of the parish of St. J—, not far from the city of of "foreigner." This term had then a very London." The offence which the book occasioned offensive meaning, and there was even danger that no doubt arose out of its truthfulness, and its close simple-minded people might be signally misled by and cutting application to the actual conditions of it. De Foe therefore puts saddle and bridle upon a the times. The writer was obviously correct in sort of Pony-Pegasus, and valiantly rides forth with a his position, that unless wickedness in high places poetical satire called the True-born Englishman." could be reduced, it would be both folly and unfair- It opens with the memorable lines, which have ness to attempt its suppression in the low. since become a proverb

Some time towards the close of the century, De Foe appears to have taken up his residence at Hackney, for the sake, probably, of being nearer to the metropolis, the grand scene of political movements and adventures. Here we find him The object of the satire is to reproach the author's with a settled household, a married man with chil-discontented countrymen with ingratitude for abusdren around him, one of which was born here in ing King William as a foreigner, and to humble 1701, as is evidenced by an entry of baptism in the their pride for despising some of the newly-created parish register. How long he had been married, nobility on the same account. He accordingly or what fair lady he had linked his fate with, are traces the elevation of our ancient families to the points of his biography which have never come to favor of the Norman Conqueror, who partitioned light. Being, however, on the verge of forty, it is out the country among his followers, and by his probable that he was by this time a paternal per- usurped prerogative made them lords and denisonage of some standing, since in his writings there zens. He conceives that the descendants of a noare repeated allusions to his large family. For in- bility so created have not much to boast of; and he stance, in 1706, he speaks of seven children; and thus strongly exposes their inordinate pride of subsequently, in 1712, he refers to six, one having | ancestry :—

What honesty they have the Saxons gave them,
And that, now they grow old, begins to leave them.
The climate makes them terrible and bold;
And English beef their courage does uphold;
No danger can their daring spirit pall,
Always provided with their bellies full.

The remainder of the work is chiefly occupied in laudations of King William, and in exposing the ingratitude of the nation towards its deliverer. After reviewing his principal exploits, and the services and virtues of some of his associates in the Revolution, the author concludes his poem by asserting the preeminence and supreme nobility of character

Could but our ancestors retrieve their fate,
And see their offspring thus degenerate;
How we contend for birth and names unknown,
And build on their past actions, not our own;
They'd cancel records, and their tombs deface,
And then disown the vile degenerate race;
For fame of families is all a cheat,

"T IS PERSONAL VIRTUE ONLY MAKES US GREAT!

it in earnest, whereas, before, you had it in the best writers, and in the most florid speeches, before the most august assemblies, upon the most solemn occasions."*

Notwithstanding the injuries which he sustained by the piratical practices of the times, the publication of the "True-born Englishman” had a favorable effect upon the author's fortunes, inasmuch as it gained for him a personal introduction to King William. Having read and admired the poem, his majesty desired to become acquainted with De Foe, and accordingly sent for him to the palace, and subsequently employed him in various state transactions, the nature of which, however, has been scrupulously kept secret. It is nevertheless apparent that he was held in great estimation by the king, and received from him many substantial marks of his approbation. This is indeed the most prosperous period in his private history. By royal favor and the character of events, by success and popularity in authorship, he has now attained to considerable elevation in worldly respectability, and is even

It should be mentioned that the immediate occa-understood to keep his carriage. sion of this performance was the previous publication of a sorry pamphlet, in ill-natured verse, and called "The Foreigners," by a writer whom De Foe alludes to as "one Mr. Tutchin." It seems to have been quite a scurrilous affair; and it was to correct the impression which it was making on the public that the "True-born Englishman" was produced. De Foe's work had a wonderful success, having passed in a short period through not less than nine authorized editions, and appears to have been pirated to an almost unlimited extent. Of the cheap editions published without the author's concurrence or assent, it is said that not less than 80,000 copies were disposed of in the public streets of London.* He tells us, that had he been permitted to enjoy the profits of his own labor, this production would have yielded him above a thousand pounds.†

