s at
Will's, in Russell Street, at the corner of Bow Street, at which place
Pope saw him when he was twelve years old. The company used to assemble on
the first floor--what was called the dining-room floor in those days--and
sat at various tables smoking their pipes. It is recorded that the beaux
of the day thought it a great honour to be allowed to take a pinch out of
Dryden's snuff-box. When Addison began to reign, he with a certain crafty
propriety--a policy let us call it--which belonged to his nature, set up his
court, and appointed the officers of his royal house. His palace was
Button's, opposite Will's.(126) A quiet opposition, a silent assertion of
empire, distinguished this great man. Addison's ministers were Budgell,
Tickell, Philips, Carey; his master of the horse, honest Dick Steele, who
was what Duroc was to Napoleon, or Hardy to Nelson; the man who performed
his master's bidding, and would have cheerfully died in his quarrel.
Addison lived with these people for seven or eight hours every day. The
male society passed over their punch-bowls and tobacco-pipes about as much
time as ladies of that age spent over Spadille and Manille.

For a brief space, upon coming up to town, Pope formed part of King
Joseph's court, and was his rather too eager and obsequious humble
servant.(127) Dick Steele, the editor of the _Tatler_, Mr. Addison's man,
and his own man too--a person of no little figure in the world of letters,
patronized the young poet, and set him a task or two. Young Mr. Pope did
the tasks very quickly and smartly (he had been at the feet quite as a boy
of Wycherley's decrepit reputation, and propped up for a year that doting
old wit): he was anxious to be well with the men of letters, to get a
footing and a recognition. He thought it an honour to be admitted into
their company; to have the confidence of Mr. Addison's friend, Captain
Steele. His eminent parts obtained for him the honour of heralding
Addison's triumph of _Cato_ with his admirable prologue, and heading the
victorious procession as it were. Not content with this act of homage and
admiration, he wanted to distinguish himself by assaulting Addison's
enemies, and attacked John Dennis with a prose lampoon, which highly
offended his lofty patron. Mr. Steele was instructed to write to Mr.
Dennis and inform him that Mr. Pope's pamphlet against him was written
quite without Mr. Addison's approval.(128) Indeed, _The Narrative of Dr.
Robert Norris on t