60 'OLD q' 



time : at last his lordship received his conge from 

 the ' moral and regular ' Mr. Pelham, who recognised 

 in the Earl of March and Ruglen (who was not 

 at that period heir-presumptive to possessions as 

 large as those of the Pelhams, if not larger) ' a 

 nobleman of dissipated habits, character, and 

 fortune.' These are the words of one^ who should 

 know. 



One result could but ensue from this decision of a 

 father with regard to a suitor for his daughter's hand 

 — an interdiction to their union. 



This appears to be the true version of his lord- 

 ship's first and last attempt to enter the bonds of 

 matrimony. On the other hand, there was scarcely 

 a person more ' given in marriage ' than Lord March 

 during his long career — by the diurnal papers. It 

 was said that Lord March, on the death of Miss 

 Pelham 's father, withdrew his attentions, all chance 

 of obtaining office in the Administration having 

 ceased at Mr. Pelham's decease. This assertion is 

 quite without warrant, for he cherished an ' ardent 

 and permanent passion during seven years ' for Miss 

 Pelham. 



Why Lord March did not marry Miss Pelham after 

 her father's death must remain in doubt ; many 



* Sir Nathaniel Wraxall. 



