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which his name is impei-ishably united. His biographer says : " They formed a new era, and added an additional depart- ment to the national literature, which has commonly been designated by the title of the British Classics or Essayists. They produced such important effects for good in their own age, have had such a beneficial influence in giving a tone to the tastes and manners of successive generations since, have afforded mingled delight and in- struction to such multitudes of readers, . . and have left such an impress upon our language and literature, that it is difficult to speak justly of their various claims without appearing to exaggerate." The Taller, price one penny per number, appeared thrice a week. Like the Spec- tator and other periodicals of which it was the forerunner, each number was a small folio leaf containing about 2,500 words, and generally comprising but one article or essay. Steele commenced the paper on the strength of his own resources ; but he had proceeded only as far as the seven- teenth number when Addison came to his aid. After publishing 271 numbers, extending over twenty-one months, he brought the Tatler to a close in the very height of its reputation, and to the great regret of his readers. " If less regular in its plan, and less elaborate in a literary point of view than its immediate or more celebrated successor, the Spectator, it has certainly at least a spirit more fresh and racy, if less dignified and elaborate." 3'* Before the Tatler came to an end, he was appointed Commissioner of Stamps. He lost the position of Gazetteer, in con- sequence of some papers in which it was supposed he showed hostility to the Tory ministry. Swift accounted for his giving up the paper by saying that " he was so lazy and weary of the work." ^n ist March 171 1, the Spectator made its appearance. Steele was the re- sponsible writer and conductor of the paper. Of the thirty numbers which con- tain the account of " Sir Eoger de Coverly," Addison wrote about twenty, andSteele the rest. The Spectator comprised altogether 635 papers, of which 274 are attributed to Addison, and about 238 to Steele. The original series was brought to a close in December 17 12. In March 17 13, Steele commenced the Guardian. His biographer says : " We cannot regret the dropping of the different papers, and resuming his labours under a new title. It has con- tributed greatly to their variety, and each successive effort stimulated his invention to fresh sketches of character and clubs, and developed in new social combinations his 490
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wonderful knowledge of human nature and of life." 3'6 The aim of the Guardian was narrower than that of its predecessor. In its publication he was aided by Addison, Berkeley, Gay, Ambrose Philips, Tickell, Howe, and other eminent literary men. It was brought to a conclusion on the ist October 1713, after an issue of 175 num- bers. Steele's papers number eighty-two, Addison's fifty-one. On the 4th of June 1 713, having, as he expressed it, " an am- bition to serve in the ensuing Parliament," he resigned his commissionership of stamps, and in August was elected member for Stockbridge. The political fever with which he was seized displayed itself in the commencement of the Englishman a few days after the termination of the Guardian. It lived through seventy-two numbers, to 15th February 1714. When Parliament met in March, a complaint was made that some paragraphs in the Englishman of the previous January reflected upon the Queen's government. On the 1 8th Steele was arraigned at the bar of the House, and defended himself in an able and tem- perate speech of about three hours' dura- tion. On a division it was resolved, by 245 votes to 152, "That Richard Steele, Esq., for his offence in writing and pub- lishing the said scandalous and seditious libels, be expelled this house." Hallam ob- serves : " This was perhaps the first instance wherein the House of Commons so identi- fied itself with the executive administration, independently of the sovereign's person, as to consider itself libelled by those who impugned its measures." In addition to An Apology for himself and his writings, Steele about this time gave to the world a volume of Poetic Miscellanies, and a collection of poetryin three volumes, entitled the Ladies^ Library. He also engaged in publishing the Lover, the Reader, and similar small periodicals. On the accession of George I., Steele, recommended to his notice as a zealous friend of his house, was appointed Surveyor of the Royal Stables at Hampton Court, and Governor of the Royal Com- pany of Comedians, deriving from the latter appointment alone, some £1,000 a year. He was also made a Deputy-Lieutenant, and received the honorary degree of LL.D. In February 171 5 he re-entered Parlia- ment for Borough bridge, in Yorkshire, and was shortly afterwards knighted. After the suppression of the rising of 17 15, he was appointed one of the Commissioners of forfeited estates in Scotland. In 17 18 he entered upon an unfortunate speculation — the " fish-pool " — a project by which he hoped to bring fish alive to London, from remote parts of Ireland and Scot-
