28

DISCOURSE CONCERNING TROUBLE OF MIND.

to Trouble of Mind; some violent Temptations; and a Recovery: In order to awaken the Presumptuous, convince the Sceptick, and encourage the Despondent. Left under his own Hand, to be communicated to the Publick after his Decease. The Second Edition, with Additions from the Author's Original Papers. Lond. 1711." 8vo. pp. 334. The following attestation, by "an eminent physician of the College," is prefixed to this edition. "The author of this

book was a person of an estate, generous and charitable, and could be under no temptation to use any base or by-ends whatever, to usher into the world this religious treatise. But it may be objected, that the most serious persons have sometimes gone melancholy, and fallen into diseases of the brain, productive of strange deliriums, errors, and impositions, which they themselves have in time discovered and acknowledged. To this I answer, partly what I know myself, by an acquaintance of some years standing, and also what has been communicated to me by others, of a much longer conversation with the author, whose veracity I dare confide in. I knew him to be a person of a very sane and healthful constitution, of great activity, both of body and mind, free and pleasant in his conversation, without the least moroseness or affectation. His very looks expressed a cheerful disposition. He was a diligent searcher after substantial truths; so far from being carried away by the insinuations of enthusiasts, new lights, or mystical notions, that he has confuted them. He held constant communion with the church of England. His education was liberal amongst learned men, in a celebrated academy abroad, where he studied philosophy, and the art of medicine; a faculty censured rather for too much infidelity, than for being subject to enthusiam. I shall add no more but this, that this second edition comes out with some additions, which I believe to be taken out of the author's own original papers; and that the truth of these

DISCOURSE CONCERNING TROUBLE OF MIND.

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extraordinary relations is unquestionable. F. S." Whether De Foe had any share in handing these papers to the world, may be questioned, as there is nothing but common report to warrant the supposition. A copy of the work, in the possession of the present writer, ascribes it to a Dr. Woodcock. The late Dr. Hamilton announced it to be the experience of Sir William Hamilton, physician to Queen Anne..

CHAPTER II.

De Foe takes another Journey to Scotland.-He Visits Lord Belhaven in Prison. His Conversation with that Nobleman.- And Honourable Testimony to his Character.-Lord Belhaven goes to London.-And Dies.-Some Account of Him.-Death of Prince George of Denmark.-De Foe's Notice of his Character.-Political Changes.-Proceedings of the Scottish Episcopalians.-De Foe's Account of their Conduct and Treatment. -Announces a Work upon the Subject.-The Scotch Narrative.-De Foe Replies to it.—His Remarks upon Leslie.—He Publishes his " History of the Union."-Reception of the Work.-His Dedication to the Queen.— Nature and Character of his Work.-Other Editions of it.—Gives rise to a Paper Contest with Mr. Clark.—Controversy concerning the Sacramental Test revived.-Irish Presbyterians Petition for its Removal.— Swift opposes them in a Pamphlet.-His allusion to De Foe.- Mr. Humphrey censured by Parliament for Writing against the Test.-De Foe predicts its Removal.

1708.

IN the month of June, De Foe made another journey to Scotland, being employed upon a secret mission, the object of which remains unknown. The silence he observes upon such occasions, is creditable to his prudence and judgment; and we may easily trust him that it involved nothing that was dishonourable, or we should probably have heard of it from his enemies. He continued several months in the north, and seems to have given full satisfaction to his employers. For this he appealed long afterwards to the Duke of Marlborough.

These repeated visits to Scotland, we may easily collect, were not disagreeable to De Foe, who had contracted an

DE FOE'S JOURNEY TO SCOTLAND.

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affection for the Scots, as well from gratitude for favours received, as from a zealous attachment to their religion. To the piety and hospitality of their nation, he is always proud to do honour; and the only return he could offer for their civilities, was to celebrate their virtues, and defend them from the reproaches of their enemies. As a public advocate, when their religion or their liberties were attacked, the Scots, perhaps, had not a more zealous and sincere friend amongst the English. With an active mind, and in a country so congenial to his taste and opinions, he was incessantly employed in gathering stores of information, concerning its localities, its capabilities for improvement, and the genius of the people; subjects that had hitherto engaged but a small share of attention in the sister kingdom. In his progress through different parts of the country, he had an opportunity of increasing the number of his acquaintances; and he made many careful observations, which furnished him with topics for discussion in his Review, through which he conveyed much useful information to the public.

The death of Lord BELHAVEN, an unfortunate Scotch nobleman, which happened soon after De Foe's arrival at Edinburgh, afforded an opportunity of exemplifying the generosity of his character towards a political opponent, who died under the frowns of the government. He had been committed with him in the affair of the Union; but duly appreciating his private virtues, was willing to do them justice, upon the score of friendship. The narrative is interesting, not only as an ample vindication of his lordship, but as exhibiting great nobleness of character, both in the subject and in the narrator.

Lord Belhaven had been one of the most active opponents of the Union, acting, no doubt, from conscientious motives. This, coupled perhaps with other circumstances, occasioned him to be suspected of disaffection to the government, and

32

HE VISITS LORD BELHAVEN IN PRISON.

he was watched with a jealous eye. When the Pretender appeared upon the coast of Scotland, in the spring of the year, several persons who were known to be in his interest, were ordered to be apprehended; as were others upon bare suspicion. In the latter class was Lord Belhaven, who was in confinement when De Foe arrived in Scotland. Notwithstanding their former differences, they had corresponded together; and their intercourse seems to have been governed by mutual esteem. "It is easy for men of honour," says De Foe, "to distinguish between public and personal differences; and I count it my honour to say, that though in debating the Union, I never slackened my hand in opposing ⚫ his lordship, yet he knew how to differ in opinion without personal resentment, and to allow others to differ from him. I had the honour to converse with him both by letter and by word of mouth; and as all the remains of that debate have vanished, I think it a debt due to his memory, to set his character right in the eyes of good men, now it has pleased God to take him away, before he had opportunity to do it, as he purposed, himself.

"In my last progress to Scotland, I arrived at Edinburgh a few days after his lordship was confined in the castle, whither I went to wait on him. I found him indeed very much concerned at his confinement, and the more so, to use his lordship's own expression, that he was numbered with transgressors; that he should be suspected in a cause he had always abhorred, had early appeared against, and had been formerly put in the same prison for opposing. In one of his letters to me, before I came to Scotland, his lordship has this expression: ""Tis now twenty-seven years since I had the honour to be prisoner in this very place, for opposing a Popish successor, in the parliament of 1681, when the successor himself was upon the throne, representing his brother." "This," adds De Foe, "made it appear very hard to his lordship, to be mixed with a sort of people he