ed him from appearing in that character. His case, in this respect, was similar to that of the third earl of Shaftesbury, Mr. Addison, and other ingenious men. Dr. Johnson
On the 10th of February 1743-4, Mr. Browne married
Jane, daughter of the rev. Dr. David Trimnell, archdeacon of Leicester, and precentor of Lincoln, and niece to
the right rev. Dr. Charles Trimnell, bishop of Winchester,
a woman of great merit, and of a very amiable temper.
He was chosen twice to serve in parliament; first upon a
vacancy in December 1744, and then at the general election in 1748, for the borough of Wenlock in Shropshire,
near to which his estate lay. This was principally owing
to the interest of William Forester, esq. a gentleman of
great fortune and ancient family in Shropshire, who recommended Mr. Browne to the electors, from the opinion
he entertained of his abilities, and the confidence he had
in his integrity and principles. As Mr. Browne had obtained his seat in parliament without opposition or expence, and without laying himself under obligations to
any party, he never made use of it to interested or ambitious purposes. The principles, indeed, in which he had
been educated, and which were confirmed by reading and
experience, and the good opinion he had conceived of
Mr. Pelham’s administration, led him usually to support
the measures of government; but he never received any
favour, nor desired any employment. He saw with great
concern the dangers arising from parliamentary influence,
and was determined that no personal consideration should
biass his public conduct. The love of his country, and an
ardent zeal for its constitution and liberties, formed a
distinguishing part of his character. In private conversation, Mr. Browne possessed so uncommon a degree of
eloquence, that he was the admiration and delight of all
who knew him. It must, therefore, have been expected
that he should have shone in the house of commons, as a
public speaker. But he had a modesty and delicacy about
him, accompanied with a kind of nervous timidity, which
prevented him from appearing in that character. His case,
in this respect, was similar to that of the third earl of
Shaftesbury, Mr. Addison, and other ingenious men. Dr.
Johnson said of him, “I. H. Browne, one of the first witsof this country, got into parliament, and never opened hismouth.
”
om Lewis XIV. was indebted for the greatest part of his military glory. His speech, addressed to the earl of Shaftesbury, in vindication of his father, was universally
, earl of Ossory, son of the former,
was born in the castle of Kilkenny, July 9, 1634. He
distinguished himself by a noble bravery, united to the
greatest gentleness and modesty, which very early excited
the jealousy of Cromwell, who committed him to the
Tower; where, falling ill of a fever, after being confined
near eight months, he was discharged. He afterwards
went over to Flanders, and on the restoration attended the
king to England; and from being appointed colonel of foot
in Ireland, was raised to the rank of lieutenant-general of
the army in that kingdom. On the 14th of September
1666, he was summoned by writ to the English house of
lords, by the title of lord Butler, of Moore-park. The
same year, being at Euston in Suffolk, he happened to
hear the firing of guns at sea, in the famous battle with
the Dutch that began the 1st of June. He instantly prepared to go on board the fleet, where he arrived on the
3d of that month; and had the satisfaction of informing
the duke of ^Ibemarle, that prince Rupert was hastening
to join him. He had his share in the glorious actions of
that and the succeeding day. His reputation was much
increased by his behaviour in the engagement off Southwold Bay. In 1673 he was successively made rear-admiral
of the blue and the red squadrons; and on the 10th of
September, the same year, was appointed admiral of the
whole fleet, during the absence of prince Rupert. In
1677 he commanded the English troops in the service of
the prince of Orange; and at the battle ojf Mons contributed greatly to the retreat of marshal Luxemburg, to
whom Lewis XIV. was indebted for the greatest part of his
military glory. His speech, addressed to the earl of
Shaftesbury, in vindication of his father, was universally
admired: it even confounded that intrepid orator, who
was in the senate what the earl of Ossory was in the field.
He died July 30, 1680, aged forty-six. The duke of Ormond his father said, “he would not exchange his dead
son for any living son in Christendom.
”
While Anthony earl of Shaftesbury was lord chancellor, he nominated Collins, in
While Anthony earl of Shaftesbury was lord chancellor, he nominated Collins, in divers references concerning suits depending in chancery about intricate accounts, to assist in the stating thereof. From this time his talents were in request in other places, and by other persons; by which he acquired, says Wood, some wealth and much fame, and became accounted, in matters of that nature, the most useful and necessary person of his time; and in the latter part of his life, he was made accomptant to the royal fishery company. In 1682, after the act at Oxford was finished, he rode from thence to Malmesbury in Wiltshire, in order to view the ground to be cut for a river between the Isis and the Avon; but drinking too freely of cyder, when over-heated, he fell into a consumption, of which he died Nov. 10, 1683. About twenty-five years after his death, all his papers and most of his books came into the hands of the learned and ingenious William Jones, esq. fellow of the Royal Society, and father to the more celebrated sir Wm. Jones; among which were found manuscripts upon mathematical subjects of Briggs, Oughtred, Pell, Scarborough, Barrow, and Newton, with a multitude of letters received from, and copies of letters sent to, many learned persons, particularly Pell, Wallis, Barrow, Newton, James Gregory, Flamstead, Towniey, Baker, Barker, Branker, Bernard, Slusius, Leibnitz, Ischirphaus, father Bertet, and others. From these papers it is evident, that Collins held a constant correspondence for many years with all the eminent mathematicians of his time, and spared neither pains nor cost to procure what was requisite to promote real science. Many of the late discoveries in physical knowledge, if not actually made, were yet brought about by his endeavours. Thus, in 1666, he had under consideration the manner of dividing the meridian line on the true nautical chart; a problem of the utmost consequence in navigation: and some time after he engaged Mercator, Gregory, Barrow, Newton, and Wallis, severally, to explain and find an easy practical method of doing it; which excited Leibnitz, Halley, Bernoulli, and all who had capacity to think upon, such a subject, to give their solutions of it: and by this means the practice of that most useful proposition is reduced to the greatest simplicity imaginable. He employed some of the same persons upon the shortening and facilitating the method of computations by logarithms, till at last that whole affair was completed by Halley. It was Collins who engaged all that were able to make any advances in the sciences, in a strict inquiry into the several parts of learning, for which each had a peculiar talent; and assisted them by shewing where the defect was in any useful branch of knowledge; by pointing out the difficulties attending such an inquiry; by setting forth the advantages of completing that subject; and lastly, by keeping up the spirit of research and improvement.
