598

66

DISSECTIO MENTIS HUMANE."

To an author who wrote so much as De Foe, and whose works are chiefly anonymous, it may be difficult to assign his last publication. From a passage in the preface to his "Use and Abuse of the Marriage bed," it may be inferred, that he expected to close his labours with that "upright intention for the good of mankind;" but we have seen, that he lived to write several pieces afterwards. It has been suggested to the present writer, that he was the author of a long poem published in 1730, and taking in a wide range of satire; but not having had an opportunity to consult it, he can do no more than give the title, which is as follows: "Dissectio Mentis Humanæ :" or a Satyric Essay on Modern Critics, Stage and Epic Poets, Translators, Drolls, Ill-Repute, Burials, Great Guns and Gunpowder, Physicians, Sleep, Politicians, Patrons, Necessity, Philosophers, Prophets, Conjurors, Witches, Astrologers, Stars, Gypsies, Cunning Men, Physiognomy, Giants, Human Complexions, Fictitious Beings, Elves or Fairies, Apparitions, Men of Business, Wealth, Pride and Avarice, Virtue and Sense, Courage, Honour, Education, Conversation, Travail, a Vicious Taste, a City and Country Life, Flattery, Law, Custom and Reason, Free-Thinking, Religion, Priestcraft, Publick Justice, Learning and Learned Men, Curious Arts, Love and Friendship, Ambition, Truth, Greatness, and Life. London: printed for T. Warner, 1730." 8vo. pp. 100. In the same year, he composed his Appendix to the "Plan of the English Commerce," already noticed, which was, perhaps, the con clusion of his literary labours. He was then upon the verge of his last voyage to that country upon which he had long fixed his attention, and from whence no traveller returns. (N)

(N) Cibber, in his Lives of the Poets, attributes the following work to De Foe; but it was not published until at least three years after his death. “The Life and entertaining Adventures of Mr. CLEVELAND, natural Son of Oliver Cromwell. Written by Himself. Giving a particular Account of his Unhappiness in Love, Marriage, Friendship, &c., and his great Suffer

66 THE COMPLEAT GENTLEMAN."

599

To this foregoing account of De Foe's writings, it may be added, that he had prepared another work for publication a little before his death; but whether owing to illness, or to whatever cause, only one sheet of it appears to have been printed. (o) It was to have been intitled "The Compleat Gentleman, containing useful observations on the general Neglect of Education of English Gentlemen, with the Reason and Remedies: The apparent Differences between a WellBorn and Well-Bred Gentlemen: And Instructions how Gentlemen may recover a Deficiency of their Latin, and be Men of Learning, though without the Pedantry of Schools." The manuscript of the work, which is partly in Short-hand, is still in existence, and in the possession of one of his lineal decendants, the Rev. Henry De Foe Baker, by whose favor the writer is enabled to give the following analysis of its contents.

Part the First. Chap. 1. Of the Gentleman born, in the

ings in Europe and America. Intermixed with Reflections, describing the Heart of Man in all its variety of Passions and Disguises; also, some curious Particulars of Oliver's History and Amours, never before made publick. London: printed for T. Astley, at the Rose in St. Paul's Church Yard, 1734.” 5 vols. 12mo. There was a second edition in three volumes, in 1741.

(0) The following letter to his printer "Mr. J. Watts, in Wild Court," relates to the above work.

S1.,—I am to ask yor Pardon for keeping the Enclosed so long, Mr. Baker having told me yor Resolution of taking it in hand and working it off. But I have been exceeding ill. I have Revised it again and contracted it very much, and hope to bring it within the Bulk you desire or as near it as possible. But this and some needful alterations will oblige you to much Trouble in the first sheet, and perhaps almost as bad as setting it over again, which cannot be avoided. I will endeavour to send the Rest of the Copy so well Corrected as to give you very little Trouble. I here return the first sheet, and as much Coppy as will make near 3 sheets more, you shall have all the remainder so as not to let you stand still at all.

Sept. 10th, 1729.

I am,
Sir,

Your Most Humble Servant,

DE FOE.

