jeannine

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jeannine has written 14 articles:

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jeannine has posted 1,236 annotations/comments since 16 June 2004.

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First Reading

About Thursday 26 March 1663

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General Stone Question?
Does anyone know what ever happened to Sam's famous stone? Where he kept it his entire life I am wondering if it was also preserved?

About Monday 16 March 1662/63

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Robert you can put away the gun...This is obviously a Wheatley translation error......Sam didn't buy her a "virginal" book but rather a "virgin book" full of all of the little pieces of advice a young girl needs to know about how to stay pure in such a harsh world...1. Stay away from the brother-in-law, 2. Stay away from the Master, 3. Stay out of Court activities, etc. This no doubt was an Elizabeth approved purchase....this is just so obvious because our Sam couldn't be that much of a moron, or could he????

About Saturday 14 March 1662/63

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Lawson's activities in the Streights...
Sandwich's Journal dated Sept 10, 1661 says "Tuesday. Came in a French settee which had been but 15 days from Algiers. Bought news that Sir John Lawson had taken the 2 ships that were lading wood at Bugia and tow other Algiers men of war, and run another ashore, and that when we shot against Algiers we killed them many men and beat down many houses, and that they have made a greatheap of our shot in the Palace Yard...."
Oct 26, 1661 "....The Princess [ship] bought word also of a Turks man of war, one of the best sailers of all Algiers, that was chased by him and put on shore near Malaga by Sir John Lawson and the Fairfax. They have taken all the men, 150."

About Saturday 14 March 1662/63

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"Now sit right back and you’ll hear a tale"...Gee Robert, Gilligan must be turning over in his grave! You may actually have found a way out of your day job, as this would no doubt be a hit in reality TV today. You'll just need to throw in someone to play the role of the Professor, perhaps Sir Issac Newton, and you're all set!
And for those in doubt of the possibilities of bringing together a diverse group from Restoration England and making a play (show) about them, look no further than George Bernard Shaw...
http://www.gutenberg.net.au/ebook…

So Robert, when this takes off and you're rich and famous, please remember us little people.....

About Saturday 14 March 1662/63

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So today's theme of corruption, money and the post office are all brought together by none other than ....Lady Castlemaine, who in 1667 will use her "influence with the treasury commissioners to secure a 1,000 pound pension out of the profits of the post office" (Wilson, p 219)...It seems that if there's a potential for a revenue flow, there's a potential for corruption.

About Friday 13 March 1662/63

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Mary,Good points and I am sure there is a line that Wheatley didn't translate here explaining how Sam has bound Balty's mouth shut, so hopefully Ashwell will not be led to expect more! Sounds like she has it well enough as it is.

About Friday 13 March 1662/63

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"where I walked an hour or two with great pleasure, it being a most pleasant day"..how many of us would love to show up for a business meeting only to find it canceled and then have 2 hours to go for a walk and enjoy a beautiful day! This type of thing rarely happens these days as most people would be scurring off to the next item on their overpacked work schedule. Good for Sam!

About Thursday 12 March 1662/63

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Now, now, Todd, Robert and Susan, how can you doubt for a moment that this one won't turn out just fine. It reminds me of those office bets, where everyone chips in a few dollars, places their bet (on whatever) and the closest person wins the pot. The big question is should we be betting on Mary Ashwell's longevity in days, hours or minutes......

About Tuesday 10 March 1662/63

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Wayneman....In the tradition of Sam rewarding a meal well done, can't you just see Bess slipping Wayneman a sixpence for "innocently" ticking off Lady Batten....I'll leave the dialogue for the talented Robert to supply...

Thanks to Paul and Mary for their explanations, as I too was confused.

About Saturday 7 March 1662/63

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A Visit from Theo//

Theo alighted upon a frolique //
Straightforward to me she did speak//
With a most convincing technique//
A sea job for John she did seek//

Spending money brings me a great pique//
Dinner then gloves from a fancy boutique//
A coach ride with wheels that did creak//
All to get rid of that little pip-squeak!!!

About Thursday 5 March 1662/63

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"my Lord Sandwich, who I found very ill, and by his cold ...."

He's not the only one! Today's letter from King Charles to his sister Minette in France..

