_Sir George Downing_ (Vol. iii., p. 69.).--The following extract of a
letter in Cartes' _Letters_, ii. 319., confirms the accuracy of the
memorandum as to Sir G. Downing's parentage, sent you by J. P. C. The
letter is from T. Howard to Charles II., written April 5, 1660, on the eve
of the Restoration. Downing had offered to Howard to serve the King,--
"alleging to be engaged in a contrary party by his father, who was
banished into New England, where he was brought up, and had sucked in
principles that since his reason had made him see were erroneous."