Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/364

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DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF

setshire they have gone so far as to set forth remonstrances against such seditions proceedings, but here is the business that crowns the day, Just now I have an account of what the Common Council has done, namely, that the petition was rejected by 15 voices, though my Lord Mayor played the devil. 'Tis the best news we could hope for. If the City be quiet, I think there is no great danger, and I hope in God, that time will bring people to their wits again.[1] I assure you we are all very pert upon this unexpected good success. I pray God send we may make a good use of all these reprieves. It may seem very impertinent my writing all this, which you will certainly hear from better hands, and more impertinent my commenting upon it, but I love to impart my thoughts to my friend, and you, I hope, will ever be in the first rank.


THE EARL OF SUNDERLAND TO MR. SIDNEY.

January 23.

Sir,

The news the King has writ to the Prince, I hope, will so absolutely put an end to all the busi-

  1. "In short, says Ralph, the whole nation was divided into Petitioner and Abhorrer, and almost every day produced some