my best life; be wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove. So farewell, for this time, yours,

R. RUSSELL.

Mr. James and I desire Thomson* every week.

LADY R. RUSSELL TO LORD W. RUSSELL. Stratton, September 25, 1682. I STAID till I came from church, that I might, as late as I could, tell you all your concerns here are just as you left them. The young man as mad (her son), winking at me, and striking with his drumstick whatever comes to his reach. If I had written before church, whilst my morning draught was in my head, this might have entertained you better; but, now those fumes are laid, I find my spirits more dull than usual, as I have more cause; the much dearer and pleasanter part of my life being absent from me: I leave my Lord Russell to guess who that is. I had a letter last post from Mrs. Lacon: pray tell her so, and that you had the paper about the King of Poland+; for she is very inquisitive to know, it being so new, she says Charlton had not seen it. I know nothing new since you went; but I know, as certainly as I live, that I have been, for twelve years, as passionate a lover as ever woman was, and hope to be so one twelve years more; happy still, and entirely yours,

* Probably a newspaper of that time.

R. RUSSELL.

+ "This (says the editor of the Letters) was, probably, a report that the duke of York was to be made king of Poland.” May it not be an allusion to Lord Shaftesbury, who was said to aspire to the Polish crown? R. A. D.

THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF SUNDERLAND * TO THE EARL OF HALIFAX.

June 20th, 1680.

WHAT measures soever you take of my kindness and good will, I fear, my dear lord, you cannot but think me impertinent in writing so many letters to you. By this post you will receive my son's desire to meet him: on Tuesday he intends to go. He says you will, he knows, be well satisfied with what is already done and intended. My brother Harry will go to Althorpe : he longs to see you, he says, and more of your friends: I saw them both yesterday, and they told me so. My son had a sore mouth that vexed him, with the ill news from Tangiers, that the fort is taken. Our men must get it back again: a terrible scene, they say, that will be. My Lord Middleton is to go to the emperor as envoy. I am told by our ministers we are assured of his declaring at the Diet to be in league with us and the Dutch; and my brother says, he does not doubt but, by Michaelmas, almost all the princes of Europe will do so too. He says, that from this city did come letters to the States of Holland, to persuade them not to make a league with us; for we were in so ill condition by the divisions amongst ourselves, if they quitted France for us, they were ruined. This did stagger them awhile. It is certain the mutineers + are out of their wits, and may be ashamed of the lies they have told: either they

This lady was the Sacharissa celebrated by Waller. Thus the courtiers of that day called those in opposition to their measures.

be so.

have so ill intelligence, that they cannot for that be fit for great undertakings, or too little truth to Sir William Jones invited my brother Harry to dinner; and he told him some of the truths he will tell you. The man lifted up his eyes and hands in such a wonder, as if he had been in the Indies; and he tells nothing but what was known from him before; but they said it was all lies and cheat: now they cannot deny it, they are turning it to ill consequence. Yesterday my brother Smith dined at my Lord Shaftesbury's, and thought him pettish and out of humour extremely. Mr. Hampden came in before dinner, and said, "My lord, have we a league with the Dutch?"-"Yes," says my lord. Says Hampden, "This will be all turned against us: we shall have the Prince of Orange with an army here." They are so mad, they know not what they say. He whispered to my Lord Shaftesbury, and Smith heard him say, "I am afraid this will fool the Parliament." These are good Englishmen and Protestants! I have been too long upon politics, considering that you will know more in a few days than I shall do this twelvemonth, by those who will tell you true, that I am ashamed I have written so much. I am never better pleased than when I am told those things will be done that my Lord Halifax will approve; for then I am sure that is good for the nation; and my son being for those ways too, is a satisfaction to me. Tom Pelham and Ned Montague are so out of countenance for the lies they have told me, and not believing the truths I told them, they believe every word my brother Harry says.

Here is my secret; I fear Mr. Pierpoint will not prove a good husband: he is yet fond of her, but so unquiet in his house, and so miserable, the servants say, in all that is not for show, that they are all weary, and coming away. He calls the women all the ill names that are, and meddles with every thing in the kitchen much. I have not spoken with her alone a great while. All this is at Montague's, and will soon be every where. Yesterday, I heard he would put away her woman, for saying, God bless her mistress, she would be glad never to see her master again. She is very melancholy; but there is not a word of dislike to any thing of her behaviour. I believe she does not know what to do in a house. The King was yesterday here, though the day before there was a council at Windsor. My Lord President was there, and my Lord of Essex. My dear lord, though the length of my letter does not show the great haste I am in, the sense will. I am, yours, with all the affection you can think,

D. S.

WILLIAM PENN TO THE INDIANS.

1689.

THERE is a great God, and power, which hath made the world, and all things therein, to whom you and I, and all people owe their being and well being, and to whom you and I must one day give an account for all that we have done in this world.

This great God has written his law in our

hearts, by which we are taught and commanded to love, and to keep, and to do good to one another. Now this great God hath been pleased to make me concerned in your part of the world; and the king of the country where I live hath given me a great province therein: but I desire to enjoy it with your love and consent, that we may always live together as neighbours and friends; else what would the great God do to us, who hath made us (not to devour and destroy one another but) to live soberly and kindly together in the world? Now I would have you well observe, that I am very sensible of the unkindness and injustice which have been too much exercised towards you by the people of these parts of the world, who have sought themselves to make great advantages by you, rather than to be examples of goodness and patience unto you. This I hear hath been a matter of trouble unto you, and caused great grudging and animosities, sometimes to the shedding of blood; which hath made the great God angry. But I am not such a man, as is well known in my own country. I have a great love and regard to you, and desire to win and gain your love and friendship by a kind, just, and peaceable life; and the people I send you are of the same mind, and shall in all things behave themselves accordingly; and if in any thing any shall offend you or your people, you shall have a full and speedy satisfaction for the same, by an equal number of just men on both sides, that by no means you may have just occa sion of being offended against them.

I shall shortly come to see you myself, at