bdin declares, that "never was a precious collection of English history
and poetry so wretchedly detailed to the public in an auction-catalogue"
as that of Mr. Wynne's library; and yet it will be seen that it must have
realised a considerable sum of money. He mentions, that "a great number
of the poetical tracts were disposed of, previous to the sale, to Dr.
Farmer, who gave not more than forty guineas for them."

CHAPTER III.

FROM LITTLE CHELSEA TO WALHAM GREEN.

After what has been said respecting Shaftesbury House, it may be supposed
that its associations with the memory of remarkable individuals are
exhausted. This is very far from being the case; and a long period in
its history, from 1635 to 1699, remains to be filled up, which, however,
must be done by conjecture: although so many circumstances are upon
record, that it is not impossible others can be produced to complete a
chain of evidence that may establish among those who have been inmates of
the ADDITIONAL WORKHOUSE OF ST. GEORGE'S, HANOVER SQUARE--startling as
the assertion may appear--two of the most illustrious individuals in the
annals of this country; of one of whom Bishop Burnet observed, {110} that
his "loss is lamented by all learned men;" the other, a man whose "great
and distinguishing knowledge was the knowledge of human nature or the
powers and operations of the mind, in which he went further, and spoke
clearer, than all other writers who preceded him, and whose 'Essay on the
Human Understanding' is the best book of logic in the world." After
this, I need scarcely add that BOYLE and LOCKE are the illustrious
individuals referred to.

The amiable John Evelyn, in his 'Diary,' mentions his visiting Mr. Boyle
at Chelsea, on the 9th March, 1661, in company "with that excellent
person and philosopher, Sir Robert Murray," where they "saw divers
effects of the eolipile for weighing air." And in the same year M. de
Monconys, a French traveller in England, says, "L'apres dine je fus avec
M. Oldenburg, {111} et mon fils, a deux milles de Londres en carosse pour
cinq chelins a un village nomme _le petit Chelsey_, voir M. Boyle." Now
at this period there probably was no other house at Little Chelsea of
sufficient importance to be the residence of the Hon. Robert Boyle, where
he could receive strangers in his laboratory and show them his great
telescope; and, moreover, notwithstanding what has been said to prove the
impossibility of Locke havin