Mr. Austin Dobson has recently published two books about Steele, from which I have derived great assistance; the one, Selections from Steele, for the Clarendon Press, with an Introduction and a number of useful notes; the other, a Life of Steele, in the series of "English Worthies," a very interesting monograph, charmingly written, and containing many new facts, as well as others set in a fresh light.

In preparing the present work I have made every inquiry which seemed at all likely to lead to fresh information. As an illustration of what was yet to be done, I need only mention that no previous search appears to have been made for references to Steele among the treasures of the Public Record Office, and I have gathered more information from the various collections there deposited than from any other place. First in importance are the details of the various law-suits in which Steele was involved; they throw great light upon his connection with the theatre, and upon his pecuniary affairs, and afford valuable illustrations to the correspondence. I am glad to be able to acknowledge in this place the assistance which has been rendered me by the officials of the Record Office, and more especially by the late Mr. W. D. Selby, Mr. E. Salisbury, and Mr. Hubert Hall, whose suggestions have done so much to make my researches fruitful. Rivalling the Record Office in importance is the Probate Registry at Somerset House, where, among many other things, I found the clue to the name of Steele's first wife. My heartiest thanks are due to Mr. J. Challenor Smith and Mr. G. H. Rodman for the interest they have taken in my work

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and the help they have given me. friend of the late Mr. John Trevor Scurlock, the last known survivor of the family to which Lady Steele belonged, and he has been able to give me many fresh particulars of the Scurlocks. At the College of Arms, Mr. Alfred Scott Gatty, York Herald, has in the kindest manner given me the benefit of his knowledge in my efforts to solve questions of family history, and Mr. G. E. Cokayne, Norroy King of Arms, was good enough to examine for me several of the transcripts of Church Registers made by Colonel Chester. I must also acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Watts, of the Vicar General's Office, Doctors' Commons; Mr. T. C. March, of the Board of Green Cloth, who examined the books of the Lord Steward's Office for notices of Henry Gascoigne; and Mr. G. T. Hertslet, of the Lord Chamberlain's Department, who placed at my disposal an Index or Calendar of the notices of theatrical matters among the Lord Chamberlain's records. This Index enabled me to examine readily the original documents, which are deposited at the Record Office.

Next in importance to London are the collections preserved in Dublin. Mr. J. J. Digges La Touche, of the Public Record Office, Dublin, and Sir Bernard Burke, Keeper of the Records in the Birmingham Tower, have very courteously answered my inquiries. I regret that, owing to his recent death, I cannot thank as I intended Mr. R. E. Lyne, of the Royal Dublin Society, who was untiring in the assistance he gave me by examining public records in Dublin, and by suggesting various sources of information. Among others

who kindly examined Irish records for me are the Rev. W. Ball Wright and the late Rev. W. G. Carroll. Mrs. W. E. Steele, of Kingstown, and Mr. Lawrence E. Steele have aided me in many ways. The late Dr. W. E. Steele belonged to the family of the Steeles of Rathbride, a branch of the Steeles of Weston, Cheshire, and his interest in all that relates to the family history is shared by Mrs. Steele and her sons.

Several letters of Steele's and various papers relating to him in the British Museum, the Bodleian, and other Libraries are now printed for the first time. I am glad to acknowledge the courteous assistance I have received from the authorities at the British Museum; the Bodleian; Trinity College Library, Cambridge; the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh; Trinity College Library, Dublin; Lambeth Palace Library, and the library at the South Kensington Museum. Dr. E. Regel and Prof. A. Beljame have kindly sent me notes upon books in the libraries at Berlin, Munich, and Paris.

The Hon. G. C. Brodrick, Warden of Merton College, and Dr. H. G. Liddell, Dean of Christ Church, have been good enough to examine the College books for records of Steele's life at Oxford.

In preparing my account of the family of Mary Scurlock, Steele's second wife, I had the kind assistance of Mr. W. G. Stedman Thomas, who made a very diligent search among the Wills in the District Registry at Carmarthen, and of the Rev. A. G. Edwards (now Bishop of St. Asaph), who supplied me with copies of entries relating to the family in the Registers of St. Peter's, Carmarthen.

My inquiries as to Steele's first wife led me to apply to the Colonial Secretary's Office in Barbados, and I am indebted to Mr. E. G. Sinckler for the careful examination he has made of the Wills and other records preserved in the office, and for various suggestions.

I am able to print a large number of letters and manuscripts by Steele, as yet unpublished, for which I have to thank their respective owners. The Duke of Marlborough very kindly placed in my hands for my greater convenience the papers relating to Steele in the Blenheim collection. These papers, about one hundred in number, are chiefly in Steele's writing, and consist of letters, drafts, verses, and memoranda of all descriptions. They have been briefly reported on by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, and Mr. Dobson made use of them in his work; but the great majority have not been published, and very few have been printed at length. The Marquis of Ormonde was good enough to allow an examination of the muniments at Kilkenny, and I have to thank Mr. J. G. Robertson, who kindly copied for me certain letters, &c., relating to the Gascoignes. The Earl of Egmont courteously afforded me access to the letters in his possession, including those by Bishop Berkeley, which give an interesting account of his friendship with Steele. Many gentlemen have allowed me to see documents relating to Steele in their collections, or have furnished me with copies. Among those I have to thank are Mr. Alfred Morrison, Mr. F. LockerLampson, Mr. Baker, of Bayfordbury, the Rev. J. C. Jackson, and the late Mr. A. Preston, of Norwich.

Mr. D. Yeo Bruton made many useful suggestions, and lent me, besides a number of scarce pamphlets, the note-book of Addison's, containing in an early form certain of his Spectator essays, which Mr. J. Dykes Campbell printed in 1864.

Colonel F. Grant and the late Mr. Edward Solly aided me with their knowledge of eighteenth century literature, and at the sale of Mr. Solly's library I was able to secure almost all the pamphlets relating to Steele in his extraordinary collection which I did not already possess. An examination of these tracts and of the newspapers of the time has enabled me to give many fresh particulars.

The very interesting portraits of Lady Steele and her mother, Mrs. Scurlock, now published for the first time, are taken from original paintings. The fine portrait of Lady Steele is in the possession of Mrs. Thomas, of Moreb, Llandilo; it was painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, probably in the early years of her married life. The portrait of Mrs. Scurlock, which is very characteristic, belongs to Mrs. Rae. I have also reproduced portraits of Steele and his children, Eugene, Mary, and Elizabeth, from paintings on ivory in the possession of Miss Mills. They are all interesting, and the expression which the artist has caught in painting Steele is particularly happy. All these pictures were mentioned by Nichols as forming part of the collection of family portraits belonging to Lady Trevor, Steele's eldest daughter. Upon her death in 1782 they passed to her heir-at-law, the Rev. David Scurlock, and from him to his son, Mr. John Trevor Scurlock.