The conduct of the understanding

1825·8.6 MB·English

by  Locke, John, 1632-1704

;
THL
igONDUCT OF THE UNDERSTANDING
fiy JOHN" LOCKE, Esq.
ESSAYS,
MORAL, ECONOMICAL, POLITICAL;
if
Bt FRANCIS BACON,
BABON OF VERULAM, VISCOUNT ST. AlBAN'S, ANOf
LOBD. HIGH CBANCELLOB OF ENGLAND.
WITH SKETCHES OF THE AUTHORS' LIVES.
LONDON
PRFNTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS.
BY J. F. DOVE.
1825.
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JOHN LOCKE
'
Wasbomat Wrington, in Somersetshire, where his
fatherwas a lawyerand steward,Aug.29, 1632. He
received his education at Westminster-school, from
whence he was electedin 1652,to Christ-church, Ox-
ford, wherehehad a studentship, and tookhisdegree
of master of arts in 1658. He then applied to the
studyofphysic,inwhichhegraduatedin1674. TTiough
he did not enterupon regularpractice,his advicewas
oftensolicitedindifficultcases,particularly*bytheearl
of Shafteshury, with whom h* formed a close con-
nexion,and became tutor tohisson. In1675hewent
to France, and, while at Montpelier, paid particular
attentionto theculture of the vine, and the rearing
ofsUk-worms. When lord Shaftesbury withdrew to
Holland, Mr. Locke followed him, for which he was
deprived ofhis student'splace by an order from the
king. Duringhis residence abroadhewrotein Latin
his ' Letteron Toleration,' and printedit at Goudain
1689. He therefamishedalso his ' Essay on the Hu-
man Understanding,'an abridgment ofwhich was in-
serted by Le Clerc in the ' Bibliotheque Universelle.'
Mr. Lockereturnedto England in thesamefleetwith
the prince of Orange, and soon after published his
' Essay,' in folio, which wasfollowed by' Considera-
tionsontheConsequencesofloweringtheInterestand
raisingthe Value ofMoney.* He nowwenttoreside
at Oates,in Essex, the seat of sir Francis Masham,
whoselady, the daughterofDr. Cudworth,entertain-
edforhim the greatestrespect. In 1693hepublished
his 'Thoughts on Education;' andin 1695histreatise
on ' The Reasonableness of Christianity;' which was
attacked by Dr. Edwards, ofCambridge, and defend-
edby Mr. Samuel Bold. But the most powerful as-
sailant ofthis work was bishop Stillingfleet, in reply
to whom our authorwroteseveralletters. Aboutthis
timehe wasappointed one of the commissioners ni
trade andplantations which place, however,he re-
;
signedio 1700. He died at Oates, Oct. 28, 17(t4.
FRANCIS BACON,
Axillustriousphilosopherandstatesman,wastheson
of sir Nicholas Bacon hy his second wife, and born
in London, January 22,1560-1. \Vhenachildhegave
such early indications offuture eminence,thatqueen
Elizabeth u^ed to call him her ' joung chanceilor.'
He w£iseducatedatTrinity-college, Cambridge,under
Dr. (afterward archbishop) Wliitgift, and whileastu-
dent, discoveredthe futility of the peripatetic philo-
sophy, which then preyailed. At the age of sixteen
hewentto Francein the suite of sir Amias Powlet,
ambassadorto that court; and during his residence
therehe wrote apiece. Onthe StateofEurope,which
displayedgreatobservation. OnhisreturntoEngland
he entered of Gray's Inn, and at the age of twenty-
eightwas appointed one of the queen's covmsellors
but by his attachment tothe earl of Essex, who was;
atenmity with Cecil, Bacon lost those advantages at
courtvrliichhe mightotherwisehaveexpected. That
generous,butunfortunatenobleman,however,present-
ed him .'.ith a valuable estate; an act of friendship
which Bacon ill requited by appearing against him
athis trial. Towards the close of queen Elizabeth's
reign he distinguished himself in the house of com-
mons by hisoppositionto the ministry; but his loy-
alty to her majesty was steadfast, and immediately
after her decease he drew up a general view of her
reign, which being communicated to Thuanus, was
made use ofby him in hishistory. On tiie accession
ofJames I. he obtainedthehonourofknighthood,and
in 1G04was appointed one ofthe king's counsel, with
apension. Thenextyearhepublishedhisgreatwork
on 'The Advancement of Learning.' Aboutthistime
hemarriedthedaughterofMr. Bamham,analderman
3fLondon, withwhom he had a handsome fortmie.
In 1007heobtainedtheofficeofsolicitor-general,when
hispracticebecameverymuchextended,which,how-