Tercentenary
In 2002, a popular BBC television series set out to discover the Greatest Briton. From a list of 100 Great Britons, viewers were invited to make their own choice. Not easy! Who was really able to compare the merits of those in diverse spheres - between, say, Brunel, an engineer, and William Shakespeare, playwright? Choice was further limited through the restriction of the original, pre-selected list. Perhaps unsurprisingly, of the 100, only one philosopher was included — Thomas Paine, an American revolutionary and the author of The Rights of Man.
John Locke deserved his place. The philosophy and political writings of John Locke influenced the framing of the Constitution of the United States and, from today’s perspective, the evident results of this inspiration may be regarded as very considerable, even 300 years after his death. From 1691, Locke was a local resident, renting rooms in Otes, High Laver. The tercentenary of his death is next year, 2004.
John Locke
Locke was educated at Westminster School. In 1652 he followed his illustrious contemporaries, Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, a physicist, chemist and architect, to Christ Church, Oxford. There he started a medical notebook and he was to keep such notes throughout the rest of his life. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, and thence to a Master’s degree in 1658, Locke was able to continue his medical studies under a college studentship. At Oxford, he later met Robert Boyle, chemist and physician. These people, within his elevated circle of friends, were to remain close to him.
Locke’s skills in the medicine of the day were considerable and frequently consulted by society. Lord Ashley was one who was successfully treated by Locke, a complaint being caused by an abscess on the liver, this was the first recorded successful treatment. Ashley, owing his life to Locke, became Lord High Chancellor of England and the First Earl of Shaftesbury in 1672. Locke was well connected.
The publication of the important philosophical writings of Locke was clustered around the period from 1689 to 1693. Two Treatises on Government was published in 1690, although almost certainly written much earlier. Again, the influential Essay Concerning Human Understanding, generally referred simply to as The Essay, the result of ideas established some twenty years earlier, was published in 1690.
Otes, High Laver
Nearing the age of 60, the poor atmosphere of London increasingly affected Locke’s health, subjected to recurrent bouts of asthma and bronchitis. Locke realised that he had to find quarters outside of the capital, and the urgency was emphasised by several of Locke’s close friends passing away in succession. Locke first asked the king to restore his studentship at Christ Church, but after realising that this would involve the expulsion of the current holder of the studentship, Locke withdrew.
In, 1691, Locke took winter quarters at Otes manor house, in High Laver, where he rented rooms from Sir Francis Masham and his wife Damaris, formerly Damaris Cudworth. She had been a friend of Locke’s for many years. The rent was set at £1 for both Locke and his manservant and 1 shilling for a horse. Otes was soon to become furnished with the scientific instruments derived from a life of enquiring endeavour, meteorological instruments, a telescope, botanical specimens and medical instruments. It may be concluded that the hosts were both understanding and generous. More so as Locke added to his library at Otes, the number of volumes in the library swelling to around 4,000.
The warmer summers allowed Locke to make frequent visits to London, indicating that he was still well enough. Wishing to remain active, in 1696 he took a post as a Commissioner for Trade and Plantations. While in High Laver, Locke continued his medical work. It was difficult for him to retire from medicine completely, as he may have wished, since his medical skills were still highly regarded. A man of his reputation would have naturally acquired a practice, which included not just the Masham family but the local community together with his remaining London circle.
. . . snails and woodlice . . .
In 1700, Locke became seriously ill, causing him to resign his official appointments. Severe asthma and bronchitis resulted in a chill, inviting a visit to Tunbridge Wells to take the spa waters. Later, he suffered violent earache and his notebooks recall both the somewhat primitive and the empirical nature of the proposed cures. A Dr Alexander Geekie proposed a large roast onion wrapped in colewort leaf, with the addition of herbs, as a poultice. In similar manner, other physicians proposed treatments to Locke for the condition, in return for the medical consultancy that Locke had provided to his numerous and influential friends. James Tyrrell advised an onion poultice, but with the addition to the application of “woman’s milk warmed” with juice of rue. Dr Guide suggested, and try this if you will, “oil of worms in which you have boiled snails and woodlice distilled and then dropped in the ear with a slice of onion or garlic”. It is recorded that the pain lessened, for whatever reason, but Locke did become deaf. Further treatments are recorded in his notes; wool rubbed with civet; beef gravy, pickled in salt; spirit of camphor, and so on.
The offending abscess burst. Geekie requested that the offending ear be cleaned with rose water, tincture of myrrh, and aloes made with brandy. He sent a silver ear trumpet, which Locke felt obliged to return. After making a full recovery, Locke delivered his portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller to the good doctor in gratitude.
Locke’s extensive network of medical contacts enabled him to consult most of the leading physicians in England, France and Holland on the subject of his asthma. Throughout this period of failing health, Locke remained active, preparing a commentary on the Epistles of St Paul and arranging a fourth edition of his Essay. He corresponded with his usual energy but during the summer of 1704, Locke’s breathlessness persisted and his legs became swollen. He probably realised that these were signs of worsening heart failure. He made a will, dividing his library into two.
Two Halves of a Library
He died on the 28th October, 1704. His death was peaceful, with Lady Masham reading him psalms, as he had requested. He raised his hands to his eyes and died quietly. He was buried in the churchyard of All Saints, High Laver, with little show. He left £4,555 of personal property. £3,000 was bequeathed to Francis Masham, £100 to the poor of High Laver, and £100 to the parish of Publow and Pensford. His books were divided between Francis Masham and a Peter King.
However, the lasting legacy of John Locke is embodied in the establishment of one of two leading European schools of philosophy. The English philosophers, Hume and Berkeley, were to continue this British empirical philosophical tradition in the following century. The consequences of his political writing are also manifest today. In the 17th century it had been accepted that the rule of a king was accorded authority by Divine Right. Locke’s political writing argued that what existed was a social contract. The social contract was formulated between subject and ruler, with no reference to God, but with rule determined by reference to the common good. Locke also established the doctrine that the legislative, executive and judicial functions should be separate (“checks and balances”). Constitutionally, the United States followed this liberal principle almost completely with President, Congress and the Supreme Court being independent of each other.