own dissertation; and that there would come forth an apology for the bookseller by himself within a day or two. The Doctor told me likewise, the Bishop thought Mr Dodwell's opinion was wholly overturned upon this occasion, who founded his hypothesis upon the authenticness and the supposed antiquity of the Epistles of Phalaris. There is also come out Master Gasterell's book, in 8vo, of the Certainty of the Christian Religion, as the second part of his Discourses intended upon Mr Boyle's Lecture; and I doubt not but will argue as much of the reason and judgment of the author as his Sermons on that occasion. I have read over Doctor Bentley's long preface, and a great part of the book, and have just now finished the new piece that is come out against him, exposing his plagiary, ingratitude, and inhumanity, particularly to Mr Stanley, in the edition (as the Doctor calls it himself) of his Callimachus. The bookseller's Vindication, and Letter of Dr King's, and the Judgment of Sir Wm. Temple, &c., are annexed to the end. I do profess, upon second thoughts (which sometimes are best), I think, considering Doctor Bentley's magisterial and supercilious way of treating his adversaries, his hard words, and opprobrious language to Mr Bennet; and, on the other hand, Mr Bennet's manner of justifying himself, and representing the matter in a sober and far less passionate, but more natural, narration of everything, so that his story seemeth the more likely, if not the most true, of the two; and though the Doctor may have both truth and learning on his side, he hath no ways shown the spirit of meekness in reproving, but rather hath made not only his own character but that of his order cheap and * by writing so much and in such a manner to take off little reflections upon his civility and breeding, which he had easier wiped off by slighting and forgetting than answering. * * * I have presumed to communicate to you these accounts, since I have them from immediate hands. I have sent you Mr Leibnitz's letter, consisting of pieces. I shall be glad to receive your orders, if you have anything to charge me with, when you send back the papers, at which time I am to write again to Mr Leibnitz. I did write to him from Oxford, at the same time Dr Wallis received a line from him, which was six weeks ago; and now lately I did write with that gentleman, who is gone to Hanover, but he will expect I should write to him again, since the receipt of this I now send you, wherein (you see) he desires to know what things are unclear in what he did formerly write in the first paper of reflections I sent you. I have not been so well as to write to you sooner, since I had this last letter. To hear of your own health will be the best news to Mr Leibnitz, and to, Sir, your most ready and most obliged "Pall-Mall Street, in London, 17th March, 1699." And humble servant, "Sir, I thought once of sending this packet with Mr Cunningham, who told me at my chambers some days ago he was to go out to you; but now, after waiting longer than his set time, I was resolved to delay no longer. I wish you would indulge him before he leaves you to piece together his proofs of the Christian Religion, that the world may enjoy that light he hath so long promised. You may send back the papers to Mr C., and I shall send for them; or direct them for me at the Two Pigeons, on the east end of the Pall Mall." The following letter from Mr Thomas to Locke was the occasion which led to the acquaintance with Lord Shaftesbury. "MY DEAR FRIEND, "This town is very barren of news, and therefore you must not expect much. The most considerable is, that the Commissions are granted for raising sixteen troops of horse; amongst others to Lord Fairfax, Col. Inglesby, Sir W. Waller, &c. &c. The fleet will set sail the beginning of the next week, if the London be ready, but not without her, as I am now informed by a gentleman of Prince Rupert's, who came yesterday from the fleet, consisting, as he says, of eighty-nine sail, which are ready, and eighteen, or as some say twenty-five, fire-ships, which will be made thirty. After all the great noise of a press, I am informed that not above 2200 were sent from hence to the fleet. The Gazette