that I seem to merit less, when I intercept a piece of barefaced treason at the Press, than when I stop such a letter as the enclosed; because one seems to be of a kind which no man would dare to meddle with.

But I would persuade myself, Sir, that stopping such notorious things is not without its good effect, particularly because, as it is true that some people are generally found who do venture to print any thing that offers, so stopping them here is some discouragement and disappointment to them, and they often die in our hands." "I speak this, Sir, as well on occasion of what you were pleased to say upon that letter which I sent you formerly about _Killing no Murder_, as upon another with verses in it, which Mr.Mist gave me yesterday; which, upon my word, is so villainous and scandalous that I scarce dare to send it without your order, and an assurance that my doing so, shall be taken well, for I confess it has a peculiar insolence in it against His Majesty's person which (as blasphemous words against God) are scarce fit to be repeated." In the last of the series (of date June 13, 1718), Defoe is able to assure his employers that "he believes the time is come when the journal, instead of affronting and offending the Government, may many ways be made serviceable to the Government; and he has Mr.M.so absolutely resigned to proper measures for it, that he is persuaded he may answer for it." Following up the clue afforded by these letters, Mr.Lee has traced the history of _Mist' Journal_ under Defoe's surveillance.

Mist did not prove so absolutely resigned to proper measures as his supervisor had begun to hope.

On the contrary, he had frequent fits of refractory obstinacy, and gave a good deal of trouble both to Defoe and to the Government.

Between them, however, they had the poor man completely in their power.