most agreeable, and if we may be allowed the expression, the most innocent rake that ever trod the rounds of indulgence."

The following character was also published of sir Richard Steele soon after his death: "This excellent man was born to a fortune much inferior to his merits: his early life was formed in camps, and seasoned to the toils of war; yet greatly brave, and of unquestioned honor, his was a lettered genius, not fond of military glory. He shone distinguished, even whilst in humble privacy; obscured not more by his low rank in life than by his native modesty. Here he was selected by the brave lord Cutts, whose discernment knew the noble genius, even in a private soldier.

"He had a great vivacity and ready address; was diffident of his own judgment, and yielding to other men: he had fine wit, and true humour; a wit which was candid and good-natured: he was always willing to do good offices, and far from being envious of merit in other men. Hence he was loved and honored by all men. None was more happy or extensive in his acquaintance : none was a more agreeable companion, or useful friend. This was his private life, and this might well recommend him to public

esteem.

"To him we owe that valuable work which he commenced in "The Tatler," and assisted by the immortal labours of his ingenious friend Mr. Addison, carried into numerous volumes. Here he began a work which at once refined our language, and improved our morals. None ever attempted with more success to form the mind to virtue, or polish the manners of common life; none ever touched the passions in that pleasing, prevailing method, or so well inculcated the most useful and instructive lessons. I say, none did ever thus happily perform so important a work as these illustrious colleagues, who by adapting themselves to the pleasures, promoted the best virtues of human nature; insinuated themselves by all the arts of fine persuasion; employed the most delicate wit and humour in the cause of truth and good sense; nor gave offence to the most rigid devotees, or loosest debauchees, but soon grew popular, though advocates of virtue.

"He spoke in parliament, and appeared from the press, with a warm and a generous freedom: he differed from those in authori without libelling their persons; no scandalous parallels, no

ungentlemanlike invectives, or womanish railings, are to be found in his writings: he spoke to facts, and things of public concern ; nor invented, nor revived, any little stories to blacken the reputation of others. In short, he was at war with no man's fortunes, or places; and he greatly despised all lucrative considera.

tions.

"Add this to his character, he had an enthusiasm of honor, insomuch, that he was always most ready to appear for the truth, when it was most difficult and dangerous: he thought himself ob bliged to stand in the breach, when no man else would; and his intrepedity was a public advantage.

"Witness his memorable address to the clergy in defence of the revolution; I mean his "Crisis," for which he was immortalized by the resentment of his enemies, and by the noble stand he made against them in his brave defence; for this he was expelled the house of commons, whilst he triumphed in the judgment of his country; and raised such a spirit in the people by his writings, as greatly contributed to save our declining liberties, and establish the precarious succession,

"Such was his conduct, such his character, which was invari. ably honest; he flattered not his friends in their power, nor insult. ed his enemies in their distress; be opposed any measures which he could not approve; and exactly adhered to that excellent sentence, fari que sentiat.

“This indeed was his principle; and if ever man always acted inviolably by his opinion, or dared to preserve his integrity upon all occasions, sir. Richard Steele was the person."

By his second wife sir Richard Steele had one son, and two daughters; but only one of his daughters, named Elizabeth, sur, vived him. She was married young, in 1731, to the honorable John Trevor, then one of the Welch judges, and afterwards baron Trevor of Bromham.

In 1787, Mr. Nichols published "The Epistolary Correspondence of sir Richard Steele," in two volumes, small 8vo. containing many letters to his wife, and his friends; and to this publication we have been much indebted in the course of this life. In 1787, Mr. Nichol's also republished several of sir Richard's pieces, in one volume, 8vo. in a collection, entitled, "The Town Talk,

The Fish Pool; The Plebeian; The Old Whig; The Spinster, &c. By the authors of the Tatler, Spectator, and Guardian Now first collected, with Notes and Illustrations."

**Authorities. Biographia Britannica. British Biography, 8vo. vol. VIII. Cibber's Lives of the Poets. Epistolarly Correspondence of sir Richard Steele. Notes to the New Edition of the Tatler.

THE LIFE OF

DANIEL DE FOE.

[A. D. 1665, to 1731.]

