hearts and understandings of the audience." A contemporary applied to him Ben Jonson's encomium on Bacon, and the notice of Swift towards a Whig, considering the quarter from which it comes, may be considered highly favourable. "As to other accomplishments," he says, "he was what we usually call a piece of a scholar and a good logical reasoner."

The fourth and last dedication of the Tatler volumes was to Charles, Lord Halifax, whom Steele addressed from "The Hovel at Hamptonwick," an elegant villa previously alluded to, saying that he "indulged a certain vanity in dating from this little covert, where he had frequently had the honour of his company, and had received from him many obligations." After telling him, in the usual complimentary strain of epistles dedicatory, that the bright images of the wits of past ages, and the noble plans of statesmen for the administration of affairs, were equally the familiar objects of his knowledge, he proceeds to add, as his crowning excellence

era.

"That wit and learning have, from your example, fallen into a new Your patronage has produced those arts, which before shunned the commerce of the world, into the service of life; and it is to you we owe that the man of wit has turned himself to be a man of business. The false delicacy of men of genius, and the objections which others were apt to insinuate against their abilities for entering into affairs, have equally vanished and experience has shewn that men of letters are not only qualified with a greater capacity, but also a greater integrity, in the despatch of business.”*

Among the other instances to this effect, more remarkable at a period so incredibly corrupt than it would be at the present day, Addison refused a bank note of L.300, and afterwards a diamond ring, of the same value, from a Major Dunbar for some service, as appears by a letter of his published by Edward Curll.

Charles Montagu, Lord Halifax, to whom these high praises were not unjustly accorded, was grandson of an Earl of Manchester, but, being a younger son, was obliged to push his fortune. He was born at Horton, in Northamptonshire, April 16, 1661, and received the first part of his education at Westminster, from whence he proceeded to Cambridge. Some verses he wrote during his residence there on the death of Charles II. having attracted the notice of the Earl of Dorset, who was the great patron of men of letters at that time, that nobleman gave him an invitation to town, and made him acquainted with the leading wits. There, in 1687, he united with Prior-who as a youth had been entirely brought forward by Dorset-in the composition of "The City Mouse and Country Mouse," a satire on Dryden's "Hind and Panther," an encomium on Romanism, the result of the melancholy mercenary apostasy of his later years. In allusion to this popular travestie, when he was taken to Court by Lord Dorset he is said to have presented him to King William, saying, "Sire, I have brought a mouse to wait on your majesty"-to which the King is said to have replied, "You do well to put me in the way of making a man of him," and to have granted him a pension of L.500 a year. He was one of those who had signed the invitation to the Prince of Orange. Having married the Countess Dowager of Manchester, he relinquished his original design of taking orders, and obtained by purchase the Clerkship of the Council. Obtaining soon after a seat in Parliament, he soon distinguished himself by his energy, his eloquence and skill in debate, his business tact, and knowledge of constitutional ques

tions, and rose to be the leader of the Whigs in the House. His promotion was rapid. He became successively a Lord of the Treasury, (1691-2,) Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1694,) and First Lord of the Treasury, (1698,) which office he again held on the accession of the House of Hanover. For his services in restoring public credit at a very critical financial crisis, and in effecting a new coinage, when at the head of the Exchequer, he received the thanks of the Commons, and was raised to the dignity of the peerage in 1700, under the title of Baron Halifax. It was during his administration that the Bank of England and East India Company were founded. During the Tory ascendency in Queen Anne's reign, articles of impeachment were twice presented against him by the Commons, to which he had given offence by supporting the measure in favour of a standing army. He was, however, effectually shielded by the peers. Party warfare is never very scrupulous, but at this period there was an intensity of malignity about it that seemed to discard all humanity. The individual who had rendered himself obnoxious was to be ruined hopelessly. In the same spirit they attempted to get up an impeachment of Lord Godolphin for corruption, although a minister of greater probity and ability never was at the head of the Treasury, nor was there a shadow of ground for any imputation of delinquency. Halifax had given unpardonable offence to Queen Anne by summoning the son of the Elector of Hanover as a peer of Parliament, under the title of the Duke of Cambridge, and she had in consequence, at the commencement of her reign, struck his name off the list of the Privy Council with her own hand. But he had not followed the example of

his opponents by attempting to thwart the Government with factious opposition in consequence. On the accession of George I., he was again appointed First Lord of the Treasury, made a Knight of the Garter, and created Viscount Sunbury and Earl of Halifax. He did not long survive these honours, his death occurring the following year. His poems and speeches were published soon after. As a poet he probably never would have stood very high, but he is entitled to the praise of an enlightened politician, and a munificent patron of letters. The title of a Macænas has been justly accorded him. It was not merely to Steele that he was a warm friend, but with consistent munificence he patronised almost all those men of letters from whom the era has been termed Augustan. He made the fortunes of Addison and Congreve; and Prior, Locke, and Sir Isaac Newton were all promoted under his administration.

CHAPTER VI.

Letters of Steele during the publication of the Tatler-To his wife, to Mrs Manley, Dennis, and Swift-Steele appointed a Commissioner of Stamps-Notices of Steele in Swift's Journal to Stella-Notice of Public Events-Change of Ministry-Harley and St John-Steele's diversion in favour of his friends in Tatler-Loses his Gazetteership in consequence.

BEFORE following him in his new field of literary labour, let us bring up the arrears of Steele's correspondence left unnoticed during the continuance of the Tatler.

LETTER CXXV.

To Mrs Steele.

April 19, 1709.

DEAR PRUE,—I have been with Tryon ;* he owns to some effects which will be of assistance to me. I call Heaven to witness, I value nothing but as you are partaker of it. Do not cast yourself down; but depend upon it, that I shall bring you home what will make things have a cheerful aspect, and will do what may contribute to your satisfaction, which is all the ambition of yours eternally, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CXXVI.

To Mrs Steele.

April 23, 1709.

DEAREST CREATURE,-This matter must be deferred till some hour in the evening, or some other day, for I cannot have money till after chapel. I am your faithful, tender husband,

RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CXXVII.

To Mrs Steele, Berry Street.

May 5, 1709.

DEAR WIFE,—I desire you would pluck up a good spirit if possible, and come in a chair, the boy with you, who shall find me at the coffee-house

"Who was in some way, as agent or otherwise, connected with his Barbadoes property."