(Vol. v., p. 533.; Vol. vii., p. 485.)
Under the conviction that Robert Drury was a real character, and his
_Madagascar_ a true narrative of his shipwreck, sufferings, and captivity,
I crave your permission to give a few additional reasons why I think he
should be discharged from the fictitious, and admitted into the catalogue
of real and _bona fide_ English travellers.
I have before stated that Drury did not skulk in the background when he
published his book in 1727; but, on the contrary, invited the public to
Tom's Coffee-house, where he engaged to satisfy the incredulous, and
resolve the doubting. By the 3rd edition of _Madagascar_, 1743, it farther
appears that he continued "for some years before his death" to resort to
the above-named house; "at which place several inquisitive gentlemen
received from his own mouth the confirmation of those particulars which
seemed dubious, or carried with them the air of romance." The period was
certainly unpropitious for any but a writer of fiction, and Drury seems to
have anticipated no higher rank for his _Treatise_, in point of
authenticity, than that occupied by the several members of the Robinson
Crusoe school. He, however, positively affirms it to be "a plain honest
narrative of the matter of fact;" which is endorsed in the following terms
by "Capt. William Mackett:"
"This is to certify, that Robert Drury, fifteen years a slave in
Madagascar, now living in London, was redeemed from thence and brought
into England, his native country, by myself. I esteem him an honest
industrious man, of good reputation, and do firmly believe that the
account he gives of his strange and surprising adventures is genuine
and authentic."
Mackett was a commander in the E. I. Comp. service; and the condenser of
Drury's MSS., after showing the opportunities the Captain had of assuring
himself upon the points he certifies to, characterises him as a well-known
person, of the highest integrity and honour: a man, indeed, as unlikely to
be imposed upon, as to be guilty of lending himself to others, to carry out
a deception upon the public. {105}
Mr. Burton, in his lately published "Narratives," points out another source
of information regarding Drury, in the _Gent. Mag._ for 1769, where will be
found an account of W. Benbow; in this, allusion is made to his brother
John Benbow, who was wrecked with Drury in the "Degrave" Indiaman, on
Madagascar. W. D., who communicates the information to SYLVANUS URBAN,
asserts that he recollects hearing the MS. Journal of this John Benbow
read; and that it afforded to his mind a strong confirmation of the
truthfulness of Drury's _Madagascar_. He adds the following curious
particulars anent our subject:--"Robin Drury," he says, "among those who
knew him (and he was known to many, being _a porter at the East India
House_), had the character of a downright honest man, without any
appearance of fraud or imposture. He was known to a friend of mine (now
living), who frequently called upon him at his house in Lincoln's Inn
Fields, which were not then enclosed. He tells me he has often seen him
throw a javelin there, and strike a small mark at a surprising distance. It
is a pity," he adds, "that this work of Drury's is not better known, and a
new edition published[1] (it having been long out of print); as it contains
much more particular and authentic accounts of that large and barbarous
island, than any yet given; and, though it is true, it is in many respects
as entertaining as Gulliver or Crusoe."
It may farther be mentioned that the French, who have a good acquaintance
with Madagascar, "have found Drury's statement of the geography, the
natural history, the manners of the people, and the conspicuous men of the
time, in Madagascar, remarkably accurate." (_Bib. Gen. des Voyages_, Paris,
1808.) Archdeacon Wrangham says: "Duncombe (?) calls Drury's _Madagascar_
the best and most genuine account ever given of the island;" and the
missionary Ellis quoted Drury without the slightest suspicion that any
doubt hangs over the genuineness of his narrative. Drury's account of
himself runs thus:--"I, Robert Drury," he says, when commencing his book,
"was born on July 24, 1687, in Crutched Friars, London, where my father
then lived; but soon after removed to the Old Jury, near Cheapside, where
he was well known, and esteemed for keeping that noted house called 'The
King's Head,' or otherwise distinguished by the name of the Beef-stake
House; and to which there was all my father's time a great resort of
merchants, and gentlemen of the best rank and character." To this famous
resort of the Revolutionary and Augustan ages I lately betook myself for
_my stake_, in the hope that _mine host_ might be found redolent of the
traditional glory of his house. But alas! that worthy, although firmly
believing in the antiquity of the King's Head, and of there being _some
book_ in existence that would prove it, could not say of his own knowledge
whether the king originally complimented by his predecessor was Harry the
Eighth or George the Fourth!
In conclusion, I would just add, is not the circumstance of our subject
holding the humble post of porter at the East India House confirmatory of
that part of his story which represents him as one of the crew of Hon.
Company's ship "Degrave," whose wreck upon Madagascar I take to be an
undoubted fact? What so probable as this recognition, in a small provision
for a man in his old age, whose misfortunes commenced while in their
service? Finally, to me the whole narrative of Robert Drury seems so
probable, and so well vouched for, that I have given in my adhesion thereto
by removing him to a _higher shelf_ in my library than that occupied by
such apocryphal persons as Crusoe, Quarle, Boyle, Falconer, and a host of
the like.