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New England , and became Vice-president of Harvard College . His original destination was to the miuistry , among the Presbyterians ; and it does not appear why this intention was abandoned . In 1685 he joined the standard of the
rash and ill-fated Monmouth ; and upon the failure of that attempt returned unnoticed to the metropolis , where for the next ten years he appears to have been engaged in trade as a hose-factor , or the middle man between the
manufacturer and the retail dealer . " This occupation he carried on in Cornhill ; but during some part of the time he had a residence at Tooting , in Surrey , " where he was the first person who attempted to form the Disseuters in the neighbourhood into a regular congregation . " Dr . Joshua Oldfield was their first pastor . De Foe had early in life commenced Author and Controversialist : \_» Mt KM ¦ . M ii M
A * . V / v . ^_ JL . » ' ~*~ r A v-v v » . ^*** ^ - ^ * ¦ ' * I . >— ' * ^^ & •»» A * - * A » » -J V A and from this period he took an active and ardent part in the political discussions of the agitated times in which he Jived . While he was the acute and sarcastic opponent of the Tory and High Church Party , the Nonconformists occasionally felt his lash for their inconsistencies . In
business he was unsuccessful ; his original attempt , and other speculations in which he afterwards embarked , having all conic to a disastrous , though not dishonourable , termination . Towards the conclusion of the seventeenth century " De Foe took up his abode at Hackney , and resided there several years . Here some of his children were born and
buried . In the parish register is the following entry : * Sophia , daughter to Daniel de Foe , by Mary his wife , was baptized , December 24 , 1701 . ' « Martha de Yoe , a child , was carried out of the parish to be buried in 1707 . * " The extravagance of Sacheverell and others of the High Church Party provoked De Foe to publish , in 1702 , his " Shortest Way
with the Dissenters , " and a very short way it was which he thus ironically suggested , viz . pulling down all the ineeting-houses and sending the ministers to the galleys or the gallows . The faction was so blind as to fall into the trap ; the proposition was at first taken for earnest and praised iu earnest ; and when the
trick was discovered , the spirit of persecution stood confessed and almost confounded . But the joke was too biting to be borne without vengeance . The House of Commons ordered the book to be burned by the common hangman ; the government offered a reward of fifty pounds for the apprehension of the Aafrhor ; he was tried for libel at the Old
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Bailey ; cajoled by his own lawyers into not making a defence ; convicted ^ and sentenced to pay a fine of 200 marks , stand three times in the pillory , be imprisoned during the Queen ' s pleasure , and find securities for his good behaviour for seven years . Such were the tender mercies of Church and Queen . The
disgraceful part of the punishment failed of its effect ; De Foe wrote a Hymn to the Pillory , and the people wreathed it with flowers . He remained in prison till the change of ministry in 1704 , when Harley obtained of theQueeu his release , and gave him an appointment which he held while that administration continued in power . It is thought that by this connexion his Whiggery was somewhat modified . While in prison he projected , and commenced 6
the publication of his * Review" of public affairs , which at first only contemplated those of France , but was afterwards extended to all departments of politics and public morals . At first it was a sheet once a week , bat was changed to half a sheet twice a week . It may be considered as the prototype of such works as the Political Register . It was continued till nine volumes , of 100 numbers each , were completed , of which De Foe was the sole writer . As a record of
his opinions it is largely used in the work before us . In 1706 De Foe was sent into Scotland by Harley and GodolpMn to promote the Union ; a measure which he had himself suggested , many years before , to King William . He
entered very heartily into the object of his mission , and by his conversation and pamphlets , which appear to have been all the ageucy he exercised , did much in reconciling many who were disaffected . It was not long after liirs return from Scotland that he fixed his abode at Stoke
Newingtou . in 1715 , after various political conflicts , iu the course of which he had been again in Newgate , and been ill-treated and disgusted by both parties , he formed the resolution of taking a public leave of political life by a pamphlet entitled lt An Appeal to Honour and Justice , though it be of hrs worst Enemies . By D . De Foe . Being a true Account of his Conduct iu Public Affairs .
8 vo . Pp . 58 . Before the completion of this work he was struck with apoplexy , and Inn recovery was dee / ned so doubtful , that after a delay of six months it was published by his friends without his finishing hand . He did recover , however , and survived sixteen years , and during this period it was that the works were produced by which now he is . best known . Not only thar book of book ? ,
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Critical Notices . —Miscellaneous . 59
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1830, page 59, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2580/page/59/
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