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_Charles II. and Lord R.'s Daughter.--Earl of Ranelagh._--Since I
inquired in your columns (No. 25. p. 399.) who was the lady mentioned
in a passage of Henry Sidney's _Diary_, edited by Mr. Blencowe, as
Lord R.'s daughter, and a new mistress of Charles II., who in March
1680 brought Monmouth to the King for reconciliation, I have, by
Mr. Blencowe's kindness, seen the original _Diary_, which is in
the possession of the Earl of Chichester. The name of the nobleman
is there abbreviated: the letters appear to be _Rane._, and it is
probably Lord Ranelagh who is intended. I do not remember any other
notice of this amour of Charles II., and should be glad to be referred
to any other information on the subject. Charles II.'s mistresses are
political characters; and in this notice of Lord R.'s daughter, we
find her meddling in state affairs.
I do not know whether this lady, if indeed a daughter of a Lord
Ranelagh, would be the daughter or sister of the Lord Ranelagh living
in 1680, who was the first Earl of Ranelagh and third Viscount, and
who is described by Burnet as a very able and very dissolute man, and
a great favourite of Charles II. (_Hist. of his own Time_, i. 462.,
ii. 99., ed. 1823); and who, having held the office of Vice-Treasurer
in Ireland during three reigns, was turned out of it in disgrace
in 1703. He died in 1711, leaving no son, but three daughters, one
of whom was unmarried; he was the last, as well as first, Earl of
Ranelagh. The elder title of Viscount went to a cousin, and still
exists.