King intends to make a long stay at Newmarket, and all that while my Lord Sunderland will enjoy himself at Althorpe. The Duke, they say, will be here on Saturday or Monday, only to see the Duchess, and returns again.
The night before my Lord Sunderland went away, we were together with Monsieur Van Lewin, and pressed him very much that his masters should pass their resolution in the States-General concerning the French alliance. He excused it all he could, and said they were not in a condition to do things of éclat, and that the substantial part was done by their Ambassadors at Paris. We told them that there could be no danger to them by doing what we desired, since that which he called the substantial part, which had been done at Paris, was that which would anger the French King. And this form of passing their resolution could not provoke him more; but it would give a more general satisfaction to us here, and especially amongst the people, who otherwise would think that there wanted still something between the States and us to make us sure of one another. The Ambassador said that he would write to his masters to this purpose, being convinced, as he owned, that it would be useful to
