1661-1731
[Sidenote: Secretary of State’s Proclamation.]
“Whereas, Daniel De Foe, _alias_ De Fooe, is charged with writing a
scandalous and seditious pamphlet entitled _The Shortest Way with the
Dissenters_. He is a middle-sized spare man, about forty years old,
of a brown complexion, and dark brown-colored hair, but wears a wig;
a hooked nose, a sharp chin, gray eyes, and a large mole near his
mouth.”--1703.
[Sidenote: Wilson’s _De Foe_. *]
“A likeness of the author, engraved by M. Vandergucht, from a painting
by Taverner, is prefixed.” (_To a volume of treatises published in
1703._) “It is the first portrait of De Foe, and probably the most
like him. The following description of it by a recent biographer is
strikingly characteristic: ‘No portrait can have more verisimilitude,
to say the least of it. It exhibits a set of features rather regular
than otherwise, very determined in its outlines, more particularly the
mouth, which expresses great firmness and resolution of character. The
eyes are full, black, and grave-looking, but the impression of the
whole countenance is rather a striking than a pleasing one. Daniel is
here set forth in a most lordly and full-bottomed wig, which flows
down lower than his elbow, and rises above his forehead with great
amplitude of curl. A richly-laced cravat, and fine loose-flowing cloak
completes his attire, and preserve, we may suppose, the likeness
of that civic “gallantry” which Oldmixon ascribes to Daniel on the
occasion of his escorting King William to the Lord Mayor’s feast. It is
altogether more like a picture of a substantial citizen of the “surly
breed” De Foe has himself so often satirised, than that of a poor
pamphleteer languishing in jail after the terrors of the pillory.’”
[Sidenote: John Forster’s _Bibliographical Essays_. *]
“It is, to us, very pleasing to contemplate the meeting of such
a sovereign and such a subject, as William and De Foe. There was
something not dissimilar in their physical aspect, as in their moral
temperament resemblances undoubtedly existed. The King was the elder
by ten years, but the middle size, the spare figure, the hooked nose,
the sharp chin, the keen gray eye, the large forehead, and grave
appearance, were common to both. William’s manner was cold, except in
battle, and little warmth was ascribed to De Foe’s, unless he spoke of
civil liberty.”