The deportment of the young nobleman in private life
was ill calculated to win the esteem of those who could not
regard with indulgence the defects of his public character.
Abhorring the very shadow of adulation, he carried his
freedom of speech to a degree of bluntness which was often
offensive. At this period the loss of a beloved wife threw a
gloom over his mind, and gave the appearance of additional
harshness to his manners and temper.

A man of so unaccommodating a disposition was not likely
to conciliate the favour of the Countess of Marlborough,
who was accustomed to adulation and fond of flattery. As
little did his political principles accord with those of her
lord, who was averse to party violence, and particularly
hostile to those republican notions, which were fashionable
among the ardent Whigs of the day. We are not therefore
surprised to find the parents of the young lady receiving the
proposal of a match with coldness, and starting numerous
objections, notwithstanding the friendship which subsisted
between the two families. Lord and Lady Sunderland, how-
ever, persisted in their solicitations, and extenuated the fail-
ings of their son with all the partiality of parental affection.

By degrees these instances produced an impression. Lady
Marlborough, being less hostile to Whig principles than her
husband, overlooked the political violence of her future son-
in-law; but her maternal feelings suggested another diffi-
culty. Judging from the natural reserve of Lord Spencer,
and the additional gloom with which he was now depressed,
she deemed him averse to a new marriage, and withheld her
approbation, from a fear lest her beloved child should be
made the sacrifice of a match without affection.

At length the charms and accomplishments of Lady Anne
dissipated the grief of the young widower; and he felt the
passion which her youth, beauty, and merit could not fail
to inspire. The impression sunk deep in a reserved but
ardent mind; and he testified no less anxiety for the alliance
than his parents. The intelligence of this conquest was
exultingly communicated by his mother to Lady Marl-
borough, and accompanied with the most pressing entreaties
to hasten an union, which she hoped would equally ensure
the felicity of both parties.

By the zealous interposition of Lady Marlborough, the

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