of the divine right of Kings, as set forth in a published sermon of the Bishop of Chester-'We must neither call him to account for his religion, nor question his policy in civil matters, for he is made our King by God's law, of which the law of the land is only declarative.' This doctrine Defoe combated with tongue and pen, and aided to arouse and combine the elements which finally expelled James II. from the kingdom.

His business, regular and speculative, proved disastrous, and in 1692 he was thrown into bankruptcy-out of which he emerged, by efforts of unwearied diligence with his honor unsullied, paying an indebtedness of 17,000l. with interest, although released from all obligations to do so.

He became an avowed champion by his voice and pen of the government of King William, and in 1695 was made Accountant to the Tax Commission. About this time he prepared his ' Essay upon Projects,' which was not printed till May 29, 1698, and his 'Poor Man's Plea for a Reformation of Manners'—' which he insists should begin with the gentry and the clergy, who could not get drunk together without setting a bad example to the whole parish.' On all the prominent questions of the day, he was out with a slashing pamphlet-defending the interests of the people in civil and religious matters like a true-born Englishman, and yet rising above the insular prejudices of his countrymen. In his 'Shortest way with Dissenters,' printed in 1702, he angered the Nonconformists, offended churchmen, was convicted of libeling the House of Commons, for which he was sentenced to stand in the pillory, pay a fine, and go to prison.

From 1695 to 1699 he was accountant to the Commissioners of the glass duty. In that year he printed his Essay on Projects,' full of important suggestions, which were at least fruitful in the beneficent career of Benjamin Franklin, who acknowledged his indebtedness for the same. In 1701 he published his famous satirical poem The True-born Englishman, which, if not remarkable poetry, is crowded full of common sense, and met a hearty response in the hearts of real Englishmen, whether they had Saxon or Norman blood in their veins. In 1703 he was a martyr to his own good purpose to benefit the Dissenters (of whom he was one) by his irony (in recommending hanging as the shortest way to get rid of them) which was not understood, and in consequence he was apprehended, tried, pilloried, fined, and imprisoned. While in prison he projected The Review, which he issued on his release in 1704, and

conducted for nine years. In 1706 he was employed by Lord Godolphin, who appreciated his vigorous pen, to write up the Union. with Scotland, for which purpose he visited Scotland twice, and in 1708 published his work on the Union of Great Britain (a volume of 694 pages), for which he received a pension and a government appointment. For several years his enemies of the Jacobite party let him alone, but in 1713 he was again imprisoned in Newgate and fined £800, and mainly because his irony against the pretender was interpreted in favor of his restoration to the throne. In his last imprisonment, The Review,* which he began in the first, was discontinued.

Although the more elaborate essays of The Review are wanting in the playful wit of Steele, or the exquisite polish and courtly air. of Addison-in more homely vigor, we think with one of his biographers, Defoe is superior to either, and is not excelled by Swift. For example:

In The Review for Oct. 4, 1707, he says he has been requested to answer the question What is the worst sort of husband a woman can marry?' which he does in a thoroughly characteristic manner. The question, he is obliged to 'confess, has led him a long way about, into the great, great variety of bad husbands of the age. Of these, after some general remarks, he mentions four sorts:'1, There is the Drunken Husband, whose picture it would take up a whole volume to describe. 2, The Debauched Husband. 3, The Fighting Husband. 4, The Extravagant Husband.' These he describes at some length, and then goes on as follows:- Well, good people, here are four sorts of ill husbands, and take one of them where you will, the best of them is bad enough, and hard is that woman's case, especially if she be a woman of any merit, whose lot it is; but yet I think my first-rate is behind still; there is yet a bad husband that is worse than all these, and a woman of sense had better take up with any of these than with him, and that 's-A FOOL HUSBAND.

'The Drunkard, the Debauched, the Fighting, and the Extravagant; these may all have something attendant, which in the interval of their excesses may serve to alleviate and make a little amends to the poor woman, and help her to carry through the afflicting part; but a Fool has something always about him that makes him intolerable; he is ever contemptible, and uninterruptedly ridiculous; it is like a handsome woman with some deformity about her, that makes all the rest be rejected; if he is kind, it is so apish, so below the rate of manhood, so surfeiting and so disagreeable, that, like an ill smell, it makes the face wrinkle at it; if he be froward, he is so insufferably insolent, that there is no bearing it. His passions are all flashes, struck out of him like fire from a flint: if it be anger, 'tis sullen and senseless; if love, 'tis coarse and brutish; he is in good, wavering; in mischief, obstinate; in society, empty; in management, unthinking; in manners, sordid; in error, incorrigible; and in every thing, ridiculous.

'Wherefore upon the whole, my answer is in short, That the worst thing a

"Defoe's Review was the earliest of English literary periodicals-the first number having been issued in February, 1704, while that of the Tatler, which is generally named as the first, was not issued till April, 1709. The Review was first published in weekly numbers (in 4to, price a penny), but it was afterward issued twice a week. The literary port on consisted mainly of the proceedings of a certain Scandal Club,' which took cognizance of the prevalent fashions and manners, and answered questions respecting points of love, law, literature, and morality, with all the prompt. itude of the Tatler and Spectator, of several years later date.

sober woman can be married to, is a FOOL; of whom whoever has the lot,— Lord have mercy, and a + should be set on the door, as a house infected with the plague.'

