LETTER CCCXXXVI. To Mrs. Eriz. STEELE. DEAR CHILD, I March 29, 1721. HAVE received yours, and beg your pardon that I did not, as I defigned, vifit you with your brother; but he was fo dirty that I was afhamed to bring him to your school I befeech you to continue in the good and diligent way you are in, and you will be an unspeakable delight and fatisfaction to, Madam, your most affectionate father, and moft obedient humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCCXXXV.I. To Mrs. ELIZ. STEELE. DEAR SISTER, TH HAT I may be as good as my word, that is, to fend each of you a pound of tea apiece; one is bohea, the other is green, so that you may please yourselves; but I trust to your generofity what you will beftow on a poor common school-boy; and, as you are ladies of good learning, and of good understanding and ingenuity, I can but humble myself in the highest degree to serve you. My coufin Scurlock gives his tenderest love and affection to you, and joins in refpect to Mrs. Keck, with, Madam, your moft moft loving brother, and humble fervant to My love to Mrs. M. S. LETTER CCCXXXVIII. To Mrs. ELIZ. STEELE. MY DEAR CHILD, April 5, 1721. HAVE received your letter by the pennypoft, and read it with great pleasure and comfort, though I was then a little difcompofed. I have to-day had a tooth drawn, and am difordered also with a cold; but, as soon as I go out, I will not fail to vifit Mrs. Keck, and my dear little ones. Service to Mifs Molly; but tell her I am forry fhe has forgot the charms I find in M. S. Your affectionate father, RICH. STEELE. * Eugene Steele had the honour to have Prince Eugene of Savoy for his god-father and furety at the font. He was fome years under the care of Mr. Solomon Lowe, of Blythe-house, Hammersmith, who gave him the character of a sprightly lad, of fine parts. He was afterwards a hopeful scholar at that noble foundation where his father was educated, the Charter-house. Not long after he was taken home to Sir Richard's house in York-buildings, being indulged (as his genius lay that way) in acting plays in the great room there, called the Genforium, his conftitution is faid to have been hurt by frequent colds. He appears alfo to have been grievously tormented with the stone, and was cut for that terrible diforder by the famous Chefelden. See p. 224. LETTER LETTER CCCXXXIX. To Mrs. ELIZ. STEELE. I MY DEAR DAUGHTER, April 5, 1721. THANK you for your kindness, which makes you attempt to draw your father's picture; but I hope, and am confident, you are ftill better employed in imitating the life of your excellent mother. Her friend is the best example and help you can have in pursuing that amiable and worthy pattern. I am this morning much better, and purpose, God willing, to go and bring home your brother; but I fhall not adventure to introduce him to fuch fine ladies as his fifters are till he has got his new cloaths. I am, dear child, most affectionately yours, RICH. STEELE. My thanks and fervice to M. S. LETTER CCCXL. To Mrs. ELIZ. STEELE. MY DEAR BETTY, W April 12, 1721. WRITE this carefully over again with the amendment of a large letter beginning every line, as likewife the ftops as pointed to you; and fend both this, and what you write again, to, Madam, your most affectionate father, and most hunible fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETTER LETTER CCCXLI. To Mrs. ELIZ. STEELE. I HAVE received yours of this day, with the corrected copy, in which there are still some faults, and which I will fhew you when I fee you. In the mean time, as I take pleasure in inftructing you from the diligence I fee in you, I remark to you, that you are apt to add flourishes to your writing. To this you must by no means accuftom yourself; but remember that plainnefs and fimplicity are the chief beauties in all works and performances whatsoever. Be pleased to forbear adding at the end of a verse a line as thus You have done fo to every line of this laft copy. In the main, you have done it very well, and to the fatisfaction of, Madam, your most affectionate father, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETT. CCCXLII. To Mrs. ELIZABETH STEELE. MY DEAR GIRLS, MOLLY STEELE. Feb. 11, 1721-22. OUR brother is, juft now, at ease, after YOU great torment of the gravel or ftone *. İ love you all fo tenderly that my tears are ready to flow when i tell you that I am, dearest creatures, your most affectionate father, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CCCXLIII. To Mrs. ELIZ. STEELE, MY DEAR CHILD, I March 31, 1722. BEG your pardon that I made Mrs. Keck's fervant ftay fo long; it was occafioned by a crowd of people importunate to speak with me on my coming to town*. I fend you fuch tickets as I can by our prefent rules; and am, with joy in your hopeful behaviour and toward fpirit, Madam, your most affectionate father, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE Give my most humble fervice to your good and honoured guardian, LETTER CCCXLIV. To Mrs. ELIZ. STEELE. I DEAR CHILD, May 24, 1723. SEND the franks for Mrs. Bullock, to whom I defire you to write with great gratitude and respect, always remembering the great obligation you have to her for fo tender an education. I am, dear Betty, your most affectionate father, and moft humble fervant, R. STEELE. * He was just then elected into parliament for Wendover. + Either for the theatre at Drury-lane, or for some concert in York-buildings. In the latter business Steele was principally concerned, by which he did not better his circumstances. 1 |