THIS ingenious writer was born in the city of London, about the year 1663. He was the son of James Foe, butcher, of the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate. It seems to have been from some dislike to his original name, that he afterwards changed it to De Foe, by which he was generally known. As his father was a protestant dissenter, he was brought up in the same principles, to which he always adhered. He was educated at an academy at Newington Green, which was kept by Charles Morton, who was a dissenter. In 1683, when he was about twenty years of he age, published a pamphlet against the Turks, relative to the war which was then carried on between them and the Austrians. He was early attacked to whig principles, and so averse to the administration of James II. that before he was 23 years of age, he went into the West of England, and appeared in arms for the duke of Monmouth. He escaped however from that unfortunate enterprize without prosecution; and after his return to London, he published another pamphlet, to warn the dissenters against the insidious toleration which was offered them by king James. He afterwards engaged in trade as a hose-factor, in Freeman's-yard, Cornhill, and was also concerned in carrying on some brick and pantile works near Tilbury. Fort, in Essex. But in trade he was not successful; and in the

year 1692, was obliged for some time to abscond from his credi tors. "An angry creditor," says Mr. Chalmers, took out a commission of bankruptcy, which was soon superseded on the petition of those to whom he was most indebted, who accepted a composition of his single bond. This he punctually paid by the efforts of unwearied diligence. But some of those creditors, who had been thus satisfied, falling afterwards into distress themselves, De Foe voluntarily paid them their whole claims, being then in rising circumstances from king William's favor. This is such an example of honesty, as it would be unjust to De Foe and to the world to conceal.

In 1695, he was appointed accountant to the commissioners for managing the duties on glass; and in 1697, he published an Essay upon projects. The same year he also published an Inquiry into the occasional Conformity of Dissenters in Cases of Preferment 4to. At the beginning of the year 1701, he published, in 4to, the True-born Englishman, which had a great sale, and passed through many editions. He also published, "Reasons against a War with France," and "The Freeholder's Plea against Stockjobbing Elections of Parliament-men."

In 1702, he published, in folio, « The Original Power of the Collective Body of the People of England, examined and asserted." This is a piece of great political merit, and has been several times printed and we shall select from it the following pas

sages.

"1. Salus Populi suprema Lex, all government, and consequently our whole constitution, was originally designed, and is maintained, for the support of the people's property, who are the governed.

1

"2. That all the members of government, whether king, lord, or commons, if they invert the great end of their institution, the public good, cease to be in the same public capacity.

"And power retreats to its original.

"3. That no collective or representative body of men whatsoever, in matters of politics any more than, religion, are or ever have been, infallible.

4. That reason is the test and touchstone of laws, and that all law or power that is contradictory to reason is, ipso facto, void in itself, and ought not to be obeyed.

as,

"Some other maxims less general are the consequence of theses

"First, That such laws as are agreeable to reason and justice being once made, are binding both to king, lords, and commons, either separately or coajunctively, till they are actually repealed in due form.

That if either of the three powers do dispense with, suspend or otherwise break any of the known laws so made, they injure the constitution; and the power so acting ought to be restrained by the other powers not concurring, according to what is lately allowed, that every branch of power is designed as a check upon

each other.

"But if all the three powers should join in such an irregular action, the constitution suffers a convulsion, dies, and is dissolved of course,

"Nor does it suffice to say, that king, lords, and commons, can do no wrong; since the mutual consent of parties, on which that foolish maxim is grounded, does not extend to every action king, lords, and commons, are capable of doing.

"There are laws which respect the common rights of the peo ple, as they are the parties to be governed, and with respect to these the king can do no wrong, but all is laid upon his ministers -who are accountable.

"And there are laws which particularly respect the constitution; the king, lords, and commons, as they are the parties governing : in this regard each branch may wrong and oppress the other, or altogether may do wrong to the people they are made to govern.

"The king may invade the people's properties: and if the lords and commons omit to defend and protect them, they all do wrong, by a tacit approving those abuses they ought to oppose,

"The commons may extend their power to an exorbitant degree in imprisoning the subjects, dispensing with the Habeas Corpus act, giving unlimited power to their serjeant, to oppress the people in his custody, witholding writs of election from boroughs and towns, and several other ways; which if they are not check