fo cool a ftrain to the warmeft, tendereft heart that ever woman commanded. I am, dear Prue, your moft obedient husband, and moft humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. I have directed the cream of tartar "To Mr. "Alexander Scurlock." I LETTER CCLXVII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Wednesday, April 24, 1717. HAVE a letter from your fecretary*, intimating you were going to see the entry of the judges, and could not write yourself. I would not use so harsh a phrase as expect, though I have formerly taken the liberty of that word when it concerned a Queen; but I beseech you, when you have health, to employ your own fair hand to, Madam, your most obliged and affectionate husband, RICH. STEELE, I LETTER CCLXVIII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, April 26, 1717. AM much obliged to you for fo long a letter in your own hand-writing. I am glad you are any way got out of Davies's clutches; there is no poffibility of escaping out of fuch Either Mrs. Bevans, or Mr. Alexander Scurlock. claws claws without lofs of fome blood. I am trying to get out of hucksters' hands here also. It is not poffible to describe to you the perplexities into which the bufinefs of this nation is plunged; and it is a melancholy reflection, that one has no comfort in confidering the affairs of this diftreffed people, but as ill-usage and a general corruption abate one's concern for the publick. Yours ever, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCLXIX. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, April 30, 1717. OURS, without date, lies before me. I YOU am forry you give yourself any inquietude about the frivolous little humours of others. There is a plain affable way of acting, without engaging one's felf with much concern, which you understand well enough if you please. I take Sir Thomas Stepney to be a fair, worthy gentleman, and in the interest of his country. That this may find you in ease and tranquillity, is the hearty prayer of your affectionate husband, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE, * Sir Thomas Stepney, bart. was then one of the members for the county of Carmarthen. LETTER 1 To Lady STEELE. LETTER CCLXX. DEAR PRUE, You [May 1, 1717.] letters, which very To avoid the fame OU never date your much perplexes me. fault, I tell you that I have just received yours on Wednesday evening, May the 1ft, and fit down to answer now I am alone and at leisure. I am heartily concerned for your eyes. I have often told you, I believe you have ufed enchantments to enflave me; for an expreffion in yours of good Dick has put me in fo much rapture, that I could forget my present most miserable lameness, and walk down to you. I have at this time intereft enough to do what you ask for Sandy; but I do not ask Mr. Secretary Addison any thing. Gillmore dined with me to-day, when Benson was expected, but did not come, to our great uneafinefs; for we were to have taken measures to bring the matter into parliament, and concerted every thing else relating to the machine, which is a moft prodigious work. My Lord Cadogan, who is now in the first degree of favour, fat with me here the other night above an hour. I fhould, by his great frankness and generofity of mind, be rightly recommended and reprefented, but my decrepid condition spoils all. The money is not yet come to hand, which makes me very uneafy, and and out of patience. I think the affair which Sandy afks for, is to be furveyor of glass windows for Carmarthen, and an adjacent county. I had not intereft in the Treasury till this new commiffion* was conftituted, but think there is not one in it that would not be ready to do me a little favour. My dear little, peevish, beautiful, wife governess, God bless you. RICH. STEELE. I do not write news to you, because I have ordered the letter from the Secretary's office to be sent to you conftantly. Thursday, Three in the Afternoon, May 2, 1717. I had a very painful night last night, but, after a little chocolate an hour or two ago, and a chicken for dinner, am much more at ease. Your fervant, R. STEELE. LETTER CCLXXI. To Lady STEELE. May 7, 1717. AM glad to hear, by a letter from your coufin, that you are well: but have taken phyfic this morning, and cannot hold down my head to paper; therefore hope you will excufe your faithful, obliged husband, RICH. STEELE. The then Lords-commiffioners were, Viscount Stanhope, Lord Torrington; with John Wallop, George Baillie, and Thomas Micklethwayte, efquires. LETTER LETTER CCLXXII. To Lady STEELĖ. DEAR PRUE, [undated.] AM under much mortification from not having a letter from you yesterday but will hope that the distance from the poft, now you are at Blengorfe, is the occafion. I love you with the most ardent affection, and very often run over little heats that have fometimes happened between us with tears in my eyes. I think no man living has fo good, fo discreet a woman to his wife as myself; and I thank you for the perseverance in urging me inceffantly to have done with the herd of indigent unthankful people, who have made me neglect those who fhould have been my care from the first principle of charity. I have been very importunate for justice to the endeavours I have used to serve the publick; and hope I fhall very foon have such reparation as will give me agreeable things to fay to you at our meeting, which God grant to you and your most obfequious husband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCLXXIII. To Lady STEELE. My dear, honoured, lovely PRUE, [undated.] YESTERDAY received two letters from you by the fame poft, and am comforted. 4 Blaen y Gorge from |