ACCOUNT OF HIS TROUBLES.

477

already committed, and your guilt determined in the intention. But, as to himself, he frankly defies your attempt, as he is out of fear at your rage. He has already appealed to sovereign truth in his case, and willingly throws himself into the hands of justice, fairly challenging all the malice of hell, and the rage of men, to fasten the crime upon him."*

It may seem difficult, in these peaceable times, to assign any reasonable cause for so much ill-treatment, and any attempt to search the wound would be far from a grateful task. The victim of this relentless persecution, as well as the persons who promoted it, has passed the boundaries of time, and has appeared before a higher tribunal. Happily for the unfortunate debtor, the laws have since then undergone a very considerable amendment; but, in addition to this, the spirit of the times is also improved, so that no honourable man is under any apprehension that the stream of justice will be polluted by the tinge of political animosity. It was not so in the days of De Foe.

Having placed his affairs in a train for settlement, as far as he was able, he resolved to quit a scene that was productive of so much disquiet and vexation. His steps were now directed to Scotland, where we afterwards find him actively employed in promoting the Union. But, before his arrival there, he had to encounter fresh scenes of persecution: they are thus related by him.

"I was no sooner upon my own affairs come out of London, with a design to travel for some time, but these sons of slander reported I was fled; and having nothing to fix a flight upon, it must be for debt. This, however, would not hold, having, just before this pretended flight, made a full, free, and honest surrender of all my affairs which the law directed, and this after four severe trials upon oath. Then I was fled from the resentment of a certain eminent and

Review, iii. 397-400.

478

ACCOUNT OF HIS TROUBLES.

honourable person, at something printed in the Review, and for which the printer and publisher were called to answer. But this slander was, unhappily for its author, contradicted, in that the paper so giving offence, was not written till since I left London. And, as I have on all occasions declared, I had not the least thought of reflecting on that honourable person, so had I offended him, I am too sensible of his lordship's candour and justice, to have fled any where but to himself; and I would have entirely submitted to ask his lordship's pardon in the humblest manner, making all the satisfaction either his clemency or his justice should have awarded.

"But neither of these things happening to hold water, then it comes out that I have given in a wrong statement of my affairs." De Foe here publishes a letter sent to the commissioners, the purport of which was, that some nameless. person could discover an estate of £400 per annum, belonging to De Foe, which he had omitted in his schedule; but, before he revealed the secret, he expected the expences of his journey to be defrayed, and a reward secured to him, of which notice should be given in the Gazette. Upon this malicious hoax, he observes, "This gentleman had been unknown till now, for any answer that had been given to so plain a sham; because, had D. F. £400 per annum, he would certainly have had no creditors to surrender to; and the money to be paid before the discovery, intimated so much of a cheat, that it was not worth an advertisement in the Gazette, which would have cost ten shillings, to answer such a fellow, who was left to go on with his discovery his own way. But, since he, or some other person like him, has taken upon him to raise such a report, I shall answer in short, that if any man can make out any concealment, fraud, or wilful reserve of any thing relating to my account or effects surrendered, and pleases to offer proof of it, in whatever nation, kingdom or country I may happen to be, I will, on

ACCOUNT OF HIS TROUBLES.

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the first notice, come to England, and put myself into the hands of justice, to suffer whatever the law shall inflict. In the mean time, I beg of all impartial persons, who regard the reputation and character of an injured and innocent man, that they will treat such stories with the contempt they deserve, till fair proof be made: and this is all the favour I ask.-D. F."*

Review, iii. 575, 6.

CHAPTER XXI.

Union with Scotland.-Promoted by De Foe.-His Account of the Capabilities of the Country.-His Poem on Peace and Union.-He Publishes "The Advantages of the Act of Security."-His Essays at Removing National Prejudices.-He is Patronized by Harley and Godolphin.-And taken into the Service of the Queen.-To whom he is Introduced.- He Departs for Scotland.—Arrives at Edinburgh.—His Employment there.— His Danger from the Mob.-He Publishes " Caledonia," a Poem.-Design of the Work.-Its Various Editions.—Opposition to the Union.-Hodges writes against it.-De Foe's Account of his Work.—And Reply to his Arguments. His Controversy with Webster.-Who Publishes "Lawful Prejudices against an Union."-In which he Reflects upon the English Dissenters.-De Foe replies to him in "The Dissenters in England Vindicated."— Webster Publishes a second Pamphlet.-In which he Abuses De Foe.-Who Prepares a Vindication of Himself.-But Suppresses it at the Desire of the Ministers of Edinburgh.—Another Opponent to Webster. Who Publishes "A Second Defence of Lawful Prejudices.”—Bigotry of the Presbyterians.-De Foe Publishes "The Dissenters Vindicated; or, a Short View of the Present State of the Protestant Religion in Britain.” -Nature of the Work.-Policy of the Union Discussed in the Review.— He Promises another Work upon the Subject.-His Schemes for the Improvement of Scotland.-Defends himself against Reproaches.-He Publishes "A Voice from the South.'' Other Works attributed to him.-He Defends Himself against Leslie.-He is Attacked by Lockhart.—And Oldmixon.— He makes many Friends in Scotland.-His Letter to the Earl of Buchan.— Dunton's Account of him at this Period.

1706-7.

THE most important subject that occupied the attention of parliament, and of the nation, this year, was the Union with Scotland. In the success of this measure, De Foe was warmly interested, and he discovered his zeal by composing

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and publishing a variety of works; in some of which he debated its policy and utility, and in others, replied to the arguments of its opponents.

As De Foe had resided a considerable time in Scotland, he had ample opportunities for making his observations upon the country and its inhabitants; and the result was favourable to both. In debating the Union, he says, "Those who fancy there is nothing to be had there but wild men and ragged mountains, storms, snows, poverty, and barrenness, are quite mistaken; it being a noble country, of a fruitful soil and healthy air, well seated for trade, full of manufactures by land, and a treasure great as the Indies, at their door by sea. The poverty of Scotland, and the fruitfulness of England, or rather, the difference between them, is owing, not to mere difference of climate, or the nature of the soil; but to the errors of time, and their different constitutions. And here I must tell our friends in England, who are so backward to set their country free, and so willing to enslave us again, that the different face of the two countries, to whoever will please to survey them as I have done, is the best lecture upon politics. All the land in England is not fruitful, nor that in Scotland all barren. Climate cannot be the cause; for the lands in the north of Scotland are, in general, better than the lands in Cornwall, which are near 600 miles south of them; but liberty and trade have made the one rich, and tyranny the other poor.

In prospect of the intended Union, he devoted one of his Reviews to a poem upon the subject, intitled "Peace and Union." His rhyming genius being as prolific as the subject, it produced two other poems, which appeared in some subsequent numbers. But he rendered more important services to the promoters of the measure, by his publications in prose. The Act of Security, which had been lately