Excerpt
"Sir,—Having once writt to you in my own Language, I continue to use the same Privilege. I am sorry that I am in no better a condition to acquit my self of my Promise to you. My Recovery has been so slow, that I am scarce yet got up: and I have been unable to hold any Correspondance with my Friends in Town. Mr. King promisd to send me the Papers I mention'd to you of Mr. Lock's; who, it seems, had begun some Memoires of his own relating to my Gd Father. These however imperfect, yet as being Mr. Lock's own I should have been glad to send you with what supplement I could make myself: But Mr. King's Engagements in the Publick affaires has made him delay this so long, that according to the account you have given me of the shortness of your Time, I must wayt no longer: but content my self with giving you what I can out of my own head, without other Assistance.
"Mr. Lock came into my Grandfathers Family in the summer of the year 1666, recommended by his Friend Mr. Bennet of ye town of Shaftesbury. The occasion of it was thus. My Grandfather had been ill for a great while after a Fall, by wch his Breast was so bruised that in time it came to an Imposthumation (?) within, and appeard by a swelling under his stomach. Mr. Lock was at that time a student in Physick at Oxford: and my Grandfather taking a journey that way to drink the Waters (having Mr. Bennett in ye Coach with him), He had this young Physician presented to him: who tho' he had never practic'd Physick; yet appear'd to my Grandfather to be such a Genius that he valew'd him above all his other Physicians, the great men in practice of those times. Accordingly on his advice and allmost solely by his Direction my Gd Father underwent an Operation wch sav'd his Life, and was the most wonderfull of the kind that had been heard of, till that time. His Breast was layd open, the matter discharg'd, and an Orifice ever afterwards kept open by a silver pipe: an Instrument famouse upon Record, in the Writings our Popish and Jacobite Authors, who never faild to reproach him with this Infirmity.
"After this Cure, Mr. Lock grew so much in esteem with my Grand-Father that as great a Man as he had experienc'd him in Physick; he look'd upon this but as his least part. He encourag'd him to turn his Thoughts another way. Nor would he suffer him to practice Physick except in his own Family and as a kindness to some particular Friend. He put him upon the studdy of the Religiouse and Civil affaires of the Nation with whatsoever related to the Business of a Minister of State: in wch he was so successfull, that my Gd Father begun soon to use him as a Friend, and consult with him on all occasions of that kind. He was not only with him in his Library and Closet, but in company with the Great Men of those times, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Hallifax and others, who being men of Witt and Learning, were as much taken with him. For together with his seriouse, respectfull and humble Character, he had a mixture of Pleasantry and a becoming Boldness of Speech. The Liberty he could take with these great Men was peculiar to such a Genius as his. A pleasant Instance of it runs in my Mind: tho' perhaps the relation of it may not be so pleasing to another.
"At an appointed Meeting of two or three of these Great-Men at my Gd Father's House, more for Entertainment and good company than for Business, it happen'd that after a few Compliments the Cards were called for, and the Court-Fashion prevailing, they were engag'd in Play before any Conversation was begun. Mr. Lock sate by as a spectator for some time. At least taking out his Table-Book, he began to write something very busily: till being observd by one of the Lords, and ask'd what he was meditating; My Lords (sayd he) I am improving my self the best I can in your Company: for, having impatiently wayted this Honour of being present at such a meeting of the wisest Men and greatest Witts of the Age, I thought I could not do better than to write your Conversation: and here I have it, in substance, all that has pass'd for this hour or two....