Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/377

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THE TIMES OF CHARLES THE SECOND.
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THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF SUNDERLAND TO MR SIDNEY.

January 30th.

I write without expecting or desiring a return from a man of your importance at this time, but in some way I hope to hear soon what effect our prorogation has where you are. I hope they did no more expect the sitting of the Parliament than we did here, and then it will make no change, which every good body does wish now 'tis so well. Those who have pretended most to desire what you have so happily succeeded in are sorry for it, because 'tis for the good of the King and kingdom, and done without them.

Though I am no great courtier, I have almost fallen out with some of their unseasonable factiousness and particular maliciousness to my son; with these Tom Pelham is, but you shall never hear it. He expects too much from you, and is as interested a young man as any is, or else he would not be such a slave to his father-in-law's

    it too might not occasion some men's greater distastes at the Government."—Temple's Works, ii. 524.
    Burnet says, that, so far from readily consenting to their resignation, Charles "was so highly offended, that he became more sullen and intractable than he had ever been before"—ii. 239.