26

DE FOE RECEIVES THREATENING LETTERS.

De

considered to be identified with the cause of liberty, he was solicitous for its safety, and viewed with some anxiety the formidable array of parties that were conspiring its overthrow. Addressing the new Whigs, upon their inconsistency, in uniting, with the enemies of their country, he says, "You are the men, that, without considering who or what is the cause of any miscarriage, chargé all the mis-management of things upon the Whigs, right or wrong; and, assisting the Tory party to load them with innumerable forgeries, are backing the cry againt the ministry, not as men but as Whigs, and branding the party, not the persons of the guilty."* Foe knew enough of party politics to be aware, that all the outcry against the ministers was to get them turned out, that the High-flyers might occupy their places. He intimates, that many engines were at work for its accomplishment, and cautions his countrymen not to be led astray by the arts that were employed to seduce them. "If our united interest," says he, "is little enough to keep this vigilant party out; if Court Whig, and Country Whig, and all sorts of Whigs, are few enough to make up the bank, and keep out the flood of high-flying invasions, then a caution to the friends of this settlement, to unite and keep together, and shun all dividing breaches, is both necessary and reasonable. And while I think it the duty of every man, that respects his country's interest, to assist in so good a work, I cannot but discharge my part by pressing it in the most earnest terms."+

Amidst his labours in the cause of peace and liberty, the privacy of De Foe was often interrupted by threatening and abusive letters, most of them anonymous, or with fictitious names. In the month of May, he writes thus: "I received a letter, signed with my own name, a counterfeit no doubt; for I am fully satisfied no man owns the name justly, nor does any man covet to be called after the unfortunate. However,

* Review, v. 98. + lbid, v. 418.

DISCOURSE CONCERNING TROUBLE OF MIND. 27

as I am not ashamed of the name, and hope I have no reason, I am content to be mocked at the pleasure of the party; but, let them take this by the way, that though I am not ashamed of the relation of any honest man, yet I should be heartily ashamed of being related to any man, however great, who had so far degenerated from justice and honour, as to own the principles in that letter, and who flies in the face of the late king, the present constitution, the queen, the succession, and all the united building of Britain's present government."* A little further, he observes, "We have cause to bless God, in this age, that we live under a government whose actions will bear the light, and is best pleased when its, proceedings are placed in an impartial view. Heretofore, misrepresentations and false lights have been the practice of our courts, and the grievance of the subject; now, the case alters, and we find it the practice of the subject, and the grievance of the court." +

The first edition of a work, often reprinted, and sometimes attributed to De Foe, now made its appearance. It is intitled "A Discourse concerning Trouble of Mind, arising from sundry Temptations. Exemplified in the Remarkable Life of a Private Gentleman; with Reflexions thereon. In Three Parts. Intended to awaken the Presumptuous, convince the Sceptick, and encourage the Despondent. Left under his own Hand, to be communicated to the Publick after his Decease. London: printed by Joseph Downing, for J. Baker, &c. 1708." 8vo. pp. 304. A second edition of the work was published, three years afterwards, with the following title, by which it is now generally known: "An Account of some Remarkable Passages in the Life of a Private Gentleman; with Reflections thereon. In Three Parts. Relating

28

DISCOURSE CONCERNING TROUBLE OF MIND.

to Trouble of Mind; some violent Temptations; and a Recovery: In order to awaken the Presumptuous, convince the Sceptick, and encourage the Despondent. Left under his own Hand, to be communicated to the Publick after his Decease. The Second Edition, with Additions from the Author's Original Papers. Lond. 1711." 8vo. pp. 334. The following attestation, by "an eminent physician of the College," is prefixed to this edition. "The author of this book was a person of an estate, generous and charitable, and could be under no temptation to use any base or by-ends whatever, to usher into the world this religious treatise. But it may be objected, that the most serious persons have sometimes gone melancholy, and fallen into diseases of the brain, productive of strange deliriums, errors, and impositions, which they themselves have in time discovered and acknowledged. To this I answer, partly what I know myself, by an acquaintance of some years standing, and also what has been communicated to me by others, of a much longer conversation with the author, whose veracity I dare confide in. I knew him to be a person of a very sane and healthful constitution, of great activity, both of body and mind, free and pleasant in his conversation, without the least moroseness or affectation. His very looks expressed a cheerful disposition. He was a diligent searcher after substantial truths; so far from being carried away by the insinuations of enthusiasts, new lights, or mystical notions, that he has confuted them. He held constant communion with the church of England. His education was liberal amongst learned men, in a celebrated academy abroad, where he studied philosophy, and the art of medicine; a faculty censured rather for too much infidelity, than for being subject to enthusiam. I shall add no more but this, that this second edition comes out with some additions, which I believe to be taken out of the author's own original papers; and that the truth of these

DISCOURSE CONCERNING TROUBLE OF MIND.

29

extraordinary relations is unquestionable. F. S." Whether De Foe had any share in handing these papers to the world, may be questioned, as there is nothing but common report to warrant the supposition. A copy of the work, in the possession of the present writer, ascribes it to a Dr. Woodcock. The late Dr. Hamilton announced it to be the experience of Sir William Hamilton, physician to Queen Anne.

CHAPTER II.

De Foe takes another Journey to Scotland.-He Visits Lord Belhaven in Prison.-His Conversation with that Nobleman.-And Honourable Testimony to his Character.-Lord Belhaven goes to London.-And Dies.Some Account of Him.-Death of Prince George of Denmark.-De Foe's Notice of his Character.-Political Changes.-Proceedings of the Scottish Episcopalians-De Foe's Account of their Conduct and Treatment. -Announces a Work upon the Subject.-The Scotch Narrative.-De Foe Replies to it.-His Remarks upon Leslie.-He Publishes his " History of the Union."-Reception of the Work.-His Dedication to the Queen.— Nature and Character of his Work.—Other Editions of it.—Gives rise to a Paper Contest with Mr. Clark.-Controversy concerning the Sacramental Test revived.-Irish Presbyterians Petition for its Removal.— Swift opposes them in a Pamphlet.-His allusion to De Foe.-Mr. Humphrey censured by Parliament for Writing against the Test.-De Foe predicts its Removal.

1708.

IN the month of June, De Foe made another journey to Scotland, being employed upon a secret mission, the object of which remains unknown. The silence he observes upon such occasions, is creditable to his prudence and judgment; and we may easily trust him that it involved nothing that was dishonourable, or we should probably have heard of it from his enemies. He continued several months in the north, and seems to have given full satisfaction to his employers. For this he appealed long afterwards to the Duke of Marlborough.

These repeated visits to Scotland, we may easily collect, were not disagreeable to De Foe, who had contracted an