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LETTER XXXVII. To Mrs. SCURLOCK.

MY DEAR,

Eight o'Clock, Fountain Tavern, Oct. 22, 1707. BEG of you not to be uneafy, for I have done a great deal of bufinefs to-day very fuccessfully, and wait an hour or two about my Gazette. Your obliged husband,

RICH. STEELE.

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LETTER XXXVIII. To Mrs. ScURLOCK.

MY DEAR,

Oct. 28, 1707,

Charing-crofs, almoft Three in the Afternoon. HAVE been detained all this morning foliciting fome business between the Treasury and our office; and my boy flipping out of the way, I have not had any one to fend that you might not stay dinner. Mr. Addison does not remove till to-morrow, therefore I cannot think of moving my goods out of his lodgings. I am come to a tavern alone to eat a fteak, after which I fhall return to the office, whither I defire you would fend Will. I am with the most tender affection, your obedient husband,

Send by Will the receipt *.

RICH. STEELE.

*See Letter XXXIX,

LETTER

LETTER XXXIX. To Mrs. SCURLOCK, [fen.]

HONOURED MADAM,

Lord Sunderland's Office, O&. 28, 1707. WAS very glad to find aft post that my wife had a letter, which informed her of the amendment of your health. She tells me there is, at the fame time, a meffage fent her, that my hand is required for the payment of fome money in the country. I accordingly inclofe fuch a direction, and, in any thing that it may be neceffary to have my concurrence, you have it without referve; for I fincerely rely upon your prudence and goodnefs, both in acting for me, and in favour to me. If you think it convenient that I do this in a more formal way, be pleafed to command, Madam, your moft obedient fon, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE.

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LETTER XL. To Mrs. ScURLOCK, [fen.]

HONOURED MADAM,

Nov. 4, 1707.

AM forry your indifpofition continues, and keeps you in the country; I have myself been under a very fevere illness for fome days, but am now almoft recovered. This is my

* See P. S. Letter XXXVIII.

wife's

wife's birth-day *, and I am come down ftairs to celebrate it with as much good-humour as my present health will permit. Your health is not omitted in our chearful moments, and your company will extremely improve them. I am, Madam, your most obedient fon, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE.

Your daughter has been very ill till this day. She gives her duty.

LETTER XLI. To Mrs. SCURLOCK +.

HONOURED MADAM,

Nov. 13, 1707. AM very glad to hear, by uncle Scurlock's laft letters, that you have taken-in your horfes in order to your journey. Since my laft to you, I have had an affliction which was perfectly new to me; a fit of the gout. I am a little awkward at my crutches, and have been not fo patient as longer experience of this fort of evil ufually makes us. Our new house will be ready for our goods next week; and, as foon as it is fo, we will remove to it. I am out of pain, though I cannot ftir; in the mean while

*See Letter I. note 1.

+ From this place, where-ever a letter is addreffed "To Mrs. "Scurlock," it will be understood to be the mother of Mrs. (afterwards Lady) Steele. The XXII first letters, though fo addreffed, are to the daughter. Letters XXV. XXVII.XXXIII. XXXV. XXXVIII. (being all after marriage) should have been " To Mrs. Steele." But this is accounted for in the fecond note on Letter XXVI. p. 24 and 25, where, line 11 from the bottom, after "time and chance," add, or rather which "have been induftriously fuppreffed." D

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your

your daughter is dancing at the other end of of the room. She gives her duty to you. I am extremely obliged to my uncle Scurlock for his 'kind prefent, which will be in town to-morrow night. I am, Madam, your most obedient son, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER XLII. To Mrs. SCURLOCK.

HONOURED MADAM,

Mr

Lord Sunderland's Office, Nov. 20, 1707. Y wife fhewed me a letter of the 15th from Mrs. Pugh, wherein there are the general complaints under which every body at prefent is fighing, whofe concerns are wholly in land. Chearful and ingenuous tempers may agree fo well, and concert their affairs in fuch a manner, as to make all things eafy. I extremely long to see you; and hope to be on my legs to receive you, when I first do myself the honour of kneeling to you, and telling how much I am, Madam, your moft obedient fon, and most humble fervant, RICH. STEELE.

My abfolute governess gives her duty to you.

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LETTER XLIH. Te Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR RULER,

Dec. 8, 1707.

CANNOT wait upon you to day to Hampton-Court. I have the Weft-Indian bufinefs

оп

on my hands*, and find very much to be done before Thursday's poft. I fhail dine at our table at Court, where the bearer knows how to come to me with any orders for your obedient husband, and moft humble fervant,

My duty to my mother.

RICH. STEELE.

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LETTER XLIV. To Mrs. STEELE.

MY DEAR, DEAR WIFE,

Dec. 22, 1707.

WRITE to let you know I do not come home to dinner, being obliged to attend fome bufinefs abroad, of which I fhall give you an account (when I fee you in the evening), as be comes your dutiful and obedient husband, RICH. STEELE.

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LETTER XLV. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

Devil Tavern, Temple-Bar, Jan. 3, 1708. HAVE partly fucceeded in my business today, and inclose two guineas as earnest of more. Dear Prue, I cannot come home to dinner. I languish for your welfare, and will

The plantation in Barbados left to STEELE by his first wife.