, earl of Shaftesbury, an eminent statesman of very dubious character,
, earl of Shaftesbury, an
eminent statesman of very dubious character, was son of
sir John Cooper, of llockborn in the county of Southampton, bart. by Anne, daughter of sir Anthony Ashley of Winborne St. Giles in the county of Dorset, bart. where he
was born July 22, 1621. Being a boy of uncommon parts,
he was sent to Oxford at the age of fifteen, and admitted
a gentleman commoner of Exeter college, under Dr. John
Prideaux, the rector of it. He is said to have studied hard
there for about two years; and then removed to Lincoln’s
inn, where he applied himself with great vigour to the law,
and especially that part of it which related to the constitution of the kingdom. He was elected for Tewksbury in
Gloucestershire, in the parliament which met at Westminster, April 13, 1640, but was soon dissolved. He seems
to have been well affected to the king’s service at the beginning of the civil war: for he repaired to the king at
Oxford, offered his assistance, and projected a scheme,
not for subduing or conquering his country, but for reducing such as had either deserted or mistaken their duty
to his majesty’s obedience. He was afterwards invited to
Oxford by a letter from his majesty; but, perceiving that
he was not in confidence, that ins behaviour was disliked,
and his person in danger, he retired into the parliament
quarters, and soon after went up to London, where he was
well received by that party “to which,
” says Clarendon,
“he gave himself up body and soul.
” He accepted a
commission from the parliament and, raising forces, took
Wareham by storm, October 1644, and soon after reduced
all the adjacent parts of Dorsetshire. This, and some other
actions of the same nature, induced the above-mentioned
historian to say that he “became an implacable enemy to
the royal family.
” The next year he was sheriff of Wiltshire, in 1651 he was of the committee of twenty, appointed to consider of ways and means for reforming the
law. He was also one of the members of the convention
that met after Cromwell had turned out the long parliament. He was again a member of parliament in 1654, and
one of the principal persons who signed that famous protestation, charging the protector with tyranny and arbitrary
government; and he always opposed the illegal measures
of that usurper to the utmost. When the protector Richard
was deposed, and the Rump came again into power, they
nominated sir Anthony one of their council of state, and a
commissioner for managing the army. He was at that very
time engaged in a secret correspondence with the friends
of Charles II. and greatiy instrumental in promoting his
restoration; which brought him into peril of his life with
the powers then in being. He was returned a member for
Dorsetshire, in that which was called the healing parliament, which sat in April 1660; and a resolution being
taken to restore the constitution, he was named one of the
twelve members of the house of commons to carry their
invitation to the king. It was in performing this service
that he had the misfortune to be overturned in a carriage
upon a Dutch road, by which he received a dangerous
wound between the ribs, which ulcerated many years after,
and was opened when he was chancellor.
county of Dorset; and, April 23, 1672, created baron Cooper of Pawlet in the county of Somerset, and earl of Shaftesbury. November 4 following, he was raised to the post
Upon the king’s coming over he was sworn of his majesty’s most honourable privy-council. He was also one of
the commissioners for the trial of the regicides; and though
the Oxford historian is very severe on him on this occasion,
yet his advocates are very desirous of proving that he was
not any way concerned in betraying or shedding the blood
of his sovereign. By letters patent, dated April 20, 1661,
he was created barou Ashley of Winborne St. Giles; soon
after made chancellor and nnder-treasurer of the exchequer, and then one of the lords commissioners for executing the office of high-treasurer. He was afterwards
made lord lieutenant of the county of Dorset; and, April
23, 1672, created baron Cooper of Pawlet in the county of
Somerset, and earl of Shaftesbury. November 4 following, he was raised to the post of lord high chancellor of
England. He shone particularly in his speeches in parliament; and, if we judge only from those which he made
upon swearing in the treasurer Clifford, his successor sir
Thomas Osborne, and baron Thurland, we must conclude
him to have been a very accomplished orator. The short
time he was at the helm was a season of storms and tempests; and it is but doing him justice to say that they
could not either affright or distract him. November 9, 1673,
he resigned the great seal under very singular circumstances. Soon after the breaking up of the parliament, as
Echard relates, the earl was sent for on Sunday morning
to court; as was also sir Heneage Finch, attorney-general,
to whom the seals were promised. As soon as the earl
came he retired with the king into the closet, while the
prevailing party waited in triumph to see him return without the purse. His lordship being alone with the king,
said, “Sir, I know you intend to give the seals to the attorney-general, but 1 am sure your majesty never intended
to dismiss me with contempt.
” The king, who could not
do an ill-natured thing, replied, “Gods fish, my lord, I
will not do it with any circumstance that may look like an
affront.
” “Then, sir,
” said the earl, “I desire your majesty will permit me to carry the seals before you to chapel, and send for them afterwards from my house.
” To
this his majesty readily consented; and the earl entertained the king with news and diverting stories till the very
minute he was to go to chapel, purposely to amuse the
courtiers and his successor, who he believed was upon the
rack for fear he should prevail upon the king to change
his mind. The king and the earl came out of the closet
talking together and smiling, and went together to chapel,
which greatly surprised, them all: and some ran immediately to tell the duke of York, that all his measures were
broken. After sermon the earl went home with the seals,
and that evening the king gave them to the attorneygeneral.
asurer, Danby, introduced the test-bill into the house of lords, which was vigorously opposed by the earl of Shaftesbury; who, if we may believe Burnet, distinguished
After he had thus quitted the court, he continued to make a great figure in parliament: his abilities enabled him to shine, and he was not of a nature to rest. In 1675, the treasurer, Danby, introduced the test-bill into the house of lords, which was vigorously opposed by the earl of Shaftesbury; who, if we may believe Burnet, distinguished himself more in this session than ever he had done before. This dispute occasioned a prorogation; and there ensued a recess of fifteen months. When the parliament met again, Feb. 16, 1677, the duke of Buckingham argued, that it ought to be considered as dissolved: the earl of Shaftesbury was of the same opinion, and maintained it with so much warmth, that, together with the duke before mentioned, the earl of Salisbury, and the lord Wharton, he was sent to the Tower, where he continued thirteen, mouths, though the other lords, upon their submission, were immediately discharged. When he was set at liberty he conducted the opposition to the earl of Danby' s administration with such vigour and dexterity, that it was found impossible to do any thing effectually in parliament, without changing the system which then prevailed. The king, who desired nothing so much as to be easy, resolved to make a change; dismissed all the privy-council at once, and formed a new one. This was declared April 21, 1679; and at the same time the earl of Shaftesbury was appointed lord president. He did not hold this employment longer than October the fifth following. He had drawn upon himself the implacable hatred of the duke of York, by steadily promoting, if not originally inventing, the project of an exclusion bill: and therefore the duke’s party was constantly at work against him. Upon the king’s summoning a parliament to meet at Oxford, March 21, 1681, he joined with several lords in a petition to prevent its meeting there, which, however, failed of success. He was present at that parliament, and strenuously supported the exclusion bill: but the duke soon contrived to make him feel the weight of his resentment. For his lordship was apprehended for high treason, July 2, 1681; and, after being examined by his majesty in council, was committed to the Tower, where he remained upwards of four months. He was at length tried, acquitted, and discharged; yet did not think himself safe, as his enemies were now in the zenith of their power. He thought it high time therefore to seek for some place of retirement, where, being out of their reach, he might wear out the small remainder of his life in peace. It was with this view, November 1682, he embarked for Holland; and arriving safely at Amsterdam, after a dangerous voyage, he took a house there, proposing to live in a manner suitable to his quality. He was visited by persons of the first distinction, and treated with all the deference and respect he could desire. But being soon seized by his old distemper, the gout, it immediately flew into his stomach, and became mortal, so that he expired Jan. 22, 1683, in his 62d year. His body was transported to England, and interred with his ancestors at Winbprne; and in 1732, a noble monument, with a large inscription, was erected by Anthony earl of Shaftesbury, his great grandson.
