chear; God will blefs me, and make me a better provider hereafter for my wife and dear child. Yours ever, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CX. To Mrs. STEELE, at Mrs. Scurlock's Lodgings, Bromley-ftreet, Holborn. Dec. 6, 1708. MY DEAR WIFE, I WILL not defer telling you that there is a thing in agitation that will make me happy at once. Your rival, A-n, will be removed; and, if I can fucceed him in his office, it will answer all purposes. This will be determined before to-morrow at noon. I cannot fee Mr. Glover till fix o'clock. I am your faithful, loving husband, RICH. STEELE. Keep this to yourself. I will come to you as foon as I have dined.' LETTER CXI. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Dec. 14, 1708, Half-hour after Five o'Clock. M' R. ADDISON is juft now gone to Lord Wharton; and I wait his return, to know my own next steps. * Perhaps the child here spoken of was Richard, who died in his infancy. + Mr. Addifon, at that time under-fecretary of state, was then on the eve of being appointed Secretary to Lord Wharton, the new Lord-lieutenant of Ireland. See the next Letter. My heart is as much disturbed as yours can be on the fame occafion; but this feafonable hope breaking in upon me will, I hope, cure all, and refresh our fpirits. I wish you would come directly to the garret; where you can, from time to time, hear from me what paffes this evening. I fend this moment to my mother; and am, yours faithfully, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CXII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, MR Dec. 18, 1708, R. ADDISON has engaged me about extraordinary bufinefs all this day. I hope I have engaged him to take Definaifeaux *. I am obliged to go to fupper where he treats to-night, to help him in doing the honours to his friends. Yours tenderly, RICH, STEELE DEAR PRUE, LETTER CXIII. To Mrs. STEELE, Berry-street. Cockpit, Dec. 22, 1708. DESIRE you to take a coach, and come to this lodgings. I am obliged to wait hereabouts. James will find me at Mr. Delafaye's I *See Letter LXVI. p. 47. + Charles Delafaye, efq. one of the clerks in the fecretary of Aate's office, and afterwards himfeif an under-fecretary of state. house houfe in Downing ftreet, or at the coffee-houfe. Yours faithfully, RICH. STELLE. LETTER CXIV. To Mrs. STEELE, Berry-ftrect. Jan. 31, 1708-9. I MY DEAR WIFE, AM with young Mr. Tonfon at the Griffin tavern, where I fhall dine on a scrap, and afterwards go to Mr. Longueville *, to appoint the meeting of Tryon to morrow, to make a final end. I fhall come home before eight o'clock, and am, dear creature, eternally yours, RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CXV. To Mrs. STEELE, DEAR PRUE, Feb. 5, 1708-9. WAS coming home; but am indispensably obliged to dine at Tonfon's, where, after dinner, fome papers are to be read, whereof, among others, I am to be a judge. I have the money for you and the other occafions. This abfence, I hope, you will excufe in your affeetionate, faithful, DICK STEELE. * Of whom I wish I was able to have given fome account. Query, What were thefe? He began the TATLER on the 32th of April following. LETTER I LETTER CXVI. To Mrs. STEELE. MY DEAR WIFE, March 2, 1708-9. INCLOSE a guinea, left you should want. I am refolved to do fomething effectually today with Tryon; therefore do not expect me at dinner. My life is bound up in you. home before fix. I will be at RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CXVII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, March 11, 1708-9. INCLOSE five guineas, but cannot come home to dinner. Dear little woman, take care of thyself, and eat and drink chearfully. RICH. STEELE LETTER CXVIII. To Mrs. STEELE, Berry-ftreet. I DEAR PRUE, March 21, 1708-9. SEND you this by the boy I have a mind to take, if like him. you well. I fhall dine at court, letters, let the boy bring them the gentleman-ufher's table. edly, and faithfully, Things go pretty to me thither, at LETTER LETTER CXIX. To Mrs. STEELE, Berry-ftreet. DEAR PRUE, March 23, 1708-9. AVING fome doubt about Tilden, I dine HAY at court, and will look into all things be tween this and fix o'clock. The bearer is a boy well recommended, whofe father has been with me, and whom I approve (as I do all other things) as you like him. Yours faithfully, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CXX. To Mrs. STEELE. ' DEAR PRUE, April 19, 1709, HAVE been with Tryon; he owns fome effects, which will be of affiftance to me *. I call Heaven to witness, I value nothing but as you are partaker of it. Do not caft yourself down; but depend upon it that I fhall bring you home what will make things have a chearful afpect, and will do that may contribute to your satisfaction, which is all the ambition of, RICH. STEELE, yours eternally, In his Barbados bufinefs. See pp. 37, 68. LETTER |