230 PROPOSAL FOR CONTINUING IT. only to provide against the necessary charges of the press, which he is very sorry he is not in a condition to oblige them with also." The issue of the application encouraged him to continue the work; and as he devoted his labours to it through several years, it may be hoped that he received some degree of remuneration. Towards the close of the volume, he was again solicited to publish his paper three times a week, which he was obliged to decline for the reasons given before; intimating, that "as he gave the world his pains for nothing, they must accept as much of his time as he can spare." The volume closed the 24th of February, 1705, when it had reached to a hundred and two numbers. The following title was then published with it. "A Review of the affairs of France and of all Europe, as influenced by that nation: Being Historical Observations on the Public Transactions of the World; purged from the Errors and Partiality of NewsWriters, and Petty-Statesmen of all sides. With an Entertaining Part in every sheet; Being Advice from the Scandal Club, to the curious Enquirers; in answer to Letters sent them for that purpose. London, Printed in the year 1705." pp. 456. Prefixed to the work, is a Preface of five pages, in which the author recounts the ill-treatment he had experienced. "I have studied to inform and to direct the world," says he," and what have I had for my labour? Profit, the press would not allow; and therein I am not deceived, for I expected none. But good manners and good language, I thought I might expect, because I gave no other; and it is but just to treat mankind as they would be treated. But neither has this been paid me, in debt to custom and civility. How often have my ears, my hands, and my head been to be pulled off? Impotent bullies; that, attacked by truth and their vices stormed, fill the air with rhodomontades and indecencies, but never shewed their face to the resentment truth had a just cause to entertain for them! I have PUBLISHER OF THE REVIEW. 231 passed through clouds of clamour, cavil, raillery and objection and have this satisfaction, that truth being the design, finis coronat, I am never forward to value my own performances; but I cannot but own myself infinitely pleased, and more than satisfied, that wise men read this paper with pleasure, own the just observations in it, and have voted it useful." There was no publisher's name to the volume: but it was announced that advertisements would be taken in at reasonable rates by J. Matthews, in Pilkington Court, Little Britain. Mr. Matthews continued to be the publisher until he got into trouble for it, as we shall see hereafter. CHAPTER XI. Clashings between the two Houses of Parliament.-The Session Terminates. -Intemperance of the Tories.-Legion's Address to the Lords.—A reward offered for the Author.-Answered paragraph by paragraph.-Falsely ascribed to De Foe.-- His humorous Remarks upon it.-Change in the Ministry. De Foe's Reflections.-New Party-distinction.-Beneficial Effect of De Foe's Writings.-Harley, a leading Agent of the late Changes. Their Influence upon the Nation.-Faction displayed.—Character of Shippen.- Moderation displayed.—De Foe publishes his “Serious Inquiry."-Character of the Work.-He publishes " More Short Ways.”—And "The Dissenters Misrepresented and Represented.”—Leslie renews his attack upon the Dissenters in his "Cassandra."-Answered in "The Protestant Jesuit Unmasked.”—De Foe publishes "A New Test of the Church of England's Honesty."- Which arouses the Indignation of Leslie. -Who sets on foot "The Rehearsal."-His Motives for undertaking it. -And Character as a Writer.—Account of the Work.-De Foe attacked by an Anonymous Writer. 1704. THE irritation produced in the House of Commons by the loss of the Occasional Bill, was heightened by other measures which the Lords thought fit to adopt, in order to secure the Protestant succession, and protect the liberty of the subject. The Commons, departing from their natural province as guardians of popular right, now became zealous assertors of the prerogative. The Lords, on the other hand, whilst they evinced no disposition to invade the rights of the crown, thought themselves equally called upon to defend the privileges of the people; and it is pretty clear from the historians of the time, that if it had not been for the stand which they THE SESSION TERMINATES. 233 now made, the Tories would have succeeded in erecting a despotism in Church and State, or else have plunged the nation into another civil war. The interference of the Lords at this time, in the prosecution of the persons concerned in the Scotch plot, and their judicial proceedings in the celebrated case of Ashby and White, which the Commons regarded as an usurpation of their privileges, furnished the pretext for those violent measures which influenced the two Houses during the remainder of the session. Strong resolutions were entered upon their journals, and the spirit of them infused into addresses to the queen. These injurious contests were at length terminated by the close of the session, April 3d, 1704, with a pacific speech from the queen, who regretted that her former recommendation to unanimity had been so little attended to. Whilst disappointment gave an edge to the resentments of men in parliament, the contention of parties without grew so hot, that a dreadful storm seemed impending over the heads of the people. "The humour of the times," says a sensible historian, "seemed so to turn in favour of the Whigs, as to fill them with hopes of better fortune; but what was matter of hope to them, seemed to the Tories to be a dangerous tempest ready to break upon the church; and the furious clergy began to prophecy and report among the people every where in the country, great dangers of the Lord knows what! So that now it was easy to perceive what influence there is in England in the mere cry of religion.' To such a heighth did they now carry their frenzy, as to break out into all manner of indecencies against the queen." The Tories no longer applauded her for her frugality, her constancy, or her English heart; but loaded her with severe. reflections.”+ In virulent lampoons, they charged her with deserting and betraying the church; and accused her minis 234 LEGION'S ADDRESS TO THE LORDS. ters, the bishops, and indeed all who made any pretensions to moderation, of going over to the Presbyterians.* Of the queen it was said, "When she was the church's daughter, She's left her daughter in the lurch." The late differences between the Lords and Commons, had raised such a ferment in the nation, that the parliament had not been prorogued many days, before a paper was printed and dispersed, under the title of "Legion's Humble Address to the Lords." In this paper, the writer sets forth, that when a House of Commons betrays its trust, and tramples upon the liberties of the people, it becomes an unlawful assembly, and ought to be deposed by the same rule that oppressed subjects may, and in all ages have deposed bloody and tyrannical princes. The address complains of the arbitrary proceedings of the Commons, in disfranchising the town of Maidstone, and in their late proceedings upon the Aylesbury election; also of their partiality in the prosecution of public defaulters, and in re-assuming the grants of the late king, whilst those of former reigns were allowed to continue. It notices their complimenting the queen with an hereditary right, to the disparagement of her parliamentary title; also, their addressing her to extend her prerogative, and thereby embroil her with the Peers, which it designates as an aggravated piece of treachery. The Lords are applauded for vindicating their own rights, and asserting those of the people; and the writer concludes with an assurance, that the freeholders of England will defend their lordships, in the maintenance of all their just and legal privileges, with their properties and their lives. The address is subscribed, "Our name is MILLION, and we are more." * De Foe's Jure Divino. B. xi. p. 31. |