LETTER CCXVI. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Chelsea, Monday, Feb. 14, 1715-16. R. FULLER* and I came hither to dine MR in the air; but the maid has been fo flow that we are benighted, and chuse to lie here rather than go this road in the dark. I lie at our own bouse, and my friend at a relation's in the town. I defire Willmot may come in the morning with my linen. Your obedient husband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCXVII. To Lady STEELE. March 26, 1716. DID not come to town to day because I find my hand in, and, by the help of Dymock†, fhall be able this evening to finish what I have deferred from day to day for two months laft paft. Left you fhould be uneafy, I fend Willmot to let you know that i fhall not come home till to-morrow about eleven in the morning, and am, dear creature, abfolutely thine, RICH. STEELE. One of Steele's affiftants as a writer in the Tatler. See New TATLER, vol. V. N° 205, p. 266 and 267, note; where the curious reader will find a very honourable account of him, too long to be tranfcribed here. + STEELE's amanuenfis. LETTER LETTER CCXVIII. To Lady STEELE, with a DEAR PRUE, You Cafe. St. James's-ftreet, Aug. 9, 1716. OU may obferve, in those excellent books which your polite coufin* reads to you, that neceffaries are often wanting to the heroes and heroines for want of flowing their portmanteaus with proper materials. The bearer brings you, with this, a cafe of inftruments for eating and drinking, that may be upon the road both of ornament and use to, Madam, your obedient hufband, MOLL OLLY's diftemper proves the fmall-pox, which fhe has very favourably, and a good kind. Mrs. Evans is very good; and Nurfe Jervafe very diligent; Sarah has every good quality, and the whole family are in health befide the dear infant. I am very clofe at my papers, not having been two hours out of the * Alexander Scurlock, fon to a brother of Lady Steele's father. See Letter CCXXII. &c. houfe house fince I parted with you. Pray take care of yourself. I love you to distraction; for I cannot be angry at any thing you do, let it be ever so odd and unexpected, to the tenderest of husbands. RICH. STEELE. We had not, when you left us, an inch of candle, a pound of coal, or a bit of meat, in the houfe; but we do not want now. I LETTER CCXX. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Nov. 20, 1716. AM here under the double feverity of your abfence and Molly's fickness; but I hope you are well, as the child is, in her condition. She has the fmall-pox with very favourable fymptoms, and is very well attended by Evans and her husband, Sarah, and Nurse Jervafe. I am, with the utmost affection, your obedient hufband, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. I hope to begin my journey* the day after Willmot's return. I opened this after fealed, to let you know Willmot is come. To Scotland, whither he was going as a Commiffioner of the Forfeited Eftates. LETTER I LETTER CCXXI. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, HOPE this will find you fafe at Carmar then, and that you find all things eafy there. There is nothing extraordinary has occurred. here. Your daughter Betty was very well yefterday: I made her be brought out as I rode by. I have been much on horseback to prepare for my journey, for which I expect orders on Monday next out of Scotland. This is the ninth day with my dear Molly in the small-pox; she has many in the body, few in the face: they are, they fay, very kindly. Nurfe Jervafe, with her duty, recommends herself to you for her extraordinary care and diligence about your child. Mrs. Evans and her husband deferve very well of us. I am, with the tendereft love, your most obedient husband, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. My moft humble service to the widow, and all the family. I LETTER CCXXII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Nov. 27, 1716. WRIT to my coufin Alexander this poft, and defired him to excufe my not writing to you; but, on fecond thoughts, fearing you might be displeased, I fend this, though it has only to fay that I am, with entire love and duty, your most obedient husband, and humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCXXIII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUF, Nov. 29, 1716. Your in I defire till you Berty is AM extremely obliged to you for your letter on the reverse of my coufin's. disposition is a very great grief to me. you to use brandy to bathe your head, hear Dr. Garth's advice by next post. very well, and Molly up, and has this day taken phyfic, which fhall be continued as much as proper, and at proper diftances. I have a great packet to answer from Scotland, of which you fhall have a further account in my next. devotedly yours, I am RICH. STEELE, LETTER CCXXIV. To Lady STEELE, at Carmarthen, South Wales. Frank, Richard Steele. DEAR PRUE, TH Dec. 6, 1716. HIS is only to fay we are all well. Among other little matters, I wait an anfwer from you before I fet out for Scotland. I am, dear Prue, faithfully thine, RICH. STEELE. Garth advises your washing your head with water and falt. LETTER |