusty and well-beloved the Chapter there.

"Right Reverend Father in God, and trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Whereas we have received information of the factious and disloyal behavior 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 the rights and advantages thereunto belonging, for which this shall be your warrant; and

so we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at Whitehall, 11th day of November, 1684.

"By his Majesty's command,

"SUNDERLAND."

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

of State.

"November 16, 1684.

"RIGHT HON.-I hold myself bound in duty to signify to your Lordship, that his Majesty's command for the expulsion of Mr. Locke from the college is fully executed.

To the Bishop of Oxon.

“J. Oxon.”

MY LORD-I have received 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.

"SUNDERLAND."

Lord King shows still more the extreme weakness, not to say the baseness of Fell, in publishing from time to time several letters in which he calls Locke his esteemed friend, his affectionate friend. It is lamentable to be obliged to confess that Fell was a learned man, author of an excellent edition of Cyprian.

Lord King published, for the first time, the memoir presented by the English minister at Haye to the States-General, in the name of his government, to obtain the extradition of several persons, among whom was Locke, under the title of Secretary to the last Earl of Shaftesbury.

Leclerc has related the offer which William Penn made to Locke to procure his pardon from the king. The Earl of Pembroke, whom he knew at Montpellier, was equally interested in his behalf, and did not cease to give him marks of his high esteem