eeable to the public and to the noble family to see related. It is well known with what severity the earl of Shaftesbury’s character is treated by Dryden, in his Absalom
For the loss which was occasioned by Mr. Locke’s timidity
or prudence, he was solicitous to make some degree of
reparation. Accordingly, he formed an intention of writing, at large, the history of his noble friend; and if he
had accomplished his intention, his work would undoubtedly
have been a very valuable present to the public. But
there was another biographer, who wrote a life of the earl,
soon after his decease. This was Thomas Stringer, esq. of
Ivy church, near Salisbury, a gentleman of great integrity
and excellent character; who had held, we believe, under
his lordship, when high-chancellor of England, the office
of clerk of the presentations; and who was much esteemed
by some of the principal persons of the age. With Mr.
Locke in particular, he maintained an intimate friendship
to the time of his death, which happened in 1702. Mr.
Stringer’s account has been the ground-work on which the
narrative intended for the public eye, by the noble family,
has been built. It contained a valuable history of the earl’s
life; but was probably much inferior in composition to
what Mr. Locke’s would have been; and indeed, in its
original form, it was too imperfect for publication. Sometime about the year 1732, this manuscript, together with
the rest of the Shaftesbury papers, was put into the hands
of Mr. Benjamin Marty n, a gentleman who was then known
in the literary world, in consequence of having written a
tragedy, entitled “Timoleoh,
” which had been acted with
success at the theatre royal in Drury-lane. Mr. Martyn
made Mr. Stringer’s manuscript the basis of his own work,
which he enriched with such speeches of the earl as are
yet remaining, and with several particulars drawn from
some loose papers left by his lordship. He availed himself, likewise, of other means of information, which more
recent publications had afforded; and prefixed to the
whole an introduction of considerable length, wherein he
passed very high encomiums on our great statesman, and
strengthened them by the testimonies of Mr. Locke and
Mons. Le Clerc. He added, also, strictures on L' Estrange,
sir William Temple, bishop Burnet, and others, who had
written to his lordship’s disadvantage. One anecdote,
which we well remember, it cannot but be agreeable to
the public and to the noble family to see related. It is
well known with what severity the earl of Shaftesbury’s
character is treated by Dryden, in his Absalom and Achitophel. Nevertheless, soon after that fine satire appeared,
his lordship having the nomination of a scholar, as governor
of the Charter-house, gave it to one of the poet’s sons,
without any solicitation on the part of the father, or of any
other person. This act of generosity had such an effect
upon IXryden, that, to testify his gratitude, he added, in
the second edition of the poem, the four following lines,
in celebration of the earl’s conduct as lord chancellor.
Notwithstanding the pains that had been taken by Mr. Marty n, the late earl of Shaftesbury did not think the work sufficiently finished
Notwithstanding the pains that had been taken by Mr. Marty n, the late earl of Shaftesbury did not think the work sufficiently finished for publication; and, therefore, somewhat more than twenty years ago, he put it into the hands of his friend Dr. Gregory Sharpe, master of the temple. All, however, that Dr. Sharpe performed, was to recommend it to the care of a gentleman, who examined Mr. Martyn’s manuscript with attention, pointed out its errors, made references, and suggested a number of instances in which it might be improved, but did not proceed much farther in the undertaking. At length, the work was consigned to another person, who spent considerable labour upon it, enlarged it by a variety of additions, and had it in contemplation to avail himself of every degree of information which might render it a correct history of the time, as well as a narrative of the life of lord Shaftesbury. The reasons (not unfriendly on either side) which prevented the person now mentioned from completing his design, and occasioned him to return the papers to the noble family, are not of sufficient consequence to be here, related. Whether the work is likely soon to appear, it is not in our power to ascertain.
, earl of Shaftesbury, the celebrated author of the Characteristics,
, earl of Shaftesbury, the
celebrated author of the Characteristics, was born Feb. 26,
1671, at Exeter-house in London. His father was Anthony earl of Shaftesbury; his mother lady Dorothy Manners, daughter of John earl of Rutland. He was born in
the house of his grandfather Anthony first earl of Shaftesbury, and chancellor of England, of whom we have spoken
in the preceding article; who was fond of him from his
birth, and undertook the care of his education. He pursued almost the same method in teaching him the learned
languages, as Montaigne’s father did in teaching his son
Latin: that is, he placed a person about him, who was so
thoroughly versed in the Greek and Latin tongues, as to
speak either of them with the greatest fluency. This person was a female, a Mrs. Birch, the daughter of a schoolmaster in Oxfordshire or Berkshire; and a woman who
could execute so extraordinary a task, deserves to have
her name recorded with honour among the learned ladies of
England. By this means lord Shaftesbury made so great
a progress, that he could read both these languages with
ease when but eleven years old. At that age he was sent
by his grandfather to a private school; and in 1683 was
removed to Winchester school, but such was the influence
of party-spirit at the time, that he was insulted for his
grandfather’s sake, by his companions, which made his
situation so disagreeable, that he begged his father to consent to his going abroad. Accordingly he began his travels
in 1686, and spent a considerable time in Italy, where he
acquired great knowledge in the polite arts. This knowledge is very visible through all his writings; that of the
art of painting is more particularly so, from the treatise he
composed upon “The Judgement of Hercules.
” He made
it his endeavour, while he was abroad, to improve himself
as much as possible in every accomplishment; for which
reason he did not greatly affect the company of other English gentlemen upon their travels; and he was remarkable
for speaking French so readily, and with so good an accent,
that in France he was often taken for a native.
