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a moment； and when all who were possessed of any opportunity to make profit； used it with the most shameless avidity； lest the golden minutes should pass away unimproved。
〃In quitting the broad path of history；〃 says Sir Walter； 〃we seek for minute information concerning ancient manners and customs； the progress of arts and sciences； and the various branches of antiquity。 We have never seen a mine so rich as the volumes before us。 The variety of Pepys's tastes and pursuits led him into almost every department of life。 He was a man of business； a man of information if not of learning； a man of taste； a man of whim； and to a certain degree a man of pleasure。 He was a statesman； a BEL ESPRIT； a virtuoso； and a connoisseur。 His curiosity made him an unwearied as well as an universal learner； and whatever he saw found its way into his tables。 Thus； his Diary absolutely resembles the genial cauldrons at the wedding of Camacho； a souse into which was sure to bring forth at once abundance and variety of whatever could gratify the most eccentric appetite。
〃If the curious； affect dramatic antiquitiesa line which has special charms for the present ageno book published in our time has thrown so much light upon plays； playwrights； and play… actors。
〃Then those who desire to be aware of the earliest discoveries； as well in sciences； as in the useful arts； may read in Pepys's Memoirs； how a slice of roast mutton was converted into pure blood； and of those philosophical glass crackers； which explode when the tail is broken off （Rupert's Drops） of AURUM FULMINANS； applied to the purpose of blowing ships out of the water； and of a newly contrived gun； which was to change the whole system of the art of war； but which has left it pretty much upon the old footing。 A lover of antique scandal which taketh away the character； and committeth SCANDALUM MAGNATUM against the nobility of the seventeenth century； will find in this work an untouched treasure of curious anecdote for the accomplishment of his purpose。〃
PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION
In submitting the following pages to the Public； I feel that it is incumbent upon me to explain by what circumstances the materials from which the Work has been compiled were placed at my disposal。 The original Diary； comprehending six volumes； closely written in short…hand by Mr。 Pepys himself； belonged to the valuable collection of books and prints； bequeathed by him to Magdalene College； Cambridge； and had remained there unexamined； till the appointment of my Brother； the present Master； under whose auspices the MS。 was deciphered by Mr。 John Smith； with a view to its publication。
My Brother's time； however； being too much engrossed by more important duties to admit of his editing the work； the task of preparing it for the press was undertaken by me at his request。
The Diary commences January 1st； 1659…60 and after being regularly kept for ten years； it is brought to a sudden conclusion； owing to the weak state of Mr。 Pepys's eyes； which precluded him from continuing or resuming the occupation。 As he was in the habit of recording the most trifling occurrences of his life； it became absolutely necessary to curtail the MS。 materially； and in many instances to condense the matter； but the greatest care has been taken to preserve the original meaning； without making a single addition； excepting where； from the short…hand being defective； some alteration appeared absolutely necessary。 It may be objected by those who are not aware how little is known from authentic sources of the History of the Stage about the period of the Restoration； that the notices of theatrical performances occur too frequently； but as many of the incidents recorded； connected with this subject； are not to be met with elsewhere； I thought myself justified in retaining them； at the risk of fatiguing those readers who have no taste for the concerns of the Drama。 The general details may also； in some instances； even in their abridged form； be considered as too minute； nor is it an easy task； in an undertaking of this sort； to please everybody's taste： my principal study in making the selection； however； has been to omit nothing of public interest； and to introduce at the same time a great variety of other topics； less important； perhaps； put tending in some degree to illustrate the manners and habits of the age。
In justice to Mr。 Pepys's literary reputation； the reader is forewarned that he is not to expect to find in the Diary accuracy of style or finished composition。 We should rather consider the Work as a collection of reminiscences hastily thrown together at the end of each succeeding day； for the exclusive perusal of the Author。
The Journal contains the most unquestionable evidences of veracity； and； as the writer made no scruple of committing his most secret thoughts to paper； encouraged no doubt by the confidence which he derived from the use of short…hand； perhaps there never was a publication more implicitly to be relied upon for the authenticity of its statements and the exactness with which every fact is detailed。 Upon this point； I can venture to speak with the less hesitation； having； in preparing the sheets for the press； had occasion to compare many parts of the Diary with different accounts of the same transactions recorded elsewhere； and in no instance could I detect any material error or wilful misrepresentation。
The Notes at the bottom of the pages were introduced to elucidate obscure passages； and I have been tempted occasionally to insert short Biographical Sketches of the principal persons who are named； accompanied by such references as will enable the curious reader to inform himself more fully respecting them。 In some instances I experienced considerable difficulty in identifying the individuals； but I trust that the notices will be found； on the whole； sufficiently correct to answer the object intended。
In justice to the Reverend John Smith； （with whom I am not personally acquainted；） it may be added； that he appears to have performed the task allotted to him； of deciphering the short…hand Diary； with diligence and fidelity； and to have spared neither time nor trouble in the undertaking。
The best account of Mr。 Pepys occurs in the Supplement to Collier's Historical Dictionary； published soon after his death； and written； as I have reason to believe； by his relative Roger Gale。 Some particulars may also be obtained from Knight's Life of Dean Colet； Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary； Cole's MSS。 in the British Museum： the MSS in the Bodleian and Pepysian Libraries； and the Cockerell Papers。
BRAYBROOKE。 Audley End； May 14th； 1825
MEMOIR OF SAMUEL PEPYS
Samuel Pepys； the author of the Diary here presented to the reader was descended from the family of Pepys originally seated at Diss； in Norfolk； and who settled at Cottenham； in Cambridgeshire； early in the sixteenth century。 His father； John Pepys； followed for some time the trade of a tailor； and the reader may hereafter notice the influence which this genealogy seems to have exercised over the style and sentiments of his son's Diary。 The father retired to Brampton； in Huntingdonshire；