I doubt not, a thoufand prayers offered up, to grant me difcretion, and the ease of this world. You and yours, I fear, will make me covetous; I am fure you have made me value wealth much more than I ever thought I fhould: but indeed I have a reason which makes it worth the purfuit it will make me more agreeable to you*. I am indeed, Prue, intirely yours, R. STEELE. I hope Nanny does not mifbehave so as to difturb your tranquillity.

If the poft fhould this night not bring me money, I find I can have money in the country, and draw a bill on Mr. Castleman at London.

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LETTER CCX. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE, Boroughbridge, Feb. 1, 1714-15. AM aftonished Warner has not fent me a bill before now. Mr. Jeffop is at the neighbouring borough, where he is to be chofen this morning.

I will take twenty pounds of him, and fend you money by an exprefs, which I will fend to you to-morrow with advice of our fuccefs here. The election is to be between eight and eleven in the morning. I am, dear Prue, ever thine,' RICH. STEELE.

See Letter CCXIII. and note, ad finem.

+ William Jeffop, efq. elected in this and several succeeding parliaments for Aldborough in Yorkshire.

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LETTER

LETTER CCXI. To Mrs. STEELE, at Mr. Harrison's at York, Coney-street.

DEAR PRUE,

Feb. 4, 1714-15.

THIS is to acquaint you that I will be with you on Saturday, and then fettle your journey home; which I propofe fhall be in the coach this day fe'nnight.

I have got money, and you fhall hear of me again to-morrow morning.

Mr. Jeffop has been very zealous in my election, and stood by with his fkill and knowledge on the spot. Yours ever, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCXII. To Mrs. STEELE, at her House, over against Park-place, St. James's.

DEAR PRUE,

Claremont, April 10, 1715. Y Lord Clare (who you will own to have fome pretence to command me) will not

Μ%

*This might have been addressed, "To Lady Steele."

let

+ Afterward the patriotic Duke of Newcastle. Steele had just before dedicated to him the Collection of his "Political "Writings." This Nobleman, who was then Lord-lieutenant of the county of Middlesex, had not long before placed Steele in the commiffion of the peace for that county, and appointed him one of his Deputy-lieutenants. It was in this capacity that, two days only before the date of this letter, he was knighted, on prefenting to the King an address from the Lieutenancy of Middle. fex and Westminster, which Steele had the honour of drawing

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up.

let me come away from hence this night. Pray forgive your moft obedient, humble fervant, RICH. STEELE.

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LETTER CCXIII. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE, Speaker's Chambers, Aug, 14, 1715. WRITE this before I go to Lord Marlbo

rough's, to let you know that there was no one at the Treasury but Kelsey, with whom Welfted left the order, and he is to be at the Treasury again to-morrow between two and three when, without doubt, the money will be

up. About the fame time he was appointed furveyor of the royal ftables at Hampton-court. On the 28th of May following, being the King's birth-day, who then entered his 56th year, Sir Richard particularly diftinguished himself, by treating above 200 gentlemen and ladies. The entertainment, confifting of pyramids of all manner of sweetmeats, the most generous wines, fuch as burgundy, champaign, &c. was ushered in by a prologue written by Tickell and fpoken by Mrs. Younger; and concluded by an epilogue written by himself, and spoken by Mr. Wilks, very merry, and free with his own character ; after which, a large table that was in the arca of the concerthouse was taken away, to make room for the company to dance country-dances, which was done with great decency and regu larity. An Ode of Horace was alfo fet to mufic on this occafion; with several songs and other entertaining performances.

* Leonard Welfted, an ingenious young clerk in the office of one of the secretaries of state, whom Steele very highly esteemed. Welfted had not long before this addreffed to him two feveral poetical publications; an imitation of an ode of Horace, under the title of "A Prophecy," and "An Epistle on the "King's Acceffion."

paid. I have no hopes from that, or any thing elfe, but by dint of riches to get the government of your Ladyfhip. Yours, RICH. STEELE.

66

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* In the notes on the Dunciad, Mr. Welfted (among much equally wanton abuse) is reproached with having "received at one time 500l. for fecret service, among the other excellent au"thors hired to write anonymously for the miniftry." This idle calumny (which arose from that fum appearing in the Report of the fecret committee, 1742, as iffued "to Leonard Welfted, gent. for fpecial fervices, Aug. 27, 1715") was refuted in the Biographia Britannica, art. STEELE, p. 3830, note U, on the authority of Welfted's own declaration to Mr. Walthoe, analderman of St. Alban's, "that he received the money for the use "of Sir R. Steele, and paid it to him." If any further proof of this affertion were wanting, we have here the exprefs teftimony of Steele himself, that the money was iffued for his use. And we are so far indebted to the author of the Dunciad, that he has unwittingly contributed to illuftrate this letter, which would otherwife have wanted a clue.

per

+ It appears from this and other paffages in these letters, that Lady STEELE had an undue love of money, which was a fource of much vexation to herself, and of fome uneafinefs to her hufband. There is a prefumptive proof of this in the following quotation, which is happily illuftrated in this publication. STEELE, in his "Englishman," celebrates the greatnefs and equanimity of a poor man with a tar neckcloth, who, with p fect fang-froid, was first informed at a coffee-house of his hav ing got a prize of 10,000l. in the lottery. After strictly and coolly examining into the truth of the information, he turned out of his pocket half-a-crown and fixpence. Prefenting the half-crown to the waiter, "It is all I have got now [faid he], "but I will call another time and give you more for your good "news." Having related the incident with his usual spirit and high approbation, STEELE adds, "I fpeak it fincerely, I had "much rather have his temper than his fortune; for had it hap"pened to me, alas! I fhould have given it, like a slave as I "am, to a woman who defpifes me without it. Hang her, however, I wish I had it for her fake." ENGLISHMAN, No 47, Jan. 21, 1714, printed by S. Buckley, 12mo, p. 218, 219. See Letter CCVIII. ad finem.

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LETTER

LETTER CCXIV. To Lady STEELE, humbly

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DEAR PRUE,

prefent.

Jan. 10, 1715-16. HAVE that in my pocket which within a few days will be a great fum of money, befides what is growing at the play-houfe. I prefer your eafe to all things. I beg of you to fend for coals, and all things neceffary for this week, and keep us only to the end of it out of your abundance; and I fhall ever add to it hereafter, inftead of attempting to diminish it. I cannot indeed get money immediately without appearing most scandalously indigent, which I would avoid for the future. Ever yours,

RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCXV. To Lady STEELE, over against Park-place, St. James's-street.

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DEAR PRUE,

Jan. 11, 1715-16. Baldwin's, Eaft-street, near Red-Lion Square. AM here very busy, and shall be all night. Pray fend me a book which is upon the fcrutore in the dining-room. It is an History of Ireland, and many leaves of it turned down, and papers in it. It is a fad thing I must take fuch pains; but you are to be the better for it, which is the main comfort to, yours ever,

RICH. STEELE.
LETTER