Soon after he returned to England, he became earl of Shaftesbury; but did not attend the house of lords, till
Soon after he returned to England, he became earl of Shaftesbury; but did not attend the house of lords, till his friend lord Somers sent a messenger to acquaint him with the business of the partition treaty, February 1701. On this he immediately went post to London; and though, when lord Somers’s letter was brought to him, he was beyond Briclgwater in Somersetshire, and his constitution was ill calculated for any extraordinary fatigue, he travelled with such speed, that he was in the house of peers on the following day, exhibiting an instance of dispatch, which at that time was less easy to be performed than it is at present. During the remainder of the session, he attended his parliamentary duty as much as his health would permit, being earnest to support the measures of king William, who was then engaged in forming the grand alliance. Nothing, in the earl of Shaftesbury’s judgment, could more effectually assist that glorious undertaking, than the choice of a good parliament. He used, therefore, his utmost efforts to facilitate the design; and such was his success, upon the election of a new house of commons (parties at that crisis being nearly on an equality), that his majesty told him he had turned the scale. So high was the opinion which the king had formed of the earl’s abilities and character, that an offer was made him of being appointed secretary of state. This, however, his declining constitution would not permit him to accept; but, although he was disabled from engaging in the course of official business, he was capable of giving advice to his majesty, who frequently consulted him on affairs of the highest importance. Nay, it is understood that he had a great share in composing that celebrated last speech of king William, which was delivered on the 31st of December, 1701.
of Lee in Hertfordshire; to whom he was related, and by whom he had an only son, Anthony the fourth earl of Shaftesbury. From his correspondence, it does not appear
In the beginning of the year after, viz. 1703, he made a
second journey to Holland, and returned to England in
the end of the year following. The French prophets soon
after having by their enthusiastic extravagances created
much disturbance throughout the nation, among the different opinions as to the methods of suppressing them, some
advised a prosecution. But lord Shaftesbury, who abhorred any step which looked like persecution, apprehended that such measures tended rather to inflame than
to cure the disease: and this occasioned his “Letter concerning Enthusiasm,
” which he published in Moralists, a philosophical
rhapsody:
” and, in May following, his “Sensus communis,
or an essay upon the freedom of wit and humour.
” The
same year he married Mrs. Jane Ewer, youngest daughter
of Thomas Ewer, esq. of Lee in Hertfordshire; to whom
he was related, and by whom he had an only son, Anthony
the fourth earl of Shaftesbury. From his correspondence,
it does not appear that he had any very extraordinary attachment to this lady, or that the match added much to
his happiness, which some have attributed to a disappointment in a previous attachment. In 1710, his “Soliloquy,
or advice to an author,
” was printed. In
noble lord to a young man at the university:” and, in 1721, Toland published “Letters from the late earl of Shaftesbury to Robert Molesworth, esq.” Lord Shaftesbury
The only pieces which he finished, after he came to
Naples, were, “The Judgement of Hercules,
” and the
“Letter concerning Design;
” which last was first published
in the edition of the Characteristics, 1732. The rest of
his time he employed in arranging his writings for a more
elegant edition. The several prints, then first interspersed
through the work, were all invented by himself, and designed under his immediate inspection: and he was at the
pains of drawing up a most accurate set of instructions for
this purpose, which are still extant in manuscript. In the
three volumes of the Characteristics, he completed the
whole of his writings which he intended should be made
public. The first edition was published in 1711; but the
more complete and elegant edition, which has been the
standard of all editions since, was not published till 1713,
immediately after his death. But though lord Shaftesbury intended nothing more for the public, yet, in 1716,
some of his letters were printed under the title of “Several
Letters written by a noble lord to a young man at the university:
” and, in Letters from
the late earl of Shaftesbury to Robert Molesworth, esq.
”
Lord Shaftesbury is said to have had an esteem for such of
our divines (though he treated the order very severely in general) as explained Christianity most conformably to his
own principles; and it was under his particular inspection,
and with a preface of his own writing, that a volume of
Whichcot’s sermons was published in 1698, from copies
taken in short hand, as they were delivered from the pulpit. This curious fact was some years ago ascertained on
the authority of Dr. Huntingford, the present bishop of
Gloucester, who had his information from James Harris,
esq. of Salisbury, son to a sister of the earl of Shaftesbury.
Her brother dictated the preface to this lady, and it is
certainly a proof that he had at least a general belief in
Christianity, and a high respect for many of the divines of
his time, and particularly for Whichcot. Dr. Huntingford’s account was communicated to the last edition of the
Biographia Britannica; and in a copy of this volume of
sermons now before us, the same is written on the fly leaf,
as communicated by Dr. Huntingford to the then owner of
the volume, the late Dr. Chelsum.
er the characters of Absalom, Achitophel, David and Zimri, are represented the duke of Monmouth, the earl of Shaftesbury, king Charles, and the duke of Buckingham. There
In 16S1 he published his Absalom and Achitophel. This
celebrated poem, which was at first printed without the
author’s name, is a severe satire on the contrivers and
abettors of the rebellion against Charles II. under the duke
of Monmouth; and, under the characters of Absalom,
Achitophel, David and Zimri, are represented the duke
of Monmouth, the earl of Shaftesbury, king Charles, and
the duke of Buckingham. There are two translations of
this poem into Latin; one by Dr. Coward, a physician of
Merton college in Oxford; another by Mr. Atterbury,
afterwards bishop of Rochester, both published in 1682,
4to. Dryden left the story unfinished; and the reason
he gives for so doing was, because he could not prevail
with himself to shew Absalom unfortunate. “Were I the
inventor,
” says he, “who am only the historian, I should
certainly conclude the piece with the reconcilement of
Absalom to David. And who knows, but this may come
to pass? Things were not brought to extremity, where I
left the story: there seems yet to be room left for a composure: hereafter, there may be only for pity. I have
not so much as an uncharitable wish against Achitophel;
but am content to be accused of a good-natured error, and
to hope with Origen, that the devil himself may at last be
saved. For which reason, in this poem, he is neither
brought to set his house in order, nor to dispose of his
person afterwards.
” A second part of Absalom and Achitophel was undertaken and written by Tate, at the request
and under the direction of Dryden, who wrote near 200
lines of it himself.
ition. This poem was occasioned by the striking of a medal, on account of the indictment against the earl of Shaftesbury for high-treason being found ignoramus by the
The same year, 1681, he published his Medal, a satire
against sedition. This poem was occasioned by the
striking of a medal, on account of the indictment against
the earl of Shaftesbury for high-treason being found ignoramus by the grand jury at the Old Bailey, November
1611, for which the whig-party made great rejoicings by
ringing of bells, bonfires, &c. in all parts of London. The
whole poem is a severe invective against the earl of
Shaftesbury and the whigs to whom the author addresses
himself, ina satirical epistle prefixed to it, thus “I have
one favour to desire of you at parting, that, when you
think of answering this poem, you would employ the same
pens against it, who have combated with so much success
against Absalom and Achitophel; for then you may assure
yourselves of a clear victory without the least reply. Rail
at me abundantly; and, not to break a custom, do it without wit. If God has not blessed you with the talent of
rhyming, make use of my poor stock and welcome: let
your verses run upon my feet; and for the utmost refuge
of notorious blockheads, reduced to the last extremity of
sense, turn my own lines upon me, and, in utter despair
of your own satire, make me satirize myself.
” Settle
wrote an answer to this poem, entitled “The Medal reversed;
” and is erroneously said to have written a poem
called “Azariah and Hushal,
” against “Absalom and
Achitophel.
” This last was the production of one Pordage,
a dramatic writer. In 1682, Dryden published a poem,
called “Religio Laici; or, the Layman’s Faith.
