Star.
London, England, 1831-06-02 00:00:00

LITERATVItE AND SCIENCE.

'

Atins added fine Additional column* to nnr paper, we
hope in future to he able, in general, to devnte ire of them
to tapir* of Literature and 51.i.nce. We think it may be
Prapiicable to grati‘i the prevailing taste on guilt *objects,
a* mach a* in Politica and Mal Economy—and we there.
fore invite the reciprocal attentions of Men of Literature
and Science, Atithnro anti Inventont--to this department of
the STAN, which will be conducted with such spirit and
liberaliiy as to command public notice.

ORIGINAL LP.TTERS of LOCKE. SIDNET,ROd
SHAFTESBURY, with a sketch of the Opinions of
Locke and other Metaphysicians, by T. FORSTER,
M. B—F. L. S.—M. A. A. dke. &c. 12mo. 10s. 6d.
This volume is a renitine, curiosity, and brings
lig, almost for the first time, int' personal contact
Pith three of the most eminent personages in the
triumphs of British genius. The Letters have long
been part of the family property of the Forst,rs,
so distinguished in the records of Charity and Phi-
lanthropy.
Dr. Forster tells us that the letters of Locke. of Algernon
Sidney, and of the Fad of Shaftesbury, published in this
volume, addressed to Mr. Furly of Rotterdsm, came, by the
death of that gentleman, into the possession of my grand-
father, Mr. Edward Forster, of Walthamstow, in Essex,
among other very curious manuscripts : at his death, which
took place en the 20th of April. 1812. they became the
property of my father, Mr. Thomas Puny Forster, of
Clapton ; at whose death, in October, 1826. they came into
my hands, and were made my property by an act of his
will, dated April 1824, together with a large collection of
the manuscript correspondence and other works of some ce-
lebrated writers, who flourished In the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries.
Perhaps." says Dr. F. " the most curious object in the
whole parcel of papers to which I allude' is a MSS. copy of
Mr. Locke's '‘ Essay concerning Human Understanding,"
written in a neat hand. in small 12mo book, hut much crossed
out'and altered, and full of corrections in the author's writing.
There is a date 1686 to this book but it is written in a very
much blacker ink than the rest of the work, and is evidently
inserted at a subsequent period, at a mere guess ; for I have
good reason to believe the M.B. in question to he theoriginat
copy of the work, just as Mr. Locke Brat wrote it, and even
before he ever seriously thought of sending it to the press."
We pass, as of less popular interest, the elaborate
dissertation of the editor, on the Religion and Opi-
nions of Locke and others, argued from the Stand-
ard of the Fathers and Jesuits, but we were
pleased to observe that he justly notices the recent
works of our most ingenious countrywoman, Lady
MART SHEPHERD.

" In the course of the perusal of several manuscripts in
my possession, I have hit (says Dr. F.) on several anecdotes
and memoranda relating to Mr. Locke, by his Mends and
sontemporaries, which may amuse the reader, and serve to
illustrate his character ; some of these I subjoin, therefore,
without further apology.
" Mr. Locke was particularly fond of children, and one
of his chief amusements, when at Mr. Furly's, was playing
with the young folks, in which he spent much time. He
was also very fond of animals, and particularly disgusted
with the cruelty practised towards them in too many cases
in England. He could not fail to have been struck with the
great analogy that there is between the principles of the rea-
soning powers of man and of other animals ; an analogy
which the striking instances of sagacity exhibited by some
species, is calculated in a high degree to enhance. This
brings to my mind an anecdote of • dog belonging to Mr.
Furry, which is worth recording. This animal had gone
with his master from London to Rotterdam by the packet;
on his return to England, Mr. Furly by some accident left
the poor dog behind him on the quay, proceeded to his own
house in England, and never expected again to see him.—
Sitting some weeks afterwards by his fireside in London, he
beard something scratch the door, and on opening it, to his
Krim pleasure and surprise, in came the dog, who, it appears,
landing his master had deserted him, had contrived to get
aboard another packet, and followed him to London.
" Mr. Locke was subject, as it appears from some of his
writings, to a trifling disorder of mind, which consisted in
des gingling of some particular verse, which he had heard in
She morning, in his head all day. He was also subject to
Meer false voices call, and to fancy the sound of distant bells.
But what haunted him most was the troop of hideous faces
which passed by his face in the darkness of the night as he lay
km bed, in pagemstyows, and were for ever changing their
ugly formai he describes these nervous erection' with great
accuracy, and in his book on the Conduct of the Under.
standing, has given some directions for remedying them. It
is probable that most literary men, and persons of sedentary
and studious habits, are subject to these phantoms. I have
already described their causes.
" For medicine, his original profession, he had very little
respect ; indeed, from some ludicrous and sarcastic, and
truly witty letters of his to his friend, which I have by me,
but which, in these days of absurd refinement, one could not
well publish, he seems to bold physicians and their empiricism
in no small degree of contempt; and he seems very early in
his career to have left his calling in disgust, and to have been
much occupied all his life with metaphysics and politics.—
lie appears to have had a vast predilection for the Quakers
to have defended them against persecution, and to have la-
boured incessantly, together with Algernon Sidney and Lord
Shaftesbury, his great friends and correspondents, to esta-
blish civil and religious liberty in Europe."
We have selected one of Mr. Locke's letters to
Mr. Furly, as a curiosity.
" BENJAMIN FEELY, tire friend of Locke, was a mu.
chant" at Rotterdam, born 13th April, 1636, a man of consi-
derable learning, and engaged with George Fox and John
Stubbs, in the publication of • A Battle Door for Teachers
and Professors to learn Singular and Piural, rou to Many,
and thou to Oise.' The Chaldee, Syriac, Welsh, and
French Battle Doors being Witten by him. Benjamin Forty
left three sons : Benjohan, born 6,h January, 1681, one of
whose daughters, Dorothy, born 2d July. 1710, married
Thomas Forster, father of the late Edward Forster ; John,
who left a family ; sud Atent, who, I believe, died unmar-
ried. Benjohan and John were merchants : Arent was Se-
aretary to Charles, Earl of Peterborough."
" Amsterdam. 2 Feb. 88.

