fuppofed will attend fuch a law as this would be. The whole tenor of it is very unfortunately put together, if any thing but an additional, power to the Peers is intended by it. R. STEELE

My most honoured Lord and Patron,

I

Villars-ftreet, York-buildings, Jan. 15, 1719-20. F your Grace believes that it is as great to undo as to make a man, I am the unhappy inftrument in both kinds; and, if it is a gratification to you, I have fome confolation in the wretched diftinction of being the only man the Duke of Newcastle ever injured. My high obligations to you temper my fpirit; and, after fome tumult of foul, and agony of the worst paffions in it, I behold you in the pleafing light you have heretofore appeared to me t. I make you allowance for the difadvantage of youth

*Originally printed in the eighth number of "The Theatre," with this introduction:" Sir, Your laft Paper having defcend"ed to the cafe of particular men, who are concerned in the "theatre, I hope you will allow me the advantage of being re"préfented to the town by your means, and of conveying my "thoughts to a noble perfon, who has forbid me, without any "fault of mine, ever to approach him, either by speech or writ ❝ing, as long as we live; but you will understand me better by "reading what I know not how to convey to him, unless you will please to print it."

+ See p. 442. Letter CCCCXLIV.

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and prosperity, and my benefactor covers my oppreffor. As this laft word must needs give offence to a noble nature, it ftands upon me to make out my complaint, and fhew all the world, for all the world will be curious in this cafe, as obfcure as I am, for I have ceased to be so fince I have been distinguished by your Grace's difpleasure. The patent which I have from his Majefty makes me the fole Governor of a company of comedians for my life, and that franchife is to fubfift in those who claim under me three years after my death; there is nothing in it, as to the bestowing part from the Crown, but what are mere tranfcripts of the patent given by King Charles to Sir William Davenant; and, though I might have had it to myself as well as he, I made a confcience and fcruple of asking for my heirs, an office that required a very particular turn and capacity to execute. It is not, my Lord, very common in courts, for a man to afk lefs, when he knows he may obtain more; the very night I received it, I participated the power and use of it, with relation to the profits that should arise from it, between the gentlemen who invited me into the licence upon his Majefty's happy acceffion to the throne; and it has flourished in all manner of respects to a degree unknown in any former time. When your Grace came to be Chamberlain, from a generous defign of making every office and authority

the

the better for your wearing, your Grace was induced to fend for me, and the other fharers, and in an abfolute manner offered us a licence, and demanded a refignation of the patent, which I prefumed as abfolutely to refufe. This refufal I made in writing, and petitioned the King for his protection in the grant which he had given me. This matter refted; thus for many months; and the next moleftation we received was by an order, figned by your Grace, to difmifs Mr. Cibber. The actors obeyed; but I prefumed to write to your Grace against it, and expreffed my forrow that you would give me no better occafion of fhewing my duty but by bearing oppreffion from you. This freedom produced a meffage by your kinfman and fecretary, whom I treated with as much deference and refpect as any man living could do the Duke of Newcaftle coming from the King. This meffage was, in your Grace's name, to forbid me ever to write, speak, or vifit you more. The gentleman, I dare fay, has told you, that I answered him almost in thefe very words:

"Sir, I beg of you to take notice of my "manner, my voice, and my gefture, when I

answer to this fevere meffage; and let the "Duke of Newcastle know, that with the most "profound fubmiffion and humility I received

it, and protefted to you, that I could have no "meffage from any family, except the Royal Hh 4

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one, that could give me half this mortifica"tion. If I have not fallen into phrafes that "speak me truly forrowful and humble, ufe 66 any you yourself can think of which are more fo, and you will then beft express my meaning. At the fame time you may very "truly fay, that if any other man were Cham"berlain, and should send me fuch a message, my reply fhould be as haughty as it is now "humble."

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He left me with a farther declaration, that my patent fhould be profecuted according to law. I refted as well fatisfied as one who had loft fo powerful a friend could, from a fecurity in a ftill greater power, that of the laws of the land; but I was foon after awakened out of this flumber, which was far from being an easy one, by hearing that your Grace had fent for Mr. Booth, and threatened a figned manual, which muft neceffarily difable me, as to my defence, before you would proceed against me according to law. I did your Grace the juftice to think it impoffible for you to be prevailed upon to do that. I affure your Grace, the great name on the top of the Paper did not give me more terror than the name at the bottom did forrow. The Minifter who fubfcribes, is answerable for what the King writes. Our laws make our Prince author of nothing but favour to his fubjects. My patent cannot be hurt, except it can be proved it was obtained

473 obtained per deceptionem, as, according to my duty, I am to believe this order, for it does, by an artificial method in its effect, deftroy by his figned manual, what is granted by his great feal, which had been impoffible to be brought about, had the matter been fairly reprefented. All I could do, was to reprefent it by petition, which I delivered in your Grace's prefence on Friday night, the prayer of which was: "Votre "fuppliant donc prie très humblement vôtre "Majefté, qu'il ne reçoive aucune moleftation,

que par la loye en jufte forme de procès;" your petitioner therefore most humbly prays, he may not be any way molefted but by due courfe of law. I know not by what accident it happened that my petition was never read, but the next news I heard was the order of revocation. But I must take the liberty to fay, that his Majefty must grant the ruffians, mentioned in the laft proclamation, which is denied unhappy me, a trial by due courfe of law. The revocation came on the Saturday; your Grace was fo good as not to break the Sabbath upon me; but the fufficient evil of this day, being Monday, is an order of filence. Your Grace will please to read them both over again, which are to this effect:

Whereas by our Royal Licence, bearing "date the 18th day of October, 1714, We did "give and grant unto Richard Steele, Efq. now

Sir Richard Steele, Knt. Mr. Robert Wilks,

"Mr.

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