and (humbly resigning myself to Providence, whether I shall live to do any thing I design) I purpose to leave all my papers in as good order as I can for his perusal, before I go to Scotland. SIR, 456. TO MR. WILKS. DEC. 7, 1721. I HAVE great acknowledgments to make to you for putting me in the head at first of being concerned at the Playhouse, and I have ever endeavoured to shew you very particular instances of my esteem and affection during the time we have been together. I am sorry that the gift of fourteen hundred pounds, for what was mine before, could not prevail so much as to let what I had stand as a deposit, for a contingent, in case an impudent cheat is not determined to be such in Wilbraham, who detains my writings contrary to the order of Minshull, to which he is obliged under his hand to deliver them. But the business of this Letter is in particular to speak to you, not to persist in so unreasonable a thing as the denial of payment of the sum which -remains above what there is any claim or pretence against my receiving. It is hardly in your power to make me other than, Sir, Your most affectionate friend, 1 and most humble servant, RICH. STEELe. 457. TO SIR, 457. TO MR. CIBBER. YORK-BUILDINGS, DEC. 7, 1721. WHEN you came to me with the modest request of desiring I would re-purchase my share in scenes and the stock; I did not doubt but you had sentiments of great kindness towards me in general; and that all the Chapter, as I have taken the liberty to call us in conjunction, had as much terror of doing as receiving an hardship. But, if it could have entered into my thoughts, that it was possible men would fail of placing the same value (as a security against a contingent demand) which I gave for it, your answer had not been at all like what it was. You have been the chief engine in ensnaring me into a concession which I should have been ashamed to own, before you had the resolution to deny so equitable a demand as I made to you. But, as it now is, besides the folly of giving to men richer than myself, I have done it to those that have no regard for me, but as a tool and a screen against others, who want to treat you ill, and forbear only because of my relation to you; which shall not be very long, for it is in my power to get rid of my enemies much more easily than I can have common justice of my friends. This is evident in the monstrous hardiness of denying the Governor of your House, as you shall find I am, the superfluity of his income, which is liable to no demand or pretence but that of, Sir, Your most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 458. TO SIR, 458. TO MR. BOOTH. DEC. 7, 1721. IT has not happened to me to be so conversant with you as I have been with Mr. Wilks and Mr. Cibber, and therefore could not expect that concern and tenderness for me as I hoped from them. But, as you are affected by my late concession of a large sum of money greatly to your advantage, I hoped the justice of letting that value secure me against pretences to it elsewhere. But, since you have not thought that reasonable, and have taken counsel whether a partner who has paid the mortgage off of his part of the effects, and given the partners in pure benevolence a thousand pounds as a title to their taking his share of the estate, security against the mortgage-deeds unjustly detained from him-I say, since this is the disposition you are in towards me, I expect you, for your own sakes as well as mine, not to detain the fifth of the fourth heretofore demanded, and to which there is no claim. 459. An Account of the Nett PROFITS of the THEATRE in the Year 1721. BE pleased to send me a catalogue of our stock of Plays by the bearer, Mr. Plaxton, as soon as you can. I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 461. TO 461. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE, MY DEAR GIRLS, YOUR brother is just now at torment of the gravel or stone *. tenderly, that my tears are ready to flow, when I tell that I am, you Dearest creatures, Your most affectionate father, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 462. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. MY DEAR CHILD, MARCH 31, 1722. I BEG your pardon that I made Mrs. Keck's ser vant stay so long; it was occasioned by a crowd of people importunate to speak with me on my coming to town. I send you such tickets as I can by our present rules; and am, with joy in your hopeful behaviour and toward spirit, Madam, Your most affectionate father, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. Give my most humble service to your good and • honoured guardian. * See p. 578. He was just then elected into parliament for Wendover. Either for the Theatre at Drury-lane, or for some concert in York-buildings. In the latter business Steele was principally concerned, by which he did not better his circumstances. 463. TO |