DE FOE LOSES A PATRON. 19

tion of the predominance of the ori-
ginal (the People’s) over the dele-
gated authority (that of King and
Parliament) ; and remains still, as it
was when first written, the ablest,
plainest, and most courageous ex-
position in our language of the doc-
trine on which our own and all free
political constitutions rest.

On the 8th of March 1702 Eng-
land lost a great ruler, and De Foe
a wise patron, by the death of
William III. It was a signal loss
to the nation and the individual;
but nations outlive such losses; to
De Foe it was irreparable. Had
William reigned a few years longer,
we can hardly doubt that his ad-
herent would have risen to some :
high office in the State. But then, we should probably have lost “‘ Robin-
son Crusoe” and “Colonel Jack.” So true it is that the public generally
profit by private sufferings.

The attitude assumed by the Tory faction at the death of the King was in
every sense unbecoming. That they should rejoice at the accession of Anne,
and the restoration of the Stuart line to the throne, was not wonderful; but
to lampoon the memory of the great sovereign who had saved their country
from a mean and narrow tyranny was unworthy of a powerful party. De
Foe poured out the vial of his wrath on these traducers in a poem, entitled
“The Mock Mourners: a Satire, by way of Elegy on King William;” which
is remarkable for its earnestness and dignity of tone. It passed through seven
large editions in a twelvemonth. To the last De Foe preserved his affec-
tionate respect for the memory of William, and spoke of him as “the best
King England ever saw.” And once, when suffering from unjust persecution,
he pathetically exclaimed, “I shall never forget his goodness to me. It was
my honour and advantage to call him master as well as sovereign. I never
patiently heard his memory slighted, nor ever can doso. Had he lived, he
would never have suffered me to be treated as I have been in this world.”

With the accession of Queen Anne the political atmosphere changed
mightily. Whig principles went out of fashion ; Whig politicians were but
coldly received at the new sovereign’s cabinet; a Tory Government was
appointed ; all the old doctrines of divine right and passive obedience were
preached from High Church pulpits; and the necessity of conformity to the
doctrines and liturgy of the English Church was urged with uncompromising
violence. De Foe was no blind antagonist of the Church of England, but he

 

PORTRAIT OF QUEEN ANNE.