The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-08-05
DxNIEL DEEoE.


Daniel Foe (the De WAS preflxed in after
| life), was born in London, ii 1861. On COM
pleting his apprenticeship, he became an en-
rolled citizen Of London, and commenced bust
ness as a hosier. He lived in stormy times,
during the reigns Of Charles II, James II,
William and Mary, Anne and George I. An
intense struggle was going on with reference
to the rights Of Kings and the liberty of the
subject, priestly domination and the liberty
of conscience; and these questions were mixed
up with the efforts to restore Roman Catholic
supremacy in England, with the succession to
the British throne, and other matters.
Defoc was the son of Dissenter from the
Established Church, and occupied the same
position himself, Early in life he threw him
self into the struggle, aud became political
writer; and wrote largely. This made him
many enemies, and often brought him into
trouble. He wrote on the side of civil and re-
ligious liberty, and probably often with that
sharpness and acrimony characteristic of that
age. Among other pieces he wrote d satire,
entitled, "T The Shortest Way with the Dissen-
ters. This brought down vengeance upon
him. 1t was pronounced libel upon the gov
eminent; was condemned to be burned by the
common hangman, and he was fined, impris-
oned, and put in the pillory During his i'm
prisonment he wrote an g Ode to the Pillory,"
and, to the amusement of his friends, and to
the chagrin of his enemies, he recited it to the
crowds who stood around him while he was
in the pillory. During his imprisonment he
projected Tia Rcoisw, a periodical which he
wrote himself, and published two or three
times week for more than nine years, at a
penny number.
When he was about flfty-fve years old his
spirits were broken by the acts of his enc
mics, the losses lie had suffered, and the pen
alties he had cndured-his health gave way,
and, finally, he had fit Of apoplexy. On re-
covering his health he again commenced wri-
ting; but he now commenced in new style.
The first of this series was the far-famed Rob
inson Crusoe. This was written when he was
fifty-eight years old. lie found it very diff
cult to secure publisher for this book, al
though it has since been very widely circula-
ted, and is the work by which he is known
most. Ii WAS lullOWeu ny tho Au'opeuiSS
of Captain Singleton, ''-"Fortunes of Moll
Flanders, ''--"Fiistory of Colonel Jack, -
ssThe Fortunate Mistress, The Memoirs
/ of Cavalier, 1.-THE History of the Plague, :"
lin London, 1869. In these writings he de-
Tended the poor, exposed abuses, advocated
reform, and gave instruction and entertain
ment.
These books were not religious books; but
they were written in religious spirit, and
were never disigured by filings at evangelical
religion, or caricatures of Christian ministers,
for Defoe was himself an evangelical Chris
tan. He may be called volnminous writer,
for he published sixty four volumes, and from
hundred to hundred and fifty pamphlets.
He sometimes wrote in rhyme, but is not
famous as poet. The commencement of one
of his satircal pieces has, however, often been
quoted:
Wherever God crects house Of prayer,
The devil always builds chapel there,
And twill be found upon examination,
The latter has the largest congregation
Defoe died in 1881, when he was seventy
years old, and was buried in Bunhill Fields
burying ground, for many years famous as a
cemetery for Dsscnters. This burial ground,
being now in the heart Of the city, has been
closed for many years.