days' wonder, as they call it. But the main matter of all, since Fate, I believe, has ordained him mine, is the neglect of his business, which his coming in the manner he does must cause. These considerations, with several more when known, though now too tedious to write, will, I hope, lessen the censure this incomprehensive letter may at first sight cause.

There is nothing I should more desire than your presence at the giving my hand, with that part of my heart you can spare; but the misfortune of your lameness, if you were here, would deny me that happiness, unless public doings were intended, which is what I abhor; insomuch, if you consent to my changing the name of lover for husband, it shall not be in the power of the town to more than guess there may be such a thing, until your affairs will permit you to come and be a witness to our manner of living and appearing in the world, which God Almighty direct us in the way of, and also * ... this letter to your dutiful Molly; there being no room for long consideration

understood.

Sept. 4, 1707.

DEAR MISS+ MOLLY,-I am loath to interrupt your prayers, or my indispensable business, with a long epistle this morning; therefore forgive me that I only just say I am ever yours.

R. S. I shall come at night, and make all the despatch here I can not to be wanted.

Sept. 5, 1707. DEAR MADAM,—The pleasing hope with which my mind is possessed is too delicate a touch of the soul to be explained, but it is founded on so solid and lasting motives that I am sure it will actuate the behaviour of my whole life; for I do not entertain my imagination with those transports only which are raised by beauty, but fix it also on the satisfactions which flow from the reverence due to virtue. Thus, I am not only allured by your person, but convinced by your life, that you are the most amiable of women. Let us go on, my lovely creature, to make our regards to each other mutual and unchangeable, that, whilst the world around us is enchanted with the false satisfactions of vagrant desires, our persons may be shrines to each other, and sacred to conjugal faith, unreserved confidence, and heavenly society. While we live after this manner, angels will

* The original, which Nichols thinks was probably written about Aug. 16, 1707, is here accidentally torn.

+ Miss, says Nichols, seems here used as a term of endearment.

be so far from being our superiors that they will be our attendants. Every good being guard my fairest, and conduct her to that bosom that pants to receive her, and protect her from all the cares and vicissitudes of life with an eternal tenderness.-I am, ever most obligedly yours,

RICH. STEELE.

LETTER XXII.

To Mrs Scurlock.

Saturday, Sept. 6, 1707. MADAM,-I am at a friend's house, where they have given me, as you see, but very ordinary instruments to write with. However, I hope the sincerity of my heart is not to be measured by the dress in which I clothe it. My thoughts hurry upon me, in consideration of the approach of the moment in which those fair lips are to give me, in one monosyllable, more than all the eloquence in the world can express, when you say yes to the accepting of, madam, your most obliged, most grateful, most obedient servant,

RICH. STEELE,

Sept. 7, 1707.

MADAM,-In obedience to your commands by your daughter, of hearing every post from this town of her health and welfare, I do myself the honour to inform you of it, and humbly desire you would accept my own duty.

I hope you have, before now, received a letter from me, wherein I laid before you at large the state of my affairs;* and that when we come to be acquainted, you will not esteem it a disadvantageous accident that I have the honour of being, madam, your most obedient son, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE,

* Letter XVIII,

CHAPTER IV.

THE HUSBAND-1707, 1708.

Correspondence after marriage with his wife and her mother.

THE next letter appears to have been written after the private marriage, which is conjectured to have taken place some days previously, when Steele seems to have strongly urged upon his wife, though in vain, the open acknowledgment of him as her husband, in anticipation of her mother's consent or presence:

Sept. 9, 1707. MADAM,-I hope your denying what I urged with so much passion, and which I complained of in too vehement a manner, has not been a grief to my tender companion; for, upon reflection this morning, I extremely approve your conduct, and take your behaviour to proceed from an inclination to come to my arms hallowed by your parent's blessing. I comply with your measures in bringing that happiness about, and shall behave myself as if only in the beginning of a sacred love made at the altar.

I promise to myself sincere felicity in a woman that sacrifices all desires to her duty; and I assure you, whatever appearance of care and disturbance you may observe now and then in my countenance, it is not the image of spleen, ill-nature, or dissatisfaction, but a strong propensity to make you the happiest of your sex, which I shall endeavour to do, rather by an industrious ambition to promote your fortune, than by a mere dalliance of your person only, to shew a greater regard to the beauty than the wife. I beg of you to shew my letters to no one living, but let us be contented with one another's thoughts upon our words and actions, without the intervention of other people, who cannot judge of so delicate a circumstance as the commerce between man and wife.-I am, eternally yours, RICH. STEELE.

Pray write me a line.

LETTER XXV.

To Mrs Scurlock.*

Sept. 10, 1707.

MADAM,-Being very uneasy when absent from you, I desire you would give me leave to take coach and come to your house; in order to which, pray let Mrs Warren be in the way to admit your obliged, humble servant, RICH. STEELE.

Lord Sunderland's Office, Whitehall, Sept. 20, 1707. MADAM,-By Tuesday's post I took the liberty to write to you on the most important occasion, and have been in a thousand anxieties ever since that time, for the reception which that letter is to find. The circumstance is so tender, and my happiness hangs so much upon it, that I could not forbear seconding my first address to you with a second, though I protest to you, I set pen to paper with as much diffidence as if I had the same passion for yourself as for your daughter. I do not entertain you with an account of my fortune, and those particulars which will naturally be inquired into by a parent, because I doubt not you have so good an opinion of Mrs Scurlock's prudence, that you do not believe she would throw herself away. As to your favour to my pretensions, I hope it upon no other foundation than making it appear to you that, as to your own part in the affair, there is not that man breathing that could come into your alliance who should, in all the offices, and peculiar esteem for yourself, exceed the gratitude of, madam, your most obedient, most humble servant,

RICH. STEELE.

LETTER XXVII.

To Mrs Scurlock.

Sept. 21, 1707.

DEAR CREATURE,-Your letter gave me a great deal of satisfaction. I hasten my business to see you early in the evening. In the meantime, I recommend myself to your prayers and kind thoughts, and am ever yours, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER XXVIII.

To Mrs Scurlock.

Oct. 6, 1707.

DEAR CREATURE,-I write to tell you beforehand that I am not in a very good humour, but all shall vanish at her sight whom Providence has given me for the banishment of care and the improvement of delight to your most obliged husband and most humble servant,

RICH. STEELE.

This and the remaining letters to his wife under her own name, were addressed under cover "To Mrs Warren."

LETTER XXIX.

To Mrs Steele.*

Oct. 7, 1707.

MY DEAR,-Cousin Pen is much in the same condition we left her last night. I am going with great cheerfulness and industry about my business to-day, in order to pass my time hereafter without interruption with the most agreeable creature living, which you are to the most obliged man living. Your obedient husband, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER XXX.

To Mrs Steele.

Oct. 7, 1707.

MY LOVED CREATURE,—I write this only to bid you good night, and assure you of my diligence in the matter I told you of.

You may assure yourself I value you according to your merit, which is saying that you have my heart by all the ties of beauty, virtue, good nature, and friendship. I find, by the progress I have made to-night, that I shall do my business effectually in two days' time. Write me word you are in good humour, which will be the highest pleasure to your obliged husband, RICH. STEELE.

I shall want some linen from your house to-morrow.

* From this date Steele persisted in addressing his letters as to his wife, though contrary to her wish; but he was still obliged to yield in the matter of living apart, until her mother's arrival in Swallow Street. The solemn feelings with which Steele entered upon the married state, will be seen by a devotional exercise which he wrote, shortly after the event, in these words :

"Oh, Almighty Lord God, who hast been pleased, out of Thy righteous mercy and careful providence, to place us two in the state of marriage, according to Thy own institution and guidance of the first mortals; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may live in that state with mutual love, and that we endeavour to acommodate ourselves to each other's just desires and satisfactions; that we may be a mutual help in all the vicissitudes of life through which Thou hast designed us to pass, in such manner as we may contribute to each other's virtue in this world, and salvation in that which is to come. Protect us, O Lord most mighty; bless us, O merciful Father; and redeem us, O holy Saviour! Guard our paths from error, and keep our eyes from introducing wandering desires; but grant such peace and tranquillity of mind, and such a steady course of virtue and piety, that we may be at Thy altar never-failing communicants; and, by a worthy receipt of the elements representing Thy meritorious passion, we may through that be partakers of eternal life; which permit us to beseech Thee in the words which Thou hast taught us:—

"Our Father, which art heaven,'" &c.