ni 



LOCKR, JOHN. 



LOCKE, JOSEPH, M.P. 



admitted than that the whole U equal to iti part*. Moreover axioms 

 are not useful for the proof of all lower proposition! Involved la them : 

 they cannot consequently form the ba*is of any science. For example, 

 no Mienoe has Ter been raited on the basis of the principle of contra- 

 diction. They do not even contribute to the enlargement of know- 

 ledge ; the false as well as the true may be proved by them, and 

 consequently they serve at best but for endless dispute. Among those 

 banvn and unprofitable proposition.', Locke reckons not merely those 

 that arc identical, but analytical also, or those in which a property 

 contained in a complex idea is predicated of it For example : every 

 man is an animal. By such judgments or propositions we barn in 

 fact nothing, and our knowledge is not increased in the least degree. 

 Knowledge can only be extended by such judgments as predicate of a 

 subject some quality or property which is not already involved in the 

 idea of it Synthetical propositions therefore are alone of value. In 

 the next plaoe he examines certain metaphysical problems, and con- 

 cludes of most of them that they do not admit of any precise solution, 

 while others might easily be set at rest if men would only come to the 

 investigation of them free from all prejudices. Some very valuable 

 remarks are added upon the sources of error, and on enthusiasm and 

 faith, the due limits of which are pointed out, and the important 

 truth repeatedly insisted upon, that reason la the ultimate test of 

 revelation. The work concludes with a division of the object-matter 

 of science or knowledge, which he makes to be three-fold: 1. Natural 

 philosophy, or physica, which is the knowledge of things both corpo- 

 real and spiritual. The end of this is speculative truth. 2. Ethics, 

 or pnctica, which is the skill of rightly applying our powers and 

 actions for the attainment of things good and useful, the end of it 

 being not bare speculation, but ri^ht, and a conduct suitable to it. 

 8. The doctrine of signs (mjutiwTiic^), the business of which is to con- 

 rider the nature of the signs which the mind makes usa of for the 

 understanding of things or the conveying of its ideas to others. This 

 is the most general as well as the moat natural division of the objects 

 of the understanding. For man can employ his thoughts about 

 nothing but either the contemplation of things for the discovery of 

 truth, or about the things in his own power, which are his own 

 actions for the attainment of his ends ; or the signs which the mind 

 makes use of iu both, and the right ordering of them for ita 

 information. 



Such is the celebrated Essay which has formed the basis of more 

 than one school of modern philosophy, whose very opposite views 

 may indeed find some support in the occasional variations and self- 

 contradictions of its author. For it must be admitted that it is 

 deficient in that scientific rigour and unity of view which preclude all 

 inconsistency of detail. Nevertheless, rightly to appreciate Locke's 

 philosophical merits, nil contradictory passages must be neglected, or 

 interpreted by the general spirit of his system. Attaching our 

 attention then to the common mould and whole bearing of the Essay, 

 we must conclude that the authority of Locke is unduly claimed bj 

 the followers of Condillac and the ideologists of France, whose objecl 

 it was to approximate as closely as possible the rational thought and 

 sensuous perception, and to explain the former as simply a result ol 

 the latter. For although Locke took in hand the defence of the 

 sensuous clement of knowledge, and, in opposition to Descartes an 

 the idealists, endeavoured to show that in the attainment of science 

 we set out from the sensible as the earlier and the better known, stil 

 ho was far from denying that the rational thought, which is the per 

 fection of human cognition, is really and truly distinct from the 

 motions of the mind or toul occasioned by sensation. Setting out 

 with the assumption of the permanence of ideas iu the mind, Locke 

 proceeds to illustrate the development of the particular into the 

 general ; and having then shown their difference from the unroa 

 creations of the fancy, proceeds to determine their degree of verity 

 This description of the advance from the simple idea to universals am 

 to knowledge, evidently implies an independent and spontaneou 

 activity of the mind, which assents to the sensuous impressions, au< 

 confirms them by its conviction. Locke therefore is far from looking 

 upon human science and knowledge as the simple results of the 

 impressions produced by external objects on tho sensea Neverthe 

 less, there is another aspect of his theory which in some degree justi 

 fies the use which has been made of his name, and under which he 

 appears to be proceeding in the direction of thought, of which th 

 IdeologiBtH have attained to the height. Knowledge, as well as sensa 

 tion, is looked upon as tho joint result of the reciprocal action o 

 outward objects and the mental faculties, when-in as much depend 

 on the qualities of the external as on those of tho internal. Whil 

 he admit* that assent is entirely subjective, he nevertheless grant 

 that outward objects constrain it ; and as a consequence of such 

 Tiew, he teaches that notwithstanding tho idea produced in the rainu 

 by an outward object be a passive affection of the mind, it neverthe- 

 less reveals to the mind its eflicient cmse ; and that to thin manifesto 

 tion of outward objects by the senses there hi invariably attached, 01 

 by a nccc?sary consequence, the judgment that those objects exis 

 really. It is therefore clear that, according to Locke, we receive from 

 the senses not merely the object-matter of knowledge, but that like 

 wise the forms under which we conceive of objects are furnished t 

 the mind from the same source. 

 The works of Locke have been collected nd frequently publishec 



a 8 vols. foL, and a life of him was written in 1772; but the most 

 omplete and best edition U that in 10 vols. 8vo, London, 1801 and 

 812. A Life of Locke was published in 1829 by the late Lord King, 

 lineal descendant of his sister. 



