Notes and Queries, Number 67, February 8, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 67, February 8, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
"After this Cure, Mr. Lock grew so much in esteem with my Grand-Father that
as great a Man as he had experienc'd him in Physick; he look'd upon this
but as his least part. He encourag'd him to turn his Thoughts another way.
Nor would he suffer him to practice Physick except in his own Family and as
a kindness to some particular Friend. He put him upon the studdy of the
Religiouse and Civil affaires of the Nation with whatsoever related to the
Business of a Minister of State: in w^{ch} he was so successfull, that my
G^d Father begun soon to use him as a Friend, and consult with him on all
occasions of that kind. He was not only with him in his Library and Closet,
but in company with the Great Men of those times, the Duke of Buckingham,
Lord Hallifax and others, who being men of Witt and Learning, were as much
taken with him. For together with his seriouse, respectfull and humble
Character, he had a mixture of Pleasantry and a becoming Boldness of
Speech. The Liberty he could take with these great Men was peculiar to such
a Genius as his. A pleasant Instance of it runs in my Mind: tho' perhaps
the relation of it may not be so pleasing to another.
"At an appointed Meeting of two or three of these Great-Men at my G^d
Father's House, more for Entertainment and good company than for Business,
it happen'd that after a few Compliments the Cards were called for, and the
Court-Fashion prevailing, they were engag'd in Play before any Conversation
was begun. Mr. Lock sate by as a spectator for some time. At least taking
out his Table-Book, he began to write something very busily: till being
observd by one of the Lords, and ask'd what he was meditating; My Lords
(sayd he) I am improving my self the best I can in your Company: for,
having impatiently wayted this Honour of being present at such a meeting of
the wisest Men and greatest Witts of the Age, I thought I could not do
better than to write your Conversation: and here I have it, in substance,
all that has pass'd for this hour or two. There was no need of Mr. Lock's
writing much of the Dialogue. The great men felt the ridicule, and took
pleasure in improving it. They quitted their Play, and fell into a
Conversation becoming them: and so passed the remainder of the Day.
"When my G^d Father, from being Chancellor of the Exchequer, was made High
Chancellor (w^{ch} was in the year 1672) he advanc'd Mr. Lock to the Place
of Secretary for the Clergy: and when my G^d Father quitted the Court and
began to be in Danger from it, Mr. Lock now shard with him in Dangers, as
before in Honours & Advantages. He entrusted him with his secretest
negotiations, and made use of his assistant Pen in matters that nearly
concerned the State, and were fitt to be made publick, to raise that spirit
in the Nation which was necessary against the prevailing Popish Party.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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