clergymen who have not taken the oaths, and some that have, and a very little party of such as pay them a blind obedience, use incredible diligence, by misconstructions of everything, false stories, and spreading of libels, to infect the people. I wish heartily the friends of the Government were encouraged to use the same diligence in suppressing such doings; for though they behave themselves with much malice, yet it is so very foolishly, that they lie as open as one could wish. I am making all possible haste to town, and hope to learn from you all that I want from my long absence. Your former favours make me bold to presume upon you, and your judgment is such that I can depend upon your instructions as the rules for behaviour. I am, my Your most obliged, humble servant, The next eight letters are selected from the correspondence between the Earl of Peterborough and Mr Locke; the intervals are wide, the date of the first being 1689, and that of the last 1703, the year before Locke's death. Lord Monmouth had been in Holland before the Revolution, and there, probably, their intimacy commenced. "MR LOCKE, "Newcastle, Jan. 9, 1689. "I must begin with a description of my Lord Delamere's army: it wanted nothing to be a complete regiment but clothes, boots, arms, horses, men, and officers: there never was anything so scandalous as that the King should have paid near nine thousand pounds already to that rout of fellows, that have been more disorderly than any, never having all the while but one captain with them. He hath still those same champions with him that saved the nation, in the same or worse equipages than they were in the west, mounted upon just such horses attended the Protestant peer out of town. Good God! what is the love of money! O Roma venalis esses, &c., and so is everything else. Who has got ten thousand pounds by the late made peer? we take it for granted he gave no more; he offered but fifteen for fifteen years together. Some of our Lords take their rest, others their pleasure; my Lords Devonshire and Lumley stay here; Mr Wharton* goes for Scotland. I go to-morrow for Berwick, to examine some regiments, and come back the next day to Newcastle, a pleasant journey; at least no reproach shall lie at my door; for I can brag that pleasure, when I am engaged in business, never made me go an hour out of my way. Direct your letters to Carlisle. Yours, MONMOUTH." EARL OF MONMOUTH TO MR LOCKE. "19th Nov. 1692. "I am told, that so many of your friends have sent you word how desirous they are you should come to town, that I am resolved I will not be of the number, concluding that your health obliges you to stay in the country. I am afraid of mentioning Parson's-green to you, for I find you would be importuned, if so near, to come to town, and our innocent air would be accused of the ill effects of London smoke. If your acquaintances would make you visits, and expect no returns, I would do all in my power to tempt you to a lady, who would take all possible care of you: she has prepared you a very warm room, and if you take the resolution, which she thinks you are obliged to by your promise, you must send me word of it; for as your physician, you must refuse none of her prescriptions; and she will not allow you to come up but in a glass coach. This is no compliment; and you can gain no admittance except my coach brings you, which I can send without the least inconvenience; but after all, I desire you not to venture coming towards us if it may be prejudicial to your health. "If you stay in the country, I will send you now and then a news-letter: our revolving Government always affords us something new every three or four months; but what would be most new and strange, would be to see it do anything that were really for its interest; there seems a propensity towards something like it; I fear their sullen and duller heads will not allow it. Mons. Blanquet tells us the King is grown in love with Englishmen and Whigs; it is true, he * Mr Wharton, the same whose song of Lillibulero had produced such an effect on King James's army. smiles and talks with us, but Messrs Semour and Trevor the back stairs.* come up "Mons. Dolm tells us my Lord Nottingham is a little lawyer, and no mau of business; yet the Court have taken all possible pains to prevent the petition against him, and my good Lord Mayor, to set it aside, broke up the court so abruptly as my Lord Sidney the Irish Parliament. I will engage no further in politics, but being sick, am going, by way of physic, to eat a good supper, and drink your health in a glass or two of my reviving wine. Yours, “MR LOCKE, MONMOUTH." "March 25, 1693. "Shall we pretend more that nothing shall surprise us? and have you heard of our late Whiggish promotion without admiration? I cannot but confess, I rather wish we had our Whiggish laws: but, however, I think there must be some consequence, not so much of our joy, as of the ill humour of the Tories, which is so apparent, and so great, that I am resolved to enjoy the satisfaction it gives me, and not lose the few moments of