LETTER CCCXVII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, I an HAVE been bustling about the town all day, and am come home when the poft laft rings. Despise those who ufe you ill, and value those who love you; and you will make happy yourself, and most humble fervant, your fond husband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCCXVIII. To Lady STEELE. St. James's-street, Oct. 9, 1717. YOU fore me; most part of them are about things and perfons that I can only neglect, &c. Your journey is a matter of consequence, and in this pofture I will leave it. I will fend you down a direction to be fent to London with a proper direction; and that order shall command a coach and fix horfes, with a difcreet woman in it, to bring you to town. This woman fhall wait upon Mrs. Keck, and have her approba tion, and the whole fettled with her; which is the readiest way I can think of to follow your commands and inclinations. I am, Madam, your most affectionate hufband, and, Prue, your faithful fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCCXIX. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, YOUR Oct. 15, 1717. YOURS of the 10th, concerning the mort gagee's refufal of his money, is very fur. prizing. All that you have to do, is to take notice of the time when he refused it, and you will from thence be liable to pay no further interest. I am giving extravagantly for money; but my refolution is to be rid of blood-fuckers, though I lose a good deal at their last draught from, dear Prue, your most affectionate husband, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CCCXX. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, [0&. 17, 1717.] HAVE yours of the 12th, and have inclosed a letter to Mr. Thomas. I could not write to him directly, because I did not know where his Trejendeg ftands. You had beft not deftroy the mortgage, because it may be of use to have it in being, in defence against any other fecurities, till we are both wholly out of debt. But, if he infifts to have it deftroyed, do not delay it, but comply with him, for I fhall be a clear man before New-year's day. But, befides fuch confiderations, while it is undeftroyed, it may, may, by Mr. Thomas's affignment of it, at any time be fo much well fecured for the girls. Your leffon, therefore is, take up the mortgage, but do not tear the inftrument; but, rather than not take it up, tear the inftrument. Your moft ob fequious husband, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCCXXI. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Α O&. 20, 1717. FTER many refolutions and irrefolutions A concerning my way of going, I go, God willing, to-morrow morning, by the Wakefield coach, on my way to York and Edinburgh. God of his infinite mercy preserve you, and grant us an happy meeting! I am in too great a hurry, for I go on a fudden; but the next ftage fhall bring you a long letter from your most affectionate husband, and most faithful humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCCXXII, To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, I Stamford, Oct. 23, 1717. AM thus far; and my journey, I think, got does me as much good for the gout, as rocking the fame way did you for the spleen. I have ever propofed to myself to move in as ufeful a fphere to mankind as I was able, and have this journey taken with me Mr. Majon, a French minifter (whom you have seen) in order to speak French readily at my return; for I find one cannot understand what paffes without that language. He lies in the fame room with me on the road; and the loquacity which is ufual at his age, and infeparable from his nation, at once contributes to my purpofe, and makes him very agreeable. It is my bufinefs, while I am abfent from you, to fill my leifure hours with as much innocent amusement as I can. The children are almost always in my head at the fame time with yourself; and I hope we shall, when God bleffes us in a meeting, contrive to make them a pleasure as a care. I take very great care of myself in hopes of that happy hour, and am, your most affectionate, obfequious husband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCCXXIII. To Lady STEELE. DEAR PRUE, F Edinburgh, Nov. 5, 1717. IVE letters from you followed me to this place, which I received all at once this day. One of the 2ft approves my letter to Mr. John Thomas, and defires you may do what you fhall think fit by fine, by way of reР ferving ferving a respect from your children, and doing what you think fit with your eftate* in favour of fuch of your children as fhall please you most. This is what I have often advised you to do, and shall never gainsay. Another letter is without date, and has in it an inclosed note from your coufin Alexander. What is required there fhall come to you by the poft of Thursday next from this place. A third fcrip, without date, fays, my "letters are short, "and fo fhall yours," and concludes. Your fourth is in very pleasant humour, which you fay you can support, provided you do not want money, and you have bespoke goffips for your next child, &c. This is as it fhould be: keep up this fpirit, and live and reign; you shall want nothing on my part towards it. That which I think must have been the last you writ is of the 28th, and speaks of an assurance or obligation that concerns my aunt Scurlock. The poft here comes in and out the fame day; and I have many other letters to write, fo must take till Thursday alfo for that. I am, - dear Prue, ever yours, RICH. STEELE. I fhall return to London the beginning of next week, and I know the Parliament will feparate for fome days after they meet, which time I would take to come with a coach and fix horses *It defcended to her eldest daughter, afterwards Lady Trevor. See p. 217. Cos'est fardy in Hefe Lellen, for |