During the 'early part of 1710 the nation was absorbed by the proceedings of Sacheverell-his insane conduct, and his ill-judged trial, of which Defoe gave in his Review a felicitous parody:

The women lay aside their tea and chocolate, leave off visiting after dinner, and forming themselves into cabals, turn privy-counselors, and settle the affairs of State. Every lady of quality has her head more particularly full of business than usual; nay, some of the ladies talk of keeping female secretaries, and none will be fit for the office but such as can speak French, Dutch, and Latin. Gallantry and gaiety are now laid aside for business; matters of government and affairs of state are become the province of the ladies; and no wonder if they are too much engaged to concern themselves about the common impertinences of life. Indeed, they have hardly leisure to live, little time to eat and sleep, and none at all to say their prayers. If you turn your eye to the park, the ladies are not there-even the church is thinner than usual, for you know the mode is for privy councils to meet on Sundays. Then the playhouse feels the effects of it, and the great Betterton died a beggar on this account. Nay, the Tatler, the immortal Tatler, the great Bickerstaff himself, was fain to leave off talking to the ladies during the doctor's trial, and turn his sagacious pen to the dark subjects of death and the next world, though he had not yet decided the ancient debate-whether Pluto's regions were, in point of government, a kingdom or a commonwealth.

In 1719 Defoe engaged in the publication of the Mercurius Politicus, and as foreign correspondent, in the interest of the government, to Mist's Weekly Journal (avowedly in opposition to Hanoverian dynasty,)-himself the while to continue before the public under the suspicion of the administration. This was a difficult part to play, and involved him in constant misunderstandings-but his zeal for the government carried him through.

At the age of fifty-four, in straightened circumstances, and after prolonged nervous prostration, Defoe eschewed politics and addressed himself to a new course of literary labor. In 1715 appeared his 'Family Instructor,' which was commended alike by the pulpit and the press, and was reprinted in Boston. In 1722, he published his Religious Courtship,' which held its ground until Hannah More's 'Calebs' appeared. In 1719, 'The Life and Strange Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner,' was published, and from that day to this has been a familiar and household work-a popular educator beyond most, certainly beyond any one book in the English Language, unless it be the English Bibleand with a large class of young people the former is read with absorbing interest, which alone makes any reading profitable, while the latter is not.

Defoe died on the 22d of April, 1730,-one of the most voluminous, vigorous, and versatile authors in the English language.

PLAN OF A UNIVERSITY FOR LONDON-1723.

Defoe, in his Augusta Triumphans (published in 1728), or 'The Way to make London the most flourishing City in the Universe,' suggests the establishment of 'an University where Gentlemen may have Academical Education under the eye of their friends,' and 'the forming an Academy of Science at Christ's Hospital.'

We have been a brave and learned people, and are insensibly dwindling into an effeminate, superficial race. Our young gentlemen are sent to the universities, it is true, but not under restraint or correction as formerly; not to study, but to drink; not for furniture for the head, but a feather for the cap, merely to say they have been at Oxford or Cambridge, as if the air of those places inspired knowledge without application. It is true we ought to have those places in reverence for the many learned men they have sent us; but why must we go so far for knowledge? Why should a young gentleman be sent raw from the nursery to live on his own hands, to be liable to a thousand temptations, and run the risk of being snapped up by sharping jilts, with which both universities abound, who make our youth of fortune their prey, and have brought misery into too many good families? Not only the hazard of their healths from debauches of both kinds, but the waste of their precious time renders the sending them so far off very hazardous. Why should such a metropolis as London be without an university? Would it not save considerably the expense we are at in sending our young gentlemen so far from London? Would it not add to the lustre of our State, and cultivate politeness among us? What benefi's may we not in time expect from so glorious a design? Will not London become the scene of science? And what reason have we but to hope we may vie with any neighboring nations? Not that I would have Oxford or Cambridge neglected, for the good they have done. Besides, there are too many fine endowments to be sunk; we may have universities at these places and at London too, without prejudico. Knowledge will never hurt us, and whoever lives to see an univer ity here, will find it give quite another turn to the genius and spirit of our youth in general.

How many gentlemen pass their lives in a shameful indolence, who might employ themselves to the purpose, were such a design set on foot? Learning would flourish, art revive, and not only those who studied woull benefit by it, but the blessing would be conveyed to others by conversation.

And in order to this so laudable design, small expense is required; the sole charge being the hire of a convenient hall or house, which, if they please, they may call a colge. But I see no necessity the pupils have to lie or diet there; that may be done more reasonably and conveniently at home, under the eye of their friends; their only necessary business at college being to attend their tutors at stated hours; and, bed and board excepted, to conform themselves to college laws, and perform the same exercises as if they were actually at Oxford or Cambridge.

