for I am convinced there is nothing to be done with those poor creatures called great men, but by an idolatry towards them, which it is below the spirit of an honeft, free, or religious man, to pay.

This, I hope, you will take for good news, for it brings my thoughts and cares into a narrower compafs, and is what you have ever been perfuading me to. My own fludies at the theatre, Gillmore, &c. will amply do any thing I can form to myself, without stooping to fervilities. I have fome reason to expect that the Royal Family itself would be glad to favour me, but there are many obftacles between poor me and them.

Now, if I have health, which, by the bleffing of God, increases to a comfortable degree, this refolution of throwing away all pretenfions from the Court may, perhaps, fortify me to be the more useful to my King and Country in Parliament, and every where elfe. The children, God be thanked, are all well. Now let me answer to what you fay, that I have not expreffed any thing about a defire of our meeting again. There is nothing upon earth I wish fo much, provided always that you will be what you ought to be to me, and not let me burn for what ought to be free to me, and that you will have the children in the house with us; for I am come to take great delight in them. When I return

from

from Scotland, we will never part more. I am, with the fincerest affection, your obfequious husband, and obedient fervant, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CCCXIII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, [Sept. 28, 1717.] HAVE your agreeable letter of the 23d inftant; the first time you alluded to any thing that way.

I

ever so much as

My dear Wife,

let us strive to improve and recommend our perfons to each other. As for the 100l. a quarter, I have fecured it, during this commiffion, from Christmas next; for I have agreed with a paymafter to let me have my salary ten days after the quarter fhall become due; and have provided that this will be having a quarter beforehand, for I fhall be fupported in Scotland by what is already due, and not what is growing due. When we once come to endeavour mytually to please each other, we shall fucceed, and be always in good-humour. The brats are all well, and I am ever truly thine,

RICH. STEELE.

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LETTER CCCX V. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

Sept. 30, 1717.

AM forry you have spent your time fo as that you are at a lofs for credit enough to

4

bring

bring you from a place you diflike. I have told you that I cannot pay a quarter beforehand till Christmas; but, from that inftant, I think we fhall be in as much plenty as any family in England. Gillmore * is an inestimable jewel; he is now with his family at Nettleton, within eight miles of the Bath, but has this poft fent me a letter, in which I find certain proof of the most useful work in the world.

The Commiffion in Scotland ftands ftill for want of me at Edinburgh. It is neceffary.there fhould be four there, and there are now but two; three others halt on the road, and will not go forward till I have paffed by York.

I have, therefore, taken places in the York coach for Monday next. I fhall, I hope, be able to fend you word, the post before I leave the town, that all things are left in a comfortable way. I am, dear Prue, your moft obfequious husband, and moft humble fervant, R. STEELE.

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LETTER CCCXV. To Lady STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

HAVE yours.

St. James's-ftreet, О&. 3, 1717. ·

As to the incivilities and

the like, I wish I had known they were to so great a degree fooner, I would have come and perfuaded you to remove where you might have

been mistress: and it is a jest for one, who has of their own, to be uneafy for want of changing place.

I fear I fhall be detained here a day or two longer than I intended, for want of money; but, in all things, I will go as near as I can to your demands. I fhall not have 100l. to lay down till Christmas. Yours, RICH. STEELe.

LETTER CCCXVI. To Lady STEELE,

DEAR PRUE,

You

[O&. 5, 1717.] YOURS of the 30th of September now lies before me. I have already told you, that I cannot pay down 100l. beforehand, for your house and the like, till the 25th of December; from after which day I have agreed to be paid punctually my falary as foon as due, that is, within ten days after it is due. I take you at your word, to pocket none of it, but let it go to family uses; but you fhall, if you please, leave the houfe-rent out of it, for I will spend on my children more than what is barely neceffary. You are a coquet in the expreffion of "fetting "afide the agreeablenefs of my perfon"-you well know no woman has a better. I wish you would refolve to keep a difcreet, orderly woman, to take care of your children; and why may not Mrs. Evans do for your bufinefs of providing the table and the like?

I will not go in the chaife; but will, according to your Ladyfhip's advice, go in the stagecoach. I obferve that you are pleased that I do not remove till you come to town: I am very glad it is agreeable to you. I am very much troubled at your poftfcript; but what has a wo man of your spirit and fortune to do but to live in a houfe or lodgings where the is mistress? But I cannot, at this distance, understand your reafons; when we meet, I hope these kind of ails will be at an end for ever.

As to money, I have at this hour 8431. due to me, and find a very hard matter at any rate to supply myself with cafh to leave the town, paying the coach, the house bills, new cloathing the children, and the like. It is known by those to whom I apply that I want it, and I fhall pay enough for it. But nothing is dearer than ask ing a courtier any thing. There is no doubt of Gillmore's affair being a confiderable fortune, and the theatre feems to be in a very profperous way. I am, dear Prue, ever yours, R. STEELE.

See notes on Letter CCLXXIX. p. 165; and Letter CCLXXXIV. p. 169. The author of "The Ode-maker," a banter on Dean Smedley, printed in the "Supplement to Swift," thus glances contemptuously, though impotently, at Steele : "Or, left thy chiming vein fhould cool, "What if thy friend Sir Richard's Pool "Thou didst defcribe, in lines and feet "For that queer nick-nack, pat and meet ; "Inform the town. this freak being over,

“He would proceed, and soon discover
"An art long doom'd to deep despair,
"And build a caftle in the air."

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LETTER