17 Feb. 170] DEFOE'S CONFESSION OF FAITH. 623 1705.. always to be ready to do it, whenever legally required; yet he shall take the freedom to reply to this Querist, not so much in the literal sense of the words, as in the sense which he presumes the inquirer would be answered in. As to the literal sense, of Religion generally understood, he answers directly, Catholic Christians! As to the meaning of it, which he understands to be, "What Party do you belong to?" he freely again answers for himself, that which he presumes to be his meaning, A Protestant Dissenter. And to them that like him the worse for it, he desires their patience to read the account he gave of himself, in a letter to a Divine of the C[hurch] of E[ngland] in some debates between them, on a question published in the last Supplement, page 2; and he freely appeals to the Gentleman himself, who is absolutely a stranger to him, for the justness of the quotation. I never miss expressing on all occasions, my hearty wishes that there was no such thing as Faction or Party in the nation. I own I dissent in some matters from the Established Church. Will you hear my opinion with charity? I am sure you cannot despise such a Dissenter, and I heartily wish there no other. I dissent from the National Church in nothing doctrinal or essential to salvation. I entertain a sincere universal charity for the Church, and all her Christian members. I earnestly wish and desire I could conform in all things the Law requires. I freely and heartily acquiesce in the Government being always in the hands of the Church [i.e., that all Ministers of State should always be Members of the Church of England] and if it were entirely in my choice or disposal, would place it there, rather than in any sort of, or in the hands of all the Dissenters together. I can never be guilty of undermining the Church, or fomenting any faction or rebellion against her: for I would have her hold the reins of Government. I confess I would have the Church extend her charity and 624 Defoe's replY TO THE WARM GENTLEMEN. [1, PbDefoe. 1705. tenderness to us that cannot conform; not treat us as enemies, condemn us unheard, and punish us not being guilty. As to those Warm Gentlemen, whom no argument will reach, no courtesy oblige, who will damn the Author and his Work in spite of argument, sense, or manners; let my Lord ROCHESTER answer for us, when, writing of his Poetry, he says, I slight the rabble! 'Tis enough for me, If SACKVILLE, SAVILLE, BOYLE, and WYCHERley, Great B, and S-, and C, and BUCKINGHAM, And some few more whom I omit to name, Approve my verse, I count your censure, fame! The Author thinks it convenient to inform the world that this Paper not being able to contain all he thinks needful to say, at the dismiss of this work; there will be two more papers published in course, as the conclusion of the whole. Also that a Preface and Index shall be prepared to be bound up with the volume; which all those Gentlemen who have made collections [sets] of the Paper, will find necessary to have to complete the book. How the Review came to be continued. [Review, No. 101, Vol. I. p. 420. Tuesday, 20 Feb., 1705.] The author of this, having received a very obliging letter, signed, P. G., D. H., L. M., J. B., V. R., B. B., &c., concerning the promoting, supporting, and continuing this Work; the Author, acknowledging the courtesy and kindness of the Gentlemen, desires they will please to give him leave, and direct him where to send them an answer in writing, before he publishes their generous offer. [See pp. 635, 644.] Defoe. TITLE PAge of the First Volume of REVIEW, 625 1705. A REVIEW OF THE Affairs of FRANCE: AND OF ALL EUROPE, As Influenc'd by that NATION: BEING Historical Observations on the Public Transactions of the WORLD; Purged from the Errors and Partiality of News-Writers, and Petty Statesmen of all Sides: WITH AN Entertaining Part in every Sheet, BEING ADVICE from the Scandal[ous] Club, ENG. GAR. VII. LONDON: Printed in the Year M DCCV. 40 Preface to the First Volume of the Review. HEN Authors present their Works to the world; like a thief at the gallows, they make a speech to the people. The Author, indeed, has something like this to say too, "Good people all, take warning by me!" I have studied to inform and to direct the World, and what have I had for my labour? Profit, the Press would not allow; and therein I am not deceived, for I expected none! But Good Manners and Good Language, I thought I might expect; because I gave no other and it were but just to treat mankind, as we would be treated by them. But neither has this been paid me, in debt to custom and civility. How often have my ears, my hands, and my head been to be pulled off! Impotent bullies! that attacked by Truth, and their vices stormed, fill the air with rhodomontades and indecencies; but never shew their faces to the resentment Truth had a just cause to entertain for them. I have passed through clouds of clamour, cavil, ralliery, and objection; and have this satisfaction, that Truth being the design, Finis coronat! I am never forward to value my own performances. "Let another man's mouth praise thee!" said the Wise Man: but I cannot but own myself infinitely pleased, and more than satisfied, that wise men read this Paper with pleasure, own the just observations in it, and have voted it useful. The first design [the Review of the Affairs of France, &c.] I allow is not yet pursued, and indeed I must own the field is so large, the design so vast, and the necessary preliminaries so many; that though I cannot yet pass for an old man, I must be so, if I live to go through with it. This Volume has passed through my descriptions of the French Grandeur, with its influence on the Affairs of Poland, Sweden, and Hungary. What assaults have I met with, from the impatience of the readers; what uneasiness of friends, lest I was turned about to the enemy: I leave to their reading the sheets to discover! D. Defoe. FROM FRENCH HISTORY, TO ENGLISH TRADE. 627 1705. How is this Age unqualified to bear feeling [the] Truth! how unwilling to hear what we do not like, though ever so necessary to know! And yet if this French Monarchy were not very powerful, vastly strong, its power terrible, its increasing encroaching measures formidable; why do we (and justly too) applaud, extol, congratulate, and dignify the victorious Duke of MARLBOROUGH at such a rate? If it had been a mean and contemptible enemy, how shall we justify the English Army's march [i.e., to Blenheim] through so many hazards! the nation's vast charge! the daily just concern in every article of this War! and (as I have frequently hinted) Why not beat them, all this while? They who have made, or may make, an ill use of the true Plan of French Greatness, which I have laid down; must place it to the account of their own corrupted prejudiced thoughts. My design is plain. To tell you the strength of your enemy, that you may fortify yourselves in due proportion; and not go out with your ten thousands against his twenty thousands. In like manner, I think myself very oddly handled, in the case of the Swedes and the Hungarians. How many complaints of Ambassadors for the one, and of fellow Protestants for the other! And yet, after the whole Story is finished, I have this felicity (than which no author can desire a greater) viz., not one thing I ever affirmed, but was exactly true! not one conjecture have I made, but has appeared to be rational! not one inference drawn, but the consequences [the events] have proved [to be] just! and not one thing guessed at, but what has come to pass ! I am now come home to England, and entered a little into our own Affairs. Indeed, I have advanced some things as to Trade, Navies, Seamen, &c., which some may think a little arrogant, because perfectly new. But as I have offered nothing but what I am always ready to make appear practicable, I finish my Apology by saying to the World, "Bring me to the test! and the rest, I leave to time." In the bringing the Story of France down to the matter of Trade; I confess myself surprisingly drawn into a vast wilderness of a subject; so large, that I know not where it will end. The misfortune of which is, that thinking to have finished it with this Volume, I found myself strangely deceived, |