TOLAND DRAWS UP A REPLY.

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between them, respected the merits of some persons in the administration. Some of these, particularly the Duke of Marlborough (K) and Mr. Harley, are handled with severity, which gave so much offence, that a prosecution was immediately commenced against the author. Upon an investigation of the matter, it could be traced no further than to the Rev. William Stephens, Rector of Sutton in Surry, who, refusing to give evidence against Rawlins, was supposed to be the real author. Being brought to trial the 6th of May, 1706, before Mr. Justice Powel, he was convicted of writing the pamphlet, and sentenced to a fine and the pillory. The latter part of his sentence was first suspended, and then remitted, out of respect to his order; but with this mortifying circumstance: that Mr. Stephens was brought to a public house at Charing-Cross, from whence he saw the fatal scaffold, and multitudes of people gathered together to be the spectators of his humiliation.*

The pamphlet of Stephens, who was far from being a high-churchman, but had a quarrel against some of the ministers, was replied to before his apprehension, in "A Letter to the Author of the Memorial of the State of England, answered paragraph by paragraph. Lond. 1706." 8vo.; and afterwards, in "Remarks on the Letter to the Author of the State Memorial. 1706." 8vo. Toland, also, under the direction of Harley, undertook a reply; but for some particular reasons it was suppressed, after six or seven sheets were printed. The title he gave to it was "A De

Boyer's Reign of Queen Anne, p. 286.

(K) De Foe having entered upon the vindication of Marlborough, in his Review, the Duchess communicated it to the Duke, then abroad, who thus writes to her: "I do not know who the author of the Review is, but I do not love to see my name in print; for I am persuaded that an honest man must be justified by his own actions, and not by the pen of a writer, though he should be a zealous friend."-Cox's Life of Marlborough, ii. 284. 8vo. ed.

380

BUT SUPPRESSES IT.

fence of her Majesty's Administration: particularly against the notorious Forgeries and Calumnies with which his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, and the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Harley, are scandalously defamed and aspersed, in a late scurrilous invective, intitled, 'A Letter to the Author of the Memorial of the State of England.'"* This being a fruitful controversy, it produced many other pamphlets; but they are too numerous to particularize.

* Toland's Life before his Works.

CHAPTER XVIII.

De Foe is threatened with Violence.-His own Account of his Treatment.—And Contempt for the High-Flyers.-False Reports raised against him.— His Challenge to his Enemies.-And Perseverance in the Cause he had embarked in. He satirizes the Enemies of Moderation.-Offers a Cessation of Hostilities. He makes a Progress in the West of England.—The Obstructions he met with.—Sham Informations laid against him.—His own Account of his Journey.-Public Thanksgiving.-De Foe's Commendation of Dean Willis's Sermon.-Review of the Case of Ephraim and Judah.— De Foe announces a Satire upon the High-Churchmen.—His Address to the Members of the new Parliament.-Anecdote of Lord Holland. He denounces the Plots of the High-Flyers.—And describes the Engines they work with.-His own Disinterestedness.-Opening of the new Parliament.-De Foe's Commendation of the Queen's Speech.-Debate upon the State of the Nation.-Lord Haversham's Speech for inviting over the Presumptive Heir.-Answered by De Foe.-Lord Haversham's Vindication of his Speech.-De Foe publishes a Reply. His noble Vindication of Himself.-Debate upon the Danger of the Church.-Remarks upon the Subject. -True Relation of the Apparition of Mrs. Veal.-Sir Walter Scott's Remarks upon it.-The Second Volume of the Review-Opens with a "Hymn to Truth."-Subjects Discussed in it.-Reproof of Lying.-De Foe's Contests with the News-writers.

1705.

THE length to which political parties now carried their animosities, was strikingly exemplified in the personal treatment of our author. For the freedom with which he spoke his mind against the temper and conduct of the high-flyers, he was not only subjected to their scandal and abuse, but even threatened with violence. Writing in July this year, he says, "Twould reflect upon the nation in general, should

382 DE FOE'S ACCOUNT OF HIS TREATMENT.

I give the particulars of about twenty or thirty letters, most of which threaten my life; so that they would think England coming into the mode of Italy." To these angry persons he says, "Let them step to Maidstone jail, and there discourse a little with their brother-murtherers; and if their condition pleases them, let them follow their steps if they can. Indeed, gentlemen, the mean, despicable author of this paper, is not worth your attempting his correction at the price. Gaols, fetters, and gibbets, are odd, melancholy things. For a gentleman to dangle out of the world in a string has something so ugly, so awkward, and so disagreeable, that you cannot think of it without regret; and then the reflection will be very harsh, that this was for killing a poor mortified author, one that the government had killed before. It can never be worth your while; and, therefore, he hopes you will let him alone to time and age, which are hastening upon us all, and will certainly at last do the work to your hand."

But little regardful of these threats, he says, "I move about the world unguarded and unarmed; a little stick, not strong enough to correct a dog, supplies the place of Mr. O-r's great oaken-towel; a sword sometimes, perhaps, for decency, but it is all harmless, to a mere nothing, and can do no hurt any where but just at the tip of it, called the point and what's that in the hand of a feeble author? Let him alone, gentlemen, and have patience: you'll all come to be of his mind ere long; and then if you had killed him, you will be sorry for it."*

Besides threats of personal violence, his enemies resorted to other methods of ill-usage. Crowds of sham actions and debts in trade, of seventeen

arrests poured in upon him; years' standing, and compounded for, were revived; writs were taken out without the knowledge of the creditor, and

* Review, ii. 213, 14.

DE FOE'S ACCOUNT OF HIS TREATMENT.

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sometimes after he had been paid; assignments of debts were eagerly sought for and purchased; and collateral bonds sued where the securities had been resigned. "It would take up too much of the reader's time," says he, "to trouble the world with the barbarous treatment of a man just stripped naked by the government; should I descend to particulars, they would be too moving to be read." In the number of reports raised to injure him, it was given out that he had been taken to Newgate; and he tells us, that some persons were so kind as to go there to visit him. "Common compassion," says he, "would lead most men to pity those who have been ruined by any public disaster;" but this lot must be expected by all who "venture in plainness, and without flattery, to tell men their crimes ;" and, as he was determined not to restrain his pen from writing the truth, he had confidence," that the Author of Truth will, one time or other, own the work, if not the unhappy author."*

In another place, he says, "I am not going to move the compassion of any body, by telling the ungrateful particulars how the unhappy author is treated; how his life is threatened by bullying letters; his creditors roused to a general prosecution of him for debts, though under former treaties and agreements; as if he was more able to discharge them now, reduced by a known disaster, and ruined by a public storm, than before, when in prosperous circumstances, he was gradually clearing himself of every body, and all waited with patience, being themselves satisfied; how his morals were assaulted by impotent and groundless slanders; his principles cried down by envious friends, as well as malicious enemies. His endeavours for the public advantage thus prove none to himself; his family and fortunes sink under his constant attempts for his country's welfare; and all this for inviting you to peace, for telling you what sort of people

* Review, ii. 215.