The best of times, nevertheless, as the proverb goes, are liable to change. On the 8th of March, 1702, King William, after a reign of thirteen years, is lying dead at Kensington; and De Foe speedily discovers that he has no longer any friend at court. The new reign appears propitious for reaction. The whigs, whose influence in the national councils had been declining during the latter days of William, now find themselves entirely displaced by their old enemies, the tories. Moreover, High-Church sectarianism is lifting up the darkness of its countenance, and intolerance and persecution are at work, striving to coerce private consciences. A grand controversy arises about "occasional conformity" argumentations begin, all more or less affecting the interests and comfort of Dissenters. Now also arose that eminent distinction between It is difficult to judge of the merit of a satire High Church and Low, which was destined to play when the occasion which produced it has passed so large a part in the history of those days, and to away; but if, as seems reasonable, we are to esti- survive even down to the present writing. Accordmate its value by its effects, we shall be justified in ing to Burnet, all that were opposed to rational considering the "True-born Englishman" as an liberty, held up the standard of persecution for the excellent performance. Its poetical attractions, to faith, and were inclined to practise extreme and be sure, are nowise extraordinary-there being in violent measures against Dissenters, were called the entire work scarcely an inkling of what we are High Churchmen-and some of them gloried in the now accustomed to esteem poetry. Yet the versifi- name-while all that treated the Dissenters with cation is often good, and the whole piece is replete temper and moderation, diligently labored in their with sense, vigor, and ingenuity. It discouraged cures, and approved of the principles of the Revoluthat vain reliance upon the merits of rank and ances- tion, were considered to be ill affected to the intertry which it was intended to expose; it reproved, ests of the church, and were therefore denominated and so far moderated the national vanity, as to Low Churchmen. The High-Church faction being silence the absurd pretensions to superiority over now in the ascendency, all toleration was repuother nations which were then so commonly in-diated, and the most strenuous exertions made to subdulged in; and it contributed to the promotion of a more general respect for natural talent and personal integrity in the kingdom. Of its reformatory efficacy the author appears to have been individually satisfied. Many years after its publication he said in allusion to it: "None of our countrymen have been known to boast of being True-born Englishmen, or so much as to use the word as a title or appellation, ever since a late satire upon that national folly was published, though almost thirty years ago. Noth-party contests. ing was more frequent in our mouths before thatnothing so universally blushed for and laughed at since. The time I believe is yet to come for any author to print it, or any man of sense to speak of

*Life and Times, by Walter Wilson.

+ Preface to the Collection of his Writings, vol. ii.

ject the Nonconformists to tyrannous and degrading disabilities. Parson Sacheverell, probably the greatest blackguard of his day, sounded the " pulpit drum" at Oxford, declaring that every man who desired the true welfare of the church "ought to hang out the bloody flag and banner of defiance" against Dissenters. Great was the war of pamphlets thereupon-newspapers having not as yet become sufficiently established to be the organs of

In such a threatening state of things, De Foe could not fail to advance into the fray, to the help of the oppressed against the mighty. Tract after tract, loaded with argument and sharp derision, was accordingly fired off in rapid and continuous *Use and Abuse of the Marriage-Bed, pp. 400-1.

known! This is selling them a liberty to transgress for so much money. If it be not a crime, why don't we give them full license? And if it be, no price ought to compound for the committing it, for that is selling a liberty to people to sin against God and the government. We hang men for trifles, and banish them for things not worth naming; but an offence against God and the church against the welfare of the world and the dignity of religion-shall be bought off for five shillings! This is such a shame to a Christian government, that 't is with regret I transmit it to posterity."

