Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/The Dowager Countess of Sunderland to Mr. Sidney, January 23
THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF SUNDERLAND TO MR. SIDNEY.
Sir,
A thousand kind thanks to dear Mr. Sidney for his letter, and his other words which I sent to my Lord Halifax, who is still with Sir William Coventry in the country. Nobody can be more glad than I am of the great good work upon the public account, and for the particular good to you than I am.
I have spent two days of this week already with poor Mrs. Harvey; she is not willing to have any body else come to her. Once my Lady Harvey broke in upon her, but to me she gave leave; she is as much afflicted as is possible. She will not endure to hear his will, nor of it; but Sir John Cook has told her she must, it could not be executed from others. I hear he has given a great deal in present to his relations, which was well done, for she will have ten times more than she will know what to do with.
I suppose now the most factious people will not say the Dutch have agreed with France and broke with us; within these two days Tom Pelham and Montague believed it, so as to make me angry. They, instead of improving by Sir William Jones, will be quite spoiled; there is not a lie out of any mutinous shop in town but they believe it.
I think I have almost ended our marriage treaty before my brother Pelham comes. I have sent for him, but our poor sister has had low fits of a tertian ague; how far I have gone I will tell you; in short, I had leave to offer £7000 upon the marriage rather than have broke it. I believe £8000 would have been given, but I had order to get one thousand not to be paid till my brother dies, so I have done it for the portion. The jointure was left to me. I demanded £1000 a year and his London house, and I have got it; I will make her thank me for the house, for her father would have never thought of it for her; but a Tory pretty house so furnished as that will be very considerable to a woman. Henry Savile has told me all that is to be in it. Six coach horses are buying. My Lady Halifax is to choose the coach that she is to have apart, and his equipage will be two footmen and a page for herself.
Now I have told the good show, I must come to the ill one. His person is ugly: last night he came to me with his sister; he is well enough drest and behaved, of very few words. As soon as my brother comes to town he will carry him the particulars of his estate, which I believe is not stretched. My Lady Halifax says she had rather say less than more; the fortune is good no doubt, and she will do better than many who have double. I desired her to tell me if she had any distaste to him, and I would order it so that it should not go on, and her father should not be angry with her, but she is wiser than to refuse it. He is not more ill-favoured than Montague, and his wife kisses him all day, and calls him her pretty dear.
I am very sorry I shall not see you as soon as I did hope, but your stay will be to so good purpose, that it will be a consolation to your friends that want you. Yesterday the rich Thyn brought a petition to the King, he said from the county of Wiltshire. The King asked him if it came from the Sessions? No. If from the Grand Jury? No. Then his Majesty told him he did not take it from the county. There was Sir Walter St Johns and Sir Robert Hungerford with him; but the petitions fell flat to what was expected. There are now but two days for them to come. What will be done at the meeting of Parliament I know not.
I am yours, with a true affection,