'I am just now returned from Kilkenny, having through God's mercy not had the least disaster or disappointment in that affair. My Lady Dutchesse is soe learned in the art of Civility, that it is a hard matter to discern them from reall kindness—but I assure you that if she hath not a reall and extraordinary kindnes for us both, I am much mistaken. In particular she did (what was not usuall) earnestly invite me to lye in the Castle, and that with extraordinary expressions to others, which was, "That where ever shee had a house, I should never lye out of it." It were vanity (and perhaps tedious) to relate the rest. Let it suffice that I say I believe that she is very reall, etc. My Lord Lieutenant also was kinder than ordinary, soe as my hopes that he will doe us good in our business doth not lessen: And I find that by the printing of our papers, the business is better understood than formerly.
'Adieu, my dearest.'[1]
Sir William to Lady Petty.
'I am now returned from Kilkenny, where you were remembered by the Dutchess, Lady M. Cavendish, and many others; as also was Cozen Waller. I thought my Lord Lieutt would have done something for me more than hee did; but a little progresse was made at the expence of 13li in a 10 dayes journey; and I hope well next terme. They come to towne in the beginning of Aprill, and think to bee in England in May, and Lord Arran to be Lord Deputy, but this you should have written. The cause of this journey is sayd to [be] the marriage of Lord Ossory.
' As to Sr J. Shaen, hee never did mee good, nor did I ever do him wrong. Hee is a dangerous freind and a mischevous foe. Let him make himself rich, and I will hope to make him honest and pay his debts. As for the petition, let Nature work. If the Reduced Collumn prosper, we can spare it. What is meant by the King loosing 13000li per annum, if my Kerry state be true, I know not.
- ↑ Petty MSS.
