296 DE FOE'S MERITS AS A PERIODICAL WRITER. which is the more to be regretted, as from what is known of its contents, it would have elicited much information upon the subject of his prosecution. De Foe's labours as a periodical writer, in awakening the nation to political discussions of the first interest and importance, and at a time when just sentiments had the array of power and proscription against them, entitle him to a higher place amongst the benefactors to his country, than has been hitherto assigned to him. The merit of his papers, as compositions, must be estimated by the state of contemporary literature, rather than by a comparison with those writers who trod in his footsteps; and it will be found, that if these attained to a greater classical purity, De Foe has still the praise of doing better than all who went before him. Of the power of his writings, we may form some estimate from the formidable opposition which he excited at a period of great political ferment; when writers of the greatest talent were arrayed against him; and when, in spite of their efforts to put him down, he continued to attract attention, and to triumph over opposition. The strength with which he wielded his arguments, was attested by the mortification of his opponents. But the force of reasoning in conquering deep-rooted prejudices being of slow operation, sometimes required the aid of ridicule; and these pages sufficiently testify, that few writers handled it with greater power than our author. When arguments failed, he battered his adversaries with satire, and withstood their scandal, by laughing at its operation. It is to his credit that he abstained in so great a degree from the coarse and vulgar abuse that was constantly levelled at him; and that his Reviews are stained by fewer personalities than the temper of the times would warrant us to expect. The apostacy of public men, and the ingratitude of the party he had served so long, coupled as it was with so much stupidity, must have disgusted him GAY'S ESTIMATE OF HIS TALENTS. 297 with politics, and have rendered him desirous of withdrawing from a contest which had once more brought him to the verge of ruin. It was with some satisfaction, therefore, that he put an end to a work, which, however useful, had in its progress exposed him to so much obloquy, whilst the profit he derived from it was not sufficient to recompence his labour. The remarks of Mr. Chalmers upon the cessation of this work, are too good to be omitted. "Whether we consider the frequency of the publication, or the power of his disquisitions, the pertinacity of his opponents, or the address of his defences, amid other studies, without assistants, this must be allowed to be such a work as few of our writers have equalled." Yet, of this great performance, said Gay, 'The poor Review is quite exhausted, and grown so very contemptible, that though he has provoked all his brothers of the quill, none will enter into a controversy with him. The fellow, who had excellent natural parts, but wanted a small foundation of learning, is a lively instance of those wits, who, as an ingenious author says, will endure but one skimming.'*"Poor Gay," adds Mr. Chalmers, "had learned this cant in the Scriblerus club, who thought themselves the wisest, the wittiest, and the virtuousest men that ever were, or ever could be. But of all their works, which of them have been so often skimmed, or yielded such cream, as Robinson Crusoe,' the 'Family Instructor,' or 'Religious Courtship? Some of their writings may indeed be allowed to have uncommon merit; yet, let them not arrogate exclusive excellence, or claim inappropriate praise."+ • Present State of Wit, 1711. + Life of De Foe, p. 43. CHAPTER XII. Preliminaries of Peace.-Create loud murmurs in the Nation.-Communicated to Parliament.-Receive its Concurrence.-Publications in its Favour.-Writings of Swift and Arbuthnot.-De Foe libelled in a Letter from a Tory Freeholder.-Accused of writing against the Dutch.-He rejects the Charge.-Peace concluded.-Its Character.-Votes and Addresses in its Favour.-Thanksgiving for the Peace.-Specimen of Pulpit-Politics.-Estimate of De Foe's Political Conduct.-Traduced by the Whigs. He disapproves of the Terms of Peace.-His own account of his Conduct.-He withdraws into Yorkshire.-Lives some time at Halifax. Manner in which he employed himself. He writes against the Jacobites. Seasonable Caution.-His three Ironical Pamphlets.—Specimens of their Contents.-They are widely circulated.—Their meaning perverted by the Whigs.-Who instigate a Prosecution against Him.-Originated by William Benson.-His zeal in the Affair.-Taken out of his hands by the Government.