# Diary of the times of Charles II/Volume 1/The Dowager Countess of Sunderland to Mr. Sidney, January 30

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 ​humours. His sisters and his brother-in-law tell me 'tis insufferable. I have made no complaint of him, but I have been a little sharp with him myself, and 'tis very well past over; they are abominably fooled by their neighbours.
I see one thing very plain that is very ill—they are not pleased with Lucy's marriage; I hope my sister will not find it out, she shall not know it by me. She and my brother are very well pleased with me, and so is she too, but she behaves herself very well. I told you in my last how far I had gone. My brother came to town last night on my summons. I believe he will find no difficulty, and the estate rather better than I represented it. Her brother tells me she needs no persuasions to it, though his person is not taking, but 'tis like to do very well; he is very bashful, and to strangers backward to speak. He was alone with me, and I found his sense very good. I would not let him go to her, till her father came to town. I was told by a very understanding person, that those ​who know him well say he is a very honest, worthy gentleman—that was the expression.
My Lord Halifax is gone to Rufford, liking the country air very well. My Lady says she wishes he would send for them, and not come for so short a time; as to that, he has said a good while he would go. Poor Mrs. Harvey does not mend her humour at all, she is wilful to such a degree as nobody ever was. The town says that the Countess de Soissons has been here, and gone upon the French Ambassador telling her the King's declaration, that if any accused for poisoning in France did come hither, he would send them to the King of France. That is true, but I know not if her having been here is so. I heard it but last night, and have seen nobody since.
The Duke of Monmouth has so little employment in state affairs, that he has been at leisure to send two fine ladies out of town. My Lord Grey has carried his wife into Northumberland, and my Lady Wentworth's ill eyes did find cause, as she thought, to carry her daughter into the country in so much haste that it makes a great noise, and was done sure in some great passion. My Lord Grey was long in believing the Duke of Monmouth an unfaithful friend to him. He gave her but one ​night's time to take leave, pack up, and be gone. Some say he is gone to improve his interests in the north.
In Kent they had put my son Smith into your jury; he would have got out of it, but Spencer did it; he would not have been in for £2000. They that put him in did not know that he had any relation to you.
The news of the Duke's coming, by the declaration the King has put into the Gazette, is thought a little extraordinary by some. I wish you here with all my heart, for your own sake; and, because I believe I shall never see any other brother again, the more charity it is in you to be a little kind to
Yours most affectionately,
D.S.