198 w. B. SCOTT : one destined to have considerable influence upon the history of Philosophy, was his introduction to Lord Molesworth perhaps by Hutcheson. Molesworth had been a wealthy merchant, and had held a diplomatic appointment at the Danish Court, which occasioned his Account of Denmark as it was in the Year 1692. This work introduced him to the notice of Locke and Shaftesbury. He corresponded with the latter as well as with Toland, 1 and his letters show an appreciation of philosophic questions and methods. At this time he was a prominent figure in Dublin society, and, while still deeply interested in parliamentary affairs, he found a more congenial occupation in entertaining and conversing with persons of literary and philosophic tastes. Even Swift, who was chary of praise, writes: "I am no stranger to his Lordship, and, excepting in what relates to the Church, there are few persons in whose opinions I am better dis- posed to agree ". 2 Molesworth has left no writings dealing with Philosophy, but it is easy to gather the general drift of his opinions. Owing to his personal relations with many of the most prominent thinkers of the day, he was wholly on the side of what was then the most modern and advanced thought, and he was most influenced by his friend Shaftesbury. It is true that Shaftesbury's letters were written some years before Molesworth met Arbuckle and Hutcheson, but it can be shown that he rather adopted than diverged from Shaftes- bury's principles as time went on. As late as 1722, three years before his death, he wrote to Archbishop King, the author of De Origine Mali, evidently defending Shaftesbury's view of moral obligation, which King criticises in a letter still extant, 3 and, if further proof were needed, it would be found in the early essays of his followers which, as will be seen, were published in the Dublin Journal. It has sometimes been said that Sliaftesbury had a few isolated adherents but that there was no Shaftesbury-school ; yet, owing to Molesworth, his Philosophy was perpetuated and became fruitful amongst a group of earnest young thinkers at Dublin. Molesworth must have been a man of singular power in gaining the conviction of others, for, 1 Biographia Britannica. There is an interesting letter from Archbishop King to Molesworth (preserved in the library of Trinity College, Dublin) in answer to one of Molesworth's in which he had defended Toland. Needless to say, King is severe on the " Atheist ". 2 Swift's Works, ed. Sir W. Scott, viii., p. 299. 3 King to Molesworth, 2nd Jan., 1722. King's MS. Letters, ut supra.