" DIAS Faicuw—You need not have made any apologia
for.the three words of Dutch you put into your letter, for I
thinke I understand them rightenough when I understand be
them that you say you would have no. bellebar strong enough
to cure our Commissioner. last ono, Last ens t that is a
Dutch Rowland for your Oliver, to *hew you that I am a
proficient. The judges you mention follow not Pontlue Pi.
late's pattern of ' quad ecripsi, scripsi t` how much the up-
tighter you will think. them for it lies in your breast.
" Coomans is not in town. However, I have found a graver
which I think will doe our bushman, and he tells me of a
book keeper in town who writes better then that writing ama-
in I was with, who we may get to write a copy as we will,
and then he will grave after it. The whole charge, as far as
I can )carne, will be about five ducatounti ; and then the plate
will be yours to doe with it as you beleire, and then the co.
pys being for your own use, you may print the paper on both
sides it you please. it will only cost soy much an hundred
for printing. The plate will be of the size of a quarter of a
sheet of paper of this bignease, leaving rooms for a mar.
E nt ; just of the du as are the books children usually write
design e I have made of it is this : 1.
Oa the top to have the alphabet In common letters,
such as a, b, c. ite. 2. A fide space being left between,
to have twenty.feur proper names, each beginning with a
great !run, and the whole name written In a little big.
ger hand than the alphabet, whereby we shall also have
the twenty-four great laws, which 'us not ntocaeary
• children should write before they can write the hale
letters well, and begin to write joyn hand. 3. Af.
tee these proper names I intend sonic useful' sen.
tences writs in the same sire with the first alpha-
bet. These AO fill up the rest of the page. If
you will have a plate, and like my design., seld me in
your nest the sister the letters you would have the first al-
phabet of, and I will get it executed the best I can. Send
me also ) our eldest son's name as you write it. 1 commend
very much the discretion of Mrs. Purley Oat she would no;
give him precipitates. I. Because physick Is not to be given
to children upon every little &bottler. 2. Physick for the
wormer is not to be given upon bat: suspition that there may
be wormer. 3. If it were evident th..t he had wonnea, such
medicines are not to be given till after the use of
gentle and Life remedys. If he continues still
melancholy, the best wsy is to have him abroad to
• every day is the airs that I believe may set
without any physick ; at least, If it should
so give him remedy. till one has well Ga.

remind what hi the distemper, unless, you thinker Oa hi
usually donne) that at all hazards Dome thing is to be sivel,
a way I conferee I could never thinks reasonable, it bdng
much better, in my opinion, to doe no thing then to doe
=lase. I hope tone you now in a short times sod, if he
be net perfectly recovered before that time, we will then ex-
amine the matter a little nearer. Bet I hone exercise In
the open air may doe the busineese, at least I hope there wW
he me ?hing that will prune in the meaner time.
" In the description you send me of our Fr. Centeno,
cannot but Ride satisfaction. Methinkes I see old father
Luther installed in his principality, and secitrd behind a eir.,
cumvallatlnn of folios. I hope the worker will goer on luckily.
I wish well to it, and to the author: and I am much better
pleased with him amongst those silent authors then I should
have been that he was amongst the silent fishes. I had for.
got to enquire for the gazette he mentions when I wee last
at the bookseller's ; but I will the next time. I thank him
for the intelligence, and desire to have my respect to him.—
Be sure to keep the manuscript till I come; I must have a
touch at him. lily lose to Mrs. Farley, our friend, and the,
yonge ones. I hope by the next to haw that Benny is out
of his dumps. lam your affectionate Mend,
" For Mr. Benjamin Farley. .4J.
on the Scheepmakers' Haven, in Rotterdam."