” This
piece is intended as a defence of revealed religion, and of
the excellency and authority of the scriptures, as the only
rule of faith and manners, against deists, papists, and presbyterians. The author tells us in the preface, that it was
written for an ingenious young gentleman, his friend, upon
his translation of father Simon’s “Critical History of the
Old Testament.
” In October of this year, he also published his Mac Flecnoe, an exquisite satire against the poet
Shad well.
Bees, and some incidental remarks upon an Inquiry concerning Virtue, by the right honourable Anthony earl of Shaftesbury,” 1724, 8vo. In his preface, he defends some,
The great encouragement which the life of Wolsey obtained, prompted Fiddes to undertake the lives of sir Thomas More and bishop Fisher: but when he had gone through
a great part of this work, he lost his manuscript. He
published, 6. “A general treatise of Morality, formed upon
the principles of Natural Reason only; with a preface in
answer to two essays lately published in the Fable of the
Bees, and some incidental remarks upon an Inquiry concerning Virtue, by the right honourable Anthony earl of
Shaftesbury,
” Search
into the Nature of Society;
” and afterwards vindicates Dr.
Kadcliffe from the aspersions of the same author, on account of his benefactions to the university of Oxford. 7.
“A Preparative to the Lord’s Supper.
” 8. “A Letter in
answer to one from a Freethinker, occasioned by the late
duke of Buckingham’s epitaph: wherein certain passages
in it that have been thought exceptionable are vindicated,
and the doctrine of the soul’s immortality asserted. To
which is prefixed, a version of the epitaph, agreeably to the
explication given of it in the Answer;
” in
Close of Salisbury, by his second wife the lady Elizabeth Ashley, who was third daughter of Anthony earl of Shaftesbury, and sister to the celebrated author of the
, esq. an English gentleman of very uncommon parts and learning, was the eldest son of James Harris, esq. of the Close of Salisbury, by his second wife the lady Elizabeth Ashley, who was third daughter of Anthony earl of Shaftesbury, and sister to the celebrated author of the Characteristics, as well as to the Hon. Maurice Ashley Cooper, the elegant translator of Xenophon’s Cyropaedia. He was born July 20, 1709. The early part of his education was received at Salisbury, under the rev. Mr. Hele, master of the grammar-school, in the Close, who was long known and respected in the West of England as an instructor of youth. From Mr. Hele’s school, at the age of sixteen, he was removed to Oxford, where he passed the usual number of years as a gentleman commoner of Wadham college. His father, as soon as he had finished his academical studies, entered him at Lincoln’s-Inn, not intending him for the bar, but, as was then a common practice, meaning to make the study of the law a part of his education.
hat the “Letter on Enthusiasm” had been ascribed to Swift, as it has still more commonly been to the earl of Shaftesbury. In 1710 he was appointed governor of New York,
, author of the celebrated
“Letter on Enthusiasm,
” and, if Coxeter be right in his
ms conjecture in his title-page of the only copy extant,
of a farce called “Androboros.
” He was appointed lieutenant-governor of Virginia in 1708, but was taken by the
French in his voyage thither. Two excellent letters, addressed to colonel Hunter while a prisoner at Paris, which
reflect equal honour on Hunter and Swift, are printed in
the 12th volume of the Dean’s works, by one of which it
appears, that the “Letter on Enthusiasm
” had been
ascribed to Swift, as it has still more commonly been to
the earl of Shaftesbury. In 1710 he was appointed governor of New York, and sent with 2700 Palatines to settle
there. From Mr. Cough’s “History of Croyland Abbey,
”
we learn, that Mr. Hunter was a major-general, and that,
during his government of New-York, he was directed by
her majesty to provide subsistence for about 3000 Palatine?
(the number stated in the alienating act) sent from Great
Britain to be employed in raising and manufacturing naval
stores; and by an account stated in 1734, it appears that
the governor had disbursed 20,000l. and upwards in that
undertaking, no part of which was ever repaid. He returned to England in 1719; and on the accession of
George II. was continued governor of New York and the
Jerseys. On account of his health he obtained the government of Jamaica, where he arrived in February 1728;
died March 31, 1734; and was buried in that island.
t of natural philosophy. While at Oxford, in 1666, he became acquainted with lord Ashley, afterwards earl of Shaftesbury, and that in the character of a medical practitioner.
In 1664, sir William Swan being appointed envoy from the English court to the elector of Brandenburgh, and some other German princes, Mr. Locke attended him as his secretary, but returned to England within the year, and applied himself again with great vigour to his studies, and particularly to that of natural philosophy. While at Oxford, in 1666, he became acquainted with lord Ashley, afterwards earl of Shaftesbury, and that in the character of a medical practitioner. Lord Ashley by a fall had hurt his breast in such a manner, that there was an abscess formed in it, and being advised to drink the mineral waters at Astrop, wrote to Dr. Thomas, a physician at Oxford, to procure a quantity of those waters, which might be ready on his arrival. Dr. Thomas, being obliged to be absent from Oxford at that time, desired his friend Mr. Locke to execute this commission. By some accident or neglect, the waters were not ready the day after lord Ashley’s arrival, and Mr. Locke thought it his duty to wait on his lordship to make an apology, which he received with his usual civility, and was so pleased with Locke’s conversation as to detain him to supper, and engaged him to dine with him next day, that he might have the more of his company. And when his lordship left Oxford to go to Surinirig-hill, where he drank the waters, he made Mr. Locke promise to come thither, as he did in the summer of 1667. Lord Ashley afterwards returned, and obliged him to promise that he would come and lodge at his house. Mr. Locke accordingly went thither, and though not a regular practitioner, his lordship confided entirely in his advice, with regard to the operation, which was to be performed by opening the abscess in his breast, and which saved his life, though it never closed.
Paris, where he was introduced to various men of letters. In 1679 he was recalled to London, on the earl of Shaftesbury’s having regained his favour at court and been
In 1675, Mr. Locke travelled into France on account of
his health, and at Montpelier became first acquainted with
Mr. Herbert, afterwards earl of Pembroke, to whom he
dedicated his “Essay on Human Understanding.
” From
Montpelier he went to Paris, where he was introduced to
various men of letters. In 1679 he was recalled to London, on the earl of Shaftesbury’s having regained his
favour at court and been made president of the council, but
this was of short duration. The earl lost his place in a few
months, for refusing to comply with the designs of the
Court, which aimed at the establishment of popery and
arbitrary power; attd having incurred the implacable hatred
of the duke of York, on account of his supporting the exclusion-bill, he was, in 1681, committed to the lower,
and although acquitted upon trial, thought it most safe to
retire to Holland, where he died in 1683. Mr. Locke, also
thinking himself not quite secure in England, followed his
lordship to Holland, and was introduced to many of the
learned men of Amsterdam, particularly 1 anborrh, and
Le Clerc, whose intimacy and friendship he preserved
throughout life.
ublic and private, discourses have been purposely introduced to the disparagement of his master, the earl of Shaftesbury, his party and designs, he never could be provoked
During his residence in Holland, he was accused at
court of having written certain tracts against the government of his country, which were afterwards discovered to
be the production of another person; and upon that suspicion he was deprived of his studentship of Christ-church.