succession-wounding and convincing some, and irritating and offending many more. Argument, however, was upon the whole sadly ineffective, and fell for the most part as harmlessly as cannon-balls on feather-beds. De Foe therefore thinks it well to change his tactics, and instead of argument to try the force of satire. Being well acquainted with the writings of his opponents, and seeing the absurd lengths to which their intemperate dispositions urged them, it occurred to him that by personating the character of a high churchman, and judiciously employing his gift of irony, he might perhaps be able to expose the wickedness and folly of the ascendant faction in such a way as would in some sort frustrate their intolerant designs. With this view he produced and published "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters; or Proposals for the Establishment of the Church. London, 1702"-a work which apparently recommended the infliction of the harshest pains and penalties on those unquiet people, and which, being published without the author's name, was at first misapprehended, as well by the party whom it was designed to serve as by that against whose malignity and perverseness it was intentionally directed. At the two universities it was accepted as the work of a violent high-I received yours, and with it that pamphlet which churchman, and under that impression was considerably applauded; while the Dissenters, on the other hand, gave proof of their incapacity for understanding banter, by being seriously alarmed lest the inflictions derisively proposed should be actually put in exercise.

The work begins with some bitter reflections on the principles and conduct of Dissenters, showing how inimical they are to the peace and well-being of the nation. Then, after a review of their fanatical irregularities from the period of their original secession, and some remarks on the injudicious lenity which had been exercised towards them by all preceding governments, the author proceeds to propose and justify a resolute course of persecution. He declares that we can never enjoy a settled, uninterrupted union and tranquillity in this nation till the spirit of whiggism, faction, and schism is melted down, like the old money. Accordingly, the Dissenters must be all exterminated. Nothing short of their absolute destruction will suffice to render us a national and unmixed church." "I do not prescribe fire and fagot," says he; "but as Scipio said of Carthage, Delenda est Carthago they are to be rooted out of this nation, if ever we will live in peace, serve God, or enjoy our own." How so desirable a consummation is to be effected he declines to say, leaving it "to those who have a right to execute God's justice on the nation's and the church's enemies." For the rest, he continues -""Tis vain to trifle in this matter. The light, foolish handling of them by fines is their glory and advantage. If the gallows instead of the compter, and the galleys instead of the fines, were the reward of going to a conventicle, there would not be so many sufferers. The spirit of martyrdom is over. They that will go to church to be chosen sheriffs and mayors would go to forty churches rather than be hanged. If one severe law was made, and punctually executed, that whoever was found at a conventicle should be banished the nation, and the preacher hanged, we should soon see an end of the tale-they would all come to church, and one age would make us all one again. To talk of five shillings a month for not coming to the sacrament, and of one shilling a week for not coming to church, is such a way of converting people as never was

One wonders how any human heads could have been so obtuse as not to perceive the irony of passages such as this. Perceived, however, it was not, but was, as we have said, entirely mistaken both by Churchmen and Dissenters. In one of his later works our author says-" The wisest Churchmen in the nation were deceived by this book. Those whose temper fell in with the times hugged and embraced it-applauded the proposal-filled their mouths with the arguments made use of therein; and an eminent Churchman in the country wrote a letter to his friend in London, who had sent him the book, in the following words :-" SIR

makes so much noise, called The Shortest Way with the Dissenters,' for which I thank you. 1 join with that author in all he says, and have such a value for the book that, next to the Holy Bible and the sacred comments, I take it for the most valuable piece I have. I pray God put it into her majesty's heart to put what is there proposed into execution. Yours, &c.'" In 1705 De Foe stated in his "Review" that he had the original of this letter then in his possession. A similar story is related by Oldmixon, which it is unnecessary to repeat.

