The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Continuation of Familiar Letters Between Mr. Locke and Several of His Friends (philippo à Limborch).
• A Collection of Several Pieces of Mr. John Locke.
• The Character of Mr. Locke; By Mr. Peter Coste:
• The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina.
• A Letter From a Person of Quality to His Friend In the Country;
• Remarks Upon Some of Mr. Norris’s Books,
• Several Letters to Anht. Collins, Esq. and Other Persons.
• A Letter From Mr. Locke to Mr. Oldenburgh, Concerning a Poisonous Fish About the Bahama Islands.
• Letters to Anthony Collins, Esq.
• Letters to the Reverend Mr. Richard King.
• Rules of a Society,
• Letters to Mrs. Cockburn.
• A Letter From Mr. Locke to Mr. Samuel Bold.
• Lord Ashley to Dr. Fell.
• Observations Upon the Growth and Culture of Vines and Olives:
• The Whole History of Navigation
• A Catalogue and Character of Most Books of Voyages and Travels.

Lord Ashley to Dr. Fell.

Sir,

Dec. 8, 1670.

YOU are well acquainted with the kindnesse I have great reason to have to Mr. Locke, in whose behalf I had prevailed with the duke of Ormond for his assistance towards the attaining his doctor’s degree, at the reception of the prince of Aurange; and I am apt to think the instance of your chancellor, and the relation he has to me, would not have been denied by the university. But Mr. Locke understanding the provost of Eaton declared himself, and you, dissatisfied with it, has importuned me to give him leave to decline it, which, upon conference with my worthy friend the bishop of Rochester, I have donne, and returned his grace’s letter, though my lord bishop of Rochester can tell you I could not but complain to him, that your chapter had not been so kinde to me, in Mr. Locke’s affairs, as I thought I might justly expect, considering him a member of their house, having done both my life and family that service I owne from him, and I being of that quality I am under his Majestie, under which title only I pretend to any favour from them. All that I request now, of you and them, is, that since he will not allow me to doe him this kindnesse, you will give me leave to bespeake your favour for the next faculty place, and that a more powerful hand may not take it from him. I rely very much on my lord Rochester’s mediation, and your own kindnesse to me, that may induce you to believe, that an obligation will not be absolutely cast away on,

SIR,
Your affectionate friend and servant.

My Lord,

I DOUBT not but your lordship hath before this time heard of the death of Mr. Locke, who was in the full possession of his reason and understanding to the last minute of his life; he hath made me his executor, by means whereof his writings are come to my hands, amongst which I find three or four sheets of memoirs of your grandfather’s life, with an epitaph on your grandfather. Mr. Locke designed, if he had lived longer, to have gone on farther with those memoirs. I beg your lordship’s pardon that I have not acquainted your lordship herewith sooner; but Mr. Locke happening to dye in the term, I had not leisure to look into his concerns, beyond what was absolutely necessary, till within these few days. These papers properly belong to your lordship, and I thought it my duty to acquaint your lordship therewith, and shall dispose of them as your lordship shall direct.

I am, with all sincerity,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful,
and affectionate servant,

Peter King.

• Inner Temple,

Dec. 9, 1704.