按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
read over this paper of my Lord Keeper's； wherein are laid down the faults of the Navy； so silly； and the remedies so ridiculous； or else the same that are now already provided； that we thought it not to need any answer； the Duke of York being able himself to do it： that so it makes us admire the confidence of these men to offer things so silly in a business of such moment。 But it is a most perfect instance of the complexion of the times！ And so the Duke of York said himself； who； I perceive； is mightily concerned in it； and do again and again recommend it to Mr。 Wren and me together； to consider upon remedies fit to provide for him to propound to the King； before the rest of the world； and particularly the Commissioners of Accounts； who are men of understanding and order； to find our faults； and offer remedies of their own： which I am glad of； and will endeavour to do something in it。 So parted； and with much difficulty by candle…light walked over the Matted Gallery； as it is now with the mats and boards all taken up； so that we walked over the rafters。 But strange to see how hard matter the plaister of Paris is that is there taken up； as hard as stone！ And pity to see Holben's work in the ceiling blotted on and only whited over！ My wife this day with Hales； to sit for her hand to be mended in her picture。
29th。 Up； and all the morning at the office； where the Duke of York's long letter was read to their great trouble； and their suspecting me to have been the writer of it。 And at noon comes by appointment Harris to dine with me： and after dinner he and I to Chyrurgeons'…hall； where they are building it new； very fine； and there to see their theatre； which stood all the fire； and （which was our business） their great picture of Holben's； thinking to have bought it by the help of Mr。 Pierce for a little money： I did think to give 200l。 for it； it being said to be worth 1000l。； but it is so spoiled that I have no mind to it； and is not a pleasant though a good picture。 Thence carried Harris to his playhouse； where； though four o'clock； so few people there are at 〃The Impertinents；〃 as I went out； and do believe they did not act； though there was my Lord Arlington and his company there。 So I out； and met my wife in a coach； and stopped her going thither to meet me； and took her and Mercer and Deb。 to Bartholomew fair； and there did see a ridiculous； obscene little stage…play； called 〃Marry Audrey；〃 a foolish thing； but seen by every body： and so to Jacob Hall's ＇Jacob Hall； the famous rope… dancer； was said to have received a salary from Lady Castlemaine； who had become enamoured of him。＇ dancing on the ropes； a thing worth seeing； and mightily followed。
30th。 Lord's day。 Walked to St。 James's and Pell Mell； and； read over with Sir W。 Coventry my long letter to the Duke of York； and which the Duke of York hath from mine wrote to the Board； wherein he is mightily pleased； and I perceive do put great value upon me； and did talk very openly on all matters of State； and how some people have got the Bill into their mouths （meaning the Duke of Buckingham and his party）； and would likely run away with all。 But what pleased me mightily was to hear the good character he did give of my Lord Falmouth for his generosity； good…nature； desire of public good； and low thoughts of his own wisdom； his employing his interest in the King to do good offices to all people； without any other fault than the freedom he do learn in France of thinking himself obliged to serve his King in his pleasures； and was Sir W。 Coventry's particular friend； and Sir W。 Coventry do tell me very odde circumstances about the fatality of his death； which are very strange。 ＇I have read the particulars of this prediction in a MS。 in the Pepysian Collection； but the reference to it is unfortunately mislaid。＇ Thence to White Hall to chapel； and heard the anthem； and did dine with the Duke of Albemarle in a dirty manner as ever。 All the afternoon I sauntered up and down the house and Park。 And there was a Committee for Tangier met； wherein Lord Middleton would； I think； have found fault with me for want of coles； but I slighted it；； and he made nothing of it； but was thought to be drunk； and I see that he hath a mind to find fault with me and Creed； neither of us having yet applied ourselves to him about any thing： but do talk of his profits and perquisites taken from him； and garrison reduced； and that it must be increased； and such things as I fear he will be just such another as my Lord Tiviott； and the rest to ruin that place。 So I to the Park； and there walk an hour or two； and in the King's garden； and saw the Queene and ladies walk； and I did steal some apples off the trees； and here did see my Lady Richmond； who is of a noble person as ever I did see； but her face worse than it was considerably by the small…pox： her sister is also very handsome。 So to White Hall in the evening to the Queene's side； and there met the Duke of York； and he did tell me and Sir W。 Coventry； who was with me； how the Lord Anglesy did take notice of our reading his long and sharp letter to the Board； but that it was the better； at least he said so。 The Duke of York； I perceive； is earliest in it； and will have good effects of it； telling Sir W。 Coventry that it was a letter that might have come from the Commissioners of Accounts； but it was better it should come first from him。 I met Lord Brouncker； who； I perceive； and the rest； do smell that it comes from me； but dare not find fault with me； and I am glad of it； it being my glory and defence that I did occasion and write it。 So by water home； and did spend the evening with W。 Hewer； telling him how we are all like to be turned out； Lord Brouncker telling me this evening that the Duke of Buckingham did within few hours say that he had enough to turn us all out： which I am not sorry for at all； for I know the world will judge me to go for company； and my eyes are such as I am not able to do the business of my office as I used； and would desire to do while I am in it。
31st。 To the Duke of York's playhouse； and saw 〃Hamlet；〃 which we have not seen this year before； or more； and mightily pleased with it； but above all with Betterton； the best part； I believe that ever man acted。
SEPTEMBER 1； 1668。 To the fair and there saw several sights； among others； the mare that tells money and many things to admiration。
2nd。 Fast…day for the burning of London strictly observed。
3rd。 To my bookseller's for 〃Hobbs's Leviathan；〃 which is now mightily called for： and what was heretofore sold for 8s。 I now give 24s。 at the second hand； and is sold for 30s。 it being a book the Bishops will not let be printed again。
4th。 To the fair to see the play 〃Bartholomew…fair；〃 with puppets。 and it is an excellent play； the more I see it； the more I love the wit of it； only the business of abusing the Puritans begins to grow stale and of no use； they being the people that at last will be found the wisest。 This night Knipp tells us that there is a Spanish woman lately come over that pretends to sing as well as Mrs。 Knight； ＇A celebrated singer and favourite of Charles Il。 Her portrait was engraved in 1749 by Faber； afte