Phillips. His chief companions were Steele, Budgell, Phillips, Carey, Davenant, and Colonel Brett. With one or other of these he always breakfasted. He studied all the morning; then dined at a tavern, and went afterwards to Button's.

"Button had been a servant in the Countess of Warwick's family, who, under the patronage of Addison, kept a coffee-house on the south side of Russel Street, about two doors from Covent Garden. Here it was that the wits of that time used to assemble. It is said, when Addison had suffered any vexation from the Countess, he withdrew the company from Button's house."

Jeremiah Markland vindicated Addison from the malice of Pope in a copy of verses inscribed to the Countess of Warwick; they conclude thus :

"Oh, Pope! forbear henceforth to vex the Muse,
Whilst forced a task so hateful she pursues;
No more let empty words to rhymes be brought
And fluent sounds atone for want of thought.
Still Addison shall live, and pregnant fame
Teem with eternal triumphs of his name ;
Still shall his country hold him more endeared,
Loved by this age and by the next revered.
Or if from good advice you turn your ear,
Nor friendly words imparted timely hear,
Exert your utmost energy of spite,

And as each envious hint arises, write-
So shall his deathless glory never cease,
And you by lessening will his fame increase."

introduction in life with his associate and friend Charles Monatgue, Earl of Halifax, to the kindness of that universal patron, the Duke of Dorset. In 1692 he was sent Envoy to the Elector of Brandenburgh; in 1693 to the Imperial Court; in 1694 to the Elector of Saxony; in 1696 to the Electors of Mentz and Cologne, and the Congress at Frankfort; in 1698 a second time to Brandenburgh; in 1699 to the King of Poland; in 1701 again to the Emperor; and in 1706 to the States General. In 1697 he was made one of the Commissioners of Trade.

On his first début in the world, Stepney's political principles appear to have inclined towards Toryism. One of his earliest poems was an address to James II. upon his accession to the throne. A short time after Monmouth's rebellion broke out, the Cambridgemen, as a testimony of their zeal for the King, destroyed the picture of that prince, who had formerly been Chancellor of the University; on which occasion Stepney wrote some verses in his praise.

After the Revolution he declared himself decidedly for the Whigs, and was accordingly nominated to the several appointments already enumerated.

Stepney died at Chelsea, in 1707, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.