LOYALTY OF THE SCOTS.

11

The loyalty of the Scots having been brought into question in England, upon account of their refusing the abjuration oath, De Foe, who, from a long residence amongst them, was well acquainted with their sentiments, pleads their defence in the following passage: "The scruples raised among the Scots-Presbyterians, against the abjuration, is not from any inclination they have to the Popish Pretender, or any aversion to the present government; but from such circumstances in it, as seem to shock their consciences, in that they may come into such a condition, as may make it impossible to keep it." He therefore He therefore urges the government not to press it upon them, as a matter of policy. Grateful for the favours he had received from the Scots, and stimulated by his preference for their church establishment, he rejoices in every opportunity of doing honour to their nation. "I speak it without boasting," says he, "no man has concerned himself more than the author of this paper, to clear up the suspicions entertained among us in England, of the Presbyterians in Scotland joining with the French, and falling in with the Jacobite interest.+

In the midst of the general alarm, at the prospect of an invasion, De Foe published a short tract, intitled, "The union Proverb; viz:

"If Skiddaw has a Cap,

Scruffell wots full well of that."

Setting forth, I. The necessity of uniting. II. The good consequences of uniting. III. The happy union of England and Scotland, in case of a foreign invasion. Felix quem faciunt aliena Pericula cautum. London, 1708." Advertised the 12th of March. In a prefatory address, "To the true British reader," De Foe gives the following explanation of the proverb from Mr. Ray. "Skiddaw and Scruffell, are

two neighbouring hills, or high mountains; the one in Cum

12

DE FOE PUBLISHES THE UNION PROVERB.

berland, in England; the other in Anandale, in Scotland: and if the former happens at any time to be capped with clouds or foggy mists, it will not be long ere rain, or the like, falls on the latter. It is also spoken of such who must expect to sympathize in their sufferings, by reason of the vicinity of their habitations." (A)

Our author, thinking the proverb would bear a moral and political accommodation, applies it to the union of the two kingdoms. He says, "It is an excellent lecture of mutual friendship on either side of the Tweed. It ingenuously tells us, what we are to trust to in troublesome times, either of oppression at home, or of miscarriage, affliction, and misfortune, from abroad. It is, likewise, a most politick and prudent caution against foreign invasions. It does not only, and that pathetically too, set forth the necessity of the two kingdoms uniting heartily in all cases of disastrous disturbance, but also manifestly shews the happy consequences of such an entire union, both in point of government and traffick, as will be able to defeat the turbulent designs of our greatest enemies, either in time of peace or of war. This is the main stock on which our common hopes ought

(A) Fuller has the following account of this proverb: "There is an hye hill in Cumberland, called Skiddaw, and another answering thereto, Scruffel by name, in Anandale, in Scotland, and the people dwelling by, have an old rythme,

If Skiddaw hath a cap,
Scruffel wotts full well of that.

Meaning that such the vicinity, (and as I may say, sympathy) betwixt these two hills, that if one be sick with a mist of clouds, the other soon after is sad on the like occasion. Thus none, seeing it now foul weather in Scotland, could expect it fair sunshine in England, but that she must share in the same miseries."-Church Hist. B. xi. p. 167.

The people of Somersetshire, in the vicinity of Yeovil, have a similar proverb :

"When Michael's hill wears a cap,

Martock folks will have a drap.”

VINDICATES HIS POLITICAL CONDUCT.

13

to be grafted, of making Great Britain flourish and fructify, in spite of French blasts, or caterpillars." Our author advances many invincible arguments in favour of unanimity at this juncture. "It will be easily granted," says he, "that nothing can render a kingdom more powerful and safe, than a perfect union in itself; for to be all of one mind, and all of a piece, fortifies us like a bulwark, and strengthens us beyond breaking. But, on the other hand, take the two kingdoms single or separate, wrangling within their own bowels, rising up in judgment against their own peace and tranquillity, they are as unsafe again, and as weak as Sampson without his hair. Nothing but our own intestine divisions can invite the French king to set foot upon English or Scotch ground. We may then expect, with very good reason, to be fellow-sufferers upon the upshot of such invasion; according to the manifest truth, as well as politick insinuation of the proverb: "That if Scruffel has a cap, Skiddaw knows full well of that.'" De Foe's tract was subjoined to the third edition of "Dyke's English Proverbs." London, 1713. 8vo.

