and I have agreed with him to bring you to Kenfington-fquare, and carry Mrs. Binns home, in hopes she will dispense with your waiting upon her, and returning afterwards to your lodgings.

I shall take care to have your lodgings fit for your reception, and will never omit any thing in my power to make your hours agreeable. Your affectionate husband, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER C. To Mrs. STEELE, at Mrs. Hardreffe's, in Kenfington-square.

I

MY DEAR WIFE,

Nov. 10, 1708, Bow-ftreet, Covent-garden. WRITE this to do my duty in complying with your defire of hearing from me this night. I am heartily tired, and go on with hope and perfeverance. There is nothing troublest me fo much, as the confideration that the moft amiable and most deserving of her sex is obliged to fuffer all the uneafiness that I do. But, my dear life, be of good comfort, and continue to be the only happiness of, dear Prue, your faithful husband, RICH. STEELe. You know I must come to-morrow evening to Kenfington, but you shall hear from me before.

LETTER

LETTER CI. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR WIFE, Houfe of Lords, Nov. 12, 1708. SEND this, to defire you would think of

;

at my mother's *, where you may be for a few days. I am to be here till after the funeral. You fhall have this bearer to wait on you to town to-morrow, with neceffaries for your change of abode. I am, my dear creature, your most enamoured husband, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CII. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

Nov. 13, 1708.

SEND you all the money I have, which I
Since you

hope will bring you to town.

have an inclination to fee the funeral, I have fpoken for a place at the housekeeper's of the House of Lords to place you in, till I can get a more convenient one for feeing the proceffion; and I take it that it will be beft to be in the Abbey itself, for which end you must come foon. I am ordered to stay here, or fhould come for you. Yours, with all my foul, R. STEELE. The fleet is come in.

* Query, Was STEELE's own mother alive at this time? who was fhe? and where did the live? or does he mean here, old Mrs. Scurlock, his wife's mother ? F 2

LETTER

LETTER CIII. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR PRUE,

INV

Garter Tavern, Nov. 16, 1708. AM forry I cannot come to fit an hour with you to-night, being detained by business with Mr. Huggins *, which you know of. I have to-day been with Mr. Tryon, who does not now deny his having effects, but pretends to complain of hard usage in suing him. Within a day or two I doubt not but we fhall have our money, which will be the introduction to that life we both pant after with fo much earneftnefs. Your obliged husband, RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CIV. To Mrs. STEELE †.

DEAR WIFE,

H%

Nov. 17, 1708. COW can you add to my cares, by making O fo unjust complaints against me as in yours of last night? I take all the pains imaginable to bring you home to ease and satisfaction, and made a great step in it yefternight, which I could not had I spent my time elsewhere than where I did. My dear, be chearful, and expect a good account of things this evening from,

* An attorney, probably, employed at this time by Mrs. Vandeput, to recover from STEELE fome arrears of rent for his houfe in Berry-fireet, of which the appears to have been the landlady, and the infufferable brute in p. 77. Steele mentions, p. 70, his going in queft of this Mr. Huggins in Westminster-hall. + Directed," To Mrs. Steele, to be left at Mrs. Scurlock's "lodgings, last house left-hand in Bromley-freet, Holborn."

dear

dear wife, your most affectionate and most

obliged husband,

I

RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CV. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR WIFE,

Nov. 18, 1708.

AM going this morning into the city, to make my demand of the money long due to me. I fhall haften thence to you; and am, with the tendereft love, ever yours, RICH. STEELE.

I

LETTER CVI. To Mrs. STEELE..

DEAR WIFE,

Nov. 26, 1708.

AM, by applying to my adverfary*, prepared for ending my prefent calamity; but was denied by my friend. I am, dear creature, your conftant, faithful lover, and obliged hufband, RICH. STEELE.

I am making it my bufinefs to find out Mr. Huggins, in order to withdraw his officer.

LETTER CVII. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR WIFE,

Nov. 28, 1708.

AKE confidence in that Being who has promised protection to all the

TAK

His landlady, poffibly; fee p. 68.

good and

+ ADDISON feems to be the friend who refufed to bail STEELE on this diftrefsful occafion, or at least avoided being

feen by him.

F 3

virtuous

virtuous when afflicted. Mr. Glover* accommodates me with the money, which is to clear this present forrow, this evening. I will come to Mrs. Binns's exactly at eight. I am your most affectionate husband, and obedient fervant,

RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CVIII. To Mrs. STEELE.

DEAR WIFE,

Nov. 30, 1708.

E of good chear; for I find friendship among the lowest, when difappointed by the highest. I have called at Mr. Elderton's, to keep things at a ftand till I come to him at ten o'clock.

Dear creature, be chearful. God be your comfort and your protection.

While that is fa,

and you are fafe, nothing can disturb

RICH. STEELE.

LETTER CIX. To Mrs. STEELE, at her House in Berry-street..

DEAR WIFE,

Ten o'clock, Nov. 30, 1708. HIS is to acquaint you, that honeft Glo

THIS

ver* has effectually ferved me. I am now in fearch of Mr. Huggins in Westminster-hall. Elderton, without my knowledge, has also removed the other ftorm to fome distance, so that we prepare in time to weather. Be of good

Query, Who was "honeft Glover?" + Steele's attorney.

7

chear;