Let the best of tutors be provided, and professors in all faculties encouraged; this will do a double good, not only to the instructed, but to the instructors. What a fine provision may here be made for numbers of ingenious gentlemen now unpreferred? And to what a height may even a small beginning grow in time?

As London is so extensive, so its university may be composed of many colleges, quartered at convenient distances; for example, one at Westminster; one at St. James's; one near Ormond street, that part of the town abounding in gentry; one in the centre of the Inns of Court; a 1other near the Royal Exchange, and more if occasion and encouragement permit.

Defoe in a postscript at the close of his pamphlet (of 63 pp. 8vo) adds: "In my scheme for an university in London, I proposed only a hall or public room; on recollection I find it should be a large house or inn, in the nature of a college, with store of convenient rooms or gentlemen, not only to study separately, but wherein to lodge their books, for it would be most inconvenient to lug them backwards and forward. They may indeed breakfast, sup, and sleep at home, but it wil b⚫ highly necessary they should dine in comm ns, or at least near the college; not that I would have cooks, butlers, caterers, manciples, and the whole train of co lege cannibals retained; but for fear they should stay to long at home or be hindered from returning to study in due time, some proper place or pron might be pitched upon to keep un ordinary, at a prefixed price ani hour, and for the studen ́s only.

My reasons are the-e:

Firs, A young gentleman may live too far from college.

Second, The college hours for dinner may not agree with those of the family.
Third, Company may drop in and detain him."

The same offices and regulations may be constituted, cooks, butlers, bedmakers, &c., excepted, as at other universities. As for endowment, there is no need, the whole may be done by subscription, and that an easy one, considering that nothing but instructions are paid for.

In a word, an academical education is so much wanted in London, that everybody of ability and figure will readily come into it; and I dare engage, the place need but be chosen, and tutors approved of, to complete the design

at once.

It may be objected that there is a kind of university at Gresham College, where professors in all sciences are maintained, and obliged to read lectures every day, or at least as often as demanded. The design is most laudable, but it smells too much of the sinecure; they only read in term time, and then their lectures are so hurried over, the audience is little the better. They cannot be turned out, it is a good settlement for life, and they are very easy in their studies when once fixed. Whereas were the professorship during good behavior, there would be a study to maintain their posts, and their pupils would reap the benefit.

Upon second thought, I think colleges for university education might be formed at Westminster, Eton, the Charter-house, St. Paul's, Merchant Tailors, and other public schools, where youth might begin and end their studies; but this may be further considered of.

I had almost forgot the most material point, which is, that his Majesty's sanction must first be obtained, and the university proposed have power to confer degrees, &c., and other academical privileges.

AN ACADEMY OF MUSIC-1723.

It will no doubt be asked what have I to do with music? to which I answer, I have been a lover of the science from my infancy, and in my younger days was accounted no despicable performer on the viol and lute, then much in vogue. I esteem it the most innocent amusement in life; it generally relaxes, after too great a hurry of spirits, and composes the mind into a sedateness prone to everything that is generous and good; and when the more necesary parts of education are finished, it is a most genteel and commendable accomplishment; it saves a great deal of drinking and debauchery in our sex, and helps the ladies off with many an idle hour, which sometimes might probably be worse employed otherwise.

Our quality, gentry, and better sort of traders must have diversions; and if those that are commendable be denied, they will take to worse; now what can be more commendable than music, one of the seven liberal sciences, and no mean branch of the mathematics?

Were it for no other reason, I should esteem it because it was the favorite diversion of his late Majesty, of glorious memory; who was as wise a prince as ever filled the British throne. Nor is it less esteemed by their present Majesties, whose souls are formed for harmony, and who have not disdained to make it a part in the education of their sacred race.

Our nobility and gentry have shown their love to the science, by supporting at such prodigious expense the Italian opera, improperly called an academy; but they have at the same time shown no small partiality in discouraging anything English, and overloading the town with such heaps of foreign musicians. An academy, rightly understood, is a place for the propagation of science, by training up persons thereto from younger to riper years, under the instruction and inspection of proper artists; how can the Italian opera properly be called an academy, when none are admitted but such as are, at least are thought, or ought to be, adepts in music? If that be an academy, so are the theatres of Drury Lane and Lincolns-Inn Fields; nay, Punch's opera may pass for a lower kind of academy. Would it not be a glorious thing to have an opera of our own, in our own most noble tongue, in which the composer, singers, and orchestra, should be of our own growth? Not that we ought to disclaim all obligations to Italy, the mother of music, the nurse of Corelli, Handel, Bononcini, Geminiani; but then we ought not to be so stupidly partial to imagine ourselves too brutal a part of mankind to make any progress in the science. By the same reason that we love it, we may excel in it; love begets application, and application perfection. We have already had a Purcel, and no doubt there are now many latent geniuses, who only want proper instruction, application, and encouragement, to become great ornaments of the science, and make England emulate even Rome itself.

What a number of excellent performers on all instruments have sprung up in England within these few years? That this is owing to the opera I will not deny, and so far the opera is an academy, as it refines the taste and inspires emulation.