Page images
PDF
EPUB

to procure him the arrears due to him in the time of the former Miniftry. This appointment, whatever it were, he is ftudious to tell, he originally owed to Harley: he, however, thankfully acknowledges, that Lord Godolphin continued his favour to him after the unhappy breach that feparated his first benefactor from the Minifter, who continued in power till August 1710.

He

The nation, which was filled with combuftible matter, burst into flame the moment of that memorable feparation, in 1707. In the midft of this conflagration our Author was not inactive. waited on Harley after he had been driven from power, who generously advifed him to continue his fervices to the Queen, which he fuppofed would have no relation to perfonal differences among ftatefmen. Godolphin received him with equal kindness, by faying-I always think a man honeft till I find to the contrary. And if we may credit De Foe's affeverations, in the prefence of thofe who could have convicted him of falfehood, he for three years held no correfpondence with his principal benefactor, which the great man never took ill of him.

As early as February 1706-7, De Foe avowed his purpose to publish the Hiftory ofthe Union, which he had ably affifted to accomplish. This defign he executed in 1709, though he was engaged in other lucubrations, and gave the world a Review three times a week. His history feems to have been little noticed when it first appeared; for, as the preface states, it had many difficulties in the way; many factions to encounter, and parties to please. Yet it was republished in 1712; and a third time in 1786, when a similar union had become the topic

The

of public debate and private conversation. fubject of this work is the completion of a measure, which was carried into effect, notwithstanding obftructions apparently infurmountable, and tumults approaching to rebellion, and which has produced the ends defigned, beyond expectation, whether we confider its influence on the Government, or its operation on the governed. The minutenefs with which he defcribes what he faw and heard on the turbulent ftage, where he acted a confpicuous part, is extremely interefting to us, who wish to know what actually paffed, however this circumstantiality may have disgusted contemporaneous readers. Hiftory is chiefly valuable as it tranfmits a faithful copy of the manners and fentiments of every age. This narrative of De Foe is a drama, in which he introduces the highest peers and the lowest peasants, speaking and acting, according as they were each actuated by their characteristic paffions; and while the man of taste is amused by his manner, the man of business may draw inftruction from the documents, which are appended to the end, and interspersed in every page. This publication had alone preferved his name, had his Crufoe pleafed us lefs.

De Foe published in 1709, what indeed required lefs effort of the intellect or the hand, The History of Addreffes; with no defign, he fays, and as we may believe, to disturb the public peace, but to compare the present tempers of men with the paft, in order to discover who had altered for the better, and who for the worfe. He gave a fecond volume of Addreffes in 1711, with remarks ferious and comical. His purpose plainly was to abate, by ridicule, the public fervour with regard to Sacheverel, who, by VOL. II. Dd I know

I know not what fatality, or folly, gave rife to eventful changes. De Foe evinces, by these timeful publications, that amidst all that enthufiafm and tumult, he preferved his fenfes, and adhered to his principles.

[ocr errors]

When, by such imprudence as the world had never feen before, Godolphin was in his turn expelled, in Auguft 1710, our Author waited on the ex-minister; who obligingly faid to him, That he had the fame good-will, but not the fame power to affift him and Godolphin told him, what was of more real useto receive the Queen's commands from her confidential fervants, when he faw things fettled. It naturally occurred to De Foe, that it was his duty to go along with the Ministers, while, as he fays, they did not break in on the conftitution. And who can blame a very fubordinate officer, (if indeed he held an office), who had a wife and fix children to maintain with very precarious means? He was thus, fays he, cast back providentially on his first benefactor, who laid his cafe before her Majefty, whereby he preferved his interest, without any engagement. On that memorable change De Foe however somewhat changed his tone. The method I fhall take, fays he*, in talking of the public affairs, fhall for the future be, though with the fame defign to support truth, yet with more caution of embroiling myself with a party, who have no mercy, and who have no fense of service.

De Foe now lived at Newington, in comfortable circumftances, publishing The Reviews, and fend. ing out such tracts, as either gratified his prejudices, or supplied his needs. During that contentious pe

*Review, Vol. vii. No. 95.

[ocr errors]

fiod he naturally gave and received many wounds; and he prudently entered into a truce with Mr. J. Dyer, who was engaged in fimilar occupations, that, however they might clash in party, they may write without perfonal reflections, and thus differ ftill, and yet preferve the Chriftian and the gentleman *. But

* The following letter to Mr. J. Dyer, in Shoe-lane, who was then employed by the leaders of the Tories, in circulating news and infinuations through the country, will fhew the literary manners of those times, and convey fome anecdotes, which are no where else preserved. The original letter is in the Museum, Harl. MSS. No. 7001. fol. 269.

Mr. Dyer,

I have your letter. I am rather glad to find you put it upon the trial who was aggreffor, than justify a thing which I am fure you cannot approve; and in this I affure you I am far from injuring you, and refer you to the time when long fince you had wrote I was fled from juftice: one Sammon being taken up for printing a libel, and I being then on a journey, nor the leaft charge against me for being concerned in it by any body but your letter: also many unkind personal reflections on me in your letter, when I was in Scotland, on the affair of the Union, and I affure you, when my paper had not in the least mentioned you, and those I refer to time and date for the proof of.

I mention this only in defence of my last letter, in which I said no more of it than to let you fee I did not merit fuch treatment, and could nevertheless be content to render any service to you, though I thought myself hardly used.

But to state the matter fairly between you and I, [me] a writ ing for different interefts, and fo poffibly coming under an unavoidable neceffity of jarring in feveral cafes: I am ready to make a fair truce of honour with you, viz. that if what either party are doing, or faying, that may clash with the party we are for, and urge us to speak, it shall be done without naming either's name, and without perfonal reflections; and thus we may differ ftill, and yet preferve both the Chriftian and the gentleman.

[blocks in formation]

'But between profeffed controvertists fuch a treaty could only be persevered in with Punic faith.

While thus occupied, De Foe was not forgotten by the City of Edinburgh with the ufual ingratitude of public bodies. On the first of February 1710-II, that Corporation, remembering his Caledonia, empowered him to publish the Edinburgh Courant, in the room of Adam Booge*, though I fufpect that he did not continue long to edify the Edinburgh citi

This I think is an offer may fatisfy you. I have not been defirous of giving just offence to you, neither would I to any man, however I may differ from him; and I fee no reason why I should áffront a man's perfon, because I do not join with him in principle. I please myself with being the first proposer of so fair a treaty with you, because I believe, as you cannot deny its being very honourable, so it is not lefs fo in coming first from me, who I believe could convince you of my having been the first and most ill-treated-for further proof of which I refer you to your letters, at the time I was threatened by the Envoy of the King of Sweden.

However, Mr. Dyer, this is a method which may end what is paft, and prevent what is future; and if refufed, the future part I am fure cannot lye at my door.

As to your letter, your propofal is so agreeable to me, that truly without it I could not have taken the thing at all: for it would have been a trouble intolerable, both to you as well as me, to take your letter every poft, firft from you, and then fend it to the post-house.

Your method of fending to the black box, is just what I defigned to propofe, and Mr. Shaw will doubtlefs take it of you: if you think it needful for me to fpeak to him it fhall be done— What I want to know is only the charge, and that you will order it conftantly to be fent, upon hinting whereof I fhall fend you the names. Wishing you fuccefs in all things (Your opinions of Government excepted) I am,

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »