Stechert 11-24-25 12581

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P R E F A СЕ,

WRITTEN IN 1787; CORRECTED IN 1809. THE following Collection of Letters, though the genuine effusions of one of the most ele gant Writers in the English language, can add little to the reputation of a literary character which has been long ago fully established; being in general the hasty productions of his pen, intended only for private inspection; and some of them evidently scribbled when their amiable Author was probably not in the very best condition for penmanship. The subjects

of many of them are trivial and domestic, such as may at first be supposed not very interesting to the publick, and from most men would be deemed insignificant and below attention: but, as they contain the private and undisguised opinions of the man who took upon himself to be the Censor of the age, and for years exercised that delicate office with suitable, dignity and general approbation, it may excite no little curiosity to observe how he conducted himself in those concerns and occurrences of life, through which he so ably directed others. Not a single

a single scrap of them has been suppressed: nor is there a line in the whole publication, which does not, in the opinion of the Editor,

go to confirm all that has been said for the superiority of STEELE's understanding and his heart, in the Notes first added to the edition of the TATLER in 1786.

These Letters manifest throughout, with irresistible conviction, the very many excellent and amiable qualities, which greatly endeared this public Benefactor to society; and, in proof of their authenticity, we see in them with regret, indubitable marks of " that imprudence of generosity, or vanity of profusion, which kept STEELE always incurably necessitous," and shaded his fine character. Considering the constant vexation and serious inconveniencies of which it was the cause or the occasion, to himself and his family, nothing can be said to excuse STEELE's inattention to œconomy; it was however more pardonable, and the less reproachable, as in the end he did ample justice to his creditors. Our regret on every instance which these Letters afford of this indiscretion, is very greatly augmented, by our admiration and love of that extensive and indefatigable philanthropy, to which we are principally indebted for a long series of well-written papers, fraught with valuable lessons of morality and

good

in

good-breeding, which have doubtless contributed very much to the intellectual improvement, and moral refinement, of both sexes, this country. Excepting however what refers in these Letters to the lamentable failure of conduct abovementioned, too well ascertained before; no publication of STEELE redounds more to his honour as a man, than the present. It shews him to have been a firm and conscientious patriot; a faithful, affectionate, husband; a fond, indulgent parent; and, even at this period, if it does not illustrate, it very much enhances the value of his writings, both moral and political, to know with certainty, that the salutary instructions and sublime precepts, so much admired, and so well received, from the fictitious ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, esq. were no other than the genuine sentiments, and habitual practice, of the real Sir RICHARD STEELE *

* The following dates are material in Steele's History." It doth appear, by the parish register of the parish of St. Bridget, Dublin, that Richard, the son of Richard Steele, was baptised March the 12th, 1671; which we certify this 22d day of March, 1722.

WILLIAM BARRY, Minister.

WILLIAM WAalker,

JEROME BREDON,

} Church Wardens."

Steele was matriculated as a member of Christchurch, Oxford, at the age of 16, March 13, 1689-90, and became one of the post-masters of Merton college, Aug. 27, 1691.

These

These documents, which fortunately come in seasonable aid of what has been lately advanced for the first time, and with great justice it seems, in favour of STEELE's ill-known or much-injured character, fell, after his death, into the possession of his eldest daughter ELIZABETH, a lady who, with a charming person, inherited the many endearing qualities of her Father, both of the head and heart; and whose hereditary benignity of disposition, which selfinterest could not, and prudence did not sufficiently restrain, was at last equally fatal to her fortune, as it had been to that of her father.

Many interesting particulars of this lady, the several matrimonial connexions she declined, and her union with the Hon. JOHN TREVOR, at that time a Welsh Judge, and afterwards the third Lord TREVOR, appear in the course of these Letters.

In 1764, Sept. 27, she lost her husband * at Bath, at which place she from that time chiefly

* John Lord Trevor was buried with great magnificence in the family vault at Bromham, where a handsome monument designed by the late Prince Hoare of Bath, with a short inscription written by Lady Trevor, is erected in the chancel to his memory. There is also a fine monument for Thomas the first Lord Trevor, an eminent Lawyer, who had been Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, 1710—1714, Lord Privy Seal 1725. He was created a Peer in 1726; and, at the time of his death, in 1730, was Lord President of the Council.

resided;

resided; and four years after, she lost also her only child Diana-Maria, who was remarkably beautiful, though unfortunately an ideot *.

But the evening of her life was rendered much more comfortable than it might otherwise have been, after the diminution of her fortune, by the love and attention of Mrs. Thomas, an only daughter of Mrs. Aynston †, for whom she had, when a child, imbibed a sisterly affection. Her Ladyship had been induced, from her regard

*Lady Trevor had one other child, still-born, July 10, 1733.

↑ Steele's natural-daughter, by a relation of Tonson the bookseller. She was a great favourite with her father; and, by every representation we have heard, very deservedly so. Steele had bestowed on her a most accomplished education; and had once thought of giving her in marriage to Richard Savage, the illegitimate, unfortunate, imprudent, and vicious son of Lord Rivers, with a fortune of a thousand pounds. But the ingrati-tude and ill-conduct of this profligate man alienated the affection of his zealous and disinterested benefactor; and, it may be, some dislike on the part of the Lady herself concurred with the untoward circumstances of her father, to frustrate effectually this generous purpose. I shall only add here, that her name was Elizabeth, the same as that of her eldest legitimate sister, which may have occasioned some ambiguity in the reports of their various histories. Two slight specimens of Mrs. Aynston's poetry will be found in pp. 673, 674, with a more particular account of her, communicated by her grandson Mr. Thomas; who possesses a good portrait of her.

and