As in the case of the Spanish Armada, accident fought on our side.

The French fleet succeeded in reaching the coast of Scotland before the ships of the defenders; but it overshot its arranged landing-point, and had no hope but to sail back ingloriously to Dunkirk.
Meantime, Defoe had satisfactorily discharged himself of his mission.
Godolphin showed his appreciation of his services by recalling him as soon as Parliament was dissolved, to travel through the counties and serve the cause of the Government in the general elections.

He was frequently sent to Scotland again on similarly secret errands, and seems to have established a printing business there, made arrangements for the simultaneous issue of the _Review_ in Edinburgh and London, besides organizing Edinburgh newspapers, executing commissions for English merchants, and setting on foot a linen manufactory.
But we are more concerned with the literary labors of this versatile and indefatigable genius.

These, in the midst of his multifarious commercial and diplomatic concerns, he never intermitted.

All the time the _Review_ continued to give a brilliant support to the Ministry.