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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
The man who next followed this gallant example , was a personage celebrated for his gallantry in all senses of the word —the famous Lord Peterborough , the hero of the war of the succession in Spain , and
friend of Pope and Swift . The date of the marriage is not known , for it was a long time kept secret ; but in the year before he died ( 1735 ) he
publicly acknowledged as his countess , the celebrated Anastasia Robinson , the singer . She had appeared upon the stage , but was chiefly known in the concert-room . Her father was
a portrait-painter , of good family , who had studied in Italy , and was master of the Italian language and very fond of music ; but losing his sight , the daughter , much against her inclination in other respects , turned her own passion for
music , which he had cultivated , into a means of living for the family . Dr Burney , however , who has related the story at large after his gossiping fashion , shall give the account in his own words . The subject renders them interesting : —
" Mrs Anastasia Robinson , " he tells us , " was of a middling stature , not handsome , but oi a pleasing modest countenance , with large blue eyes . Her deportment was easy , unaffected ,
and graceful . Her manner and address very engaging , and her behaviour , on all occasions , that of a gentlewoman with perfect propriety . She was not only liked uy all her acquaintance , but loved and caressed by
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persons of the highest rank , with whom she appeared always equal , without assuming * Her father ' s house , in Golden square , was frequented by all the men of genins and refined taste of the times : among the
number of persons of distinction who frequented Mr Robinson ' s house , and seemed to distinguish his daughter in a particular manner , were the Earl of Peterborough and
Gqneral H ; the latter had shewn a long attachment to her , and his attentions were so remarkable that they seemed more than the effects of
common politeness ; and as he was a very agreeable man and in good circumstances , he was favourably received , not doubting but that his intentions were honourable . A declaration of a
very contrary nature was treated with the contempt it deserved , though Mrs A , Robinson was very much prepossessed in his favour . " Soon after this Lord P . endeavoured to convince ier of
his partial regard for her ; but , agreeable and artful as he was , she remained very much upon her guard , which rather increased than diminished his admiration and passion for her . Yet still his pride struggled with his inclination ; for all this time she was engaged to sing in public ,
a circumstance very grievous to her ; but urged By the beat of motives , she submitted to it in order to assist her parents , whose fortune was much reduced by Mr Robinson ' s loss of sight , which deprived him of
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Marriages from the Stage . \ j&
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 1, 1837, page 159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1835/page/15/
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