All sorts of violences, tumults, riots, breaches of the peace, neighbourhood, and good manners were made use of to support interests and carry elections." In short, Defoe saw the nation "running directly on the steep precipice of confusion." In these circumstances, he seriously reflected what he should do.

He came to the conclusion that he must "immediately set himself in the _Review_ to exhort, persuade, entreat, and in the most moving terms he was capable of, prevail on all people in general to STUDY PEACE." Under cover of this profession of impartiality, Defoe issued most effective attacks upon the High-Church party.

In order to promote peace, he said, it was necessary to ascertain first of all who were the enemies of peace.

On the surface, the questions at stake in the elections were, the privileges of the Dissenters and the respective rights of the Lords and the Commons in the matter of Money Bills.

But people must look beneath the surface.