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PREFACE,

THE reputation of Mr. Locke is too well known to stand in need of any eulogium, and every publication tending to elucidate so valuable a production as his ESSAY on HUMAN UNDERSTANDING, cannot but excite the attention and be worthy the patronage of the Literati; more especially fo when iffuing from the pen of Dr. Morell, of whom the late Lord Lyttelton has given the following pleasing character:

"He certainly deferves well of, and is "esteemed by, the learned world; but the acute "critic and profound grammarian seems to be

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impelled rather by the love of fcience, than "the defire of gain,-is generally in the habit of frugal contentment, and hides himself in "that shade of retirement, where the learned "few alone can find him. I am, however, entirely

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PREFACE.

entirely of opinion, that he merits a lefs re"ftrained fituation than he poffeffes; and I

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cannot forgive Dr. B for a breach of

juftice in oppofing his election to a fellow

ship at Eton. Such a promotion would have "been a fuitable reward for his labours, and "have afforded him that ample independence,

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and learned retreat, which would have left "his clofing life without a wish."*

The Doctor finished his long, well-spent life with every tribute due to his memory, when, amongst other manufcripts. in his own handwriting, the following ingenious production was found; which, with a part of his valuable library, came into the poffeffion of the prefent Publifher, where the original may be feen; and, with great propriety, may claim a place as an appendage to the works of Locke lately reprinted.

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* See Lord Lyttelton's Letters.

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§ 8, page 6. IT is the thing as it exifts in the mind

by way of conception, or reprefentation that is properly called the Idea, whether the object be absent or prefent.*

And accordingly he ufes it fometimes for the thoughts or conceptions themselves in the mind, and fometimes for the things themselves without the mind, that are the objects of its thoughts; and this often in the fame fentence, and without any diftinction; which creates great difficulty in the understanding his meaning.

There is no idea in the mind, but when it has fome resemblance, picture, image, or likeness of that which is without it, and never occurs but in that act of the

VOL. I.

*Watts Log. p. 9. † Lee, p. 1.
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mind

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