dear Prue, your most affectionate, obfequious A quarter of Molly's schooling is paid. LETTER CCLIV. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, 1 March 23, 1716-17. WRITE by your order, though I have nothing new. My money is not yet come to hand; and I am very impatient for it, because I would fhew you, as foon as it is in my power, a reformation in the management of expence. am, dear Prue, your most obedient, obliged hufband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCLV. To Lady STEELE. MY DEAREST PRUE, I March 26, 1717. I HAVE received yours, wherein you give me the fenfible affliction of letting me know of the continual pain in your head. I could not meet with neceffary advice; but, according to the description you give me, I am confident washing your head in cold water will cure you; I mean, having water poured on your head, and rubbed with an hand, from the crown of your head to the nape of your neck. When I lay in your your place, and on your pillow, I affure you, I fell into tears last night, to think that my charming little infolent might be then awake and in pain, and took it to be a fin to go to fleep. For this tender paffion towards you, I must be contented that your Pruefhip will condescend to call yourself my well-wisher. I am going abroad, and write before I go out, left accidents should happen to prevent my writing at all. If I can meet with further advice for you, I will fend it in a letter to Alexander. I am, dear Prue, ever thine, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCLVI. Fo Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, THE March 30, 1717. HE omiffion of laft poft was occafioned by my attendance on the Duke of Newcastle, who was in the chair at the Kit-cat. Be fo good as to forgive me. We have not yet one fhilling from the commiffion, though 7501. is become due, nor indeed know we when to expect it. I hope, however, within few days to take up as much money as will pay off all hangers on, and to have no more for the future. I pant for leifure and tranquillity, which I hope to enjoy when we meet again. I am, dear Prue, your moft obedient, affectionate, faithful hufband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCLVII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, April 2, 1717. I AM just come from a parliamentary club; and can only fay all your family is well, especially he who is ever yours, R. STEELE. I LETTER CCLVIII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, April 9, 1717. WRITE, according to your advice, before I go out in the morning; and indeed the House of Commons fit fo late, that what with that, and being carried off to dinner, one is apt to run into the expence of the whole day, without having an hour to fend to one's best friend. I gave Mrs. Evans the part of your letter, but there is no occafion for that caution; the child in her eyes, and every where else, is in perfect good health. God be thanked, the reft are in the fame condition; and we want nothing here but the receipt of money. I dined yefterday in Chancery-lane, and, after dinner, vifited Mr. Keck, who is very well, and much your Ladyfhip's fervant. Keep up your spirit, and let us live like a man and woman that love when I embrace you, and am your we next meet. most affectionate, and moft obliged, humble ferRICH. STEELE. vant, LETTER LETTER CCLIX. To the Lady STEELE, at Carmarthen, South Wales. Frank, Richard Steele. I DEAR PRUE, [undated.] AM, as you obferve, still in town, and have your rallying letter*. The claims of the fair sex are, you say, unaccountable. It is well for you they are; for, I affure you, I think you both the fairest and the best of women. I have been much at home and alone fince we parted. I am come to a refolution of making my three children my partners, and will constantly lay up fomething out of all receipts of money for each of them, in a box bearing the name of the little one to whom it belongs. Betty grows tall, and has the best air I ever faw in any creature of her age. I am going to dine with the Speaker. Things at Court feem to be in a very uncertain way. I am, dear Prue, eternally yours, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCLX. To Lady STEELE, DEAR PRUE, April 10, 1717. T is now Wednesday, and, meeting with your letter, I write now, left I should not have leisure to-morrow, when our board are to meet very early. Now, as to your letter. You fay I am reported a Tory. You know I have See Lett. CCXXXII. p. 130; and Lett. CCXXXIII. p. 131. always L 3 always an unfashionable thing, called confcience, in all matters of judicature or juftice. There happened, a little while ago, a petition to be brought into the Houfe of Commons from the Roman-catholics, praying relief as to point of time, and the meaning of certain claufes which affected them. When there was a question juft ready to be put upon this, as whether it should be rejected or not, I ftood up, and said to this purpose:: "Mr. Speaker, "I cannot but be of opinion, that to put se"verities upon men merely on account of reli gion is a moft grievous and unwarrantable pro"ceeding. But, indeed, the Roman-catholics "hold tenets which are inconfiftent with the be"ing and fafety of a Proteftant people; for this "reason we are juftified in laying upon them "the penalties which the parliament has from "time to time thought fit to inflict: but, Sir, let us not purfue Roman-catholics with the "fpirit of Roman-catholics, but act towards "them with the temper of our own religion. "If we do so, we shall not expect them to do any thing in lefs time than is neceffary to do it, or to conduct themfelves by rules which "they do not understand," &c. When I had adventured to fay this, others followed; and there is a bill directed for the relief of the petitioners. I fuppofe this gave an handle |