The resolution was taken, soon after his arrival at Oxford, not to accept the offer of going to Spain.

"DEAR SIR,

"I wrote to you from London as soon as I came thither, to let you know you had a servant returned to England, but very likely to leave it again before he saw you. But those fair offers I had to go to Spain have not prevailed with me: whether fate or fondness kept me at home I know not; whether I have let slip the minute that they say every one has once in his life to make himself, I cannot tell: this I am sure, I never trouble myself for the loss of that which I never had; and have the satisfaction that I hope shortly to see you at Sutton Court, a greater rarity than my travels have afforded me; for, believe it, one may go a long way before one meet a friend. Pray write by the post, and let me know how you do, and what you can tell of the concernment of, Your most affectionate friend,

"Oxford, Feb. 28, 65."

J. LOCKE."

The following letter from Locke to his friend Mr Strachy, describing the disaster at Chatham, when the Dutch fleet sailed into the Medway, may not be uninteresting: it was in all probability written during his residence with Lord Shaftesbury in London.

"I believe report hath increased the ill news we have here; therefore, to abate what possibly fear may have rumoured, I send you what is vouched here for nearest the truth. The Dutch have burned seven of our ships in Chatham, viz. the Royal James, Royal Oak, London, Unity, St Matthias, Charles V., and the Royal Charles, which some say they have towed off, others that they have burned. One man of war of theirs was blown up, and three others they say are stuck in the sands; the rest of their fleet is fallen down out of the Medway into the Thames. It was neither excess of courage on their part, nor want of courage in us, that brought this loss upon us; for when the English had powder and shot, they fought like themselves, and made the Dutch feel them;

but whether it were fortune, or fate, or anything else, let time and tongues tell you, for I profess I would not believe what every mouth speaks. It is said this morning the French fleet are seen off the Isle of Wight. I have neither the gift nor heart to prophesy, and since I remember you bought a new cloak in the hot weather, I know you are apt enough to provide against a storm. Should I tell you that I believe but half what men of credit and eye-witnesses report, you would think the world very wicked and foolish, or me very credulous. Things and persons are the same here, and go on at the same rate they did before, and I, among the rest, design to continue

Your faithful friend and servant,

J. L.

"I think the hull of three or four of our great ships are saved, being sunk to prevent their burning totally. We are all quiet here, but raising of forces apace."

This and other letters to Mr Strachy were probably returned to Locke, after the death of the friend to whom they had been written.

He had again an offer of an employment abroad in the following August, and continued, as late as May, 1666, to receive letters from an agent in Germany, who appears to have been employed to send intelligence for the information of some member of the Government here. There exist several letters, dated Cleve, from this person to Locke, then at Oxford; but as they relate to events no longer of any importance, it is unnecessary to give their contents, however amusing the German description of the Coyness and Coquetry of a German Elector and his Minister, on those truly national and interesting questions, soldier-selling and subsidies.

In 1666 an offer of a different nature was made through a friend in Dublin to procure a considerable preferment in the Church from the Duke of Ormond, then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if Locke should be inclined to engage in the clerical profession; and a draft of his answer has been preserved, which will show his conscientious scruples, and the objections which determined him to refuse the advantageous offer then held out to him.

After expressing how much he felt indebted to the kindness of his friend, he proceeds thus:

"The proposals, no question, are very considerable; but consider, a man's affairs and whole course of his life are not to be changed in a moment, and that one is not made fit for a calling, and that in a day. I believe you think me too proud to undertake anything wherein I should acquit myself but unworthily. I am sure I cannot content myself with being undermost, possibly the middlemost of my profession; and you will allow, on consideration, care is to be taken not to engage in a calling, wherein, if one chance to be a bungler, there is no retreat. A person must needs be very quick or inconsiderate, that can on a sudden resolve to transplant himself from a country, affairs, and study, upon probability, which, though your interest there may make you look on as certain, yet my want of fitness may probably disappoint; for certainly something is required on my side. It is not enough for such places to be in orders, and I cannot think that preferment of that nature should be thrown upon a man who has never given any proof of himself, nor ever tried the pulpit. Would you not think it a stranger question, if I were to ask you whether I must be first in these places or in orders; and yet, if you will consider with me, it will not perhaps seem altogether irrational; for should I put myself into orders, and, by the meanness of my abilities, grow unworthy such expectations (for you do not think that divines are now made, as formerly, by inspiration and on a sudden, nor learning caused by laying on of hands), I unavoidably lose all my former study, and put myself into a calling that will not leave me. Were it a profession from whence there were any return-and that, amongst all the occurrences of life, may be very convenient-you would find me with as great forwardness to embrace your proposals, as I now acknowledge them with gratitude. The same considerations have made me a long time reject very advantageous offers of several very considerable friends in England. I cannot now be forward to disgrace you, or any one else, by being lifted into a place which perhaps I cannot fill, and from whence there is no descending without tumbling. If any shame or misfortune attend me, it shall be only mine; and if I am covetous of any good fortune, 't is that one I love may share

