I very dirty with running about. I have left Mr. Craggs's fubfcription-books* at his house. am, dear Prue, yours faithfully, RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CLXXX. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, DINE abroad at Lord Halifax's. Mr. Craggs I have written to, not having found him. I find what I defire is tranfacting, and to be done by a general subscription*, for divulging the Crifis all over the kingdom. I fhall not be at home till nine o'clock, because I am to meet the sheriff at fix. Yours ever, RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CLXXXI. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Jan. 27, 1713-14. REPEAT that I will do in all as you have defired, fo help me God. RICH. STEELE. I will be at Tonfon's all the evening. *Of Steele's celebrated political pamphlet, "The Crifis," which was printed and published by Buckley. On the fubject of this fubfcription, fee fome fevere remarks in Swift's "Public Spirit of the Whigs." A few days before the date of this letter, Swift published a paraphrafe of an Ode of Horace, beginning, "DICK, thou'rt refolv'd, as I am told, Some strange arcana to unfold, And, with the help of Buckley's pen, To vamp the good old cause again. Which thou (fuch Burnet's fhrewd advice is) Muft furbish up, and nickname CRISIS," &c. &c. See the whole poem in the " Supplement to Swift.” I LETTER CLXXXII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, SEND this to let you know, that Lord Halifax would not let me go to the House, but thought it would be better to have the first attack made in my abfence. Mr. Foley was the gentleman who did me that honour; but they could not bring it to bear fo far as to obtain an order for my attending in my place, or any thing else to my difadvantage than that all pamphlets are to come on Saturday. Lord Halifax, in the House of Lords, told the ministry, that he believed, if they would recommend the Crifis to her Majefty's perufal, fhe would think quite otherwife of the book than they do. I think they have begun very unhappily and ungracefully against me, and doubt not but God will turn their malice to the advantage of the innocent. Your faithful husband, and humble fervant, RICH. STEEle. The motion which Mr. Auditor Foley particularly leveled at Steele, in a debate on the bill for limiting the number of of ficers in the Houfe of Commons, was, " to take into confidera"tion that part of the Queen's fpeech which related to the fup"preffing feditious libels and factious rumours." They obtained it, however, on the next day. LETTER I LETTER CLXXXIII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Bow-street, March 12, 1713-14. AM going to Mr. Walpole's, to meet some friends. There is nothing can arise to me* which ought to afflict you; therefore, pray be a Roman lady, and affume a courage equal to your goodness. The Queen is very ill. Your faithful, very chearful husband, RICH. STEELE. Do not mention, if you fee Harris, the bufinefs of the Queen. LETTER CLXXXIV. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, HAVE made my defence, and am ordered to withdraw. Addison was fent out after me, *On this day a regular complaint was made to the House, by Mr. Foley, of three pamphlets by Steele (" The Crifis," and two fingle numbers of "The Englishman"), as containing "fe "veral paragraphs tending to fedition, highly reflecting upon "her Majefty, and arraigning her adminiftration and govern"ment." Mr. Steele was ordered to attend in his place on the 13th; which he did accordingly, and was then allowed four days for making his defence. + The original is mifdated, March 17. He owned, in his place," that he wrote and published the "pamphlets complained of;" and read the paragraphs to the Houfe, "with the fame chearfulness and fatisfaction with which me, by my friends, to bid me not be feen till I heard what will be the cenfure. If you please to go to Mrs. Keck's, I will fend to you thither by a porter an hour or two hence, Nothing can happen to my condition in private the worse, and I have bufied myself enough for the public. The next is for you and yours. RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CLXXXV. To Mrs. STEELE. MY DEAR LIFE, March 19, 1713-14. WILL take immediate care of what you fend about. Pray let nothing difquiet you, for God will protect and profper your innocence and virtue, and, for your fake, dear Prue, faithful husband, and humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. your "he abjured the Pretender." Steele fpoke on this occafion with fuch a temper, modefty, unconcern, eafy and manly eloquence, as gave entire fatisfaction to all who were not inveterately prepoffeffed against him. He was ftrongly fupported by Mr. Walpole, General Stanhope, the Lord Finch, the Lord Hinchinbroke, and the Lord Lumley. His principal opponents were Mr. Foley, Sir W. Wyndham, Sir Edward Northey (the attorney general), and other courtiers. After a long and interesting debate, Steele was expelled the Houfe, by 254 voices against 152. He took ample revenge, however, three days after, on the Harleys and the Foleys, under the name of the Crabtrees and Brickdufts, in the eleventh number of "The Lover." LETTER I LETTER CLXXXVI. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, March 19, 1713-14. AM in very good-humour, and in no concern but fear of your being uneafy. I will go to the club to-night; for, as you fay, I must prefs things well now or never. Your faithful DICK STEELE, LETTER CLXXXVII *. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, March 20, 1713-14. I WILL do all you defire; and, after I have been with Lord Wharton and the reft, in the morning, I will come to Bloomsbury, where the Mayor of Stockbridge dines with your most faithful hufband, RICH, STEELE. LETTER CLXXXVIII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, March 24t, 1713-14. LL I know further is, that when I was a A bed laft night Afhurst called here, and * Indorfed by Mrs. Steele, "The crowd of worthy gentlemen "expected." "The Cafe of Richard Steele, Efq. with an importial Ac"count of the Proceedings against him, in a Letter to a Friend," was published on this day. left |