Excellent  in  counsel,  Shaftesbury  was  poor  as  an  executive
agent.  His  spirit  fretted  at  delay,  and  grew  feverish  with
waiting.  His  eager  impetuosity  betrayed  his  designs,  and,
when  unoccupied,  his  vexed  and  anxious  mind  lost  its  balance,
and  planned  desperate  counsels.  In  times  of  tranquilh'ty,  he
was  too  restless  for  success ;  but,  when  the  storm  was  really
come,  and  old  landmarks  were  washed  away  and  the  wonted
lights  in  the  heavens  were  darkened,  Shaftesbury  was  self-
possessed,  and  knew  how  to  evolve  a  rule  of  conduct  from
general  principles.
At  a  time  when  John  Locke  was  unknown  to  the  world,
Shaftesbury  detected  the  riches  of  his  mind,  and  chose  him
for  a  friend  and  adviser  in  the  work  of  legislation  for  Carolina.
Locke  was  at  this  time  in  the  midway  of  life,  adorning  the
clearest  understanding  with  gentleness,  good  humor,  and  in-
genuousness. Of  a  sunny  disposition,  he  could  be  choleric
without  malice,  and  gay  without  levity.  He  was  a  most  duti-
ful son.  In  dialectics  he  was  unparalleled,  except  by  his
patron.  Fateeming  the  pursuit  of  truth  as  the  first  object  of
life,  and  iu  attainment  as  the  criterion  of  dignity,  he  never
sacrificed  a  ^nviction  to  an  interest.     The  ill  success  of  the


I


4:16   BRITISH   AMERICA  FROM  1660  TO   1688.    paeth.;  ch.  vir.
