New-York tribune., 1841-11-25
Memoir Of PANEL Dc Foe.
Condensed for the Trisuae from Appeton's edition
of Robinsou Crusoe

Of Robnsou Crusoe
Ultimately linked with our earliest school-day
remembrance is that strange narrative OF stormy
adventure and island solitude, ROBINSON CRUsoE-
Not less interesting to our matvrer minds is INC
biography OF its popular author now than weFe
then the stirring incidents of the Monarch Oh
Juan Fernandez, for not in that work alone rests
the literary reputation Of De Foe, but on oheis u
great power of mind and originality OF method;
all which. however merely followed out to fulhi-
ment the promise of his early years.
De Foe was born in the parish OF 81. Glies,
Cr;nnlesrate. London, in the year 1861. At an
early age he evinced that spirit of independence
and yivacity of humor which afterward so strongly
characterised him through life. L. appears from
some passages in work Of his called the Review,
that he was originally intended for of the learn
ed professions and was therefore placed at about
fourteen years of age in an academy at Newington
Green, under the direction of g competent teacher.
He speedily mastered five languages, became we'll
versed in Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, His
DRY, Theology and Ecclesiastical History, and was
one Of the very few who in those days studied Po-
ltics as science. What honor, we're conferred
upon him in the academic grove not in
formed, but we find him al the age of twenty-one
successfully travelling as author up the steep
where Fames proud temple shines affair." His
first publication WINS lampooning answer to
L'Estraage's Guide 10 the Inferior Clergy: its
title was 'Speculum scape-Gennorum, or Look
ing Glass for the Young Academicks new-Foypd,
with reflections on Of the late high-flown Ser
mons, to which is added an essay toward Ser
mon of the Newest Fashion. BY a Guide to the
Inferior Clergy. Redentem discere Aberum Quiz
vetat. London, printed for E. Rydal, 1922 In
this work, the title of which suggested by
the Grape gowns by the inferior clergy, he
defends the Dissenters against the supposed libes
of the established clergy. Work after work now
followed in rapid succession from the pen of De
Foe, all claiming high consideration for varied and
vigorous talent. To those days Of political tur-
rnoil, when every public man had to form or as.
sumo decision of character. his energy was emf
nendy suited and zsalously addressed. He was,
accordingly, one of the first who joined the stand
ard Of the hapess Duke of Monmouth when he
landed at Lyme, and became ready with his
sword as prompt with his pen; he, however, had
the good fortune to escape the fate of 80 many of
Monmouth's followers, and returned to London,
where, leaving the stormy region of politics. he d.
rected his attention to trade, as hose-factor.-
This business he pursued for about ten years.
When the Revolution Of 1888 broke forth, De Foe
was resident Of footing in Surrey, where he was
the first who attempted to form the Dssenters into
a regular congregation OF that Revolution he was
an ardent worshipper, and annually commemora-
ted the 4th of November day of deliverance.
A day" he says, Z" famous many accounts
and every one of them dear to Britons who love
their country, value the Protestant interest or have
an aversion to tyranny and oppression. On this
day, he (King Wam) born on this day he
married the daughter of England and on this day
he rescued the nation from bondage worse than
that of Egypt; bondage Of soul well as bodily
servitude, slavery to the ambition and raging lust
of generation set on fire by pride, avarice, cruel
ty and blood" According to De Foes own con-
fession, occupations Of trade very uncongenial
he exclaims {" no apron-strings will hold him;
Ills in vain TO lock him in behind the cosner--he is
gone in a moment" With such feelings be-
hold without disappointment the wreck of his CON-
mercial speculations, which he appears to have
carried on with partners in the Spanish and Por
tuguese trade. Probably more direct reason Of
his commercial reverses is to be found in the re-
corded facts that " with the usual improvdenco of
genius, he was carried into companies who were
gratihed BY his wit. He spent those hours with
small society for the cultivation of polite learn
ing, which he ought to have employed in the calcu-
lations of the counting. house, and being obliged
TO abscond from his creditors in 1922, he naturally
attributed those misfertunes the war, which were
probably owing to his own misconduct" Being
redscedto bankruptcy, the laws against bankrupts
offered prolific theme for his pen, frem which we
have the following interesting observations. " The
cruelty of our laws against debtors, without dis
tincon Of honest or dishonest, is the shame of
nation l am persuaded, the honestest man in
England, when by necessity he is compelled 10
break, will only fly of the kingdom rather than
submit to stay here. This is the consequence: as
soon as he breaks he is prescribed as criminal,
and has thirty sixty days to surrender both him.
self and all he has to his creditors If he fail, to
do it, he has nothing before him but the gallows
without benefit of clergy; if he surrenders he is
not sure but he shall be thrown into jail for life by
the commissioners only on preence that they doubt
his oath What must the man do ~