thank you. I have been wth Dr Hough who received yr letter and Enquired very Civilly after You and my Ladye's health. When I took my leave of him he desired me to inform him, if at any time he could be servicable or assistant to me for he would very readily do it. Dr Aldridge Gives he's Service to yu, and told me he should write to you himself by this post. This is all at present from yr most humble Servt and ever-obedient nephew R. Steele.
Pray Sr direct letters to me myself for 'tis something troublesome to my Tutour yu I am and have been very much indisposed by a bile just over my left eye; but I think it mends now.
Sr,—I received your letter, and gave Mr. Sherwin his paper from you. Most of the money he had in his hands was before disposed of, therefore he gave me but five pounds, but he will give the rest next Wednesday, till which time I defer my giving yu A true and particular account how my Tutour and I design to dispose of the whole; the night after I writ my last Mr. Horne sent for me to the tavern, where he and Mr. Wood a fellow of that Coll., treated me with Claret and Oysters. I went to give him an account of what you commanded me, but I shall Do at the first Opportunity. Our Dean whome you expected Is, I suppose now at London, the election for students is not very far of now; if yu would be pleased to speak to him or purchace from my Lord a word or two; it would perhaps get me the most Creditable preferment for young men in the whole university there are many here that think of it, but none speak their mind; the places are wholly in the Dean and Cannon's dispose without respect to Schollarship; but if you will vouchsafe to use your interest in my behalf there shall be nothing wanting in the endeavours of Your most obedient nephew
and most humble servant
R. Steele.
The Dean has two in his gift. My most humble duty to my lady.
Sr,—I have received the Bundle My Lady sent to me And do most humbly thank ye for that and all the rest of yr favours, but my request to you now is that you would compleat all the rest by solliciting the Dean who is now in London in my behalfe for a student's place here; I am satisfied that I stand very fair in his favour. He saw one of my Exercises in the House and commended it very much and said yt if I went on in me Study he did not question but I should make something more than ordinary. I had this from my Tutour. I have I think a good character throughout the whole Coll; I speake not this fr out of any vanity or affectation but to let you know that I have not been altogether negligent on my part: these places are not given by merit but acquired by friends, though I question not but so generous a man as our Dean would rather prefer one that was a Scholar before another. I have had so great advantage in being[1] *** my own abilities are so very mean I believe there are very few of the Gown in the Coll. so good scholars as I am. My Tutour before told me that if you should be pleased to use your interest for me, or pt my lord's letter or word in my behalfe; it would certainly do my businesse. And yr Friend Dr. Hough the new Bishop of Oxon, I believe may doe much now, for Dr. Aldrich is, as it were, his Dean. Perhaps, Sir, you may be modest in solliciting him, because you may think others trouble him for the same thing; But pray, Sr, don't let that hinder you for it will be the same case next Election, and if we misse this opportunity 'tis ten to one whether we ever have such another; besides the Dean won't have a place again this three year; therefore I beseech you Sr as you have been always heretofore very good to me to use your utmost Endeavour now in my behalfe And assure yrself that whatever preferment I ever attain to shall never make me ingratefully forget, and not acknowledge the authour of all my advancement but I shall ever be proud of writing myself Your most obliged
and
Hum: Servt
On a sheet of drafted letters on various matters in Henry Gascoigne's writing, one of which bears date May 27, 1690 (commencing, "I was on ship-board about 3 weeks ago, when I sprained my right arm," which may account for the delay), is the following memorandum: "That your ldship will be pleased to befriend Dick Steele, who is now entered in Ch. Ch., by getting him a student's place there, or something else, to Exse: mee of charges beside what is allowed him by the Charter House." The Duke of Ormond was Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
This request was not granted, but an equivalent was obtained. Steele eventually became a postmaster of Merton College. This letter is addressed to Gascoigne's wife.
Honoured Madam,
Out of a deep sense of yr lasps Goodnesse Towards me, I could not forbear accusing myselfe of Ingratitude in omitting my duty, by not acknowledging yr ladship's favours by frequent letters; but how to excuse myself as to that point I know not, but must humbly hope yt as you have been alwaies soe bountiful to me as to encourage my endeavours, so yu will be soe mercifull to me as to pardon my faults and neglects, but, Madam, should I expresse my gratitude for every benefit yt I receive at yr lad shp's and my good Vnkle, I should never sit down to meat but I must write a letter when I rise from table; for to his goodnesse I humbly acknowledge my being, but, Madam, not to be too tedious, I shall only subscribe myself Madam, yr laship's.
Humble servant and obedient though unworthy
nephew
- ↑ End of page torn away, or one line illegible.