We take the five following from letters to E.
Clarke, Faq. M.P. for Taunton.
" Oates, 28 Ap. 90.
" Drees Fittewn—Though I am very much concerned
and troubled for your great lone, yet your sorrow being of
that kinde which time and not arguments is wont to cure, I
know not whether I should say any thing to you to abate
your grief, but that, it serving to no purpose at all but
makeing you thereby the more unfit to supply the loose of
their mother to your remaining children, (who now more
need your care, help, and comfort.) the sooner you get rid of
it. the better it will he both for them and you. If you are
convinced this is fit to be don, I need not make use to you
of the common though yet reasonable topielts of consolation.
I know you expect not to have the common and unalterable
law of mortality which reaches the greatest, be dispensed
with for your sake. Our Mends and relations are but bee.
rowed advantages lent us doming pleasure, and must be
given back when ever cold for; we receive them upon these
tennes, and why should we repine or, if we doe, what pro.
fits it us? But I see my affection is Tuning me into res..
seining, which you neede not, and can thinke of without any
suggestions of mine. I wonder not at the greatness. of your
grief. but I shall wonder if you let it prevail. on you; your
thinkeing of retiming some whither from business. was very
neturall upon the first stroake of it, but here I must inter.
pose to advise you the contrary. It is to give yourself up to
all the ills that grief and melancholy can produce. which are
some of the worst we suffer in this life : want of health,want
of spirit, want of usefull thought, is the state of those who
abandon themselves to griefs, whereof businesse is the best,
the safest, and the quickest cure. I say not this in favour
of your doubt whether you should be acceptable to any of
your friends : I know none of them you named that I doe
not thinke you would be acceptable to. And I can assure
you of it from some whom you did not then thinke of; my
Lady Maiham, alums enquireing very kindeley after you,
when I told her by the outside that the letter I had then re-
ceived was from you, was impatient to know how you did,
and when I had told her of your loose and sadnesse,was migh.
Lily concerned, and desired eta so tell you that if you would
come and spend some time here with her, you should be
very wellcome. You do mot doubt, but I should be ex-
ceeding glad of your company ; I know no map's I would
sooner have or should be man pleasd with; were I sailed
in an house of my owne, I should tell you how welcome you
should be to me a little more at large, but I suppose you
doubt it not. But for all this kinde mid sincere invitation
from my Lady Masham (the like whereof I doubt not but
you would receive from your other friends if they knew your
state and present thoughts) I advise you to thinks of none
of them. You would be presently sick of, sad constantly
uneasy in such a course of life. Keep in your imployment ;
increase it, and be se busy in it as you can now more than
ever. This is best for you sod for your children. And when
your thoughts we a little come to themselves and the dia.
gimp:num over, thee calmly consider what will be the heel
way for you to dispose of than and yourself; but at present
lay by none of your business,, nor neglect in the Wet.
I know there is little rooms foe reasoning la the first &mods(
of grief ; what that proposes is alone hearkened to, I must
therfor desire you to trust me on this occasion. lam truly
your friend, and love you • and Mostar you may doe it.
I am unbiassed, and not under the means, of any passion
in the cure, and therfor am its a state to Judi better, and
I will be answerable to you for it you will hereafter thank
me for this advice, and for your children we will he
when you are in a better state to doe is, consider what will
be best fur you to resolve.
I have urit to you twice tower:dog your Doctor in Soot.
land but have never heard a word Arm you. I told you is
my last that Mrs. Lockhart tells me he oars to pay the
principal in five years, bating the use. She *Wakes
not fit to abate the use. This is the state of the
case ;by it take your measure. She will be ready to
serve you by the same hands she manages her owns cm.
comment with him. I sent to Mr. Wright's lately for you
Skinner, which Is for Arent when you have don with it. I
sent also to Mr. Wright the translation of the first book of
my Remy, with a letter to Mr. Limlusch,• to whom I
desired the translation might be conveyed. 1 suppose
he has sent them by Robinson, who told me be had such a
role directed to you 1 also desired Captain Robinson to
pay you the five pounds for Thos. Davis. Pray have a care
of your health, and believe that I am sincerely yours,
J. L.
I writ you word by Capt. Robinson that I had received
the Down, but not P. Simon's books, which Robinson says
he received not, nor can hear of. Remember me to my little
Mend and his brothers. Send me word in your nest what
you have laid out for Syl, for his letters, &A. that I may
take it of hint here.

