3dly, To pay fifty pounds more on the 26th of February, 1724-5. 4thly, To pay fifty every year after on the 10th of December, till the whole debt is discharged *. In the mean time there is a security of 3600l. given for the payment of all the money that is or shall become due to the said Mr. Barker, for his house in St. James's-street, in case of Sir Richard's death before the debt is finally paid. but on the laudable principle of doing justice to his creditors; and at a time too when he had the fairest prospects of satisfying all their claims to the utmost farthing-But this was not the first reflection which Swift had cast on his old associate.-In the Journal to Stella, Dec. 14, 1710, he says, "Yes, Steele was a little while in prison, or at least in a spunging-house, some time before I came, but not since."—And again July, 1712," Steele was arrested the other day for making a Lottery, directly against an Act of Parliament. He is now under prosecution; but they think it will be dropped out of pity. I believe he will very soon lose his employment, for he has been mighty impertinent of late in his Spectators; and I will never offer a word in his behalf."-See before, p. 273. * On another slip of paper Sir Richard has thus stated the debts which then stood out against him : 1724, Before Christmas, to Oliphant, £. s. d. 189 0 0 Ditto, on Lady-day, 1725, with interest 100%. £.608 0 0 N. B. N. B. That this debt may be sooner discharged than is above proposed, by contingent advantages of Sir Richard's bringing a Play * on the Stage next Winter, &c. up On the other hand, Mr. Barker is willing to take his lease of the said house at Michaelmas. 489. TO MR. MORGAN †. I SIR, DEC. 7, 1724 HAD the other day the honour of a message from you by Mr. Prichard, with an account that you had the greatest respect and love for my daughter, and a request of my permission to make your address to her. I told Mr. Prichard, "that he who was to have her, must win her and wear her; that she was a girl of good sense, and I should take that with her in whomsoever pretended to her;" but, upon speaking of the same subject that evening, and mentioning your civility for her, to her, she told me with a great deal of calmness and ease, that * Which he was then actually preparing; see p. 628. † From a paper in the hand-writing of Miss Steele, afterwards Lady Trevor, intituled, "An exact copy of a letter my Father wrote to Mr. Edward Morgan, in answer to a message he sent him by Mr. Prichard, December the 6th, 1724." "she "she was very young*, and very well contented to wait her time and choice under my care ;" and begged of me to let you know, that nothing could do her a greater offence than such an application. I told Mr. Prichard this the same evening; but I cannot forbid it with more earnestness than I do now, and desire you would give my service to your father, to whom I am, as well as to you, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, RICH. STEELE. 490. FROM MR. MORGAN. HONOURED SIR, DEC. 9, 1724. I CAME on purpose, on Friday evening, to wait on you, in order to return you thanks for all favours, but particularly for the honour you were pleased to do me in signifying your and pretty Mrs. Steele's thoughts, in relation to her unfortunate, though sincere humble servant: but it seems my visit was unseasonable; and, since that time, I have not been very well, so hope you will pardon me for not making my acknowledgements earlier. Mr. Prichard was very just in delivering me your messages; but the last at once awed me into silence, otherwise I should not have been under the same roof without paying my respects to you; but, when I found my company was rather an offence than otherwise, * She was then not quite sixteen. I chose I chose to withdraw. It is with the utmost concern that I observe the young lady is pleased to conceive a particular prejudice to me. However, notwithstanding all that, I must beg leave to assure you, that I shall always have the utmost veneration for worthy Sir Richard Steele, and his fair, but cruel, daughter, though with a disinterested view; and I sincerely wish her all the happiness imaginable in her choice; for since the lady, as I apprehend, is pleased to command my silence, I must acquiesce under the severe sentence, and shall endeavour to avoid giving either of you any offence; but, on the contrary, if ever it lies in my way to be serviceable to you or yours, none shall be readier to obey your commands than, good Sir, Your most obliged, and most obedient humble servant, ED. MORGAN. My humble service attends good Mrs. Steele *. 491. SIR, FROM MESSRS. WILKS, BOOTH, LONDON, DEC. 12, 1724. WE have long wished for your coming to town ; but, are now obliged to desire you to make all possible speed to us. Our audiences decrease daily; and those low entertainments which you and we so *Sir Richard's Sister. heartily heartily despise, draw the numbers, while we act only to the few who are blest with common sense. Though the Operas are allowed to be much worse than they were formerly, yet they draw much better audiences; and some persons of distinction, not to be named, have encouraged a set of French Comedians to come over by subscription, who are to act next Wednesday at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket. Thus, while there are three Playhouses exhibiting nonsense of different kinds against us, it is impossible we should subsist much longer. Both the Courts have forsaken us. All we can do is, to make the best of a losing game, and part from the whole upon the best terms we can. No person living, but ourselves, is sensible of the low state we are reduced to; therefore, we need not observe to you, how very needful it is to keep the secret *. * These arguments of his Brother Patentees were not suf ficient to draw Sir Richard Steele back into the world. On the contrary, he sold his share in the Playhouse, and entered into a litigation with the Patentees, which in 1726 was decided against him. The particulars are thus stated by Mr. Cibber; "In ali the transactions of life, there cannot be a more painful circumstance than a dispute in law with a man with whom we have long lived in an agreeable amity. But when Sir Richard," proceeds he, "to get himself out of difficulties, was obliged to throw his affairs into the hands of Lawyers and Trustees, upon that consideration the Friend and the Gentleman had no more to do in the matter. Thus, whilst Sir Richard no longer acted from himself, it can be no wonder if a flaw was found in our conduct for the Law to make work with. About three years before the lawsuit commenced, upon Sir Richard's total absenting himself from all care and management of the Stage, which, by our articles, he was equally and jointly with us obliged to attend, we let him know that we could not go on at that rate; but that, if he expected to make the business of a sinecure, we must be paid TT |