chear; God will bless me, and make me a bet. ter provider hereafter for my wife and dear child *. Yours ever, Rich. STEELE. I LETTER CX. To Mrs. Steele, at Mrs. Scur lock's Lodgings, Bromley-street, Holborn. MY DEAR WIFE, Dec. 6, 1708. WILL not defer telling you that there is a thing in agitation that will make me happy at once. Your rival, Anub, will be removed ; and, if I can succeed him in his office, it will answer all purposes. This will be deterinined before to-morrow at noon. I cannot see Mr. Glover till fix o'clock. I am your faithful, loving husband, Rich. STEELE. Keep this to yourself. I will come to you as soon as I have dined. M LETTER CXI. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Dec. 14, 1708, Half-hour after Five o'Clock, R. ADDISON is just 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. f Mr. Addison, at that time under-secretary of state, was then on the eve of being appointed Secretary to Lord Wharton, the new Lord-lieutenant of Ireland. See the next Letter. F My My heart is as much disturbed as yours can be on the same occasion, but this seasonable hope breaking in upoa 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, hcar from me what paffes this evening I send this moment to my mother; and am, yours faithfully, Rich. STEELE. LETTER CXII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Dec. 18, 1708. (R. ADDISON has engaged me about ex, traordinary business all this day. I hope I have engaged him to take Desinaiseaux *. I am obliged to go to supper where he treats to-night, to help him in doing the honours to his friends. Yours tenderly, Rich. STEELE, LETTER CXIII. To Mrs, ȘTEELE, Berry-street. DEAR PRUE, 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 up. I * See Letter LXVI. p. 47. + Charles Delafaye, esq. one of the clerks in the secretary of Mate's office, and afterwards himself an under-secretary of state. house house in Downing street, or at the coffee-house. Yours faithfully, Rich. STEELE. LETTER CXIV. To Mrs. STEELE, Berry-street. I MY DEAR WIFE, Jan. 31, 1708-9. AM with young Mr. Tonson at the Griffin tavern, where I shali dine on a scrap, and afterwards go to Mr. Longueville #, to appoint the meeting of 'Tryon to morrow, to make a final end. I shall come home before eight o'clock, and am, dear creature, eternally yours, Rich. STEELE. LETTER CXy. To Mrs. STEELE, 1 I DEAR PRUE, Feb. 5, 1708-9. WAS coming home; but am indispensably obliged to dine at Tunson's, where, after dinner, some papers who are to be read, whereof, among others, I am to be a judge. I have the Imoney for you and the other occasions. This absence, I hope, you will excuse in your affeetionate, faithful, Dick STEELE. * of whom I wish I was able to have given some account. + Query, What were thele? He began the TATLER on the i2th of April following. LETTER LETTER CXVI. To Mrs. STEELE. I MY DEAR Wife, March 2, 1708-9. INCLOSE a guinea, lest you should want. I am resolved to do something effectually today with Tryon; therefore do not expect me at dinner. My life is bound up in you. I will be at home before fix. Rich. STEELE. LETTER CXVII. TO Mrs. STEELE. I 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-street. I DEAR PRUE, March 21, 1708-9. SEND you this by the boy I have a mind to take, if you like him. Things go pretty well. I shall dine at court, If there are any letters, let the boy bring them to me thither, at the gentleman-usher's table. Yours unresery, edly, and faithfully, Rich. STEELE. LETTER LETTER CXIX. To Mrs. STEELE, Berry-street. HA DEAR PRUE, March 23, 1708-9. at court, and will look into all things between this and fix o'clock. The bearer is a boy well recommended, whose 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. I DEAR PRUE, April 19, 1709, effects, which will be of assistance to me*. I call Heaven to witness, I value nothing but as you are partaker of it. Do not cast yourself down; but depend upon it that I shall bring you home what will make things have a chearful aspect, and will do that may contribute to your satisfaction, which is all the ambition of, yours eternally, Rich. STEELE. * In his Barbados business. See pp. 37, 68. LETTER |