partial an evidence might have raised another doubt with the
great sceptic. It appears, by Aubrey's papers, that Hobbes did
not wish his biography should appear when he was living, that
he might not seem the author of it.

Baxter, who knew Hobbes intimately, ranks him with Spinosa, by
a strong epithet for materialists--"The _Brutists_, Hobbes,
and Spinosa." He tells us that Selden would not have him in
his chamber while dying, calling out, "No Atheists!" But by
Aubrey's papers it appears that Hobbes stood by the side of
his dying friend. It is certain his enemies raised stories
against him, and told them as suited their purpose. In the
Lansdowne MSS. I find Dr. Grenville, in a letter, relates how
"Hobbes, when in France, and like to die, betrayed such
expressions of repentance to a great prelate, from whose mouth
I had this relation, that he admitted him to the sacrament.
But Hobbes afterwards made this a subject of ridicule in
companies."--_Lansdowne MSS._ 990--73.

Here is a strong accusation, and a fact too; yet, when fully
developed, the result will turn out greatly in favour of
Hobbes.

Hobbes had a severe illness at Paris, which lasted six months,
thus noticed in his metrical life:

Dein per sex menses morbo decumbo propinque
Accinctus morti; nec fugio, illa fugit.

It happened that the famous Guy Patin was his physician; and
in one of these amusing letters, where he puts down the events
of the day, like a newspaper of the times, in No. 61, has
given an account of his intercourse with the philosopher, in
which he says that Hobbes endured such pain, that he would
have destroyed himself--"_Qu'il avoit voulu se tuer._"--Patin
is a vivacious writer: we are not to take him _au pied de la
lettre_. Hobbes was systematically tenacious of life: and, so
far from attempting suicide, that he wanted even the courage
to allow Patin to bleed him! It was during this illness that
the Catholic party, who like to attack a Protestant in a state
of unresisting debility, got his learned and intimate friend,
Father Mersenne, to hold out all the benefits a philosopher
might derive from their Church. When Hobbes was acquainted
w