LOCKE, JOSEPH, M.I'., civil engineer, whose name must hold 

 chief plaoe in any record of the development of the railway iytem 

 f communication during the hut five and twenty years, in this 

 country and on the continent, was bora at Atteroliffe, near Sheffield, 

 u the year 1805, and was educated at the Grammar School at Barusloy 

 n Yorkshire, from whence he was placed at Newcastle on-Tyuo under 

 lie late George Stephenson, the mechanical and civil engineer, for n 

 arm of five or six yean. Towards the end of this period, or iu the 

 'ear 1826, the railway between Manchester and Liverpool was com- 

 menced Mr. Stephenson being the chief engineer. Mr. Locke remai 

 ;onnected with the works of that line until tho opening of the railway 

 n the 14th of September 1830 ; and his services during the interval, 

 n the experiments as to motive power, were especially valuable with 

 reference to the selection of the particular means iu that case, and 

 .he perception eventually of the full capabilities of the locomotive 

 engine. Various opinions on the subject here referred to, had been 

 entertained until shortly previous to the year 1830, when a pamphlet 

 n the joint names of Mr. Robert Stephenson and Mr. Locke col- 

 ated the results, and settled the question as to choice of motive 

 lower though rope-traction was also used, and continued to be so, 

 during some years in exceptional oases. But " easy gradients ' 

 'or some time deemed indispensable. Soon after the completion of the 

 Manchester and Liverpool line, a project for a railway from its \Var- 

 riugton branch to Birmingham was revived, and tho line was com- 

 menced in 1832 or 1833. Mr. George Stephenson at first was the 

 engineer, but the line was eventually formed by Mr. Locke, and opened 

 on the Oth of July 1837, being then called the Grand Junction. 

 Amongst the chief works on it were the Dutton and Vale Royal 

 Viaducts ; and improvements in the rails and fixing, by tho use of the 

 :ieavy double-headed rail and wooden key, were made. The chief 

 importance of the undertaking as influencing tlio progress of rail- 

 roads, however, was the important element, in such progress, of its 

 commercial success. The line was constructed for a sum within the 

 estimate, and at the cost of between 14,000/. and 15,0002. a mile. 



These fortunate circumstances led to the investment of Lane 

 capital in similar undertakings under Mr. Locke's direction, over tho 

 extended field of operations which has been alluded to. The Lancaster 

 and Preston line was commenced iu 1837, and was opened in 1840, 

 iu which latter year the Sheffield and Manchester line was undertaken. 

 Some time previous to the completion of the Grand Junction line, a 

 railway from London to Southampton had been commenced. To this 

 last Mr. Locke was eventually named tho engineer; and his chief 

 attention was given to the works, after the completion of the Urand 

 Junction. The first section of tho line from Nine Elms to Wokiug was 

 opened on the 21st of May 1S3S ; and the whole main lino was completed 

 on the llth of May 1840, since which period numerous branch 

 been added. Of the works on this South-western line, the Mioheldever 

 embankment, near Winchester, may be named as one of tho principal: 

 it is 90 feet in height. Economy in construction continued to be a 

 characteristic of Mr. Locke's works. 



Southampton had been long an important port for France ; and 

 after the completion of the last-named line numerous projects for 

 continental lines were set on foot with Mr. Locke as engineer, as for 

 example, the Paris and Rouen, and Rouen and Havre lines, which he 

 completed; one from Paris to Lyon, constructed under another 

 engineer ; and one for the Caen and Cherbourg line, which has been 

 opened in this year (1856). For the Paris and Houen Una ho received, 

 in 1845, the decoration of tho Legion of Honour from King Louis 

 Philippe, Mr. Locke has also designed and superintend! d tho line 

 between Barcelona and Mattaro in Spain, and the Dutch Rhenish 

 railway, of which the final portion was completed in 1856. During the 

 construction of the works on the continental lines, Mr. Locke had joined 

 with him as his coadjutor in professional practice, Mr. John Edward 

 Errington ; and together they constructed tho Laiieaster and Carlisle, 

 the East Lancashire, tho Caledonian, the Scottish Central, the 

 Scottish Midland, and tho Aberdeen railways, and the Gi 

 railway aud docks. Notwithstanding the heavy works on the Cale- 

 donian line, it was constructed, with the platforms and ro:id.-ide 

 stations, for less than 16.000/. a mile. This economy of construction 

 resulted from the bold adoption of lines of gradient far more steep 

 than had before been held suitable for the powers of the locomotive 

 engine; the result however allowed Mr. Locke to complete his proof 

 of the possibility of saving in many cases, expenses which had been 

 incurred under the idea of a radical defect, and consequent loss of 

 power and time, in anything not approaching to a dead level. 



Mr. Locke's early study of the locomotive engine led him to take great 

 interest in the engine-works which were established at Crewe ; aud 

 "the Crewe engine " a system of construction in which each of the 

 several parts of an engine is inado with mathematical accuracy, and 

 repeated in duplicate BO as to fit indifferently any engine wan the 

 result Mr. Locke was returned to Parliament in tho year 1S47 Tor 

 Houiton, of which ho is lord of the manor. He is classed with liberals 

 iu politics. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a vice-president 

 of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 



