there and it was some time before he could relish our victuals. He could give us an account of no other product of the island than what we have mentioned, except some black plums, which are very good, but hard to come at; the trees which bear them growing on high mountains and rocks. Pimento trees are plenty here; and we saw some of sixty feet high, and about two yards thick; and cotton trees higher, and near four fathoms round in the stock. The climate is so good, that the trees and grass are verdant all the year round. The winter lasts no longer than June and July, and is not then severe, there being only a small frost, and a little hail; but sometimes great rains. The heat of the summer is equally moderate; and there is not much thunder, or tempestuous weather of any sort. He saw no venomous or savage creature on the island; nor any sort of beasts but goats, the first of which had been put ashore here, on purpose for a breed, by Juan Fernandez, a Spaniard, who settled there with some families, till this continent of Chili began to submit to the Spaniards; which, being more profitable, tempted them to quit the island, capable, however, of maintaining a good number of people, and being made so strong, that they could not be easily dislodged from thence.

We are indebted for the following additional particulars, respecting the life and fate of this singular character, to the research of A. Gibson Hunter, Esq. of Balskelly, in Scotland; who, we believe, is yet in possession of his will, and some other curious relicks. Through this gentleman we learn, that Selkirk was born at Largo in Fife, in the year 1676, where he possessed some trifling landed property. He went

mate with Captain Stradling, in the Cinque Ports, on a trading voyage round the world, in 1704. In the course of which, a difference arising betwixt him and his captain, the causes of which must now remain for ever unexplained, Selkirk, with all the hardihood of the seaman's character, desired to be landed on the island of Fernandez. Here he remained in perfect solitude, existing as he has described himself, until discovered by Captain Rogers. Selkirk died on board a king's ship, the Weymouth, of which he was mate, in 1723; leaving his effects, by will, to sundry "loving female friends," with whom he had contracted intimacies in the course of his peregrinations. His chest, his gun, and his drinking cup, the last made of a cocoa nut shell, are, or were till lately, the property of his descendants at Largo.

The sale of Robinson Crusoe was, as we have already stated, rapid and extensive, and De Foe's profits were commensurate. The work was attacked on all sides by his ancient opponents, whose labours have long since quietly descended with their authors to merited oblivion; but our author, having the public on his side, set them all at defiance; and the same year, he published a second volume with equal Thus far

success.

"With steady bark and flowing sail
"He ran before the wind,"

but, incited by the hope of further profit, and conceiving the theme of Crusoe inexhaustible, he shortly after published Serious Reflections during the Life of Robinson Crusoe, with his vision of the Angelic World. These Visions and Reflections were well received at the time, although by no means so much in requisition now.

With the return of his good fortune, our author's health was re-established, and the vigour of his mind restored. He published, in 1720, The Life and Piracies of Captain Singleton; and finding it safer, it would seem, as well as more profitable, to amuse the public, than to reform them, he continued this course, with little variation, for the remainder of his life.

His subsequent publications, to all of which a considerable degree of popularity was attached, though none of them equalled the reputation of Robinson Crusoe, were the Dumb Philosopher, History of Duncan Campbell, Remarkable Life of Colonel Jack, Fortunate Mistress, and New Voyage round the World.

We are now to take leave of our author, who died in 1731, at the age of 68, in Cripplegate, London, leaving a widow and large family in tolerable circum

stances.

It does not fall within our plan either to attempt a critical analysis of Robinson Crusoe, or a detailed view of the character of Daniel De Foe; the one is before our readers, and the other may be estimated

from his life. That De Foe was a man of powerful intellect and lively imagination, is obvious from his works; that he was possessed of an ardent temper, a resolute courage, and an unwearied spirit of enterprise, is ascertained by the events of his changeful career and whatever may be thought of that rashness and improvidence by which his progress in life was so frequently impeded, there seems no reason to withhold from him the praise of integrity, sincerity, and unvaried consistency. As the author of Robinson Crusoe, his fame promises to endure as long as the language in which he wrote.

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES

OF

ROBINSON CRUSOE.

CHAP. I.

My birth and parentage—at nineteen years of age I determine to go to sea-dissuaded by my parents—elope with a schoolfellow, and go on board ship-a storm arises, during which I am dreadfully frightened-ship founders-myself and crew saved by a boat from another vessel, and landed near Yarmouth-meet my companion's father there, who advises me never to go to sea more, but all in vain.

I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull: he got a good estate by merchandise, and, leaving off his trade, lived afterwards at York, from whence he had married my mother, whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but, by the usual corruption of words in England, we are now called, nay, we call ourselves, and write our name, Crusoe; and so my companions always called me.

CRUSOE I.

B