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As soon as it was discovered that De Foe was the author of the "Shortest Way," the church and tory party were at no loss to comprehend his object; and that which had been lately lauded as a production inferior only to the "Holy Bible and the sacred comments," was now denounced as infamous, and its author deemed deserving of a public prosecution. As the tempest of rage began to rise, De Foe thought it prudent to conceal himself, though it was soon apparent that any lengthened concealment would be impossible; witness the "Gazette" of London for the 10th of January, 1703, offering a reward for his apprehension, on the grounds that he is "charged with writing a scandalous and seditious pamphlet." We are much indebted to this document for preserving to us an intelligible description of his outward man. He is," says the Gazette, a middlesized, spare man, about forty years old; of a brown complexion, and dark-brown colored hair, but wears a wig; a hooked nose, a sharp chin, gray eyes, and a large mole near his mouth; was born in London, and for many years was a hose-factor in Freeman's Yard, in Cornhill, and is now owner of the brick and pantile works near Tilbury Fort in Essex. Whoever shall discover the said Daniel De Foe to one of her majesty's justices of the peace, so he may be apprehended, shall have a reward of £50, which her majesty has ordered immediately to be paid upon such discovery." On the 25th of February, as an instance of further animosity against De Foe, a formal complaint was made of his publication in the House of Commons, when, some of the obnoxious passages being read, it was resolved

That this book, being full of false and scandalous reflections on this Parliament, and tending to promote sedition, be burnt by the hands of the

common hangman to-morrow in New Palace- he can brave the jeers and insults of his enemies, Yard." and is even protected from their missiles by the Accordingly, on the morrow, in New Palace- presence and activity of many steadfast friends. Yard there is a remarkable display of fire-works. The ignominy of his situation is all reflected on his The Calcraft of the day, with drunken, bewildered persecutors. The very populace regard him with countenance, in second-hand, uncertain small sympathy and interest, and in generous "fraterclothes, indefinite jerkins, and other nondescript nity" greet him with triumphant acclamations. apparel, has been summoned to execute the "last Instead of pelting him with stones, they deck the severity of the law" upon a book. Suitable official pillory with garlands, and raising a voluntary conpersons, indignant zealots, and the universal" tag-tribution, in strong liquor, purchased with the rag and bob-tail" of the neighborhood are also as- same, audaciously proceed to drink his health! sembled to see it done; and there, amid execrations and huzzaings, the free-spoken thought of a bold man, so far as authority can do it, is suppressed. By every burnt book, however, the world is more effectually enlightened; and "every suppressed or expunged word reverberates through the earth from side to side." There always comes a day of stern retaliation for such indignities. "The minds of men are at last aroused; reason looks out, and justifies her own, and malice finds all her work in vain."* Nay, are not the author's popularity and importance, even at the time, thereby extended and advanced? In one of his works De Foe relates that he had heard a bookseller in King James' time affirm, that if he desired a book to sell, he would, if possible, have it burnt by the hands of the common hangman.

The book being thus, as we suppose, burnt, the printer and publisher were next taken into custody, and thereupon De Foe came forward and surrendered. While in retirement he had prepared "A Brief Explanation of a late Pamphlet," hoping by its publication to correct the misunderstanding which had led to a hasty censure of his book; nevertheless, he was indicted for libel and sedition, and was subsequently brought to trial on the charge. Bench, bar, and jury were alike prejudiced against him, so that there was little difficulty in obtaining a verdict favorable to his prosecutors. Being pronounced guilty, he was sentenced to pay a fine of 200 marks to the queen; stand three times in the pillory; find sureties for his good behavior for seven years; and be imprisoned during the pleasure of her majesty. In retired durance, under lock and key in Newgate, he has accordingly to compose himself as well as possible, and contemplate his prospects. To a man who lately" kept his carriage," and is now in a manner ruined, that side of things can hardly present anything very cheering. However, it is consolatory to him to reflect that his misfortunes have befallen him, not as the consequences of his misconduct, but as an unjust and violent infliction from malicious men on account of deeds whereof his conscience can approve. He therefore abates not a jot of heart or hope. The indignities awarded him can neither humble his erect spirit, nor cover his manifest integrity with disgrace.

