Lady Dorchester became a penitent in the close of life, or that she latterly encountered misfortunes which were in some measure attributable to her early frailty :

"Yet Vane could tell what ills from beauty spring,

And Sedley cursed the charms which pleased a king."

There is nothing, however, in what we know of her history to prove that such was the case.

On the con

trary, her life appears to have been a long career of undeserved prosperity. The name was probably selected incidentally by Dr. Johnson for the want of a better. Boswell we believe it is, who suggests that the substitution of the names of Shore and Valiére would have made the illustration happier, and the couplet more effective.

Lady Dorchester died at Bath,-under what circumstances is not known,-on the 26th of October, 1717. She seems, like many of the royal mistresses both of Charles and James, to have affected an interest in religion, as soon as wrinkles and paint took the place of youth and comeliness. In a letter of the period, dated 6th of April, 1686,—“ I imagine," says the writer, "your Countess of Dorchester will speedily move hitherward, for her house is furnishing very fine in St. James's Square, and a seat taken for her in the new consecrated St. Anne's Church." Possibly, however, the pew at St. Anne's may have been merely a necessary appendage to a fashionable character of the period.* There exists a portrait of Lady Dorchester, painted by Kneller, and there was also another portrait of her by Dahl at Strawberry Hill.

* The Ellis' Correspondence, vol. ii. p. 92.

ARABELLA CHURCHILL.

Account of her Family-She becomes the Mistress of James II., then Duke of York-Her Children by James-She marries Colonel Charles Godfrey- Her Death.

ARABELLA CHURCHILL is the only remaining mistress of James who is known to have borne him children. She is principally remarkable as having been the sister of the great Duke of Marlborough, the mother of the Duke of Berwick, and the paramour of a King. In regard to accomplishments, whether of person or mind, she appears to have been deplorably if not utterly deficient.

Miss Churchill was a daughter of Sir Winston Churchill, of Wotton Bassett, in the county of Wilts, a man once famous as an historian, but whose literary merits have long since faded in the eyes of posterity. He suffered for his loyalty during the civil troubles, and, like more than one other person under similar circumstances, was rewarded at the Restoration by the seduction of his daughter.

The young lady was born in 1648. She appeared at the Court of Charles, about the age of eighteen, in the dangerous capacity of Maid of Honour to the Duchess of York. The description of her in the Mémoires de Grammont is far from flattering. She is there spoken of as "a tall creature, pale-faced, and nothing but skin and bone." She must, however, have possessed charms, which, though imperceptible to others, at least capti

vated the heart of the Duke of York. An intrigue, formed in the Court of Charles, was not very easy to be concealed; and accordingly, before Miss Churchill had been many months at Whitehall, the predilection of James became no less a subject of annoyance to his Duchess, than of ridicule to Charles and his merry associates.

Considering the conspicuous position of Miss Churchill, not only from her connection with James, but from her close relationship with the two most illustrious men of their time, it is singular how little is known of her career. The want, indeed, of all stirring interest in her story and character, regarded in a negative sense, may be considered as in her favour. It certainly proves, that though she unfortunately strayed from the paths of virtue, she neither attempted to dazzle the world by impertinent wit, nor insulted it by shameless effrontery.

Besides the Duke of Berwick, Miss Churchill had three children by her royal lover. Henry Fitz-James, her second son, was born in 1673. He followed his father's fortunes, and was in consequence outlawed in 1695. He afterwards became a Lieutenant-General and an Admiral in the French service, and subsequently Grand Prior of France. He died on the 7th of December, 1702, leaving by his wife, Mary-Gabrielle, daughter of the Marquis of Lussau, an infant daughter who died without children. Miss Churchill's remaining offspring by James, were Henrietta, born in 1670, who became the wife of Sir Henry Waldegrave, afterwards created Baron Waldegrave,-the ancestor of the present Earl, and a younger daughter, whose name has not been preserved, who died a nun. Lady Waldegrave appears to have been a considerable favourite with her

unfortunate father. Among Sir Henry Ellis's "Original Letters" are preserved several very interesting ones which he addressed to her during his exile.

After her connection with James was at an end, Miss Churchill united herself to Colonel Charles Godfrey, Comptroller of the Household and Master of the Jewel Office. By this gentleman she had two daughters,— Charlotte, married to Hugh Boscawen, first Viscount Falmouth, and Elizabeth, who became the wife of Edmund Dunch, Esq. The frail subject of the present Memoir died in May, 1730, at the advanced age of eighty-two.

INDEX.

Albemarle, Elizabeth, Duchess of, Arundel, Thomas Howard, Earl of,