Notes and Queries, Number 67, February 8, 1851 | Page 2

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.
"It was for something of this kind that got air, and out of great Tenderness to Mr. Lock that my Grandfather in the year 1674 sent him abroad to travell: an Improvement w^{ch} my G^d father was gladd to add to those he had allready given him. His Health servd as a very just Excuse: he being consumptive as early in his Life as that was. So that having travelld thro' France he went[2] to Montpelier and there stayd for some time. He returnd again to my G^d Fathers in the year 1678, and remaind in his Family till the year 1682: w^{ch} was the year that my G^d Father retird into Holland and there dyed. Mr. Lock who was to have soon followd him thither, was not prevented in the voyage, by this Death: but found it safest for him to retire thither, and there lived (at our good Friend Mr. Furly's of Rotterdam) till the happy Revolution of King William, w^{ch} restord him to his native Country and to other Publick offices of greater Note, w^{ch} by fresh Meritts he deserv'd: witness his then Publishd Books of Government, Trade and Coin: by w^{ch} he had as considerably servd the State, as he had done the Church and Protestant Interest by his defence of Toleration and support of the Revolution-Principles.
"But of this part of his Life, you need no Information.
"Thus far I have made mention of Mr. Lock as to his station in Publick affaires, under my Grandfather. Now as to his Service in private affaires, and the Concerns of a Family, w^{ch} was, in every respect, so happy in him, that he seem as a good Guardian Angel sent to