This part of Mr. Locke’s history requires some detail.
The writer of his life in the Biographia Britannica (Nicoll)
says that “being observed to join in company with several
English malcontents at the Hague, this conduct was communicated by our resident there to the earl of Sunderland,
then secretary of state; who acquainting the king therewith, his majesty ordered the proper methods to be taken
for expelling him from the college, and application to be
made for that purpose to bishop Fell, the dean; in obedience to this command, the necessary information was given
by his lordship, who at the same time wrote to our author, to
appear and answer for himself on the first of January ensuing,
but immediately receiving an express command to turn him
out, was obliged to comply therewith, and, accordingly,
Air. Locke was removed from his student’s place on the
15th of Nov. 1684.
” This account, however, is not correct. All that lord Sunderland did, was to impart his majesty’s displeasure to the dean, and to request his opinion
as to the proper method of removing Mr. Locke. The
dean’s answer, dated Nov. 8, contains the following particulars of Mr. Locke, and of his own advice and proceedings against him. “I have,
” says the dean, “for divers
years had an eye upon him; but so close has his guard
been on himself, that after several strict inquiries, I may
confidently affirm there is not any man inthe college,
however familiar with him, who had heard him speak a
word either against or so much as concerning the government; and although very frequently, both in public and
private, discourses have been purposely introduced to the
disparagement of his master, the earl of Shaftesbury, his
party and designs, he never could be provoked to take
any notice, or discover in word or look the least concern.
So that I believe there is not a man in the world so much
master of taciturnity and passion. He has here a physician’s place (he had taken the degree of B. M. in 1674)
which frees him from the exercise of the college, and the
obligations which others have to residence in it; and he is
now abroad for want of health.
”
Miracles;” “Part of a fourth Letter for Toleration;” “Memoirs relating to the Life of Anthony first earl of Shaftesbury,” &c. &c. He deft behind him several Mss. from
This edition contains, principally, the following treatises, to which we have here appended the years of their
first publication 1. “Three Letters upon Toleration;
”
the first, printed at London in 168y, was in Latin. 2. “A
Register of the Changes of the Air observed at Oxford,
”
inserted in Mr. Boyle’s “General History of the Air,
”
New Method for a Common-place Book,
”
Essay concerning Human Understanding,
”
Two Treatises of Civil Government,
” &c.
Some Considerations of the Consequences of lowering
the Interest, and raising the Value, of Money,
” For coining silver Money in England,
”
&c. “Farther Observations concerning the raising the
Value of Money,
” &c. 9. “Some Thoughts concerning
Education,
” &c. De l'Education des Enfans,
” Amster.
The Reasonableness of Christianity,
” &c.
Vindication of the Reasonableness,
”
&c. A second Vindication,
” &c. A Letter to the Bishop of Worcester,
” Reply to the Bishop of Worcester,
” &c. Reply, in answer to the Bishop’s second Letter,
” Of the Conduct of the Understanding;
” “An Examination of Malebranche’s Opinion,
” &.c. “A Discourse of Miracles;
” “Part of a fourth Letter for Toleration;
” “Memoirs relating to the Life of Anthony first
earl of Shaftesbury,
” &c. &c. He deft behind him several
Mss. from which his executors, sir Peter King aud Anthony Collins, esq. published, in 1705, his paraphrase and
notes upon St. Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, which were
soon followed by those upon the Corintbians, Romans, and
Ephesians, with an essay prefixed, “For the understanding of St. Paul’s epistles, by consulting St. Paul himself.
”
In the following year the posthumous works of Mr. Locke
were published, comprising a treatise “On the Conduct
of the Understanding,
” intended as a supplement to the
“Essay:
” “An Examination of Malebranche’s Opinion
of seeing all Things in God.
” In
y as 1758), and translated into several languages. The spirit of it was particularly approved by the earl of Shaftesbury, author of the “Characteristics;” who from thence
In the mean time his book was well received by the
public, reprinted thrice (and as lately as 1758), and translated into several languages. The spirit of it was particularly approved by the earl of Shaftesbury, author of the
“Characteristics;
” who from thence conceived a great esteem for him, which afterwards ripened into a close friendship. Molesworth’s view in writing the “Account of Denmark,
” is clearly intimated in the preface, where he plainly
give us his political, as well as his religious creed. He
censures very severely the clergy in general, for defending
the revolution upon any other principles than those of resistance, and the original contract, which he maintains to
be the true and natural basis of the constitution; and that
all other foundations are false, nonsensical, rotten, derogatory to the then present government, and absolutely destructive to the legal liberties of the English nation. As
the preservation of these depends so much upon the right
education of youth in the universities, he urges, also, in
the strongest terms, the absolute necessity of purging and
reforming those, by a royal visitation: so that the youth
may not be trained up there, as he says they were, in the<
slavish principles of passive obedience and jus divinum,
but may be instituted after the manner of the Greeks and
Romans, who in their academies recommended the duty to
their country, the preservation of the law and public
liberty: subservient to which they preached up moral virtues, such as fortitude, temperance, justice, a contempt
of death, &c. sometimes making use of pious cheats, as
Elysian fields, and an assurance of future happiness, if they
died in the cause of their country; whereby they even deceived their hearers into greatness. This insinuation, that
religion is nothing more than a pious cheat, and an useful
state-engine, together with his pressing morality as the one
thing necessary, without once mentioning the Christian
religion, could not but be very agreeable to the author of
the “Characteristics.
” In reality, it made a remarkably
strong impression on him, as we find him many years
after declaring, in a letter to our author, in these terms:
“You have long had my heart, even before I knew you,
personally. For the holy and truly pious man, who
revealed the greatest of mysteries: he who, with a truly generous love to mankind and his country, pointed out the
state of Denmark to other states, and prophesied of things
highly important to the growing age: he, I say, had already gained me as his sworn friend, before he was so
kind as to make friendship reciprocal, by his acquaintance
and expressed esteem. So that you may believe it no extraordinary transition in me, from making you in truth my
oracle in public affairs, to make you a thorough confident
in my private.
” This private affair was a treaty of marriage
with a relation of our author; and though the design miscarried, yet the whole tenor of the letters testifies the most
intimate friendship between the writers.
h the earls of Essex and Sunderland, declaring for limitations, and against the exclusion, while the earl of Shaftesbury was equally zealous for the latter; and when
In 1675 he opposed with vigour the non-resisting testbill; and was removed from the council-board the year
following by the interest of the earl of Dauby, the treasurer. He had provoked this lord by one of those witticisms in which he dealt so largely. In the examination
before the council concerning the revenue of Ireland, lord
Widrington confessed that he had made an offer of a considerable sum to the lord treasurer, and that his lordship
had rejected it very mildly, and in such a mariner as not to
discourage a second attempt. Lord Halifax observed upon
this, that “it would be somewhat strange if a man should
ask the use of another man’s wife, and the other should
indeed refuse it, but with great civility.
