Notes and Queries, Number 67, February 8, 1851 | Page 3

bless it.
"When Mr. Lock first came into the Family, my Father was a youth of about fifteen or sixteen. Him my Grandfather entrusted wholly to Mr. Lock for what remain'd of his Education. He was an only Child, and of no firm Health: w^{ch} induc'd my G^d Father, in concern for his Family to think of marrying him as soon as possible. He was too young and unexperienc'd to chuse a Wife for himself: and my Grandfather too much in Business to chuse one for him. The affair was nice, for tho' my Grandfather requir'd not a great Fortune, he insisted on good Blood, good Person and Constitution, and above all, good Education, and a Character as remote as possible from that of Court- or Town-bred Lady. All this was thrown upon Mr. Lock, who being allready so good Judge of Men, my Grand Father doubted not of his equal {99} Judgment in Women. He departed from him, entrusted and sworn, as Abraham's Head-servant[3] that ruled over all that he had, and went into a far-Country (the North of England) to seek for his Son a Wife whome he as successfully found. Of Her, I and six more of us, Brothers & Sisters, were born; in whose Education Mr. Lock govern'd according to his own Principles (since publishd by him) and with such success that we all of us came to full years, with strong healthy Constitutions: my own the worst; tho' never faulty till of late. I was his more peculiar Charge: being as eldest son, taken by my Grandfather, & bred under his immediate Care: Mr. Lock having the absolute Direction of my Education, and to whome next my immediate Parents as I must own the greatest Obligation, so I have ever preserved the highest Gratitude & Duty.
"I could wish that my Time and Health would permit me to be longer in this Account of my Friend and Foster-Father, Mr. Lock. If I add any thing as you desire, concerning my Grandfather himself, it must have a second place: this being a subject more selfish and in w^{ch} I may justly suspect my self of Partiality: of w^{ch} I would willingly be free: and think I truly am so in this I now send you. But I fear least this (such as it is) should come too late, and therefore hasten to conclude with repeated Assurances of my being your Oblig'd Friend and humble Servant
"SHAFTESBURY.
"P.S. If after what I have said I dare venture a Word to you as to my Grandfather's Apology for the one and only thing I repine at in his whole Life (I mean the unhappy Words you mention delenda est Carthago), It must be this: That the Publick would not insist on this as so ill, and injuriouse; if they considered the English Constitution and manner of those times in w^{ch} the Prince more lofty in Prorogative and at greater distance from his People than now of days, used but a few Words to his Parlement; and committed the rest to his Keepers or Chancellor, to speak his sence for him (as he expresses it in y^e conclusion of his own speech) upon w^{ch} my Grandfather, the then Chancellor, and in his Chancellor's Place[4], spoke of King's sence, as the King's mouth; in y^e same manner as the Speaker of the House of Peers or Commons, speaks the House's sence, as the House's mouth (for so he is esteemd and calld) whatsoever may be his own private sence; or tho' he may have deliver'd his own Opinion far contrary.
"Such was my Grandfather's Call: who was far from delivering his Vote or Opinion in this manner, either as a Councillor or Peer, or in his Place in Parlement: where he carryed on a direct opposite Interest: he being allready in open Enmity with the Duke of York and his Party that carryed on that Warr, in so much that he was at that very time suspected of holding a Correspondence with Holland in favour of the Commonwealth-Party in England. However it be, it is no small Comfort to me that that wise Commonwealth of Holland, the Parent and Nursing-Mother of Liberty, thought him worthy of their Protection when he was a sufferer for the common Cause of Religion and Liberty: and he must ever remain a noble Instance of the Generosity of that State, and of that potent Head of it, y^e City of Amsterdam; where yourself and other Great Men have met with a Reception y^t will redound to their Honour.
"My Grandfather's turning short upon the Court (as[5] Sir William Temple expresses it) had only this plain reason for it; that he discoverd the King to be a Papist, through that disguise of an Esprit fort, w^{ch} was a character his Vices and