This year was exceedingly fateful to Prince Florizel, for, in it, he made the acquaintance of a lady whose connection with him influenced his whole life. This was Maria Anne Fitzherbert, daughter of Walter Smythe, Esq., of Brambridge, in the county of Hants, second son of Sir John Smythe, Bart., of Eske, in the county of Durham, and Acton Burnell, in Shropshire. She was born in July, 1756, and married, in July, 1775, Edward Weld, Esq., of Lulworth Castle, county Dorset, who died in the course of the same year. She married, secondly, Thomas Fitzherbert, Esq., of Swinnerton, county Stafford, in the year 1778. This gentleman only survived their union three years, losing his life in consequence of his exertions during the Lord George Gordon Riots. Being much heated, he bathed, and brought on the malady which, soon after, occasioned his death. Behold her, then, in 1785 a fascinating young widow with a competent fortune, moving in the highest society, and of so much importance as to be made the subject of newspaper paragraphs long before she met the Prince. _Morning Herald_, March 20, 1784.--'Mrs. _Fitzherbert_ is arrived in London for the winter.' And again, _Morning Herald_, July 27, 'A new _constellation_ has lately made an appearance in the _fashionable hemisphere_, that engages the attention of those whose hearts are susceptible to the power of beauty. The widow of the late Mr. F--h--t has in her train half our young Nobility: as the lady has not, as yet, discovered a partiality for any of her admirers, they are all animated with hopes of success.' Cosway painted a charming picture of her, which, engraved by Condé, is reproduced as the frontispiece to this volume.