New-York tribune., 1841-11-25

~fr7le
.;,, for fools whom he describes particular
rsnt.chsrgs on the great family of Mankind, and
others for academies, civil and military" The
pathway Of the Muses. now became too tempting
for his ambition, and in 17OO-1 appeared bis ps-
en- of The True-Born Englishman.' 1t was phi
! ppc in its spirit, and was written IN reply TO en-
nti-Governmental one by some Mr.. Tuchin, who
thought proper to abuse the King and the Dutch
nation. The poem is really good ; strong in its
reasonings and caustic in its seventies: the pride
of ancestry, which seems to have strengthened Mr.
TuchiRs aristecrarc exclusiveness, is very finely
ridiculcd, and tho following characteristic closing
lines prove the mind OF De Foe to have been i'm
bued with the first essential spirit of Republican
ism:
"Could our ancestors now retrieve their fate
And see their offspring thus degenerate;
How contend for birth and names unknown,
And bald up their pas; actions, not our OWL
They d cancel records and their ton5s deface,
And then discs ,he vile. degenerate race;
For fame # families is all cheat;
IT'S PERSONAL VIRTUE ONLY MAEss Us GREAT
| To this poem De Foe was Indebted for person
al introduction TO King William, after which his
Wits to the palace were frequent and faitering,
if we may Judge SO from the fac, that he was
taken into the Royal Secret Service the public
service aimed at accomplishments satire
produced the desired effect, and the boast OF being
trus-5Orn Englishmaa was henceforth snhesr I'd.
During the fifth Parliament Of that Monarch, De
Foe excrted himself strenuously in advocating the
Act of Settlement confirming the succession to the
Throne in the Protestant line, the only means of
perpetuat;ng the benefits produced ~ the Revolu-
ton: nor were his zeal and energy in that cause
aba,ed by the death Of The King, by which he lost
kind friend and powerful protector as il proved
by his work-one which exercised the greatest in
fuescs on his fortunes-entited " The shortest
way with the Dissentcrs, or Proposals for the cs-
Enlistment of the Church, l702." The severest
measures against the Dissenters herein re-
commended: the levy of fines repudiated as i'm
polite, and " the gallows instead of the compter
and the galleys, instead of fines suggested
the Gt,est punishment for going to conven'icle.
So great was the public excitement caused by
this work, that it was resolved by the party in
power to cruh De Fee by State prosecution.
The author sought concealment, but after the pro-
camation in the London Gazette Of 10Th January,
1902, g, of reward of $50 by the Government,
the printer and the bookseller being taken into
custody, ne surrendered himself rather " than that
others should be ruined by his mistake This
proclamation is very curious containing an ex-
act description of his person. " He is it says,
" a mddle-szed, spare man, about forty years old,
of brown complexion and dark brown colored
hair but wears a wig hooked nose, a sharp
chin, gray eyes and large mole near his mouth.
Such was ha portrature.
1t was resolved in the House of Commons that
this book of fate should be burnt by the hands of
the Common Hangman in the Palace Yard" From
De Foes own account of the prosecution, we can
infer that hi, enemies were undecided their
disposal of him when in their power. He was con-
sequcntly advised to throw himself on the mercy of
the Queen, which he adopted and avowed himself
the autt or of the offensive work. Hereen he was
sentenced to pay fine of 200 marks to the Queen,
10 stand three hours in The pillory to be i'm
prisoned during the Queens pleasure, and to find
sureties for his good behavior for seven years Of
his treatment while in the plory he gives the same
I'LL o..- ,.on.,,,.;,o,,. ,ha .oon,o %
account VIM" P,o''' 'V,''''' '"l F''p''
have been with him' lie says 'nat the people
who were expected to treat him very i'll, on the
cor,r,r, r,;ed him and sod their affection bv
loud acclama'iohS when iie was 'aNe'' do""' 0"'
of the most triumphant evidences of his indomtable
sr;r;, 70 ,ba, ., The vcrv dav on which he was
,..,:,.l Ill.,,