mirth offered us by a too nice examination. The new Secretary†, treads the stage with quite another air than our friend; the poor Lord Keeper looks as if he wanted the comfort of his friends; but the other§ thinks he may depend on his own parts and the ability of Mr Bridgman. Whether to congratulate with your friends, or to see the silly looks of the enemy, I suppose you will give us one week in town. There is a little philosophical apartment quite finished in the garden that expects you, and if you will let me know when you will come, it will not be the least inconvenience to me to send my coach twenty miles out of town to meet you, and may make your journey more easy, and if you would make me so, pray, Mr Locke, be less ceremonious to your affectionate servant, MONMOUTH." * King William had sometimes an inclination to form a Tory administration, on account of their accommodating temper, but was deterred when told that he was not the King of the Tories. The Earl of Shrewsbury. Sir John Trevor, afterwards expelled the House of Commons for corruption. Sir John Somers. "MR LOCKE, "December 12, 1695. "I cannot but write to you to give some ease to my illhumour, for, though accustomed to see such follies committed, I cannot be insensible when I see them repeated, especially when the public and a friend is concerned. I was some days ago extremely pleased when the King was brought to so reasonable a resolution as to determine upon a council of trade, where some great men were to assist, but where others, with salaries of a thousand pounds a year, were to be fixed as the constant labourers. Mr Locke being to be of the number, made me have the better opinion of the thing, and comforted me for our last disappointment upon your subject: but, according to our accustomed wisdom and prudence, when all things had been a good while adjusted, the patent ready for the seal, and some very able and honest men provided for your companions, it was impossible to get the King to sign it; but delaying it from day to day, the Parliament this day fell upon it, and are going to form such a commission, to be nominated by themselves. Our great managers, surprised, were forced to run up to some in our House, others to go to Kensington, so that at last the Secretary informs the House at the latter end of the debate (and much consultation), that the King had just formed such a commission, with all that could be said to prevent their further proceeding; but they all looked upon it as a trick, and all they could do was to put it to a vote for an adjournment, which, in a full House, after great exertions, they carried but by eleven: this is the effect of our gravity and prudence; what the event will be I know not, but for the little I am able, I shall endeavour. Mr Locke may be the choice of the House, as well as the King's: if it take that course, if the ill-weather prevent you not, it were not improper you were in town; but, above all things, take care of yourself, without which your friends will lose the pleasure they may have in serving you. I hope we may make the House desist, and that your affair is fixed; but these unnecessary labours might be spared to those who have enough to do. From your affectionate servant, "MR LOCKE, August, 1697. "You know the impatience country gentlemen have for news; we are here as fond of a Gazette as the sparks are of their mistresses with you. We lay wagers on Ponty and Revel and Conti and Saxe, to pass away the time, instead of playing at pickett. Pray give us a letter now and then to decide who has won: this request is made you, not only by myself, but by some other of your humble friends. PETERBOROW. "Direct yours for me, to be left at the post-house, Chippenham, Wiltshire." "MR LOCKE, "September 4th, 1697. "We all return you thanks for your charitable correspondence, but the lady is a little out of humour since your last, having long ago settled the peace with the restitution of Strasburgh, and Luxemburgh, and Loraine, and sunk and destroyed all or most of Ponty's squadron, not considering the generous Knight-errantry of our admirals, who scorn to beat their enemies with odds nine to five, being shameful advantage. The next letter you are pleased to write this way, address it to the lady, who stays here some time longer. I hope in four or five days after you have received this, to see you in London; for I take it for granted, the Essex lady is not to attract, while the sun has so much influence. Your most affectionate servant, PETERBOROW." "Dec. 26th, 1702. “SIR, "The lady that made you a visit with me would not let me write, till I could tell you all is gone afore, and that the first easterly wind we follow. I wish we were as sure of success as we are of your good wishes; and I assure you, Sir, I have some pretence to that from the very sincere respect and inclination I have ever had for you. Our Vigo success has a little abated our vigour, a fault too often committed by the English, and we seem not so willing as the Dutch to raise new recruits for the next campaign. I confess (after the R |