That same night, too, a "Hymn to the Pillory" was proclaimed about the streets-a new and daring satire, in which De Foe denounced the injustice and defied the power of the ministry, and boldly vindicated his own integrity. With mingled playfulness and sadness he begins

Hail! hieroglyphic state-machine,
Contrived to punish fancy in;

Men that are men in thee can feel no pain,
And all thy insignificance disdain.
Contempt, that false new word for shame,
Is, without crime, an empty name;
A shadow to amuse mankind,

But never frights the wise or well-fixed mind.
Virtue despises human scorn,

And scandals innocence adorn.

Apostrophizing still further this "State-Trap of the Law," he says

Thou art no shame to truth and honesty,
Nor is the character of such defaced by thee
Who suffer by oppressive injury.

Shame, like the exhalations of the sun,
Falls back where first the motion was begun ;
And he who for no crime shall on thy brows appear,
Bears less reproach than they who placed him there.

Then, in a burst of indignation, he commands the
pillory to break silence, and publish forth the facts

and merits of his case to all the world

Thou bugbear of the law! stand up and speak;
Thy long misconstrued silence break;
Tell us who 't is upon thy ridge stands there,
So full of fault, and yet so void of fear;
And from the paper in his hat,

Let all mankind be told for what.

Tell them it was because he was too bold,
And told those truths which should not ha' been

told;

Extol the justice of the land

Who punish what they will not understand.
The last lines are stinging-

Tell them the men that placed him here
Are scandals to the times-
Are at a loss to find his guilt,
And can't commit his crimes.

By this discreditable prosecution De Foe was once more ruined in his circumstances. In conseBut now, will the reader endeavor to imagine a quence of his imprisonment, he could no longer warm July day-say the 29th-of the year 1703, attend personally to his pantile works, from which and go with us to Cornhill, and see what is doing his income was principally derived; and, owing to near the Royal Exchange there? There is rather his lengthened absence, they were finally obliged a great crowd, and much anxiety among certain to be given up. By this affair, he tells us, he lost parties to behold a man who has been largely no less a sum than £3500. He had now a wife talked about, and is now expected to be visible, and six children dependent upon him for support, standing in the pillory.

and was utterly without resources, save such as must be realized by the produce of his pen. In this trying situation his virtue appears to have been put to rather a severe test. It is reported by Oldmixon, that the Earl of Nottingham, one of the ministers who had been most prominently concerned

59

in the prosecution, either went or sent to him in | Meanwhile, by his unrelenting wit, and powers of Newgate, offering him the mercy of the govern- argument and satire, he continued to assail and ment if he would discover who set him on to write mortify the ruling powers, until at length, it is the "Shortest Way." But this was a needless said, they " tried hard to enlist him in their piece of tampering, and was treated with the con- service," and thus silence his opposition. De tempt which it deserved. The same writer ob- Foe, however, "preferred poverty to the shame of serves, that all who were acquainted with De Foe serving a cause which his soul abhorred." He were satisfied that "he needed no setting on to put would nowise condescend to release himself from such a trick on a party of whose understandings as prison by the sacrifice of his integrity; and accordwell as principles he had no good opinion." The ingly he continued in confinement as long as his Rehearsal,' persecutors remained in power. A change of calumny propagated by Leslie in his to the effect that he would have made any submis- ministry was at length the occasion of his deliverThe high-flying administration had so sion to have been excused the pillory, seems to be ance. entirely without foundation. Alluding to it after- embarrassed and distracted the country, that it wards, De Foe remarked-" Till he can tell the became at last a matter of necessity to transfer the world what submissions they were he offered to government to men of more moderate and enlightmake, it must stand for one of the most scandalous ened principles. Shortly after Harley's accession slanders any man that pretends to truth can be to office, in 1704, the queen, through him, became guilty of." As the unscrupulous Leslie does not acquainted with the merits of De Foe, and was appear to have ever furnished the requested infor- made conscious of the injustice of his punishment. mation, the matter stands precisely as it did at the Desirous of mitigating it, she sent relief to his wife and family through Lord Godolphin, and even fortime when his statement was contradicted. warded a sufficient sum to De Foe himself for the payment of his fine, and for the rest of the expenses attending his discharge from prison. Mr. Chalmers has observed that" Harley approved probably Be of the principles and conduct of De Foe, and doubtless foresaw that during a factious age, such a genius might be converted to many uses. this as it may, in the beginning of August, 1704, Daniel found himself at large, without, as far as we can learn, having stipulated to render any political service to the government.

account.

