

By TIIOS. B. GBOVES, F.C.S., d-c, d-^ 



HE name of Daniel De Foe, as an imaginative writer, 

 is probably destined to immortality, j^et of late years 

 we have heard less of his works of fiction than of his 

 political writings. The former have been to some extent dis- 

 placed by modern highly spiced boy's books of travel and 

 adventure, whilst the latter are, and wiU remain, valuable 

 materials for the student of the history of the Revolution of 

 1689. 



Recently the already very numerous printed works of De Foe 

 have been added to by the publication of a long series of articles 

 from his pen that hitherto had not been laid to his account, and 

 the public interest shown at the unexpected find seemed to 

 justify the putting into print materials even of a trifling nature 

 that might throw light on the career of so notable a character as 

 the author of the "True-born Englishman." De Foe was, it is 

 well known, a strong partizan of the Dutchman, and his imme- 

 diate successor, and a sharp thorn in the side of the Jacobite 

 party. So sharp, indeed, was the thorn he inserted that he 

 made for himself niunerous and most virulent enemies, who more 

 than once succeeded in clapping him in prison for the publica- 

 tion of supposed seditious pamphlets. His " Shortest way with 

 Dissenters" were so regarded, and its appearance led to his 

 arrest, followed by fine, pillory, and imprisonment during the 

 Queen's pleasure. He was released in August, 1700. Hig 



