The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-05-16
with him. All his difficulties would

Auu uSClureu ueTSclI laYOrdDlo TO the
Indulgence. Which side she might
take depended on the will of others; for
her understanding was sluggish; and
though there was latent in her character
an hereditary willfulness and stubbor-
ness which many years later, great pow
er and. great proyocation developed, she
was, as yet, o willing slave to nature
far more vivacious and impcrious than
her own. The person BY whom she
was absolutely governed was the wife of
Churchill, woman who afterwards ex-
ercised great influence on the fate Of
England and Of Europe.
The namo of this celebrated fayoritc
was Sarah Jennings. Her elder sister,
Frances, had been distinguished by
beauty and levity even among the crowd
of beautiful faces and light characters
which adorned and disgraced Whitehall
during the wild carnival Of the Restor-
alton. On ono occasion Frances dres-
ted herself like an orange girl, and cried
fruit about tho streets. Sober people
predicted that girl of so little discrc-
ton and delicacy would not easily find
q husband. She was, however, twice
married, and was now the wife of Tyr.
conncl. Sarah, less regularly bcauti-
ful, was perhaps more attractive. Her
face was expressive; her form wanted
no feminine charm; and the profusion
of her fine hair, not yet disguised by
powder, according to that barbarous
fashion which she lived to see introduc-
cod, was the delight Of numerous ad-
mirers. Among the gallants who sued
for her favor, Churchill, young, hand
some, graceful, insinuating, eloquent,
and brave, obtained the preference.
He must have been enamorcdindecd;
foc he had little property except the
annuity which he had bought with the
infamous wages, bestowed on him by
the Duchess of Cleveland; he was insa-
table Of riches; Sarah was poor; and a
plain girl with q large fortune was pro.
posed to him. His love, after strug-
gle, prevailed over his avaricc; marri-
age only strengthened his passion; and
to the last hour of his life, Sarah en-
joyed tho pleasure and distinction of be-
ing the one human being who was able
to mislcad that far-sighted and sure
food Judgment, who was fcrvcntly loved
by that cold heart, and who was seryile.
ly feared by thatintrepid spirit.
In worldly sense, the fidelity of
Churchill's love was amply rewarded. -
His bride, though slcndcrly proportion
ed, brought with her q dowry which
judiciously employed made him at
length duke of England, sovereign
prince of the empire, the captain gene
raj of Il great coalition, tho arbitcr be-
tween mighty princes, and, what he va
lucd more, the wcalthiest subject in Eu-
rope. She had been brought up from
childhood with the Princes Anne; and a
close friendship had arisen between the
girls. In character they rcscmblcd
each other very little. Annc was slow
and taciturn. 10 those whom she loved
she was meek. The form which her
anger assumed was sullincss. She had
strong sense of religion, and was at
tachcd even with bigotry to the rites
and government Of the Church of Eng
land. Sarah was lively and volublc,
domineercd over those whom she gar
dcd with most kindness, and, when she
was offended vented her rage in tears
and tcmpcstous rcproaches. TO sane
tity she made no prctencc, and, indeed,
narrowly escaped the imputation of ir-
religion. She was not yet what she
became when one class of vices had been
fully developed in her by prosperity,
and another by adversely, when her
brain had been turned by success and
fiattery, when her heart had been ulce-
rated by disasters and notifications.
She lived to be that most odious and
miserable of human beings, an ancient
cronc at war with her whole kind, at
war with own children and grand.chil-
drcn, great indeed and rich, but yalu.
ing greatness and riches chiefly because
they enabled her to brave public opinion,
and to indulge without restraint her ha-
tired to tho living and the dead. In the
reign Of James she was regarded as no
thing worse than fine high spirited
young woman, who could not then be
cross and arbitrary, but whose flaws of
temper might well be pardoned in con
sidcration of her charms.
1t is q common observation that diff.
crcncc Of taste, understanding, and dis.
position, are no impediments to friend