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erit。 BURNEY； HISTORY OF MUSIC。＇ who hath proposed a play in Italian for the Opera； which T。 Killigrew do intend to have up； and here he did sing one of the acts。 He himself is the poet as well as the musician； which is very much； and did sing the whole from the words without any musique prickt； and played all along upon a harpsicon most admirably； and the composition most excellent。 The words I did not understand； and so know not how they are fitted； but believe very well； and all in the recitative very fine。 But I perceive there is a proper accent in every country's discourse； and that do reach in their setting of notes to words； which； therefore； cannot be natural to any body else but them； so that I am not so much smitten with it as it may be I should be if I were acquainted with their accent。 But the whole composition is certainly most excellent； and the poetry； T。 Killigrew and Sir R。 Murray； who understood the words； did say most excellent。 I confess I was mightily pleased with the musique。 He pretends not to voice； though it be good； but not excellent。 This done； T。 Killigrew and I to talk： and he tells me how the audience at his house is not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire。 That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the stage； she understanding so well： that they are going to give her 30l。 a…year more。 That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better and more glorious than ever heretofore。 Now wax…candles； and many of them； then not above 3 lbs。 of tallow： now all things civil； no rudeness any where； then； as in a bear…garden： then two or three fiddlers； now nine or ten of the best： then nothing but rushes upon the ground； and every thing else mean； now all otherwise： then the Queene seldom and the King never would come； now； not the King only for state； but all civil people do think they may come as well as any。 He tells me that he hath gone several times （eight or ten times； he tells me；） hence to Rome； to hear good musique； so much he loves it； though he never did sing or play a note。 That he hath ever endeavoured in the late King's time and in this to introduce good musique； but he never could do it； there never having been any musique here better than ballads。 And says 〃Hermitt poore〃 and 〃Chiny Chese〃 was all the musique we had； and yet no ordinary fiddlers get so much money as ours do here； which speaks our rudeness still。 That he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome； to come to make a concert for the King； which he do give 200l。 a…year a…piece to； but badly paid； and do come in the room of keeping four ridiculous Gundilows； he having got the King to put them away； and lay out money this way。 And indeed I do commend him for it； for I think it is a very noble undertaking。 He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to be performed at the two present theatres； since he is defeated in what he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it。 And he tells me plainly that the City audience was as good as the Court； but now they are most gone。 Baptista tells me that Giacomo Charissimi ＇Giacomo Chiarissimi； Maestro di Cappella of the Church of St。 Apollinare in the German College at Rome； an excellent Italian musician。 He lived to be 90。BURNEY。＇ is still alive at Rome； who was master to Vinnecotio； who is one of the Italians that the King hath here； and the chief composer of them。 My great wonder is； how this man do to keep in memory so perfectly the musique of the whole act； both for the voice and the instrument too。 I confess I do admire it： but in recitative the sense much helps him； for there is but one proper way of discoursing and giving the accents。 Having done our discourse； we all took coaches （my Lord's and T。 Killigrew's） and to Mrs。 Knipp's chamber； where this Italian is to teach her to sing her part。 And so we all thither； and there she did sing an Italian song or two very fine； while he played the bass upon a harpsicon there； and exceedingly taken I am with her singing； and believe she will do miracles at that and acting。
13th。 To the Duke of York； and there did our usual business； but troubled to see that at this time； after our declaring a debt to the Parliament of 900；000l。 and nothing paid since； but the debt encreased； and now the fleet to set out； to hear that the King hath ordered but 35；000l。 for the setting out of the fleet； out of the Poll Bill to buy all provisions； when five times as much had been little enough to have done any thing to purpose。 They have； indeed； ordered more for paying off of seamen and the Yards to some time； but not enough for that neither。 A foul evening this was to…night； and I mightily troubled to get a coach home； and； which is now my common practice； going over the ruins in the night； I rid with my sword drawn in the coach。
14th。 By coach to my Lord Chancellor's； and there a meeting： the Duke of York； Duke of Albemarle； and several other Lords of the Commission of Tangier。 And there I did present a state of my accounts； and managed them well and my Lord Chancellor did say； though he was in other things in an ill humour； that no man in England was of more method； nor made himself better understood； than myself。 But going； after the business of money was over； to other businesses； of settling the garrison； he did fling out； and so did the Duke of York； two or three severe words touching my Lord Bellasses： that he would have no Governor come away from thence in less than three years： no； though his lady were with child。 〃And；〃 says the Duke of York； 〃there should be no Governor continue so； longer than three years。〃〃And；〃 says Lord Arlington； 〃when our rules are once set； and upon good judgment declared； no Governor should offer to alter them。〃 〃We must correct the many things that are amiss there； for （says the Lord Chancellor） you must think we do hear of more things amiss than we are willing to speak before our friends' faces。〃 My Lord Bellasses would not take notice of their reflecting on him； and did wisely。 H。 Cholmly and I to the Temple； and there walked in the dark in the walks talking of news； and he surprises me with the certain news that the King did last night in Council declare his being in treaty with the Dutch： that they had sent him a very civil letter； declaring that if nobody but themselves were concerned； they would not dispute the place of treaty； but leave it to his choice； but that being obliged to satisfy therein a prince of equal quality with himself； they must except any place in England or Spain。 Also the King hath chosen the Hague； and thither hath chose my Lord Hollis and Harry Coventry to go Embassadors to treat； which is so mean a thing as all the world will believe that we do go to beg a peace of them； whatever we pretend。 And it seems all our Court are mightily for a peace； taking this to be the time to make one while the King hath money； that he may save something of what the Parliament hath given him to put him out of debt； so as he may need the help of no more Parliaments； as to the point of money： but our debt is so great； and expence daily so encreased； that I believe little of the money will be saved b