contented with laying up all your eftate, which I will enable you to do; for you fhall be at no manner of charge on any thing in nature for yourself, children, or fervants, and they shall be better provided for than any other family in England; for I shall turn my expence and delight all that way. Therefore, in the name of God, have done with talk of money, and do not let me lose the right I have in a woman of wit and beauty, by eternally turning herself into a dun: Forgive the comparison. When my heart is fixed to think of you as the object of love, efteem, and friendship, and all that is foft; it is in a moment turned into forrow and anxiety, to find ways to make you contented about trafh and dirt. Pray let it be otherwife: till you do, a thousand good qualities in you are (like a miser's wealth) mine without enjoyment. Your fon grows a lufty boy, and is your fervant, as is his father moft heartily. RICH. STEELE.

I writ to you a note to-day before, by one going to town; and write again, having occafion to fend Willmot on other business.

LETTER CCCVIII. To Lady STEELE,

DEAR PRUE, Hampton-court, Sept. 12, 1717. ILLMOT brought me yesterday yours of the 2d and 5th inftant. The first determines

W

termines my Scotch journey, before I fee Wales. I fhall take your advice in the manner of it, if I find I cannot do yet better; but I may poffibly join with two or three gentlemen, and hire a coach for ourselves You may depend upon it, I will take care of myself, now you fay you value

me.

I had altered my design of removing, for fear you fhould not like the house, and fhould have. given a fum to be off; but Lady Vandeput has fent word she has let the house, therefore I muft go.

Yours of the fifth, imports only that you are gone to Plangorfe, bidding me take care of my health, and ending "yours entirely." This laft phrafe is easy to utter at this distance; but I fear, were we together, I fhould have you at the fame coy tricks. But if I am, by the bleffing of God, in as good health and as good plight as at prefent, when we meet, I must banish all these for ever.

For ever yours,

RICH. STEELE. Since I writ the above, I am to thank you for the receipt of a third letter, dated the 5th, from Plangorfe. I have, before, faid that I cannot help going to the houfe now, for Madam Vandeput has another tenant. But you shall do what you will, ftay or leave it, when you have feen it. Yours, R. S.

LETTER CCCIX. To Lady STEele. DEAR PRUE, Hampton-court, Sept. 14, 1717. OU hear from me so often from this place,

YOU

that I fear you think I am become, what you mortally hate, a Courtier. But, being obliged to defer my journey for fome days, I have taken it in my head to spend that little wit and humour, which they say I have, rather in the company of the greatest perfons in the world (who, if they do me no other good, are cheaper conversation), than with fuch from whom I can neither reap experience or any other valuable thing, and by whom I daily impoverish myself. Madam Vandeput has thoroughly nettled me; but, as the is of the fair fex, I shall not make answer to her ufage in word or deed, but go to town on Monday, and move from her house that week, and towards Scotland the week after, fo as to be at Edinburgh the beginning of October. Sir Harry Houghton has again writ me word, he will relieve me when I let him know my businefs requires my return to London. Yours ever, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCCX. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

YOU

[Sept. 18, 1717.]

OURS of the 13th of September tells me you have got the amusement of the gout.

We

We muft, in all cafes, look upon every thing in the most hopeful light, and not put the worst upon accidents. If women are instigated with defire so much as men, when they are gouty, we fhall have odd time of it, and you will, in your heart, at least be tractable to me. We fhall be rich, and we must take the distemper peculiar to that circumstance in good part. You fee I obey your orders, and do not write peevishly, though I cannot but be out of humour at lofing fo delicious a morfel as your Ladyship by frequent incapacities, as you will be in if this dif cafe fhould frequently vifit you. Gillmore's project is certain to fucceed, and I bear the prefent, from the profpect of the future, with an equal mind. I am, Madam, your Ladyfhip's moft obliged husband, and most obedient, humble fervant, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCCXI. To Lady STEELE. MY DEAR PRue, Sept. 20, 1717. HAVE yours of the 16th, and am heartily troubled that we share in a new calamity, to wit, having the fame diftemper. Pray take care of yourself, and you will find that we shall be in great plenty before another year turns round. My dear Wife, preferve yourself for

* See p. 205.

+ The gout.

him that fincerely loves you, and to be an example to your little ones of religion and virtue. If it pleases God to bless us together with life ́and health, we will live a life of piety and chearful virtue. Your daughter Befs gives her duty to you, and fays fhe will be your comfort, but The is very lorry you are afflicted with the gout. The brats, my girls, ftand on each fide the table; and Molly fays, that what I am writing now is about her new coat. Befs is with me till the has new cloaths. Mifs Moll has taken upon her to "hold the fand-box, and is fo impertinent in her office, that I cannot write more. But you are to take this letter as from your three best friends, BESS, MOLL, and THEIR FATHER.

Eugene was very well this morning.

Moll bids me let you know that she fell down

just now, and did not hurt herself.

Betty and Moll give their service to Sam and Myrtle.

LETTER CCCXII. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

I

Sept. 24, 1717.

AM ftill in the houfe at St. James's-street, but fhall leave it on Thursday, if I can difpatch the business I expect to do to-morrow. I do hereby promife you never, directly or indirectly, to have any thing to do with the Court;

for