LETTER CXXI. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAREST CREATURE, T April 23, 1709. HIS. matter must be deferred till fome hour in the evening, or to fome other day, for I cannot have money till after chapel. I am; your faithful, tender husband, RICH. STEELE. I DEAR WIFE, LETTER CXXII. To Mrs. STEELE, Berry-street. May 5, 1709. DESIRE you would pluck up a good spirit if poffible, and come in a chair, the boy with you, who fhall find me at the coffee-houfe under Scotland-yard gate, from whence we will go fee a convenient place. Do not be dejected, if you value the life and happiness of your faithful RICH. STEELE, I inclofe ten fhillings. I LETTER CXXIII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, May 5, 1709, DESIRE you would go to the affignation between us in Weftminster. Mr. Montague* * Wortley Montague, Efq. of whom fee the new edition of the TATLER, vol. I. p. xxxix. has has defired me to go with him to the Park; after I come from thence, I will come to you Yours ever, ever, with good news. RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CXXIV. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR WIFE, May 5, 1709. CANNOT exprefs to you the real forrow the inequality of my behaviour gives me, when I reflect that I am in paffion before the beft of women. Dear Prue, forgive me: I will neglect nothing which may contribute to our eafe together; and you fhall always find me your affectionate, faithful, and tender husband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CXXV. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR WIFE, May 5, 1709. HERE is no doubt but we shall be easy T and happy in a few days. My dear life, no thing troubles me forely, but the affront that infufferable brute has put upon you, which I fhall find ways to make her repent. I am, my dear creature, entirely yours, RICH. STEELE, You fhall hear from me in the morning. This feems to have been the landlady of the house in Berry-freet; to which place the firft of the letters of this day's date is addreffed. He took the house in Oct. 1708. See p. 29. LETTER I LETTER CXXVI. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, May 7, 1709. HAVE been with Mr. Compton, and have his order to be at the office, with a request to keep it very fecret that he does me this favour, for fear of his being importuned on the fame account by others of the family *. I am, your most affectionate and tender husband, RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CXXVII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, May 7, 1709. AM juft drinking a pint of wine, and will come home forthwith. 1 am with Mr. Elliott, fettling things. Yours ever, ever, I RICH. STEELE. LETTER CXXVIII. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, Twelve o'Clock, May 28, 170g. HAVE received money, but cannot come home till about four o'clock, having appointed Mr. Mills here at Moore's chambers at two o'clock. Yours ever, RICH. STEELE. *This wants an explanation; which I confefs myself not able at prefent to give. Other circumftances may perhaps clear it up; either by fhewing who Mr. Compton was, what was his office, what the favour, or what is meant by the family. Mean time, let the Curious form their own conjectures. LETTER LETTER CXXIX. To Mrs. STEELE. DEAR PRUE, June 9, 1709. PUT myself to the pain of abfence from I at to you at dinner, by waiting to speak with Salkeild; therefore I hope you will forgive me for what I am punished in committing. Dear Prue, I am, unreservedly and faithfully, yours, RICH. STEELE. I LETTER CXXX. DEAR PRUE, To Mrs. STEELE. Savoy, Nutt's*, July 19, 1709. SEND this, to let you know that I am come hither, and am obliged to dispatch the main of the bufinefs of this place to-night. As foon as I have done, I will come to my dearest companion. I am wholly yours, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CXXXI. To Mrs. STEELE, at Mr. Sewell's, in King-ftreet, near Whitehall Coffeehouse. I DEAR PRUE, From Mr. Nutt's, July 25, 1709. HAVE finished the Gazette at the office; and am here ending the other business, in The well-known printer. † See TATLER, No 44 and 45, vol. II. order order to have the evening with my wife and miftrefs Prue. Here is next door a fellow that makes old wigs new; therefore pray send both mine in the bed-chamber, by this boy, to your loving, devoted, obedient hufband, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CXXXII. To Mrs. STEELE, at Mr. Sewell's, King-street. DEAR PRUE, July 28, 1709. INCLOSE two guineas, and will come home exactly at feven. Yours tenderly, RICH. STEELE. LETTER CXXXIII. To Mrs. STEELE, at her Lodging, over against the King's-head, in Downing-street. I DEAR PRUE, Sept., 25, 1709. SEND this, to put thy tenderness at reft; and acquaint you, that Mr. Margate had been fo friendly as to take effectual care before he faw me. I am, yours eternally, RICH. STEELE. LETTER |