Contents of the Effay of Human Understanding. An Analysis of Mr. Locke's Doctrine of Ideas. An Essay concerning Human Understanding, to the End Σ THE HE perfon chiefly concerned in improving this edition of Mr. Locke's works, having long entertained an high esteem for that author's writings, and being informed that a new edition of them was preparing, became naturally defirous of feeing one more complete than any of the foregoing; and of contributing his affiftance towards it (fo far as the fhort timë allowed for that purpofe would give leave) by not only collating former editions, and correcting thofe numerous errours which had crept into moft of them; but alfo by inferting, or giving fome defcription of fuch other pieces as are known to have come from the fame hand, though not appearing in any catalogue or collection of his works, The farther liberty has been taken to fubjoin a few things by other hands, which feemed neceffary to a right ufe of Mr. Locke's difcoveries, and a more ready application of the principles whereon they are founded, v. g. 1. To the Effay on Human Understanding is prefixed a correct analyfis, which has been of confiderable fervice by reducing that effay into fome better method, which the author himfelf fhows us, (preface and elfewhere) that he was very fenfible it wanted, though he contented himself with leaving it in its original form, for reafons grounded on the prejudices then prevailing VOL. I. against othe against so novel a fyftem; but which hardly now c fubfift. Intro This map of the intellectual world, which exhibits the whole doctrine of ideas in one view, muít to an at-e tentive reader appear more commodious than any of thofe dry compends generally made ufe of by young students, were they more perfect than even the beft of them are found to be. under goo ro 2. There is alfo annexed to the fame effay a fmall tract in defence of Mr. Locke's opinion concerning tu perfonal identity; a point of fome confequence, but which many ingenious perfons, probably from not obferving what paffed between him and Molyneux on the fubject, [letters in feptember and december, 1693, and january, february, may, 1694,] have greatly mifunderitood. & thoug other 1 to the for piec id Sc C. th It may perhaps be expected that we fhould introduce this edition of Mr. Locke's works with a particular history of the author's circumstances and connections but as feveral narratives of this kind have been already the published by different writers, viz. A. Wood, [Ath. Ox. Vol. 2d.]; P. Cofte, [character of Mr. Locke here annexed; Le Clerc, [firft printed in english before the Letters on Toleration, 1689, but more complete in the edition of 1713, from whence the chief part of the fubfequent lives is extracted]; Locke's Article in the Supplement to Collier Addend.; and by the compilers of the General Dictionary, Biographia Britannica, Memoirs of his Life and Character, 1742, &c. &c. and fince most of that fame account which has been prefixed to fome late editions, by way of Life, is likewife here annexed; there feems to be little occafion for transcribing any more of fuch common occurrences, as are neither interefting enough in themselves, nor fuffi ciently characteristic of the author. We have therefore chofen to confine the following obfervations to a critical furvey of Mr. Locke's writings, after giving fome account of his literary correfpondence, and of fuch anony mous tracts as are not commonly known to be his, but t yet diftinguishable from others that have been imputed to him. Befides thofe pofthumous pieces which have lanc been d n been already collected by Des Maizeaux, and joined with fome others in the late editions, there is extant, 1. His Introductory Difcourfe to Churchill's Collection of Voyages, [in 4 vols. fol.] containing the whole Hiftory of Navigation from its Original to that Time, (A. D. 1704) with a Catalogue and Character of most Books of Travels*. Thefe voyages are commonly faid to have been publifhed under his direction. They were presented by him to the univerfity of Oxford [v. Collier's Dict.]. That he was well verfed in fuch authors is pretty plain, from the good ufe he has made of them in his effays; and the introductory difcourfe is by no means unworthy of him, though deemed too large to be admitted into this publication: whether it may be added, fome time hence, in a fupplemental volume, along with fome of his other tracts hereafter mentioned, must be submitted to the public, and those who are ftiled proprietors. 2. For the fame reafon we are obliged to fupprefs another piece ufually afcribed to him, and entitled, The Hiftory of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, related in the Words of Scripture, containing, in Order of Time, all the Events and Difcourfes recorded in the four Evangelifts, &c. 8vo. printed for A. and J. Churchill, 105, concerning which a learned friend, who has carefully examined it, gives the following account: I am inclined to think that this work is the genuine production of Mr. Locke. It is compiled with accuracy and judgment, and is in every respect worthy of that masterly writer. I have compared it with Mr. Locke's Treatife on the Reasonableness of Christianity, and find a striking refemblance between them in fome of their expreffions, in their quotations from fcripture, and in the arrangement of our Saviour's difcourfes.' Under each of thefe heads this ingenious writer has produced remarkable instances of fuch resemblance, but too particular and minute to be here recited; on the laft he adds, that To the prefent edition this work is added. a 2 whoever |