” His removal
was very agreeable to the duke of York, who at that time
had a more violent aversion to him than even to Shaftesbury
himself, because he had spoken with great firmness and
spirit in the House of Lords against the declaration for a
toleration. However, upon a change of the ministry in
1679, his lordship was made a member of the new council.
The same year, during the agitation of the bill for the exclusion of the duke of York, he seemed averse to it; but
proposed such limitations of the duke’s authority when the
crown should devolve upon him, as should disable him
from doing any harm either in church or state; such as the
taking out of his hands all power in ecclesiastical matters^
the disposal of the public money, and the power of peace
or war, and lodging these in the two Houses of Parliament;
and that the parliament in being at the king’s death should
continue without a new summons, and assume the administration; but his lordship’s arguing so much against the
danger of turning the monarchy, by the bill of exclusion,
into an elective government, was thought the more extraordinary, because he made an hereditary king the subject
of his mirth, and had often said “Who takes a coachman
to drive him, because his father was a good coachman
”
Yet he was now jealous of a small slip in the succession;
though he at the same time studied to infuse into some
persons a zeal for a commonwealth; and to these he pretended, that he preferred limitations to an exclusion, because the one kept up the monarchy still, only passing
over one person; whereas the other really introduced a
commonwealth, as soon as there was a popish king on the
throne. And it was said by some of his friends, that the
limitations proposed were so advantageous to public liberty,
that a man might be tempted to wish for a popish king, in
order to obtain them. Upon this great difference of opinion, a faction was quickly formed in the new council;
lord Halifax, with the earls of Essex and Sunderland, declaring for limitations, and against the exclusion, while
the earl of Shaftesbury was equally zealous for the latter;
and when the bill for it was brought into the House of
Lords, lord Halifax appeared with great resolution at the
head of the debates against it. This so highly exasperated
the House of Commons, that they addressed the king to
remove him from his councils and presence for ever: but
he prevailed with his majesty soon after to dissolve that
parliament, and was created an earl. However, upon his
majesty’s deferring to call a new parliament, according to
his promise to his lordship, his vexation is said to have
been so great as to affect his health, and he expostulated
severely with those who were sent to him on that affair,
refusing the post both of secretary of state and lord-lieutenant of Ireland. A parliament being called in 1680, he
still opposed the exclusion-bill, and gained great reputation by his management of the debate, though it occasioned
a new address from the House of Commons to remove him.
However, after rejecting that bill in the House of Lords,
his lordship pressed them, though without*success, to proceed to limitations; and began with moving that the duke
might be obliged to live five hundred miles out of England
during the king’s life. In August 1682, he was created a
marquis, and soon after made privy-seal, and, upon king
James’s accession, president of the council. But on refusing his consent to the repeal of the tests, he was told
by that monarch, that, though he could never forget his
past services, yet, since he would not comply in that point,
he was resolved to have unanimity in his councils, and,
therefore, dismissed him from all public employments. He
was afterwards consulted by Mr. Sidney, whether he would
advise the prince of Orange’s coming over; but, this
matter being only hinted, he did not encourage a farther
explanation, looking upon the attempt as impracticable,
since it depended on so many accidents. Upon the arrival
of that prince, he was sent by the king, with the earls of
Kochester and Godolphin, to treat with him, then at Hungerford.
ated into English, y. A diverting description of Epsom and its amusements. 10. Four Memorials to the Earl of Shaftesbury, relating to affairs of state in 1713 and 1714.
His “Posthumous Works
” were published in The Miscellaneous Works of Mr. John Tolaud,
now first published from his original manuscripts, containing, I. An history of the British Druids, with a criii al
Essay on the ancient Celtic customs, literature, &c. to whic li
is added, An account of some curious British Antiquities.
2. An account of Jordano Bruno, and his celebrated book
on the innumerable worlds. 5. A disquisition concerning
those writings which by the ancients were, truly or falsely,
ascribed to Jesus Christ and his Apostles. 4. The secret
History of the South-Sea scheme. 5. A plan for a National Bank. 6. An essay on the Roman Education. 7.
The tragical death of Attilius Regulus proved to be a fiction.
8. Select Epistles from Pliny, translated into English, y.
A diverting description of Epsom and its amusements. 10.
Four Memorials to the Earl of Shaftesbury, relating to affairs of state in 1713 and 1714. 11. Physic without physicians. 12. Letters on various subjects. 13. Cicero illustratus, dissertatio Philologico-critica; sive, Consilium de
toto edendo Cicerone, alia plane methodo quam hactenus
unquam factum. 14. Conjectura de prima typographic origine.
”
Wallingfordhouse in the Strand, he purchased a house at Dowgate, and resided there, joining with the earl of Shaftesbury in all the violences of opposition. About the
, duke of Buckingham, and a very
distinguished personage in the reign of Charles II. was the
son of the preceding, by his wife lady Catherine Manners,
and was born at Wallingford-house, in the parish of St.
Martin in the Fields, January 30, 1627, which being but
the year before the fatal catastrophe of his father’s death,
the young duke was left a perfect infant, a circumstance
which is frequently prejudicial to the morals of men born
to high rank and affluence. The early parts of his education he received from various domestic tutors; after which
he was sent to the university of Cambridge, where having
completed a course of studies, he, with his brother lord
Francis, went abroad, under the care of one Mr. Aylesbury. Upon his return, which was not till after the breaking-out of the rebellion, the king being at Oxford, his
grace repaired thither, was presented to his majesty, and
entered of Christ-church college. Upon the decline of
the king’s cause, he attended prince Charles into Scotland,
and was with him at the battle of Worcester in 1651; after
which, making his escape beyond sea, he again joined
him, and was soon after, as a reward for his attachment,
made knight of the Garter. Desirous, however, of retrieving his affairs, he came privately to England, and in
1657 married Mary, the daughter and sole heiress of Thomas lord Fairfax, through whose interest he recovered the
greatest part of the estate he had lost, and the assurance
of succeeding to an accumulation of wealth in the right of
his wife. We do not find, however, that this step lost him
the royal favour; for, after- the restoration, at which time
he is said to have possessed an estate of 20,000l. per annum,
he was made one of the lords of the bed-chamber, called
to the privy -council, and appointed lord-lieutenant of
Yorkshire, and master of the horse. All these high offices,
however, he lost again in 1666; for, having been refused
the post of president of the North, he became disaffected
to the king, and it was discovered that he had carried on a
secret correspondence by letters and other transactions
with one Dr. Heydon (a man of no kind of consequence, but a useful tool), tending to raise mutinies among his majesty’s forces, particularly in the navy, to stir up seditioa
among the people, and even to engage persons in a conspiracy for the seizing the Tower of London. Nay, to
sucii base lengths had he proceeded, as even to have given
money to villains to put on jackets, and, personating seamen, to go about the country begging, and exclaiming for
want of pay, while the people oppressed with taxes were
cheated of their money by the great officers of the crown.