---
For liii:l;iamin Furk7,
an English Merchant in Eoitadam.

Oates, Nov. 98, 1692.

" I must beg you to send again for Mr. Churchill, and
let him write down from you these names,—Aabb, Newton, '
Sommers, Pupple, Le Clerk, Finley, Wright, kreke, and
Formin. (and Treby and Ker. There two last, if you think
fit, fur I tun in some doubt whether it be prudent or nor,]
but to none of them as from me. To yourself more than
one if you please. Hither two to be sent. Bid him forth-
with bring in all the remainder of the copy to you. And ,
let him send me hither the History of the Air morph:at, that
I may see it before it be published.
" Dear Sir " London, 30 June. 94.
" Toms of the 28ib brought me the welcome news of
your safe &riven with your family at lvytiuch. I hope
the rant you take there will cary you out easily all of you the
remainder of your journey.
" Tuesday last I went to see our friend J
Upon discourse with him, he told me he had sub-
scribed 3001. which made me subsoil* 5001; and me that
matte stands ; last night the subscriptions amounted to
1,100,0001. and to sight I suppose they are all full. Mr.
Freke talks of going out of town Monday, and I shall goe
Tuesday, The commission and charter sre new printed at
large ; I shall leave them with Clarke the taylor, to be sent
you. I have received my 641. out of the Rachequer.
There is no news of any action in Flanders, or from the
fleet ; but a bus of peace, 1 know not how grounded.
Thursday last my Lord Keeper, whom I met by chance in
the Gallery going to the Council', did me the honour to en-
quire about my stay, expressed great desire to speak with
me before I went out of town. and asked (for you know his
citimvility) whether he might send to me when he found Lisure
e.

My Dios* bumble service to Madam.
I am, dear Sir,
Your most affectionate bumble servant,
J. Locci.
lates. 23, math, IXI.

DtAU 111,

I am very glad the designe of fixing a rate on guineas,
espetialy at Us. wait defeated. The thing I look on to be
ill in its self, and worse in the intention. The subscnbers
will not now be able to put off their guineas' at an high toe,
to the cost of the government, nor the misers I hope be
able to compose their soe long laborid design* of rehir-
ing the denomination of our coin. Did I not see ice
ready a motion towards both of them, espedaly the latter,
I could scarce !ought yt any English man could harbour a
thought soe destrucdve to his country as I apprehend these
to be. Hut what may one not believe of English men when
there are those found amongst them that would tarsus a
French invasion ?

Is there no bopes to put a total! end to cliping
and coining. Methinks the resent fernient should
raise SOON vigor, and put a stop to yt great and surely de►
tructive
Deere sir,
Yr most affectionate humbly servant,
J. I.OC/EL

...

" Draft St., Matelllng Tre, 23 Aug. 1700.
• • • •
" I hero seething one lady to produce gskt sleep as
ridelng about gently in the air for many bean every day.
If yr mind ran be bmwght to enotribote a little Its part to
the laying aside troublesome ideas, I mold hope this might
dee much. This may be a farther Indoesneat for your
mmeing hither, for lam en hornets** every day. Pray ts.
turn my thanks to my wife t for her letter."
4 Mr. C.'s little daughter.
66 Oates, 11 Nov. 1700.
" DEAR Ate—The very day I wait to yin last to ennfi-
device that my soar leg was as geed as well, my ether before
night began to be out of order; and between the one and
the ether of them I am not yet free from pain and trouble I,
but I hope I shall in a little time get over it. In the mane
time I have one inconvenience now the cold weather comes
in, which, if my legs should remain in the state they me,
would nuke me very enemy. You know that I bast but
one way to keep my feet mum, that are apt to be without a
fire icy cold. But now, if I approach the fire, the only
remedy for my cold feet, the soars yet remain es my legs,
soon as they kel any wasuth from the fire, doom berm and
shoot, that the pain Is intolerable. This obligee me to spend
a great pan of my time in bed, a way of liven, I doe not
much like. Though when I consider well r think I ought
to be comma that lam at all amongst the living. 'Tie not
the spine that suggests this thought t bet the news I beam
this pest, that my old friend Mr. Hodges Is dead. Be. Dr.
Thomas, sod 1, were intimate is our younger days to the'
Usivenity i they two are goo, god who mold have thought
that 1. much the weakest and most unlikely of the dame,'
should have outlived them I"

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