249 A LETTER FROM Mr. LOCKE то Mr. OLDENBURG; Concerning a poisonous Fish about the Bahama Islands. SIR, I Herewith fend you an account Islands, concerning a Filh there; which is as followeth: I have not met with any Rarities here, worth your acceptance, tho' I have been diligent in enquiring after them. Of thofe which I have heard of, this feems moft remarkable to me. The Fish, which are here, are many of them poisonous, bringing a great pain on their joints who eat them, and continue for fome short time; and at last, with two or three days itching, the pain is rubb'd off. Thofe of the fame fpecies, fize, shape, colour, tafte; are, one of them, poyfon; the other, not in the least hurtful: and thofe that are, only to Some of the company, The distemper to Men never proves mortal: Dogs, and Cats Sometimes eat their last. Men who have once had that difeafe; upon the firft eating of Fish, the it be those which are wholeSome, the poisonous ferment in their Body is revived thereby, and their pain increased. Thus far the ingenious perfon from whom I had this relation, who having been but a very little while upon the Ifland when he writ this could not fend fo perfect an account of this odd obfer vation, vation, as one could wifh, or as I expect to receive from him, in answer to fome Queres I lately fent him by a fhip bound thither. When his Answer comes to my hand, if there be any thing in it, which may gratify your curiofity, I fhall be glad of that or any other occafion, to affure you that I am, SIR, Your most humble Servant, JOHN LOCKE. A N ONE of your concerns are of indifference to me. You may from thence conclude I take part in your late great lofs. But I confider you as a Philofopher, and a Christian; and fo fpare you the trouble of reading from me, what your own thoughts will much better fuggeft to you. You have exceedingly obliged me, in the Books of yours that you have fent me, and those of mine you have been at fo much trouble about. I received but juft now the packet wherein they and your obliging Letter were that must be my excufe for fo tardy a return of my thanks. I am overjoy'd with an intimation I have received also, that gives me hopes of feeing you here the next week. You are a charitable good friend, and are resolved to make the decays and dregs of my life the pleasantest part of it. For I know nothing calls me fo much back to a pleasant sense of enjoyment, and makes my days fo gay and lively, as your good company. Come then, and multiply happy minutes upon, and rejoyce here in the good you do me. For I am with a perfect cfcem and res fpect, |