on her own experience,) in such unions," it is "acceptance rather than choosing on either "side."

But, however little her choice might have been consulted in this connection, her conduct, so long as it lasted, was not only blameless, but such as entitled her to the love of all around her, and to the lasting attachment of her husband's family. We have a letter written so early as the year 1655, when she was living with Lord Vaughan, at his father's house in Wales (1), in which she is thus addressed:

"Dear Madam,

"There is not in the world so great a charm "as goodness; and Your Ladyship is the "greatest argument to prove it. All that know "you are thereby forced to honour you, neither "are you to thank them, because they cannot "do otherwise. Madam, I am among that "number, gladly and heartily I declare it,

and I shall die in that number, because my "observance of your virtue is inseparably an"nexed to it. I beseech you, Madam, to par

(1) Golden Grove in Carmarthenshire. At a fire which happened there in 1729, many family papers were destroyed, among which we have probably to regret the means of becoming acquainted with many details of Lady Russell's early life.

"don this scribbling, and present your noble "husband with my most affectionate service; " and I shall in my prayers present you both to "God, begging of him daily to increase your "piety to Him, and your love to each other."

Of Lord Vaughan's character, habits, or par ticular disposition, nothing is to be traced in the materials to which the author of these pages has had access, except we may infer, from a message sent to him in a subsequent letter to his wife from the same correspondent already quoted, that he disliked writing, and was dilatory in all sorts of business, as Lady Vaughan is besought (evidently in raillery)" not hereafter "to hinder my Lord Vaughan from writing to' 66 me; I am confident, whatsoever excuse you "make for him, he had a most eager desire to "write this week. I know his Lordship so well, that he cannot delay to make returns of

civility. If it had been his custom to defer "and put off to the last hour, I might believe

66

your Ladyship: but in this particular, I must

beg your Ladyship's pardon. I was at Abs"court the last week, and found Mr. Estcourt "courting your aunt. (1) She received his ad

(1) Elizabeth, sister to the Lord Treasurer Southampton, married Mr., afterwards Sir Thomas Estcourt, Knt. a Master in Chancery.

с

"dresses with great satisfaction and content. "I think, Madam, under favour, you were not "so kind to my Lord Vaughan."

In the year 1665, she became a mother, but her child lived only to be baptized, and she had no other children by Lord Vaughan. In the autumn of the same year, while the plague was raging in London, we find her again with Lord Carberry's family in Wales. A letter from her half-sister Lady Percy (1), after expressing her great desire to have Lady Vaughan with her at Petworth, and how much her company was desired by all the family, says, "I am glad for "nobody's sake but Lady Frances's (2), that you are there," (at Ludlow,) "for I am sure "she is sensible of her happiness in enjoying "you."

66

In the year 1667, we find Lady Vaughan a widow, living with her beloved sister, Lady Elizabeth Noel, at Tichfield, in Hampshire, the seat of their father Lord Southampton, which Lady Elizabeth Noel, as the eldest of the two daughters by his first marriage, had recently

(1) The only surviving child of Lord Southampton by his second marriage. She was the wife of Jocelin Percy, the last Earl of Northumberland, whose father, at the date of this letter, was still alive.

(2) Lady Frances Vaughan, eldest daughter of Lord Carberry.

inherited. His property at Stratton at the same time falling to the lot of Lady Vaughan.

Of the commencement of her acquaintance with Mr. Russell we are ignorant. That it existed more than two years before it terminated in their union, we know from a letter of Lady Percy's to Lady Vaughan, in the summer of 1667, where she mentions Mr. Russell in a manner to leave no doubt of his having manifested his sentiments for her sister. "For his

66

(Mr. Russell's) concern, I can say nothing. "more than that he professes a great desire, " which I do not at all doubt, he, and every body else has, to gain one who is so desirable "in all respects.

Mr. Russell was then only a younger brother, and Lady Vaughan a very considerable heiress, without children by her first marriage. The advantages of such a connection must have been considered, in the eye of the world, as entirely on his side, and the diffidence inspired by this idea, as well as the feelings of doubt which always accompany strong attachment, seem to have made him very backward in interpreting Lady Vaughan's sentiments in his favour.

As the inequality between them existed only in matters of interest, their mutual feelings could not long be mistaken by each other.

Lady Vaughan was entirely her own mistress, and they were married about the end of the year 1669, she retaining the name of Vaughan, till Mr. Russell, having by the death of his elder brother Francis Lord Russell (1) succeeded to his title, she assumed that of Lady Russell.

f

The first letters in the following series are addressed by Lady Vaughan to her husband, Mr. Russell, in the spring of the year 1672. They are continued, at distant intervals, to within a twelvemonth of his death. They are few; for during the fourteen happy years of their union, they were little apart. Their only moments of separation seem to have been some visits of duty to his father, when living entirely at Woburn, or during his elections for two successive parliaments; some short absences in London, on private or political business, and his attendance at Oxford during the only session of the parliament so suddenly dismissed by Charles.

These letters are written with such a neglect of style, and often of grammar, as may disgust the admirers of well-turned periods, and they contain such frequent repetitions of homely tenderness, as may shock the sentimental readers of the present day. But they evince the enjoy

(1) In 1678.