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LETTER CCXXV. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE, St. James's-ftreet, Dec. 11, 1716. HAVE received yours, with the inclosed bill for fifty pounds. I earnestly intreat you not to excruciate your spirit with what you ought to overlook and defpife. I will write to you at large on Thursday about all matters, efpecially the method of my journey. I am, dear woman, entirely yours, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCXXVI. To Lady STEELE *.

DEAREST PRUE,

[undated].

HIS is only to afk how you do. I am
Your-Betty-Dick-Eugene Molly's humble
RICH. STEELE.

fervant,

LETTER CCXXVII. To Lady STEELE. MY DEAR PRUE,

Dec. 13, 1716.

RS. Secretary Bevans has acquainted me,

MRS.

by the 7th instant, that you are well, and

This fcrap is placed here moft probably out of its proper order; a circumftance of no more importance than the letter itfelf, which is only preferved as enumerating all his family in a way that no man but himself would ever have thought of.

† Sister to Lady Steele's mother. See Letter CXXX. ad finem. She was at this time a widow. See Letter CCXXI. ad finem.

very much my friend and fervant. Mrs. Evans went to fee Betty yesterday, who, fhe fays, is grown a very fine lady. Moll fat by me a little as I was writing yesterday; fhe will not be at all marked, but is a dear child. Eugene is grown a very lively gentleman. After all this news, which takes in all the compass of whatever you care for *, you will not much regard politics if I should write any. But it feems my Lord Townshend is out, and Stanhope and Methuen the two fecretaries for England, and Duke Roxborough made a third fecretary for Scotland; for which place I intend to fet out this day, with an opportunity of a gentleman's coach going down. I am, dear Prue, your most affectionate, obedient, languishing relict, RICH. STEEle. The machine is almoft ready.

LETTER CXXVIII. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

WHET

Dec. 18, 1716.

7HETHER I love you because you are the mother of the children, or them

By this expreffion it appears their first boy Dick (fee p. 105) was now dead. Eugene died in November 1723.

↑ John Ker, Duke of Roxborough, was appointed fecretary for North-Britain, Dec. 16, 1716. He refigned that office, Aug. 25, 1725; and fince that period, inflead of a diftinct fecretary of state for Scotland, there has been regularly a keeper of the fignet under the other two fecretaries.

3

because

because you are their mother, I know not; but I am fure I am growing a very covetous creature for the fake of both of you. I am making hafte to Scotland; have only a fmall affair, which I will acquaint you with in my next, and am, entirely yours, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCXXIX. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE, St. James's-street, Dec. 20, 1716. RS. SECRETARY* writes me word you

MRS

have a curiofity to know what bustle it was that you heard of at the playhouse. It was occafioned by a gentleman's coming in very rough, in a riding-habit; and the fentry enquir ing of him where he was going, as he offered to pafs into a box, he told him, if he opposed his paffage he would fhoot him through the head. The foldier was the more alarmed at him, and perfifted to deny him entrance; at which the ftranger pulled out a piftol, and fhot the man in the neck. He was feized, and feveral piftols found about him, and proves one Mr. Freeman, a madman. The houfe was in a very great uproar, crying out The Prince! who only appeared indifferent and compofed.

* Mrs. Bevans. See Letter CCXXVI.

I long

The ftrange circumftance here alluded to happened at Drury-lane theatre on the 6th of December, 1716, when the

I long to be gone from hence. The children are all well. I am, dear Prue, ever thine, RICH. STEELE.

Your man Sam owes me three-pence, which must be deducted in the account between you and me; therefore, pray take care to get it in, or ftop it *.

LETTER CCXXX. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, St. James's-ftreet, Dec. 22, 1716. HIS wifhes you an agreeable Christmas.

TH

I have taken fuch care, as to be as easy on the road as travelling about this town. I am, dear Prue, with the fincereft paffion, ever yours, RICH. STEELE,

LETTER CCXXXI. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

Christmas-day.

WENT the other day to fee Betty at Chel

I rea, who reprefented to me, in her

fea, who reprefented to me, in her pretty

A

Prince of Wales was prefent at the tragedy of Tamerlane. particular account of the whole tranfaction, of which Steele has here given his Lady a good abftract, is in the " Political State," vol. XII. p. 547. Mr. Freeman was a gentleman of Surrey, and had for several years been troubled with fits of lunacy. Though the foldier's wounds did not prove mortal, Mr. Freeman was committed to Newgate, on the additional charge of having killed a man in the country two days before.

*A fneer at Lady Steele's exceffive attention to money. See Letter CCXXXI. and Letter CCXIII. and note.

+

In his journey to Scotland.

K

language,

language," that she seemed helpless and friendlefs, without any body's taking notice of her at Christmas, when all the children but she and two more were with their relations." I have invited her to dinner to-day, with one of the teachers, and they are here now in the room; Betty and Moll very noisy and pleased together. Befs goes back again, as soon as she has dined, to Cheliea. I have stayed in, to get a very advantageous affair dispatched; for, I affure you, I love money at prefent as well as your Ladyfhip, and am entirely yours, RICH. STEELE. I told Betty I had writ to you; and the made me open the letter again, and give her humble duty to her mother, and defire to know when fhe fhall have the honour to fee her in town. She gives her love to Mrs. Bevans and all her coufins.

LETTER CCXXXII. To Lady STEELE.
DEAR PRUE, St. James's-street, Dec. 28, 1716.
T is matter of gain, not matter of gallantry,

It

keeps me here thus long. I hope, within a post or two, to give an account of a thing that will bring us a great fum of money *.

All my endeavours and thoughts tend only to extricate my condition, and have no debt but

* A contrivance of a machine for bringing fish to London; of which a more particular account is given in the fequel of this publication. See Letter CCXXXIV, &c.

that

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