[96] Matthew Prior, b. 1664; d. 1721.
[97] William Congreve, b. 1670; d. 1729. See edition of his dramatic works, with pleasant introduction by Leigh Hunt (1840).
[98] Daniel Defoe, b. 1661; d. 1731. Little is known of his very early life. Of Robinson Crusoe there have been editions innumerable. Of his complete works no full edition has ever been published—probably never will be.
[99] Richard Steele, b. 1672; d. 1729. He was born in Dublin, and died on his wife’s estate at Llanngunnor, near Caermarthen, in Wales.
[100] The Christian Hero appeared in 1701; and it was in the same year that Steele’s first play of “The Funeral” was acted at Drury Lane. “The Lying Lover” appeared in 1703, and “The Tender Husband” in 1705.
[101] I take the careful reckoning of Mr. Dobson in his Life of Steele, 1886.
[102] It is, however, seriously to be doubted if Addison ever saw the “Atticus” satire.
[103] “Je tire vers ma fin.” Smollett (Book I., chap. vi.); not a strong authority in most matters, but—from his profession of medicine—an apt one to ferret out actual details in respect to royal illness.
[104] Sir John Vanbrugh, b. (about) 1666; d. 1726. His comedies were better thought of than his buildings, both in his own day and in ours.
[105] Sir Christopher Wren, b. 1631; d. 1723. The cathedral was begun in 1675, and virtually finished in 1710, though there may have been many “last touches” for the aged architect.