De Foe remained in Newgate for nearly two
years. He did not however sit down idly and dis-
An honest man
consolately to lament his fate.
may even live in prison, and turn his hours to
Pen and ink were not denied him, nor
had he lost the habit or ability for using them. It is
true he had to cultivate literature under difficulties;
but he nevertheless at this time produced various
political works of merit, and also collected and
republished a new edition of most of his former
pieces. As an occasional recreation, he set him-
self to study the habits and characters of the
prisoners, which he afterwards turned to use when
"Colonel Jacque" and
writing such works as
"Captain Singleton." Moreover, he started a
"Review," apparently the first that was ever pub-
lished in the country. It differed materially from
the reviews of modern days, being rather akin to
the Tatlers and Spectators which succeeded it, and
were partly modelled on its plan. In this work
De Foe discoursed from week to week on all the
various questions relating to trade, politics, and
ecclesiastical affairs, which occupied the popular
attention, much after the fashion of Cobbett's
Register-the work being also conducted with as
much boldness and unflagging energy as ever dis-
tinguished Cobbett; while, in point of moral con-
sistency and genuine liberality of scope, it was far
superior to anything the latter at any time wrote
or contemplated. The "Review" was published
without intermission for nine years-during the
greater part of the period three times a week, and
was exclusively the production of De Foe himself
-a feat of authorship which few men (perhaps
Cobbett alone) can parallel. Possibly a collection
of its best parts, if judiciously selected and ar-
ranged, might still be worth the reading. The
same remark would indeed apply to several of the
author's now neglected writings. His "Reasons
against a War with France" has been characterized
as one of the finest political tracts in the English
language.

By such a round of occupations as we have
enabled to render his
indicated, De Foe was
incarceration tolerable, and to realize in some
degree that fine sentiment of Lovelace-

Stone walls do not a prison make,

Nor iron bars a cage:

Minds innocent and quiet take
That for a hermitage.

* Review, iii., 218.

On his liberation, De Foe quitted London, and Montpelier of Suffolk "-in went down to the " other words, to Bury St. Edmund's, in that county -"a town famous for its pleasant situation and wholesome air; famous also for the number of gentry who reside in the vicinity, and for the polite Here, among excellent and steady and agreeable conversation of the company resorting there."* was, however, friends, he appears to have enjoyed for a while the sweets of recovered liberty. It only for a while, for, ere many months had passed, certain slanderous "news-writers" in London had propagated a report that he had fled from justice, and that warrants were out for his apprehension. This was something of an annoyance to De Foe; but to set the matter right, he immediately wrote to the secretary of state to inform him where he was, and offered to go up to London by post, to answer any charge that should be brought against him. In reply to this, he was informed that there was no charge whatever against him, nor had any officer, messenger, or other person received any order or warrant to apprehend him, or was in any way authorized to disturb him in his avocations. A statement of all this De Foe published in his "Review," "in justice to the government and himself," as the only course open to him for effectually silencing the slander.

Of the kind and amount of persecution which De Foe endured we can have in these days no adequate conception, much less anything at all corresponding to it in experience. By his political enemies he was not only subjected to perpetual slander and abuse, but was even frequently necessitated to guard himself from violence. His writings were scandalously misquoted, and even reprinted in a garbled and mutilated state, to suit party purposes; his works pirated and hawked *Tour through Great Britain, i.; Letter i., p. 71.