THE EARL OF SUNDERLAND TO MR. SIDNEY.
My Lord Bodmin and Sir Robert Southwell having orders to communicate all their instructions to you and the Prince, I need not say any thing to you concerning either of them, but that you are to give them all the information you can of what has been done and what is intended by the States. The Duke falls into all our measures so much beyond what we could expect, both at home and abroad, that I will venture to say the King's affairs are in a better condition than they have been these seven years. For we apprehended only that he would have disordered them, but we find quite the contrary. Take this upon my word, for I do positively affirm it to you. I must needs tell you that I have laboured more than ever you saw me, and that the King is entirely convinced that he can never have any good from France. If you had heard all he said to the Duke upon this subject, you would be amazed, but extremely satisfied. The chief difficulties in the Duke's mind were, that the Prince desired to enter into a new war; that the Parliament might sit, though never so much to the hazard of the Government or any thing else; and
