nothing of the gentlewoman with whom you are left, but depend very much upon Mrs. Bullock's conduct and judgment. You say the gentlewoman who is your governess is a very well-bred woman. If she proves so to me, I shall honour her as my sister, for the justice and kindness she shews to you. Pray shew her this letter, and tell her so. You say she never was abroad in any dependent way before. Pray desire her to write to me, to let me know what terms she is upon, that I may proceed accordingly for her service. I am, my dear child, most tenderly affected with the kind and prudent expressions in your letter; but cannot speak my mind to you till I see you, which, I hope, will be about the time the Parliament meets. I am, dear Betty, Your most affectionate father, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. Give my love to your sister Molly, and service to Mr. Snow and Mrs. Snow. 481. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. BATH, DEC. 21, 1723. I MY DEAREST DEAR CHILD, HAVE yours of the 19th, for which I thank you; am preparing to come to town. God grant a happy meeting between you and Your most affectionate father, and most humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 482. TO 482. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. DEAR BETTY, BATH, JAN. 8, 1723-4. THIS is to let you and your sister know I am in good health, and, dear creature, Your affectionate father, and most humble servant, My service to Mrs. Baker. RICH. STEELE *. 483. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE. MY DEAR LITTLE GIRL, APRIL 5, 1724. PRAY send me word when Mrs. Evans and you begin your journey, and let her know she shall be well received here by all us country people. God send us an happy meeting! Dear child, Give Your affectionate father, and humble servant, RICH. STEELE. my service to the good old man, and to his son, and his sons, and his cousin Betty. * In Feb. 1723-4, Parnell addressed to Steele a sixpenny pamphlet, intituled, "Remarks on Dacier." ↑ It does not appear whence this and the two following Letters were written; probably from the city of Hereford, to which place Sir Richard about this time retired, and was lodged and boarded there at the house of a mercer, who was his agent, and receiver of the rents of an encumbered estate of 600l. a-year, which Sir Richard obtained by his late wife. At his death it devolved to his two daughters. 484. I 485. TO MRS. ELIZABETH STEELE *. DEAR BETTY, APRIL 8, 1724. DESIRE you to be carefully dressed to-day in your black, in order to receive a visitant in honour of your brother. Let your sister be in her white; and be both as cheerfully suited as you can be. I shall call upon you soon after dinner; and am your friend upon all occasions. I WAS much troubled to find you were sent to my lodgings with your keys. I hope you will find every thing right there. But be exact in all your affairs hereafter, and we shall meet with fewer disappointments than we have hitherto met with. I am your affectionate father, RICH. STEELE. * This and the next Letter were probably written from Here ford. † See P. 630. 487. TO 487. TO THE RIGHT HON. ROBERT SIR, CARMARTHEN *, AUG. 10, 1724. IT is reported here that Mr. Clavering, now treasurer of St. David's, is to be made Bishop of Landaff. In case that happens, I beg your favour to Mr. David Scurlock, to be steward of St. David's. The Bishop of Salisbury and Dr. Clarke will both give him their good character; and you will oblige the Gentry of these parts, who know he is well allied here; as well as you will do what have always done to your creature, and most obliged, you SIR Richard Steele proposes to Mr. Barker : 1st, To pay down one hundred pounds. 2d, To pay one hundred pounds more on the 30th of November, 1724. * Sir Richard Steele retired, first to Hereford, and afterwards into Wales, not, as Swift with more malignity than wit asserts, "In perils of a thousand jails;" but |