"I writ to you yesterday by de Chapelles, who will tell you what a cruell cold I have gott, which is now so general a disease heere, after the breaking of the frost, that nobody escapes it, and though my cold be yett so ill, as it might well excuse me writing, I thought it necessary to let you know that the Queene, my mother, findes an absolute ease of the headache which she has had all night, by being lett blood this afternoon, and she finds so great benefitte by it, as I hope her cold will in two or three days be gone, especially if the weather continues so faire and warme as it it today. Excuse me that I say no more at this time, for really this little holding downe my head makes me ake, my dearest sister I em entirely yours. C.R."

About Tuesday 3 March 1662/63

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“access to the “finer” things in life”
You never know, maybe someone's idea of the finer things in life is having a chance to visit London to try some of that English ale and cheese! So while Sam works for his dreams maybe others are contemplating some of their own. Of course, now you'll be stuck treating!

About Tuesday 3 March 1662/63

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On a more serious note.. how many of us can look back ten or more years in our life and see a change in our own tastes, etc.? Do you still drink the same wine, beer (whatever) that you drank in college, do you still like the same meals, have the same hand me down furniture, etc. Growing up, gaining a little earning power, etc. and access to the "finer" things in life (whatever they be for each of us) is part of a process that he's accomplishing from hard work. Granted his "invitation" into the world of finer things and his position at the Navy came via Sandwich, but, if he was a loser, Sandwich would not have given him the slot to begin with. From there he has applied himself and achieved, so, a toast of claret to him, and HIS WIFE for all they have accomplished together.

About Tuesday 3 March 1662/63

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"Wine cellar?”
You too can be like Sam....In celebration of his new wine cellar, I too now have one of my own. I just took a bottle of fancy pants wine and brought it down to the basement. I crawled over the piles of tools, kids toys, exercise equipment, yard sale wanna be "stuff", bikes, etc. I passed the furnace, the plant potting bags of dirt and finally located a free space of about 1 square foot. I perfectly positioned the bottle on a little rack in a very impressive manner.I am planning to invite you all over to see it so I can show it off, but it won't be until I've increased my homeowner's insurance policy as the trip through the basement to gaze at my "collection" could be life threatening.

About Monday 2 March 1662/63

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"Could I maybe send over some comforting Gouda cheese, Jeannine ? "

Sjoerd,
But of course! You're such a gentleman, Thanks so much!

About Monday 2 March 1662/63

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Somewhere in another galaxy.....
Well, just the other day I too spent time sailing on my yacht, enjoying a wonderful assortment of fine champagnes, oysters, shrimp and imported cheeses. Upon alighting from the yacht, I slipped on my overpriced and very impressive shoes and happened to chip a nail. Immediately I sent off to the my personal manicurist who arrived with a soothing balm and gave me an immediate touch up in that lovely shimmering pale pink that is so "in" this season. I then stopped to dine with a group of socialites at the club. After dinner we went to have drinks by the water while watching the newer, better and much more expensive ships arrive. After dinner the driver took me home and I arrived to see my husband behind in all of his cleaning. The laundry wasn't finished and I even had to point out a spot on the kitchen floor that he apparently missed while washing it on his hands and knees. He hadn't even polished the silver which he knows I need for tomorrow as the ladies are coming for brunch. It's times like these that I read the entries of dear Sam and have such a connection to all of the trials that he has put up with in his lifetime. We're practically soulmates with these burdens that we share....Life is just so unfair but how I can learn to perservere from his fine example...........

About Friday 25 May 1660

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Sandwich's Journal Entry Today

"Friday. About ten of the clock in the morning the fleet came to the anchor in Dover road. About one of the clock in the afternoon the King and the Dukes of York and Gloucester went off on board into the General's barge, Captain Cuttance steering the barge and the General standing before the house of the barge. Beale's brigantine rowed into the shore ahead of the barge, the Vice Admiral upon the starboard quarter and Rear Admiral upon the larborad, divers other boats of the fleet in company; and between three and four of the clock in the afternoon the King's most sacred majesty and their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York and Gloucester went on shore upon the strand a little northward of Dover pier, where immediately General Monk met him, and when General Mountague had attened his Majesty and the Dukes unto General Mock have had the honour to kiss their hands, he presently went back on board the Charles and sailed that night into the Downs. The Charles fired 3 rounds and the rest of the fleet 5 rounds in salutes."