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    the Unity of a self-existent Being-. I confessed my ignorance , as I had never fead the Essay , being unacquainted with the language in which it is written . He then desired me seriously to urge you , if the question has not been considered in your Essay , to enlarge

    it , by introducing that subject , and firmly establishing the Unity of an independent Being , ( Entis independentis ) . It seems manifest that an independent Being , Comprehending in himself all perfection , can be only one ; yet he wished to have this so fully proved as to exhaust the argument .

    Within the last three days he inquired if I had written to you , and what answer I had received . I did not think him so much in earnest , but seeing how he has the affair at heart , I can no longer defer writing . I therefore request , if your engagements will allow , that you send me an answer which he can read . * Your

    letter should be so managed that he may not suspect my having given you his name . You can answer , as if I had written to you , that some learned persons discussing this subject , one of them , who much esteemed you , wished

    to know your opinion , and desired that you would consider it in your Essay on the Human Understanding . You see how plainly 1 deal with you , and what I venture to expect from your friendship .

    I was lately at the Hague , and visited the most Honourable the Earl of Pembroke , with whom I had an hour ' s conversation on various topics , some of them theological . 1 greatly admire to see a man of such high rank

    so attentive to religion- His conversation was indeed so interesting , that I seemed scarcely to have passed half an hour with him , when , on takingleave , I found that a whole hour had elapsed , f I pray for that most

    ex-* This request produced tlie following * letter , written in French : ¦\ It is surprising- that this nobleman , of whose intellectual attainments Mr . Locke , in his lycdieution of the Essay ^ in 1689 , had taught the public to form so high an

    estimate , should now be remembered only by that Dedication , and his place , which the accident of birth has given him , in the peerage . The Author of the Essay was careful not to think of himself more hi ghly than he ought to think ; but it may be

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    cellent man , a long-ex tended life , that he may prosperously administer the affairs of the kingdom of England ; * and for you , uninterrupted health , that you may communicate your thoughts to the learned world .

    Farewell , most worthy friend ; make niy best wishes acceptable to Lady Masham . My wife and daughter present their respects . Yours , affectionately , P . k LIMBORCH .

    No . 35 . John Locke to Philip a Liniborch . iLettre de M . Loche ct M * Limborch . )

    London , Oct . % 9 > 1697 . Sir , IF my name has been mentioned to those learned persons with whom you sometimes converse , and if they

    condescend to speak of my writings , in your conversations , I owe the favour entirely to yoil . The good opinion which you entertain of one , whom you have honoured with your friendship , has prejudiced them in my favour . I wish that my Essay on the Understanding were written in a language

    reasonably doubted , whether he was equally solicitous to think soberly in comparing " himself with his noble patron . Who can forbear to smile , or rather to blush , for man at his best estate ^ when John JLocke condescends to remind , or rather to inform , the Marl of Pembroke , of his Lordship ' s

    u large and comprehensive discoveries of truths , hitherto unknown " and when the Essay on Human Understanding is described by its Author as a present , " just such as the poor man makes to his rich and great neighbour , bjrwhom the basket of

    flowers or fruit is not ill taken , though he has more plenty of bis own growth , and in much greater perfection 5 " or as one of those u worthless thing's" which " receive a value , when they are made the offerings of respect , esteem and gratitude" ? Even Mr . Locke could scarcely fail to become a

    ^ uim « . « - »» * . r " . » r UIU IF ^ uniiir and not uninstructive work , a critical history of Epistles Dedicatory . * The Earl of Pembroke was now Ambassador extraordinary to the States General . He afterwards filled several considerable posts in England , became Lord

    Lieutenant of Ireland , and immediately preceded Prince George of Denmark , as Lord High Admiral . The Earl died in 1733 .

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    10 The Corre $ ponde 7 ice letween Locke and Limborch , tra % slatei .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/10/