THE LONDON, And fold by J. ROBSON and W. CLARKE, New Bond-street; PREFACE. HE following collection of Letters, Tthough the genuine effufions of one of the most elegant writers in the English language, can add little to the reputation of a literary character which has been long ago fully established; being in geferal the hafty productions of his pen, intended only for private inspection; and fome of them evidently fcribbled when their amiable author was probably not in the very best condition for penmanship. The fubjects of many of them are trivial and domeftic, fuch as may at first be fuppofed not very interesting to the publick, and from most men would be deemed infignificant and below attention; but as they contain the private and undisguised opinions of the man, who took upon himself to be the Cenfor of the age, and for years exercised that delicate office with fuitable dignity, and general approbation, it may excite no little a 3 little curiofity to obferve how he conducted himself in those concerns and occurrences of life, through which he fo ably directed others. Not a fingle fcrap of them has been fuppreffed; nor is there a line in the whole publication, which does not, in the opinion of the Editor, go to confirm all that has lately been faid for the fuperiority of STEELE's understanding and his heart, in the Notes to the new edition of the TATLER. Thefe Letters manifeft throughout, with irrefiftible conviction, the very many excellent and amiable qualities, which greatly endeared this public benefactor to fociety; and in proof of their authenticity, we fee in them with regret, indubitable marks of "that imprudence of generofity, or vanity of profu"fion, which kept STEELE always incu rably neceffitous," and fhaded his fine. character. Confidering the conftant vexation and ferious inconveniencies of which it was the caufe or the occafion, to himself and his family, nothing can be faid to ex cufe STEELE's inattention to œconomy; it was however more pardonable, and the less reproachable, |