46 RELIGION, COLONISING AND TRADE
tration of the Carolina and Bahamas grants, in which
the authority of Shaftesbury as leading director was
supreme, he gave to his chief unstinted and most
effective service, although the fundamental constitu-
tions which he drafted for Carolina were quite
impracticable. His intimacy with Shaftesbury is of
itself enough to show that the latter possessed qualities
other than those for which he has been so bitterly
criticised in history. ‘The Empire had the benefit of
Shaftesbury’s admitted energy and initiative, but he
contributed to it also aversion to monopolies, integrity
in money matters, and religious tolerance. Some of
his letters, whether written for him by Locke or not,
are models of wise and frank writing, indicating a large
outlook. One instance may be given. To a new
governor of Carolina, against whom complaints had
been received, he wrote, ¢ You are now upon founda-
tions of a larger extent than are usual, and perhaps than
in other places you have met with, and, if you will but
suit the managements of your government to them
and direct it wholly to the impartial prosperity of the
whole plantation and all the planters in it, you will
remove the jealousies which, I must tell you, some of
the plantation have conceived of you, you will oblige
the Lords Proprietors, and reap all those advantages
which are sure to attend him who is the greatest and
most considerable man in a thriving plantation and
who hath contributed much to the advancement
thereof.” * Shaftesbury, with Locke behind him, was
in favour of plantation, of forming new colonies.
1 Letter of June 20, 1672, printed in the Colonial Calendar, America
and West Indies, 1669-74, pp. 374-5.