A DOUBTFUL POSITION. 45

were, he tells us, Papists, and Jacobites, and High Tories—“ a generation
whom, I profess, my very soul abhors.’”’ In the performance of his peculiar
and delicate task he was compelled to hear traitorous outbursts against the
King and Government, and to receive ‘‘ scandalous and villanous papers,”
keeping:them by him—ostensibly for the purpose of gathering materials, but
really with a view to their total suppression.

In Mr. Lee’s opinion this was no ‘‘ system of espionage ;’’ but I confess
it seems to me something closely resembling it, and I could wish De Foe
had never been involved in, still less had originated, a scheme so questionable,
and, moreover, of such doubtful advantage.

I continue, however, to quote Mr. Lee’s defence :—

The rebellion (of 1715-16) was yet smouldering, though subdued ; and
the laws, liberties, and religion of the country were threatened. This weekly
journal, inspired from the Court of the Pretender, and supported by the
money and intelligence of attainted nobles abroad, and their adherents at
home, had laboured to keep alive the spirit of treason until circumstances
should be favourable for again spreading the flames of rebellion through the
land. If, therefore, moral persuasion is more effectual than legal repression,
and prevention better than cure, then no stigma, beyond that of concealment,
attaches to the character of De Foe on account of his connection with Mist’s
Journal, Rather should we admire the intellectual power capable of hold-
ing in check such men as Ormond, Atterbury, Bolingbroke,* Mar, Wharton,
and their satellites, among the Jacobite and Nonjuring writers. It required
a large amount of patriotic courage to place himself as an impassable barrier
between the invectives of such men and the reading public; and no less
reservation and tact in exercising this influence in such a manner as to
avoid suspicion. He closes one of his letters with a favourite expression
from Scripture, frequently cited in his writings, showing the sensitiveness
of his mind, even as to the concealment necessary to the efficient service of
his country. His words-evince that he was conscious of the danger and
difficulties of his duties; and also that his position was a questionable one;
—hbut there is no invidious self-reflection involved when he says: “ Thus
I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, and most humbly recommend myself
to his lordship’s protection, or I may be undone the sooner, by how much
the more faithfully I execute the commands I am under.”

De Foe’s connection with Mist’s Journal commenced in 1717, and continued,
with various interruptions, until 1724. During this period he also mingled
in the political mélée as proprietor and conductor of The Whitehall Evening
Post. From 1719 to 1725 he was connected with the Daily Post,+ while his
fertile pen not only produced the works of fiction whose characteristics we
have been examining, throughout this busy period, but, with ceaseless in-

* But could such men as these have been hoodwinked, even by De Foe? ,
ey Also with Applebie’s Original Weekly Journal, 1720 to 1726; and The Director,
20.