Friday 29 December 1665
Up betimes, and all day long within doors upon my accounts, publique and private, and find the ill effect of letting them go so long without evening, that no soul could have ever understood them but myself, and I with much ado. But, however, my regularity in all I did and spent do helpe me, and I hope to find them well. Late at them and to bed.
6 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"all day long within doors upon my accounts, publique and private, and find the ill effect of letting them go so long without evening, that no soul could have ever understood them but myself"
Long intervals between balancing ("evening") his accounts have put Pepys in a pickle. Is it perhaps serendipitous that only he can, ah, decipher his books?
cape henry • Link
"Is it perhaps serendipitous that only he can, ah, decipher his books?" --TF Pepys' various and sundry business entanglements, not to mention his "tips" and "commissions" from numerous sources, long ago left me in the dust. I suspect this applies to many who gather here. But upon reading that it requires him several days of nonstop reckoning to sort through, I don't feel so bad about my ignorance.
Todd Bernhardt • Link
"my regularity in all I did and spent do helpe me"
At least Sam can trust himself! Not by any means true of a lot of people...
cgs • Link
"all play and no work makes Sam poor"
Oh! Dear, more resolutions needed, keep eyes on the tallies not on the pews
Second Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... my accounts, publique and private, ..."
My first reaction to this was that Pepys was doing the publique official Navy and Tangier accounts, but also his private version which reflected his commissions and side agreements. Quadrupal bookkeeping takes time.
Then I remembered that he also does his Pepys' household expenditures, necessary to get to that figure of which he is so proud ... the new net worth. Maybe that is what he means by private accounts.
He must have kept a book of agreements somewhere or he'd forget what his commission were to be when the ships' accounts are finally cleared months/years later.
Hand shakes only go so far.
David • Link
At times like this recourse to his diary must have been very helpful.