Matters were ripe for execution, and an insurrection, at
the head of which the duke was openly to have appeared,
on the very eve of breaking-out, when it was discovered by
means of some agents whom Heydon had employed to
carry letters to the duke. The detection of this affair so
exasperated the king, who knew Buckingham to be capable f the blackest designs, that he immediately ordered
him to be seized; but the duke finding means, having defended his house for some time by force, to make his
escape, his majesty struck him out of all. his commissions,
and issued out a proclamation, requiring his surrender by
a certain day. This storm, however, did not long hang
over his head; for, on his making an humble submission,
king Charles, who was far from being of an implacable
temper, took him again into favour, and the very next
year restored him both to the privy-council and bed-chamber. But the duke’s disposition for intrigue and machination was not lessened; for, having conceived a resentment
against the duke of Ormond, because he had acted with
some severity against him in the last-mentioned affair, he,
in 1670, was supposed to be concerned in an attempt
made on that nobleman’s life, by the same Blood who afterwards endeavoured to steal the crown. Their design was
to have conveyed the duke to Tyburn, and there have
hanged him; and so far did they proceed towards the putting it in execution, that Blood and his son had actuallyforced the duke out of his coach in St. James’s-street, and
carried him away beyond Devonshire-house, Piccadilly,
before he was rescued from them. That there must hare
been the strongest reasons for suspecting the duke of Buckingham of having been a party in this villainous project, is
apparent from a story Mr. Carte relates from the best authority, in his “Life of the duke of Ormond,
” of the public
resentment and open menaces thrown out to the duke on
the occasion, by the earl of Ossory, the duke of Onnond’s
son, even in the presence of the king himself. But as
Charies II. was more sensible of injuries done to himself
than others, it does not appear that this transaction hurt
the duke’s interest at court; for in 1671 he was installed
chancellor of the university of Cambridge, and sent ambassador to France, where he was very nobly entertained
by Lewis XIV. and presented by that monarch at his departure with a sword and belt set with jewels, to the value
of forty thousand pistoles; and the next year he was employed in a second embassy to that king at Utrecht. However, in June 1674, he resigned the chancellorship of
Cambridge, and about the same time became a zealous
partizan and favourer of the nonconformists. On February
16, 1676, his grace, with the earls of- Salisbury and
Shaftesbury, and lord Wharton, were committed to the
Tower, by order of the House of Lords, for a contempt,
in refusing to retract the purport of a speech which the
duke had made concerning a dissolution of the parliament;
but upon a petition to the king, he was discharged thence
in May following. In 1680, having sold Wallingfordhouse in the Strand, he purchased a house at Dowgate,
and resided there, joining with the earl of Shaftesbury in
all the violences of opposition. About the time of king
Charles’s death, his health became affected, and he went
into the country to his own manor of Helmisley, in Yorkshire, where he generally passed his time in hunting and
entertaining his friends. This he continued until a fortnight before his death, an event which happened at a tenant’s house, at Kirkby Moorside, April 16, 1688, after
three days illness, of an ague and fever, arising from a
cold which he caught by sitting on the ground after foxhunting. The day before his death, he sent to his old servant Mr. Brian Fairfax, to provide him a bed at his own
house, at Bishophill, in Yorkshire; but the next morning
the same man returned with the news that his life was despaired of. Mr. Fairfax came; the duke knew him, looked
earnestly at him, but could not speak. Mr. Fairfax asked
a gentleman there present, a justice of peace, and a worthy discreet man in the neighbourhood, what he had said
or done before he became speechless: who told him, that
some questions had been asked him about his estate, to
which he gave no answer. This occasioned another
question to be proposed, if he would have a Popish priest;
but he replied with great vehemence, No, no! repeating the words, he would have nothing to do with them.
The same gentleman then askod him again, if he would
have the minister sent for; and he calmly said, “Yes, pray
seud for him.
” The minister accordingly came, and did
the office enjoined by the church, the duke devoutly attending it, and received the sacrament. In about an hour
the House of Lords he was esteemed an admirable speaker and a close reasoner, equal at least to the earl of Shaftesbury. He was a great benefactor to both his bishoprics,
In the House of Lords he was esteemed an admirable
speaker and a close reasoner, equal at least to the earl of
Shaftesbury. He was a great benefactor to both his
bishoprics, as by his interest the deanry of Burien, in Cornwall was annexed to the former, and the chancellorship
of the garter to the latter. He was polite, hospitable, and
generous: and in his life-time, founded the college at Salisbury, for the reception and support of ministers’ widows,
and the sumptuous hospital at Buntingford, in Hertfordshire, the place of his birth. His intimate friend, Dr.
Walter Pope, has given us a curious account of his life,
interspersed with agreeable anecdotes of his friends. Pope’s
zeal and style, however, provoked a severe pamphlet from
Dr. Thomas Wood, a civilian, called “An Appendix to
the Life,
”
one who could not be supposed very eager to propagate the doctrines of Christianity, the celebrated earl of Shaftesbury, author of the” Characteristics,' 7 &c. In 1698
The fate of his “Sermons,*' which have been so much
admired, was somewhat singular. They were first ushered
into the world by one who could not be supposed very
eager to propagate the doctrines of Christianity, the celebrated earl of Shaftesbury, author of the
” Characteristics,' 7
&c. In 1698 his lordship published “Select Sermons of
Dr. Whichcote, in two parts,
” 8vo. He employed on this
occasion the rev. William Stephens, rector of Sutton, in
Surrey, to revise, and probably superintend the press;
but the long preface is unquestionably from his lordship.
In addition to every other proof we may add the evidence
of the late Mr. Harris of Salisbury, who informed a friend
that his mother, lady Betty Harris, (who was sister to the earl of Shaftesbury) mentioned her having written the preface from her brother’s dictation, he being at that time too
ill to write himself. That his lordship should become the
voluntary editor and recommender of the sermons of any
divine, has been accounted for by one of Dr. Whichcote’s
biographers in this way: that his lordship found in these
sermons some countenance given to his own peculiar sentiments concerning religion, as sufficiently practicable by
our natural strength or goodness, exclusive of future rewards or punishments. To this purpose lord Shaftesbury
has selected some passages of the sermons, and adds,
“Thus speaks our excellent divine and truly Christian
philosopher, whom for his appearing thus in defence of
natural goodness, we may call the preacher of good nature.
This is what he insists on everywhere, and to, make this
evident is in a manner the scope of all his discourses. And
in conclusion it is hoped, that what has been here suggested, may be sufficient to justify the printing of these
sermons.
” Whatever may be in this, it is rather singular
that the same collection was republished at Edinburgh in
1742, 12mo, with a recommendatory epistle by a presby*
terian divine, the rev. Dr. William Wish art, principal of
the college of Edinburgh.