[4]. The Earl married, first, Carey, daughter of Sir Alexander Frazer, and, secondly, the accomplished Anastasia Robinson, the daughter of a painter. The story of his lordship’s lovesuit to this lady shows at once the licentiousness and the eccentricity of his character. Whilst he admired the virtues of Miss Robinson, and her efforts in her vocation as an opera singer and a teacher of music and Italian, to support an aged father, he did not deem it beneath him to endeavour to make her his mistress. His arts were unsuccessful, and Anastasia became privately his wife. In 1735 it suited his fancy to proclaim his marriage. Being at Bath, in the public rooms, a servant was ordered to call out distinctly, “Lady Peterborough’s carriage waits;” on which every lady of rank and respectability rose, and wished the new Countess joy.—Granger, vol. ii. p. 45.
[5]. Private Correspondence, vol. i. p. 4.
[6]. Lady M. W.’s Letters, vol. ii. p. 168.
[7]. Coxe, vol. i. p. 232.
[8]. Cunningham, b. vi. p. 328.
[9]. Noble, vol. ii. p. 36.
[10]. Boyer, App., p. 46.
[11]. Correspondence, vol. ii. p. 197.
[12]. Cunningham, b. vi. p. 328.
[13]. Boyer.