April 29, 1721. I purchased this day fifteen assignments in the Fishpool undertaking, with a promissory note to deliver to Mr. Robert Wilks (who sold them to me) a bond of five hundred pounds upon demand; the said bond to be payable within two years after this date. I 448. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. MY DEAR DAUGHTER, APRIL 5, 1721. THANK you for your kindness, which makes you attempt to draw your father's picture; but I hope, and am confident, you are still better employed in imitating the life of your excellent mother, Her friend is the best example and help you can have in pursuing that amiable and worthy pattern. I am this morning much better; and purpose, God willing, to go and bring home your brother; but I shall not adventure to introduce him to such fine ladies as his sisters are till he has got his new - cloaths. I am, dear child, Most affectionately yours, My thanks and service to M. S. RICH. STEELE. * «June 6, 1721. I purpose to carry the abovementioned Bond to Mr. Wilks this morning. R. S." + Mrs. Keck. 449. TO 449. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. I MY DEAR CHILD, APRIL 5, 1721. HAVE received your letter by the penny-post, and read it with great pleasure and comfort, though I was then a little discomposed. . I have to-day had a tooth drawn, and am disordered also with a cold; but, as soon as I go out, I will not fail to visit Mrs. Keck, and my dear little ones. Service to Miss Molly; but tell her I am sorry she has forgot the charms I find in M. S. WRITE this carefully over again, with the amend ment of a large letter beginning every line, as likewise the stops as pointed to you; and send both this, and what you write again,, to, Madam, Your most affectionate father, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 451. TO 451. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. MY DEAR CHILD, APRIL 14, 1721. I HAVE received yours of this day, with the cor rected copy, in which there are still some faults, and which I will shew you when I see you. In the mean time, as I take pleasure in instructing you from the diligence I see in you, I remark to you, that you are apt to add flourishes to your writing. To this you must by no means accustom yourself; but remember that plainness and simplicity are the chief beauties in all works and performances whatsoever. Be pleased to forbear adding at the end of a verse a line as thus You have done so to every line of this last copy. In the main, you have done it very well, and to the satisfaction of, Madam, Your most affectionate father, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 452. TO DEAR PLAIN MAN, WHEN your wife comes to you, JULY 15, 1721. God I propose, willing, to send with her my poor sister; but am unwilling to do that till you have signified to me your willingness to receive her at the rate I design; which is, thirty pounds a-year for my sister Mrs. Katherine Steele*, and ten pounds a-year for Mrs. Sarah Griffith, her servant and companion. I HAD a letter from you last post, without date of the month, and bearing only the year. Your four twenty pounds are well paid to me, and entered in my day-book. I observe you cannot undersand that you may with safety comply with my request, of sending me your note or money for what is already due. That matter is so plain, that I know it cannot be for want of apprehension that you do not come into it. All I shall say on that subject is, that people do not their duty in life, who will not readily execute any thing consistent with their own interest and safety, that is conducive to the ease and prosperity of their friends. Your humble servant, RICH. STEELE, This lady was insane some time before she died. 454. TO 454. TO MR. ALEX. SCURLOCK. COUSIN SANDY, AUG. 29, 1721. THIS is to acquaint you that I am applied to by eminent persons, who deal in mines, in order to work that near Llangunnor. I desire you would ask Mr. Morgan Davies whether the persons who had a lease of it, to wit, Caresbrook, Batchelor, and Harry Owen, were not ejected regularly, and by formal course of law; if not, I am to consider and advise, whether, for default of working or other failure, their pretensions are not extinct. I shall be very cautious in this matter, and go no hazard myself, or entail any on my successors, on this head, but be as circumspect as possible. Please to give me the best intelligence you can get in the history of this transaction, in which you will oblige, Sir, Your most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 455. STEELE'S DIARY continued. SUNDAY, SEPT. 17, 1721. I AM going this morning to the Lord Bishop of Bangor, now nominated Bishop of Hereford, with a design to leave with his Lordship my last will, whereby he is my executor and guardian to my * Dr. Benjamin Hoadly. Son; and |