421. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE *. MY DEAR CHILD, MISS BETTY, ONE matter of moment or other has detained me all this day; nor can I see you to-night. I thank you for your purse; and, if you and I live till this day twelvemonth, you are to ask me for it again full of gold. God bless you! Remember me to Molly. Be observant of the good guardian God has raised RICH. STEELE. for you. IF 422. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. DEAR BETTY, you have a letter from Mrs. Keck to me, pray send it me by the bearer, sealed up. You may remember you sent me one open by him. He is a very faithful servant: but he might have been otherwise for aught you knew; not to say that it is also respect to me to have a letter from you when I send you one. Give my most humble service to Mrs. Snow when you see her, and beg her favour to visit you. You are at your new lodgings; and always preserve the highest respect to her for being willing to receive you. * His eldest daughter, afterwards Lady Trevor. † Mrs. Keck. But But it is impossible for me to be easy without seeing you every moment I have leisure. I am, most affectionately, your father, My service to Molly. RICH. STEELE. I had business kept me at home all day. 423. FROM CAPTAIN ROGERS *. SIR, NASSAU, ON NEW PROVIDENCE, HAVING writ to you by several former opportunities, and not hearing from you, I have the greater cause to inveigh against the malice of the Pirates who took Captain Smyter, lately come from London, from whom I have since heard that there were several letters directed to me and Mr. Beauchamp, which the Pirates after reading tore. Every capture made by the Pirates aggravates the apparent inclinations of the Commanders of our Men of War; who have openly avowed, that the greater number of Pirates makes their suitable advantage in trade; for the Merchants of necessity are forced to send their effects in the King's bottoms, when they from every part hear of the ravages committed by the Pirates. * Directed" To the Hon. Sir Richard Steele; to be left at Bartram's Coffee-house, in Church-court, opposite Hungerfordmarket, in the Strand, London. Via Carolina." There is no Governor in these American parts, who has not justly complained of this grand negligence; and I am in hopes the several representations will induce the Board of Admiralty to be more strict in their orders. There has not been one here almost these five months past; and, as if they wished us offered as a sacrifice both to the Spaniards and Pirates, I have not had influence enough to make our danger prevail with any of them to come to our assistance, because of their greater occupations in trade. I, however, expect to be sufficiently provided, if the Spaniards, as believed, defer their coming till April. At my first arrival I received a formal visit from woman called Pritchard, who by her voluble tongue, and mentioning several of our first Quality with some freedom, and, withal, saying that she was known to you, Mr. Cardonnel, and Sir William Scawen, next to whom she lived, near the Story's, Westminster, that I gave her a patient hearing. She dressed well, and had charms enough to tempt the Pirates; and, when she pleased, could assume an air of haughtiness, which indeed she shewed to me, when I misdoubted her birth, education, or acquaintance with those Noblemen and others, whom she could without hesitation call over, and indeed some very particular private passages. She had often a loose way of speaking, which made me conjecture she endeavoured to win the hearts of her admirers to the Pretender's interest, and made me grow weary of seeing her. This my indifference, and a little confinement, provoked her to depart hence for Jamaica, saying, "that "that she would take passage for England to do herself justice, and did not come abroad without money to support her." She talked much of Sir Ambrose Crawley and his son, from whom she intends to provide a good quantity of iron-work; and, with a suitable cargo of other goods, she says she will soon make another turn this way; and is seldom serious in her talk. I thought fit to say thus much of a woman who pretends to such a general knowledge of men, particularly of you and Mr. Addison. If our carpenters had not otherwise been employed, and I could have spared them, I should have been glad to have made her first Lady of the Stool. She went. hence, as I thought, with resentments enough; but I have heard since from Jamaica, that she has not only forgot her passion, but sent her friendly service to me; and, as I expect, she now is on her way home, designing to do me all the good offices that she can with all the numerous gentlemen of her acquaintance: but I cannot believe it; and I beg, if you see her soliciting in my behalf, be pleased to let her know I do not expect her company here, and she cannot oblige me more than to let me and my character alone. Captain Whitney, commander of his Majesty's ship the Rose man of war, being one of the three that saw me into this place, and left me in the utmost danger so long ago-he also pretends to a know ledge of you, and several of my friends in London: but he has behaved so ill, that I design to forget him as much as I can; and if he is acquainted with you, and sees you in London before me, I desire he might know his character from the several accounts LL 2 counts I have sent hence; which, with what goes from other ports, may serve to convince all his friends that he is not the man that he may have appeared to be at home. I hope Mrs. Ker and Roach whom I sent hence has been often with you, and that this will keepe your hands in perfect health, and that you have thrown away your great cane, and can dance a minuet, and will honour me with the continuance of your friendship; for I am, good Sir, Your most sincere humble servant, WOODES ROGERS. Be pleased to excuse my writing to you in such a hurry, as obliged me to write this letter in two different hands. My humble service to Mr. Addison and to Mr. Sansom. This comes inclosed to Mr. G. with whom I hope you will be acquainted. W. R. 424. TO MR. ALEXANDER SCURLOCK. I VILLIERS-STREET, YORK-BUILDINGS, DEAR COUSIN, FEB. 19, 1718-19. BELIEVE this will come to Carmarthen about the time of your arrival there; and I send it to signify to you that I foresaw many inconveniencies which might arise from making any assignment on the Playhouse; and therefore, instead of giving Mrs. Roach any order on that part of my income, I gave her. |