it with me. But your great obligation is not the less, because I am not in a condition to receive the effect of it. I return all manner of acknowledgment due to so great a favour, and shall watch all occasions to let you see how sensible I am of it, and to assure you I am," &c. &c.

Had he accepted this offer of preferment; had he risen beyond that middlemost station in the Church, which his own modesty made him assign to himself, and to which his virtues must have condemned him; had he even risen to the highest station in that profession, he might have acquired all the reputation which belongs to a divine of great talents and learning, or the still higher distinction of great moderation, candour, and Christian charity, so rare in a high churchman; but most certainly he would never have attained the name of a great philosopher, who has extended the bounds of human knowledge.

There occurred in the course of Locke's life the choice of three distinct roads to fortune, and perhaps to celebrity, either of which was capable of influencing most powerfully, if not of totally changing, his future destiny. The temptation of considerable preferment in the Church, already mentioned, the practice of physic as a profession, or the opportunity of engaging in diplomatic employments, from which last he seems, by his own account, to have had a narrow escape. It would have been unfortunate for his own renown, had he been swayed by the advantages which at different times were held out to him; it would also have been unfortunate for the progress of knowledge in the world, if he had placed himself under the influence of circumstances so capable of diverting the current of his thoughts, and changing his labours from their proper and most useful destination; namely, the lifting of the veil of error; because an age might have elapsed before the appearance of so bold a searcher after truth.

It appears, from Boyle's General History of the Air, that in 1666 Locke was engaged in experimental philosophy; as he began a register of the state of the air in the month of June of that year, and continued it, with many interruptions, however, and some of very long_continuance, till his final departure from Oxford in 1683. In a letter from Mr Boyle, somewhat earlier than the first printed observations, after praising the industry and curiosity of his correspondent, he

expresses a wish that he should "search into the nature of minerals," and promises to send some sheets of articles of inquiry into mines; and it seems that Locke was at that time much engaged in chemical as well as physical studies.

In the same year, 1666, he first became acquainted with Lord Ashley, afterwards the celebrated Earl of Shaftesbury; and as accidents are frequently said to have the greatest influence in determining the course of men's lives, so, in this instance, the merest accident produced an acquaintance which was afterwards ripened into the closest intimacy, and was the cause of turning his attention to political subjects, and thus materially affected the course of his future life.

Lord Ashley, we are informed, was suffering from an abscess in his breast, the consequence of a fall from his horse; and came to Oxford in order to drink the water of Astrop. He had written to Dr Thomas to procure the waters for him on his arrival at Oxford, but this physician happening to be called away from that place, desired Locke to execute the commission. By some accident, the waters were not ready when Lord Ashley arrived; and Locke waited upon him to apologize for the disappointment occasioned by the fault of the messenger sent to procure them. Lord Ashley received him with great civility, and was not only satisfied with his excuse, but was so much pleased with his conversation, that he desired to improve an acquaintance thus begun by accident, and which afterwards grew into a friendship that continued unchanged to the end of his life.

Lord Ashley, better known as Lord Shaftesbury, was a man of the greatest penetration and genius, to which he united the most engaging manners and address. We may therefore readily believe what Le Clerc tells us, that Locke, on his part, was no less anxious to cultivate the acquaintance of so distinguished a person. If the first services which Locke was enabled to render Lord Ashley were derived from his medical science, his sagacity and talent for business of every kind soon led to the most unreserved confidence; and he continued, during the whole course of his life, through good report and evil report, steadily attached to his patron and his friend; nor will it be denied, that this steadiness of attachment was alike honourable to both. Mr Fox says, that Locke" was probably caught by the splendid qualities