The return our author met with for his labours, as a peace-maker, gave him but small encouragement in his office. "The author of this paper," says he, "is very unhappy in the difficulty he finds to make truth please; and though he has endeavoured to pursue it without respect to persons or parties, yet he cannot but regret the failure. I know," continues he, "this age hates to be instructed, and the saying of the elders to the blind man, is in the mouth of all self-wise people; Dost thou teach us? From this temper flows the constant want of manners, false construction, slander and ill-language with which your humble servant is always treated, instead of argument, by all those that are concerned in the guilt, and at any time pinched with the application. If I speak plain truth, then he is an impudent fellow, a bully, and an incendiary; if I speak

14 PUBLISHES THE FOURTH VOLUME OF HIS "REVIEW."

soft things, then he is a flatterer, a parasite, &c. How many satires had I levelled at me, for a poem, called “A Hymn to Victory," only because it paid some respect to the Duke of Marlborough and the queen? Again, when I speak of the public affairs, if I do not rail as others do, I am a coward, and afraid of new prosecutions. If I speak against things, I am turning my tale, and going over to the enemy; the high-church has bought me off; and if I speak for the public affairs, then I am bribed, employed, and paid for it, and a mere mercenary. And what shall a poor author do in all this? I'll tell you what I do: I go on freely with telling you offensive truths, regarding no censures, and fearing no prosecutions; but at more hazard than some of you would run to save a father, I prompt you to see the things that belong to your peace. Rehearsals rave, Observators bully me, and the high-church vote me to the devil, every paper they read. And what is the matter? But because I tell you that in all your proceedings, high-flying extremes will be your destruction, and principles of peace can alone secure us. But, whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, 'tis a sad truth, that all the mischiefs which have befallen any party of men amongst us, have been from their own precipitations.

De Foe closed the Fourth volume of his Review with the 25th of March, 1708, when it had reached to 175 numbers; having commenced with the 11th of February, 1707. He added the following title: "A Review of the State of the British Nation. Vol. iv. London: printed in the year 1707;" a mistake for 1708. pp. 700. 4to. In a preface of two pages, he briefly states the matters discussed in the volume, and the reception they had met with. His zeal for the Union, induced him to devote a considerable portion

SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN IT.

15

of it to that subject, and it was a favorite one with the author; but the length to which he extended it, began to grow tiresome to his readers," so eager are they for novelty, that when they are best pleased with a subject in its beginning, they will never have patience to hear it out." He apologizes for the errors and mistakes of the work, and invokes the candour of the reader, from the difficulties he had to contend with. "I must tell you," says he, "it is none of the easiest things in the world to write a paper come out three times a week, and perhaps liable to more censure and ill-usage than other papers; and, at the same time, to reside, for sixteen months together, at almost four hundred miles distance from London, and sometimes more."

to

The volume opens with a poem upon the Union; because he always liked to begin his work cheerfully: "Nor let any man charge the dullness of my verse upon the coldness of the climate. I take it upon myself to acknowledge, that however dull the genius of the author, the inspirations of the north are every way equal to those of the south; and the muses are as inclined to harmony there, as in any other part of Britain." The subjects he discusses, refer, chiefly, to politics, foreign and domestic, to our internal policy, and to matters of trade. In bringing forward the Union, he takes considerable pains to reconcile the people of Scotland to that measure, combats the arguments of its opponents, and explains his own motives for appearing so zealously in the business. From the various charges brought against him, he defends himself with spirit, and retorts upon his adversaries with a manliness befitting conscious innocence. The improvement he makes of it, is, to exhort his countrymen to mutual forbearance, and the cultivation of a peaceable disposition, as the surest method of lessening our differences, and producing that peace which is always the effect of heart-felt union.