will inform you of more, which is, the story of Capt. Reeves is true, and the King much troubled at it, and has given orders that the Captain, who was to be exchanged for him, be laid in irons. "I must request one favour of you, which is to send me word by the next opportunity whether you can procure twelve bottles of water for my Lord Ashley, to drink in Oxford Sunday and Monday mornings: if you can possibly do it, you will very much oblige him and me. I have this day spoke with C. Grant, and will give you an account of vipers by my next. I am to-morrow resolved to go for the fleet; however, let me receive a letter by the next opportunity. Your affectionate friend and servant, "Half-Moon Street, Bread Street, 9th July, 1666." DAVID THOMAS." The first of the following letters from Limborch to Locke relates to the Letter for Toleration, published anonymously at Tergou in Holland, with Locke's answer, reproaching his friend for having divulged to others the name of the author of that celebrated publica tion. The other ten letters from Limborch have been selected and printed, because Locke's answers to them have long since been printed in the best editions of his works; and therefore it is presumed that their publication will not be unacceptable, as it will so far make that correspondence complete. "AMPLISSIME VIR, "Postquam tuis postremis respondi, D. Consuli Hadde communicavi quæ de Slado nostro scripsisti, quæ gratissima ipsi erant, omnemque simplici quam exhibes narratione sinistram suspicionem nullo negotio dilui posse videt. De Epitaphio virum illustrem interpellare ausus non fui: res est hic admodum rara, et à nobis negligi solita: omnes quos consului amici dissuadent de re apud nostros exigui admodum momenti compellare Consulem, neque credunt hac in re quicquam suasurum aut dissuasurum hæredibus Sladi. Quare pro more apud nos recepto epitaphio carebit, nisi amici et consanguinei eo propendeant. Verùm id non tam imputandum amicis aliis quàm sorori, mulieri fatuæ, quæ quoniam Sladus absque testamento mortuus est, ex asse hæres est; liberi itaque ejus jam nihil possunt. Male, hac in parte Sladus, cui sororis indoles notissima erat, liberis illius consuluit. Verùm hoc jam mutari nequit. "Accessit me nuperrimè cognatus Guenellon, dixitque se ex D. d'Aranda intellexisse, amicum quendam meum tractatus cujusdam valde hic laudati autorem esse idque fratrem D. d'Aranda ex Anglia scripsisse, quasi rem illic notissimam. Ego mirabar admodum: ille me urgebat, primò an ego autor essem; negavi. Tum porrò, an nescirem amicum illum meum esse autorem ? volui quidem dissimulare: verùm ita ab homine amicissimo prorsus negare non potui. Hactenus autor in patria nostra nulli, nisi mihi uni cognitus fuit : imo nulla, ne levissima quidem de ipso suspicio fuit. Nunc coram homine, et quidem vel indiciis instructo, negare non potui; qui si postea rescivisset merito succensere potuisset, quod hoc de viro etiam ipsi amicissimo, tam pertinaciter dissimulare nedum negare voluerim. Considerans ergo et intiman illius cum autore familiaritatem, coram ipso ac socero ipsius autorem me scire fassus sum: obtestans maximopere, ut eadem fide, quâ alia ipsis ab autore credita, etiam hoc sibi solis concreditum servent, neque ulli divulgent. Ita, quod hactenus uni cognitum fuit, tribus commune factum est. Unitas omnis multiplicationis est expers: sed quamprimùm ab eâ receditur, diversæ fieri possunt multiplicationes. Ego arcanum mihi creditum, quantum possum, servabo; quod à me propalatum non est. Verùm quod nunc inter tres dispersum est, facile inter plures divulgari potest; idque præcavere jam meæ potestatis non est. Verùm si expediat autorem non latere? Nomen illius et plures lectores alliciet et tractatui autoritatem conciliabit. Duo illi quos memoravi viri, audito autoris nomine, majore cum voluptate ejus lectionem repetere voluerunt. Ego singulis exemplar dedi, quod hactenus ausus non fueram; typographus mihi pauca dederat, quia correctioni præfueram. Idem pluribus futuram presagio; non eum credo, licet ego fidem datam sanctissime servem, nunc celari posse, quod pluribus innotuit; et duobus amicis indicavi, quia eos metaphysicâ meâ circumducere non potui, neque veritatem rogatus