LETTER XVII. To Mrs. ScURLOCK.

DEAR CREATURE,

E

Sept. 2, 1707, between One and Two. VER fince feven this morning I have been

in company; but have ftole a moment, to pour out the fulness of my thoughts, and complain to you of the interruption that impertinent amusement called business has given me, amidst my contemplation on the best of women, and the most agreeable object that ever charmed the heart of man. I am, deareft, lovelieft creature, eternally thine, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER XVIII. To Mrs. SCURLOCK.

DEAR CREATURE,

Sept. 3, 1707, Seven in the Morning *.

EXT to the influence of Heaven, I am to

NEXT thank you that I fee the returning day

with pleasure. To pafs my evenings in so sweet a conversation, and have the esteem of a woman of your merit, has in it a particularity of happiness no more to be expreffed than returned. But I am, my lovely creature, contented to be on the obliged fide, and to employ all my days in new endeavours to convince you, and all the

Date changed to "Oct. 23, 1671."

world,

world of the fense I have of your condefcenfion in chufing, Madam, your most faithful, most obedient humble fervant, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER XIX. To Mrs. SCURLOCK.

MADAM,

TH

to me.

Lord Sunderland's Office, Whitehall, Sept. 3, 1707*. HE young lady, your daughter, told me she had a letter from you of 22d instant, wherein you gave her the highest marks of your affection, and anxiety for her welfare, in relation The main profpect on these occafions is that of fortune; therefore I fhall very candidly give you an account of myself as to that particular. My late wife had fo extreme a value for me, that she, by fine, conveyed to me her whole eftate, fituate in Barbados, which, with the ftock and flaves (proper fecurities being given for the payment of the rent), is let for eight hundred and fifty pounds per annum, at halfyearly payments; that is to fay, 4251. each first of May, and 4251. each firft of December. This eftate came to her incumbered with a debt of 3000l. by legacies and debts of her brother, whofe executrix fhe was, as well as heiress. I muft confefs, it has not been in my power to lef

* The original date of this letter to Mrs. Scurlock's mother, is altered here, from Sept. 3, to Sept. 30, 1707. C

fen

fen the incumbrance, by reafon of chargeable fickneffes, and not having at that time any employment of profit. But at present, and ever fince May laft, I have been appointed by the Secretaries of State to write the Gazette, with a falary of 300l. a year, paying a tax of 451. I am alfo gentleman-waiter to his Royal Highness the Prince, with a falary of 100l. a year, not fubject to taxes.

Thus my whole income is at prefent per annum

Deduct the intereft of 3000l.

Taxes for my employment

S. d.

1250

180

45 0 0

225

1

Remains after thefe deductions 1025

This is, Madam, the present ftate of my affairs; and, though this income is fo large, I have not taken any regard to lay up any thing further than just what pays the intereft abovementioned. If I may be fo happy to obtain your favour, fo as we may live together with fingleness of mind, I fhall readily go into fuch measures as fhall be thought most advifable for our mutual intereft; and, if it is thought fit, will fell what I have in the Plantations. Your daughter acquaints me, there is a demand of 14001. upon your eftate, the annual income of which is better than 400l.

per

per ann. You have now the whole view of both
our circumflances before you; and you see there
is foundation for our living in an handsome
manner, provided we can be of one mind;
without which I could not propofe to myself
any happiness or bleffing, were my circum-
stances ever so plentiful. I am at a present
juncture in my affairs, and my friends are in
great power, so that it would be highly necef-
fary for us to be in the figure of life which we
fhall think convenient to appear in, as foon as
may be, that I may profecute my expectations
in a bufy way while the wind is for me, with
juft confideration that about a court it will not
always blow one way. Your coming to town is
mightily to be wifhed. I promise myself the
pleasures of an induftrious and virtuous life, in
studying to do things agreeable to you. But I
will not enlarge into profeffions. I affure you, I
shall always contend with you who fhall lay the
greater obligations on the other; and I can form
to myself no greater fatisfaction than having one.
day your permiffion to fubfcribe myself, Ma-
dam, your most obedient fon, and moft humble
fervant,
RICH. STEELE.

Writing is painful to me.
If you inclofe your letters to your daugh-
ter, they will come free, "To Richard
"Steele, Efq. at the Secretary's Office,
"Whitehall."

I

LETTER XX. To Mrs. SCURLOCK.

DEAR MISS

MOLLY,

Sept. 4, 1707 t. AM loth to interrupt your prayers, or my indifpenfable business, with a long epiftle this morning; therefore forgive me that I only juft fay, I am ever yours,

R. S. I fhall come at night, and make all the dif patch here I can, not to be wanted.

LETTER XXI. To Mrs. SCURLOCK.

DEAR MADAM,

TH

Sept. 5, 1707.

my

HE pleafing hope with which mind is poffeffed, is too delicate a touch of the foul to be explained, but it is founded on fo folid and lafting motives, that I am fure it will actuate the behaviour of my whole life; for I do not entertain my imagination with thofe tranfports only which are raised by beauty, but fix it alfo on the fatisfactions which flow from the reverence due to virtue. Thus I am not only allured by your perfon, but convinced by your life, that you are the most amiable of women. Let us go on, my lovely creature, to make our

*Mifs feems here used as a term of endearment.

1707.

The original date is here altered from Sept. 4, to Sept. 14,

regards