your most enamoured husband, and humble ferRICH. STEELE.

vant,

Mr. Addison is your humble fervant.

LETTER LXXIII. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE, Seven in the Morning, Sept. 9, 1708.

I

AM going this morning to vifit Mr. Sartré* at his country-house, to which place Mr. Addison conveys me in coach and four.

Mr. Clay, who is now at Thistleworth, will not be in town till to-morrow, and I want to confult him in fome difpatches I am making for the Weft-Indies.

I am Mrs. Binns's humble fervant; and your most affectionate, obedient husband,

My service to Ally.

RICH. STEELE.

James Sartré, M. A. formerly minister at Montpelier, and prebendary of Westminster, from May 17, 1688, till his death, Sept. 5, 1713. Swift, in his Journal to Stella, Oct. 25, 1710, fays, "I dined to-day with Mr. Addifon and Steele, and a "fifter of Mr. Addifon, who is married to one Monf. Sartré, a "Frenchman, prebendary of Westminster, who has a delicious “house and gardeņs; yet I thought it was a fort of monaftic "life in those cloifters, and I liked Laracor better. Addifon's "fifter is a fort of wit, very like him. I was not fond of her." This lady was afterwards married to Daniel Combs, efq. + Afterwards one of STELLE's coadjutors in the SPECTASome account of him will be esteemed a favour.

TOR.

LETTER LXXIV. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

Sept. 13, 1708.

I

WRITE to you in obedience to what you

ordered me; but there are not words to exprefs the tenderness I have for you. Love is too harsh a word for it; but if you knew how my heart akes when you speak an unkind word to me, and fprings with joy when you fmile upon me, I am fure you would place your glory rather in preferving my happiness like a good wife, than tormenting me like a peevish beauty. Good Prue, write me word you shall be overjoyed at my return to you, and pity the aukward figure I make when I pretend to refift you, by complying always with the reasonable demands of your enamoured husband,

RICH. STEELE,

P. S. I am Mrs. Binns's fervant.

LETTER LXXV. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

I

Sept. 14, 1708.

FEAR I fhall not be fo happy as to fee you

till Thursday, having fome bufinefs which keeps me in town. I fhall to-day vifit my mother, in order to difcourfe about proper methods

for

for paying off, or laying the debt on your estate into one hand. I hope God will bless my fincere endeavours, fo as that we may live without the cares of this life, with a chearful profpect of a better. It is in no one's power but Prue's to make me conftant in fuch a regular course. Therefore will not doubt but you will be very good-humoured, and be a conftant feast to your affectionate husband, RICH. STEELE. My obedient fervice to Mrs. Binns.

I

LETTER LXXVI. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

Five in the Evening, Sept. 19, 1708. SEND you seven pennyworth of walnuts at five a penny, which is the greatest proof I can give you at prefent of my being, with my whole heart, yours, RICH. STEELE.

The little horse comes back with the boy, who returns with him for me on Wednesday evening; in the mean time, I believe, it will be well that he runs in the Park.

I am Mrs. Binns's fervant.

Since I writ this I came to the place where the boy was ordered with the horses; and, not finding him, fent this bearer, left you should be in fears, the boy not returning.

P. S. There are but 29 walnuts.

LETTER LXXVII. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

IF

Sept. 20, 1708.

F a fervant I fent laft night got to Hamptoncourt, you received 29 walnuts and a letter from me. I inclofe the Gazette, and am, with all my foul, your paffionate lover, and faithful husband, RICH. STEELE.

Since I writ the above, I have found half an hundred more of walnuts, which I fend herewith. My service to Binns.

LETTER LXXVIII. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR, DEAR PRUE,

Sept. 21, 1708.

OUR pretty letter, with fo much good

nature and kindness, which I received yesterday, is a perfect pleasure to me. I am at present very much out of humour upon another account, Tryon having put off the payment of my dool. which I ought to have received yefterday, till further time. But I hope, when Mr. Clay comes to town to-morrow, he will fee me juftified. I am, with the tenderest affection, ever yours, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER

LETTER LXXIX. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

A

Sandy-end, Sept. 22, 1708.

FTER being very bufy all this day, I am

come hither to dinner with Mr. Addifon and Mr. Clay, who are your fervants; and I take this time from eating, while others are busy at it at the table. Yours, yours, ever, ever, RICH. STEELE.

Sept. 27, 1708,

Monday, Seven at Night.

OU fee that you are obeyed in every thing, and that I write over-night for the day following. I fhall now in earnest, by Mr. Clay's good conduct, manage my business with that method as shall make me easy. The news, I am told, you had last night, of the taking of Lille, does not prove true; but I hope we shall have it foon. I fhall fend by to-morrow's coach. I am, dear Prue, a little in drink, but at all times your faithful hufband,

RICH. STEELE.