negare. Verùm de hisce satis. “Hactenus nullum à D. Decano Petroburgensi accepi responsum : sed nec à D. Allix, cui prolixiorem de Albigensium et Valdensium dogmatibus ac ritibus, unde illos duas fuisse diversas sectas constat, scripsi historiam, quam se accepisse ad D. Clericum scripsit: verum verbis ita tectis ut nomen meum exprimere non fuisse ausus videri debeat: commendat quippe D. Clerico, ut scriptori historiæ Albigensium et Valdensium salutem dicat et gratias agat. Nescio quæ tanti timoris causa. An simili metu cohibeatur D. Decanus, cujus mihi amicitiam conciliavit D. Allix, ignoro. Hoc scio Anglorum amicorum neminem ad literas meas declinare responsum. Nuperrime literas à D. Decano Sarisburiensi accepi, eadem qua antea libertate scriptas. Quis viros hosce eruditos scrupulus urgeat, ignoro. "Cum hasce huc usque scripsissem, convenit me amicus noster Cyprianus, qui mihi salutem à te dixit, prosperamque tuam valetudinem nuntiavit. Nihil mihi hoc nuntio gratius: cùm de te tuoque statu ex illis qui tibi adfuerunt audio, quodammodo tibi presens videor, suavissimamque tuam conversationem ac familiaritatem in memoriam revoco, nihilque magis mihi displicet, quàm quod Oceano ab invicem dividamur. Si nunc Cliviæ hæreres, ad te excurrerem, ut eruditissimis tuis sermonibus eadem qua solitus sum voluptate fruerer nunc grata eorum recordatione me oblecto. Interim summo cum gaudio te bene valere intellexi: Deus valetudinem hanc velit esse diuturnam. Furlæum nostrum ex quo ex Anglia rediit, non vidi. Dedit mihi præterita hebdomade D. Remontius literas illius, cui respondi. Opus Sancti Officii adhuc apud me est. Wetstenius adhuc cunctatur, credo ob summam chartæ caritatem. Recepit à te Wetstenius exemplar Actorum Eruditorum anni 1688, quare summa, quam mihi debuisti, detrahendi sunt tres florini nostrates, ita ut solummodo restent f. 35: 8, de quibus me brevi post Pentecostes festum, quando mihi Roterodamum morandum erit, cum Furlæo transacturum spero. De negotio pacificationis ecclesiastica nihil jam audimus: Videtur tota illa transactio sufflaminata, et penitùs abiisse in fumum. Ecclesiæ facili negocio scinduntur; scissæ verò ægerrime coalescunt. Omnes causam Christi et Ecclesiæ prætendunt: sed nisi propriam agerent, iniquas pacis conditiones non præscriberent alíis, nec æquas sibi oblatas respuerent. Deus pacis orandus, ut omnibus eam inspiret mentem, quam sibi quisque vindicat, et in alio requirit. Vale, vir amplissime. Uxor mea liberique plurimam tibi precantur salutem. "Literas tuas 25° datas heri accepi, et perculsus sum legendo ea quæ transacta esse inter te et Doctorem Guenolleonem scribis. Miratus sum, ut fatear, tuam in dicendo facilitatem, et quod aliqui hic non nimis benevolè in me curiosi id ex te expiscari poterant, quod ego in tuto collocatum speraveram. Rumores enim hic ab iisdem orti, cum sine autore spargerentur, nihil me movebant, mox sponte interituri. Quid de iis scissitanti Guenolloni responderim, ex ultimis ad eum literis scire potest. Sed jam te fatente certum nacti sunt autorem. Hoc solum dicam, si tu hujusmodi arcanum meæ commisisses fidei, ego illud nec cognato nec amico nec cuipiam mortalium quavis conditione evulgassem. Nescis in quas res me conjecisti. Quod solum restat, fac, si posses, ut quod tu solus tacere non poteras, id duo alii jam taceant. Quod tamen minimè spero; non dubito enim quin Dr Guenøllon (qui non suâ sponte tam intemperanter in alienâ re fuit curiosus, sed Darandæ instructu), ante harum adventum Darandæ dixerit. Id si perspexeris, nihil tentandum frustra laboraveris. Actum est, nec remedio restat locus. Vale. Tui observantissimus, "VIR AMPLISSIME, J. L." "Literæ tuæ 13 Martii scriptæ demum 17 Maii ad me perlatæ sunt, cum parte versionis doctissimi tui de intellectu humano tractatûs. Ubi tam diu hæserint, incertus sum. Furlæus noster, qui ante paucos (ut audio) dies uxorem suam amisit, has se pridie accepisse scribit. Interim conspectis tuis maxime gavisus sum, quoniam ob diuturnum tuum ac inusitatum silentium mens mihi nescio quid mali præsagiebat. Nunc me omni sollicitudine de te ac tua valetudine tuæ liberarunt. Quid prioribus meis de Verrini literis, quas ispe Verrinus fasciculo chartarum alligavit, acciderit, |