Primer; and I have brought down my Virgil. He makes moft fhrewd remarks upon the pictures. We are very intimate friends and playfellows. He begins to be very ragged; and I hope I fhall be pardoned if I equip him with new cloaths and frocks, or what Mrs. Evans and I fhall think for his fervice. I am, dear Prue, ever yours, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCL. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

MR

March 19, 1716-17. R. RICHARD PHILIPS was with me this morning, and I figned the leases to which I faw your hand. This day has been a great affair in the Houfe of Commons. Mr. Walpole, in very clear and excellent terms, laid before us the state of the debt of the nation, and propofed a way, by lowering the intereft given. to the creditors of the kingdom, and other me.. thods, to ease our circumstances. I happened to be the only man in the House who spoke against it, because I did not think the way of doing it juft. I believe the fcheme will take place; and, if it does, Walpole must be a very great man.

I am very well pleafed with the profpect from Mr. Gillmore's defign; and, from the integrity intentions in all my actions, in great tran

of

my

* This is confirmed by the account of the debate in the "Po"litical State" for March 1716-17.

quillity

quillity of mind. I contract my fails every day j and, when I receive my money, fhall be in fuch a way as will fhew that you and my little ones are all my fincere delight. I am, dear Prue, ever yours, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCLI.

To Lady STEELĖ.

Feb. 25, 1716-17.

'HIS goes to dear Prue, to comfort her in

THE

her abfence from her husband. If the thinks the distance as painful as he does, hearing from him must be a great fatisfaction. I am fure, as foon as I have made my affairs fo eafy as that we can be together without being interrupted with worldly care, I fhall put an end to the distance between us. I every day do fomething towards this, and next week shall pay off Madam Dawfon. You fhall have, within few days, a ftate of my circumftances, the prospect of bettering them, and the progress I have already made in this neceffary work. The children do come on fo well, that it would make even me covetous, to put them in a condition equal to the good genius, I blefs God, they feem to be of. Moll is the noifieft little creature in the world, and as active as a boy. Madam Betty is the graveft of matrons in her airs and civilities. Eugene, a most beautiful and lufty child. The parliament goes on but

coldly s

coldly; but I hope there is a warmer spirit will foon appear in the service of this nation, which, poffeffed of the most solid bleffings, facrifices itfelf to trifles. Yours ever, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCLII. To Lady STEELE.
DEAR PRUE,

[undated.] YOURS of the 18th lies before me; and I

You

am convinced that generous in my carriage should rather be, what you call it, thoughtlefs. As for the company I am to meet with, I shall maintain a general complaifance, and think the fincerity of speaking all one thinks a great infult and injury towards the reft of the world. I affure you, we will have no quarrels on that fcore; for, as I owe every body civility, fo I owe you to go on your own way; nor will I debate with you on thefe fubjects, but proceed in my own way. To fhew you that I am grown a very hard-hearted fellow, and fit for this world, Mrs. Long* has been arrested, and I have, upon her application, refufed to concern myself in her affairs. It was, I think, a little confident in her to afk it of me; and, in fuch cafes, I think I may be as bold to deny unreasonable things, as they are to ask them. The Lords of the Treafury have ordered us fome money, and I fhall

It might have been fuppofed that this was the celebrated beauty recorded among the Kit-cat toafts, who retired from the world on account of pecuniary diftrefs; but it appears from the Supplement to Swift," that fhe died at Lynn, Dec. 21, 1711.

hufband

husband it to the best advantage, to keep above this ill-natured world; but it is a terrible circumftance to have one's money due to others before it comes into one's own hands.

Dick Philips has been here to-day; and, after we had dined, I executed the leafes. I am highly pleafed and fatisfied with your conduct, and think you come up to the description in the Proverbs of the good woman, of whom it is faid, that her husband fhall be honoured from her character. I do affure you, I am not afhamed to tell you, that I fubmit my conduct to the imitation of yours, and fhall take you with me in all matters of concern. You are to know, that I have been cafting about how to turn a kind inclination towards me at prefent into what is folid. There is an eftate forfeited to the King, of 100l. a year, by one who died for murder. It is a thing I have come to the knowledge of by-the-bye; and believe I fhall have a grant of it, to help me out of the inconveniencies my zeal brought upon me, and I have not, yet recovered. One does not know what fate any letter may meet with; therefore I can never find in my heart to commit fecrets to paper. But take it for granted, I fhall hereafter fhew very little romance in the temper and conduct of, dear Prue, your moft affectionate husband, and moft obedient fervant, RICH. STEELE,

* Chap. xxi. 23.

LETTER

I

LETTER CCLIII. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

[undated.]

HAVE yours, wherein you mention Fuller, and the account you have that he shewed an infolent joy at his wife's death. I do not fet up to excufe his conduct towards his wife, but shall take care of mine towards my own.

You tell me you want a little flattery from me. I affure you I know no one who deferves fo much commendation as yourself, and to whom faying the best things would be fo little like flattery. The thing fpeaks itself, confidering you as a very handsome woman that loves retirement, one who does not want wit, and yet is extremely fincere; and fo I could go through all the vices which attend the good qualities of other people, of which you are exempt. But, indeed, though you have every perfection, you have one extravagant fault, which almost frustrates the good in you to me, and that is, that you do not love to drefs, to appear, to shine out, even at my request, and to make me proud of you, or rather to indulge the pride I have that you are mine. This is all I wish changed in you, which I hope you will bring about, and condefcend to be, what nature made you, the most beauteous and most agreeable of your fex, at the instance of, L dear