gain, and paffion for glory, to be the honour and example to the profeffion of arms: all which engaging qualities your noble family has exerted with fo ftedfaft a loyalty, that, in the most adverse fortune of our monarchy, popularity, which in others had been invidious, was a fecurity to the Crown, when lodged in the Houfe of Ormond. Thus your Grace entered into the bufinefs of the world with fo great an expectation, that it feemed impoffible there could be any thing left, which might still conduce to the honour of your name. But the moft memorable advan tage your country has gained this century, was obtained under your command*; and Providence thought fit to give the wealth of the Indies into his hands, who only could despise it; while, with a fuperior generofity, he knows no reward but in opportunities of beftowing. The great perfonage whom you fucceed in your honours made me feel, before I was fenfible of the benefit, that this glorious bent of mind is hereditary to you; I hope, therefore, you will pardon me, that I take the liberty of expreffing my veneration for his remains, by affuring your Grace that I am, my Lord, your Grace's most obedient, and most devoted, humble servant, RICHARD STEELE. * Alluding to the Duke's fucceffes against the Spaniards at Cadiz, &c. in 1702. U LETTER LETTER CCCLXXXVIII*. To Mr. ADDISON. SIR, [1705]. Y daily and familiar converfation, with an OU will be furprized, in the midst of a addrefs which bears fo diftant an air as a public dedication: but, to put you out of the pain which I know this will give you, I affure you I do not defign in it, what would be very needless, a panegyric on yourself, or, what perhaps is very neceffary, a defence of the play. In the one I should discover too much the concern of an author, in the other too little the freedom of a friend. My purpose, in this application, is only to fhew the esteem I have for you, and that I look upon my intimacy with you as one of the most valuable enjoyments of my life. At the fame time, I hope, I make the town no ill compliment for their kind acceptance of this Comedy, in acknowledging that it has fo far raised my opinion of it, as to make me think it no improper memorial of an inviolable friendship. I should not offer it to you as fuch, had I not been very careful to avoid every thing that might look ill-natured, immoral, or prejudi * Prefixed to "The Tender Husband ;" which was first acted in 1704, but not printed till 1705. cial to what the better part of mankind hold facred and honourable. Poetry, under fuch restraints, is an obliging service to human fociety; especially when it is used, like your admirable vein, to recommend more useful qualities in yourself, or immortalize characters truly heroic in others. I am here in danger of breaking my promise to you, therefore fhall take the only opportunity that can offer itself of refifting my own inclinations, by complying with yours, I am, Sir, your most faithful, humble fervant, RICHARD STEELE. LETTER CCCLXXXIX. To Dr. SWIFT. DEAR SIR, Lord Sunderland's Office, Oct. 8, 1709. MR. R. Secretary Addison went this morning out of town, and left behind him an agreeable command for me, viz. to forward the inclosed, which Lord Halifax fent him for you. I affure you, no man could fay more in praise of another than he did in your behalf at that noble Lord's table on Wednesday last. I doubt not but you will find by the inclosed the effect it had upon him. No opportunity is omitted among powerful men, to upbraid them for your stay in Ireland. The company that day at dinner were Lord Edward Ruffel, Lord Effex, Mr. Maynwaring, U 2 waring, Mr. Addifon, and myself. I have heard fuch things faid of that fame Bishop of Clogher *, with you, that I have often faid he must be entered ad eundem in our House of Lords. Mr. Philips dined with me yesterday; he is still a fhepherd, and walks very lonely through this unthinking crowd in London. I wonder you do not write fometimes to me. The town is in great expectation from Bickerftaff; what paffed at the election for his firft table being to be published this day sevennight. I have not seen Ben Tooke§ a great while, but long to usher you and yours into the world. Not that there can be any thing added by me to your fame, but to walk bare-headed before you. I am, Sir, your moft obedient, and moft humble fervant, RICHARD STEELE. * Dr. St. George Afh. + Ambrofe Philips, the author of "The Distressed Mother," a tragedy, and fome paftorals, &c. See TATLER, N° 81, and notes, in new edition. The bookfeller. LETTER SIR, TH LETTER CCCXC *. To Mr. MAYNWARING t. [1710]. HE ftate of converfation and business in this town having been long perplexed with pretenders in both kinds; in order to open mens eyes against such abuses, it appeared no unprofitable undertaking to publish a Paper, which fhould obferve upon the manners of the pleafurable, as well as the busy part of mankind. To make this generally read, it seemed the most proper method to form it by way of a Letter of Intelligence, confifting of fuch parts as might gratify the curiofity of perfons of all conditions, and of each fex. But a work of this nature Prefixed to the first volume of "The Tatler." + Arthur Maynwaring, efq. "His works fet the character "of his genius above the reach of the criticism of others, and ❝he was himself allowed universally to be the best critic of his "times." Biogr. Brit. art. HUGHES. Remark I. "His learning was without pedantry; his wit without affec❝tation; his judgement without malice; his friendship without intereft; his zeal without violence; in a word, he was the best fubject, the best friend, the best relation, the best master, the best critic, and the best political writer in Great Britain.” Egerton, Memoirs of Mrs. Oldfield. He died in 1712, aged 44, and left his estate to be equally divided between his fifter, his fon, and his fon's mother. It amounted to little more than 3000l. His "Life and Posthumous "Works" were published by Mr. Oldmixon, 1715, 8vo; whence a full account of him has been inferted in the " Biographical Dictionary, 1784." 66 U 3 requiring |