MEMOIRS

OF

THE LIFE AND TIMES

OF

DANIEL DE FOE:

CONTAINING

A REVIEW OF HIS WRITINGS,

AND

HIS OPINIONS UPON A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT MATTERS, CIVIL AND
ECCLESIASTICAL

BY WALTER WILSON, Esq.

OF THE INNER TEMPLE.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

HURST, CHANCE, AND CO.

1830.

BRADBURY AND DENT, PRINTERS, OXFORD ARMS PASSAGE, WARWICK LANE.

CONTENTS.

VOLUME II.

CHAPTER I.

Reflections upon the Reign of Queen Anne.-Her Accession

to the Throne.-Debasement of Religion.-Political Changes.

-Triumph of Toryism.-Intemperance of Churchmen.-De

Foe's Account of the Opening of the Reign. The Queen's

Zeal for the Church.-Its Effect upon the Clergy.—Revival

of May-poles.-De Foe's Account of the Excesses of the

Times. Violence of Churchmen repressed by the Queen.-

Discontent thereupon.-Some of the Ministers desert the

High Party.-Bad Spirit of the Commons.-War Declared.

-Unsuccessful Expedition to Cadiz.-De Foe's Poem upon

the Spanish Descent.-Dissolution of Parliament.-Meeting

of a new one.-Insult to the Memory of King William.-

Satirized by Mr. Walsh.-Revival of the Royal Touch.-

Origin of the Usage.-Anecdotes of its Practice in former.

Reigns. De Foe's Solution of the Spell

-

CHAPTER II.

Thirtieth of January Preachers.-Satirized by De Foe in his

"New Test of the Church of England's Loyalty."-Account

of his Work.-Animadverted upon by Leslie and Drake.-

$1. De Yor andrewna a Pampoet open the Subject

34, Howe, Its temperate Character-Mr. Howe's

Reply. Remarks upon the Controversy.—De Foe returns to

at in a Second Pamphlet.-Hia respect for his Antagonist.—

Vindicates his own Character.-And corrects Mr. Howe's

Mis statement of his Principles.-And Motives.—Declara-

tion of his Sincenty. Mr. Howe's Letter to a Person of

Honour. Pamphlets against the Dissenters.-The Queen's

Speech to her Parliament. -Flattering Reply of the Com-

Introduction of the Bill to prevent Occasional Con-

mons,

formity. Passes the Commons.-Spirit that pervaded the

Puble, De Foe's Reflections upon the Measure.-De-

feated by the Lords' Amendments.-Preaching of the

Clergy. De Foe's Account of the Origin of the Bill.-

And of the Effect of Intolerance. He publishes "An

Enquny mito Occasional Conformity."--Represents the Hard-

ships of the Dissenters. Satirizes their Opponents

34

CHAPTER IV.

De Foe publishes his Shortest Way with the Dissenters."---

Occasion of his Writing it. Account of the Work.-Its

favourable reception by the High Party.-And Effect upon

the Nation. Temper of High Churchmen, - Misunderstood

by the Dissenters. He upbeards them for their lil-usage. —

Hs motives for weting in the Language of Irony.-Its

Dikers upon his Fortunes. He is discovered to be the

Author.-Complains of the dullness of his Enemies.-Is

threatened with Vengeance.-Conceals himself for a time.-

Proclamation for his Apprehension.-His Work complained

of in the House of Commons.-Ordered to be burnt.-

Surrenders himself.-Publishes an Explanation of his

Pamphlet. He feels hurt at the Conduct of the Dissenters.

-Brought to Trial at the Old Bailey.-Severely Treated by

the Attorney-General.-De Foe's Reflections upon his Con-

duct.—Throws himself upon the Mercy of the Queen.-

Which he afterwards regrets.-Betrayed by his own Counsel.

-His severe Sentence.-Tutchin's Reflections upon it.-

He stands in the Pillory.-Which is a Season of Triumph

to him. His Resolution of Mind.-Pope's ungenerous

Treatment of him.-Reprehended by Cibber.- De Foe

publishes "A Hymn to the Pillory."-Cibber's Remarks

upon it.-Lampoons against him.-Ruin of his Circum-

stances. Tampered with by the Ministers.-His Virtue in

Adversity. Notice of some Replies to the "Shortest Way." 49

CHAPTER V.

De Foe's Occupations in Newgate. He publishes " A Poem

on Reformation of Manners."-In which he attacks the Vices

of the Age. His Defence of the Work. The Impartiality

of his Censures.-He exposes the Knavery of Projectors.-

And reprobates the Traffic in Slaves. He publishes another

Poem, called "More Reformation."-Defends himself from

Reproaches. His Rebuke to the Dissenting Clergy.-He

publishes "The Shortest Way to Peace and Union."--Pirated

Edition of his Works.-Cibber's Account of it.-De Foe

publishes a Genuine Collection.-Its Contents.-Descrip-

tion of his Portrait.-His Apology for the Undertaking.

-King William's Affection for the Church of England, an

Ironical Satire by De Foe.-Dunton's Satire upon King

William .

84