opinion, that in Matters of State, the Politician ought to have the preference of the Philofopher; this will not in the leaft diminish the value of the Fundamental Conftitutions of Carolina; fince not only a Philofopher, but a Politician of the first rank, was concern'd therein. No man is more capa¬ ble of judging of the excellence of fuch Constitutions, than your self, Sir, who not only have acquired a complete knowledge of our Laws, but studied them as a Philofopher, by looking for the motives and foundations of them, in the very nature of Mankind.

For the reft, you have here those Constitutions, printed from Mr. LOCKE's copy, wherein are feveral amendments made with his

own

own hand. He had presented it, as a work of his, to one of his friends, who was pleas'd to communicate it to me.

The second piece in this Collection is, A Letter from a perfon of quality, to his friend in the country. It gives an account of the Debates and Refolutions of the House of Lords, in April and May, 1675, concerning a Bill, entitled, An Act to prevent the dangers which may arife from perfons difaffected to the Government. By that Bill, which was brought in by the Court - Party, all fuch as enjoy'd any beneficial Office or Employment, ecclefiaftical, civil, or military; to which was afterwards added, Privy Counfellors, Juftices of the Peace

and

and Members of Parliament; were, under a penalty, to take the Oath, and make the Declaration and Abhorrence following: I A. B. do declare, that it is not lawful, upon any pretence whatfoever, to take up Arms against the King; and that I do abhor that traiterous pofition of taking Arms by bis Authority, against his Perfon; or against those that are commiffion'd by him, in purfuauce of fuch Commission: and I do fwear, that I will not, at any time, endeavour the alteration of the Government, either in Church or State. So help me God.

Such of the Lords as had no dependance upon the Court, and were distinguish'd by the name of Country-Lords, look'd upon this Bill as a step the Court was mak

ing, to introduce arbitrary power : and they oppos'd it fo vigorously, that the Debate lafted five several days, before it was committed to a Committee of the whole House: and afterwards, it took up fixteen or feventeen whole days; the House fitting many times till eight or nine of the clock at night, and fometimes till midnight. However, after feveral alterations, which they were forc'd to make, it pass'd the Committee: but a contest then arifing between the two Houses, concerning their Privileges; they were fo inflam'd against each other, that the King thought it adviseable to prorogue the Parliament: fo that the Bill was never reported from the Committee to the House.

The

The Debates occafion'd by that Bill, fail'd not to make a great noise throughout the whole Kingdom: and because there were but few perfons duly apprized thereof, and every body spoke of it, as they stood affected; my Lord SHAFTSBURY, who was, as the Head of the Country-Party, thought it necessary to publish an exact relation of every thing that had pass'd upon that occafion; in order, not only to open the Peoples eyes upon the fecret views of the Court; but to do justice to the Country-Lords, and thereby to secure to them the continuance of the affection and attachment of fuch as were of the fame opinion with themselves, which was the moft confiderable

part