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HUGH WROTTESLEY

ESQUIRE.

SIR,

H

Aving met with several of Mr. LOCKE's Works, which were never printed; I thought myself obliged to impart them to the Public, together with fome Pieces, of that illuftrious Writer, which had indeed been published before, but without his name to them, and were grown very scarce. The value you have for every

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every thing that was written by Mr. LOCKE, and your esteem for fome of his friends concern'd in this Collection, emboldens me to offer it to you; and I flatter myself that you will favour it with your acceptance.

The first piece in this Collection, contains The fundamental Conftitutions of Carolina. You know, Sir, that CHARLES II made a grant of that Country by Letters Patents, bearing date March 24th, 1663, to the Duke of ALBEMARLE, the Earl of CLARENDON, the Earl of CRAVEN, the Lord BERKLEY of Stratton, the Lord ASHLEY, Sir GEORGE CARTERET, Sir WILLIAM BERKELEY, and Sir JOHN COLLETON; who thereupon became Proprietors of that Colony..

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My

My Lord ASHLEY, afterwards fo well known by the title of Earl of SHAFTSBURY, Was distinguish'd by an exquifite judgment, an uncommon penetration, and a deep insight into civil affairs. The other Proprietors defir'd him to draw up the Laws neceffary for the establishment of their new Colony to which he the more readily confented, because he relied on the affiftance of Mr. LocKE, who had the good fortune to gain his friendship and confidence.

My Lord ASHLEY well knew, that our Philofopher had a peculiar right to a work of this nature. He call'd to his mind fo many ancient Philofophers, who had been Legislators, and who on this very account, had ftatues eA 3 rected

rected to them. And indeed, Sir, if we confider on the one hand,. that a Philosopher makes Man his particular study, knows the reach of his mind, and the fprings of his paffions, in fine, his good and bad qualities; and that on the other hand, not being byass'd by any motives of self-intereft, he hath nothing in view but the general good of Mankind: it will be granted, that no body is better qualified than fuch a one, not only to civilize a barbarous People, but to prevent the inconveniences and disorders, which even the most polite Nations are apt to fall into. In this refpect it is, that the Philofopher hath the advantage over the Courtier, or what we call the Politician. For, this latter, being accustom❜d to study the genius and

inclinations of men for his own ends only, and to make his own advantage of them; it is impoffible he fhould entirely overcome the force of cuftom, and the ty ranny of prejudice, when the concerns of the Publick, and the welfare of Society, are under deliberation. But the Philofopher confiders things in general, and as they really are in themselves. He examines the most difficult and important points of Government, with the fame accuracy, and the fame difpofition of mind, as his other philofophical Speculations. And therefore, as all his views are more extensive and impartial, they must needs be more beneficial and secure.

But tho' fome may be of opi

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nion,