600

"THE COMPLEAT GENTLEMAN."

common acceptation of the word, and as the Gentry amongst us are pleased to understand it. Chap. 2. Some Examples from History, and from good Information, of the want of care taken in the Education of Princes, and Children of the Nobility in former times, as well in this Nation as in foreign Countries, and how fatal the Effects of it has been in their future conduct; with some few Examples of the contrary also. Chap. 3. Examples of the different Educations of Princes and Persons of rank from the beginning of the XVIth century, viz. from the Reign of Henry the VIIIth inclusive. With Observations down to the present time, on the Happiness of these Reigns in general, where the Princes have been educated in Principles of Honour and Virtue; and something of the contrary. Chap. 4. Of Royal Education. Chap. 5. The head of this chapter is erased. Chap. 6. Of the G; of Himself, his Family, and Fortune.

Part the Second. Chap. I. Of the Fund for Encrease of our Nobility and Gentry in England; being the Beginning of those we call Bred Gentlemen: with some Account of Difference. Chap. 2. There is no head to this chapter. Chap. 3. Of the generall Ignorance of the English Gentry, and the true Cause of it in the Manner of their Introduction into Life. Chap. 4. Of what may be the unhappy Cause of the generall Defect in the Education of our Gentry; with a rational proposal for preventing those Consequences.

CHAPTER XXII.

Some Particulars of De Foe during the latter years of his Life.—Mr. Baker's Account of his Habits.—And Courtship of his Daughter.-He falls into Difficulties.-Unnatural Behaviour of his Son.-His affecting Letter to Mr. Baker.—His Prospects as to another World.—Time and Circumstances of his Death. Some Errors corrected.-Registers of his Burial.-Letters of Administration upon his Effects.-View of De Foe's Character.-Mode of Dealing amongst Literary Men in his Day.-Wanton Manner of propagating Slander.-Mark Noble.-De Foe's Moral Character.-Private Habits.-Melmoth's Letter to him upon the Stage.-His Political Principles-Patience under Suffering.—His Religious Character.—His Benevolence illustrated.—General View of his Character as a Writer.—His Pretensions as a Poet.-As a Political Writer.-As a Commercial Writer. -As an Historian.—As a Moralist.— As a Writer of Fiction.-Estimate of his Secondary Novels, by Charles Lamb.-Comparison with Richardson. -And Bunyan.-Concluding Remarks.—Particulars concerning his Family and Descendants.

1731.

THE latter years of De Foe's life furnish but few materials for biography, independently of those arising from the history of his publications. The rapidity with which these followed each other, and the successive editions that were in demand during his lifetime, if his gains were at all commensurate, must have ensured him a considerable degree of wealth; such at least would be the well-earned reward of an author, possessed of only half of his genius, in the present day. But De Foe was never destined to be a rich man.

602

SOME PARTICULARS OF DE FOE'S LATTER DAYS.

He must, however, have been in easy circumstances during the first run of his romances. We have seen, that in 1721, he fined to the parish of Stoke-Newington, to be excused serving parish offices; a tax that he paid for being a Dissenter. In the following year, he obtained from the corporation of Colchester, a lease for ninety-nine years of Kingswood-heath, at a yearly rent of 1201., besides a fine of 5007. But whether his speculation failed, or to whatever cause it was owing, he did not retain it long; for we find the property transferred soon afterwards to Walter Bernard. At the time that Mr. Chalmers wrote, Kingswood-heath was worth 3001. a-year. It must have been about this time, or a little before, that he built a large and handsome house for his own residence at Stoke-Newington; and if we may believe the report of his literary opponents, he had the luxury of a coach and its accustomed appendages. But whatever may have been his opulence, as Mr. Chalmers observes, "our author did not waste his subsequent life in unprofitable idleness. No one can be idly employed who endeavours to make his fellow-subjects better citizens and wiser men." Prosperous as De Foe's circumstances now appeared to be, they could not procure him the blessing of health. He was now tormented with those dreadful maladies, the gout and the stone, occasioned in part, most probably, by his close application; and they subjected him to continual attacks of illness during the remainder of his life.

Of the habits and pursuits of De Foe at this time, we have an interesting account from Mr. Henry Baker, the celebrated natural philosopher, who married one of his daughters, and left behind him some valuable papers. Amongst them are the letters that passed between himself and his wife during their courtship. To these he has prefixed a narrative of their early acquaintance, which contains some notices of De Foe that will gratify the reader; who is indebted for them to his descendant before-mentioned.