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“ROXANA The Fortunate Mistress By DANIEL DEFOE With Biographical Note ond. Iniraduction by R, BRIMLEY JOHNSON BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Danze Deror was born in 1661, in the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate; the son of an “excellent” dissenting butcher, James Foe. He probably adopted the “De” from the initial of his Christian name, as a convenient distinction from hig father; when Mr. Foe and Mr. D. Foe were both prominent city Nonconformists. Daniel, iadeed, was educated for the ministry ; but after enlisting under Monmouth in the rebellion of 1685, became an industrious tradesman, His True-born Englishman (1701) brought him in favour at Court, but he was fined, ‘iforied, and put in prison for The Shortest Way with issenters (1702), Under Queen Anne, he was sent to Scotland to promote “the Union.” Robinson Crusoe appeared in 1719; and’he continuously produced innumerable books and pamphlets until his deat in 1731; also editing, and writing the greater part of, several political journals and working, behind the scenes, with indefatigable energy, for all parties of the State, in the interests of progress and the poor. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Dexor produced mare than 200 books and pamphlets; the more important are named below. The True-born Englishman. A Satyr. 370%. The Shortest Way with Dissenters, 1702. A True Relation of the Apparition of one Mrs. Veal. 1 . The ip and Strange Surprising Adventure of Robinson Crusoe. 1719. Memoirs of a Cavalier. “1720. The Life, Adventures, and Piracies of the Famous Captain ‘Singleton. 1720. The Fortuies ond Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders. 1722. A Journal of the Plague Year. The History ond Remarkable Life of the Truly Honour- able Colonel Jacque. 1722. Roxana. 1724. Behaviour of Servants in England. 172d. The Complete English. Tradesman. 1725, 1727. The Secrets of the Invisible World Disclos’d. 1728. The Review, 1703-1713. Mercurius Politicus. "1716-1720. The Whitehall Evening Post. 1718-1720. The Daily Post. 1719-1725. . Appleby's Original Weekly Journal. 1720-1726. Mist's Tournal, 1737-1718, 1719-1720. vi INTRODUCTION Havin long discarded the doctrine of Original Sin, man yet remains keenly interested in the doings of original Sinners; whether summarised in the Sunday Press or detailed in the Rogue’s Gallery of literature. As Defoe himself said of Molt Flanders, though “ the moral 'tis hoped will keep the reader serious . . . there eannot be the same brightness and beauty, in relating the penitent part as is in the criminal part... . It is too true that the difference lies not in the real worth of the subject so much as in the gust and palate of the reader." Scaffold Confessions, and all forms of “ thieves’ literature” were immensely popular in the eighteenth century; and Defoe the journalist, like Fielding the Bow Street'magistrate, could gasily obtain inside knowledge of how the “true histories” of: famous criminals were " dressed_up” to exalt the Heroes of the Highways and he Heroines of Bridewell, for the corruption of idle youth. Both writers, maybe, had no objection to. producing best-sellers; but both were honestly sympathetic with the underdog, honestly eager ta reform the harbarities af rison and the Law, honestly liberal-minded in personal judgments, Tite nonconformist in Defoe induced a sincere faith in moral reflections, with the wholesome conviction that “ virtue alone secures happiness; and that, while life remains, it is never too late to mend.” His somewhat serious biographer, William Lee, stautly maintains that, like his "Poor Man’s Plea, for a reforma- tion of tanners, and suppressing Immorality in the Na- tion,” Defoe’s Moll Flanders, Honourable Colonel Jacque, Roxana, John Sheppard, and the rest, were one and vii