-De Foe writes freely upon the subject in his " Review."— For which he incurs the resentment of the Judges.-Who commit him to Newgate. Their indecent Conduct.-De Foe soon released.—He receives a Pardon under the Great Seal.-Stupidity of the Whigs.-De Foe's own Explanation of his Writings.-And of the Motives for his Prosecution. -He throws himself upon the justice of the Government.—Copy of his Pardon.-His Reflections upon the Prosecution.—And the injustice of his Enemies. 1713. THE subject that now engrossed the principal share of public attention, was the negociation for peace. The preliminaries, after much altercation with the allies, being at length adjusted, they were communicated to the British parliament upon the 6th of June, 1712. When the terms became known, they created loud murmurs in the nation; PRELIMINARIES OF PEACE. 299 nor were they better received upon the continent. Much dexterity was used to procure them a favourable reception in parliament, where the Duke of Marlborough said, “ they were directly contrary to her majesty's engagements with her allies, sullied the triumphs and glories of her reign, and would render the English name odious to all other nations.”* In spite of remonstrance, an address of concurrence was hastily voted; and to prevent any further discussion of so disagreeable a subject, the ministers adjourned the parliament upon the 21st of June, and thus relieved themselves from a storm of opposition with which they were threatened. The most difficult part they had now to encounter, was to reconcile the people to their measures; but men so long accustomed to artifice, and so skilful in its management, were not at a loss for proper tools to serve their purpose. In the course of the year, the country was deluged with publications for and against the peace, which occasioned a great fluctuation in public opinion. The war of the pen was carried on with the most acrimonious feelings, and both sides descended to the grossest personalities. In order to fix an odium upon the late ministers, and to justify an unmanly persecution, charges of fraud and peculation were brought against them. Libels to this effect were circulated against Marlborough, Godolphin and Walpole; whilst the purity and patriotism of their successors were lauded in the most extravagant strains. "In those times, nothing was more common than crimes without any accuser, judgment without consideration, and condemnation without either defence or punishment."+ Those who opposed the terms of the peace, were either treated with extreme insolence, or harassed with prosecutions at law, whilst the hirelings of the ministry were allowed to riot in reproach and slander, and to attack the strong holds of the constitution with 300 CREATE LOUD MURMURS IN THE NATION. impunity. The allies who had contributed so essentially to the glory of the English arms, were now shamefully traduced; charges of treachery and misconduct in the war were heaped upon them; and they were accused of entertaining designs subversive of the trade and other interests of the British empire. "The clergy made a loud outcry, sometimes that we were now made a prey to the emperor, and sometimes to the Dutch: Nay, such was the madness of those times, that Dr. Swift, a contemner of all religions, and Dr. Arbuthnot, one of the queen's physicians, applied themselves to write libels against the war, and the allies of the people of England." Perhaps no writer rendered such effective assistance to the ministers, as Swift. In the early part of the year, he produced his celebrated pamphlet, intitled, "The Conduct of the Allies, and of the late Ministry, in beginning and carrying on the present war." The success of the work was answerable to the pains he had taken with it. All ranks perused it with avidity; and its effects were quickly perceived in the votes of parliament. It passed through seven editions in a short time, and no less than eleven thousand copies were sold within the space of a month. Not long afterwards, he attacked the Dutch, in "Some Remarks on the Barrier-Treaty between her Majesty and the StatesGeneral;" which was intended equally to excite the public indignation against the late ministers. In these publications, which were composed with much art, he employed all those powers of reasoning, of which he was so great a master, and seasoned his arguments with no small portion of acrimony. But whatever services he rendered to the ministers, their real nature may perhaps be more justly estimated, by the value put upon them by our enemies. The Spanish Ambassador desired Sir William Wyndham to tell him, "That his Cunningham, ii. 378. |