Appendix^ N° ^ 



they resembled the solar spots, which can scarcely be said 

 to diminish the splendor of that bright luminary upon 

 whose disk they appear. Early in life he had formed an 

 attachment to a young lady of quality; and matters had 

 proceeded so far, as to induce him to provide carriages, 

 clothes, servants, and other necessary appendages for such 

 an occasion. Unfortunately, or rather let me say for- 

 tunately, before the contract was sealed, a more advan- 

 tageous or dazzling offer was made to the lady, who thought 

 herself at liberty to accept it; and she preferred the higher 

 honour of being a duchess to the inferior station of a 

 baroness. This disappointment is thought to have made 

 a deep impression upon Lord Fairfax's mind; and to have 

 had no inconsiderable share in determining him to retire 

 from the world, and to settle in the wild and at that time 

 almost uninhabited forests of North America. It is thought 

 also to have excited in him a general dislike of the sex; in 

 whose company, unless he was particularly acquainted with 

 the parties, it is said he was reserved and under evident 

 constraint and embarrassment. But I was present, when, 

 upon a visit of ceremony to Lieutenant Governor Fauquier, 

 who had lately arrived from England, he was introduced to 

 his lady, and nothing of the kind appeared to justify the 

 observation. He remained at the palace three or four 

 days; and during that time his behaviour was courteous, 

 polite, and becoming a man of fashion. He possibly might 

 not entertain a very favourable opinion of the sex; owing 

 partly to the above mentioned circumstance, and partly to 

 the treatment he had experienced from the ladies of Leeds 

 Castle; but this does not seem to have influenced his gen- 

 eral behaviour in regard to them. He had lived many 



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