Thursday 18 June 1663
Up by four o’clock and to my office, where all the morning writing out in my Navy collections the ordinary estimate of the Navy, and did it neatly. Then dined at home alone, my mind pleased with business, but sad for the absence of my wife. After dinner half an hour at my viallin, and then all the afternoon sitting at the office late, and so home and to bed. This morning Mr. Cutler came and sat in my closet half an hour with me, his discourse very excellent, being a wise man, and I do perceive by him as well as many others that my diligence is taken notice of in the world, for which I bless God and hope to continue doing so.
Before I went into my house this night I called at Sir W. Batten’s, where finding some great ladies at table at supper with him and his lady, I retreated and went home, though they called to me again and again, and afterwards sent for me. So I went, and who should it be but Sir Fr. Clerke and his lady and another proper lady at supper there, and great cheer, where I staid till 11 o’clock at night, and so home and to bed.
18 Annotations
First Reading
A. De Araujo • Link
"though they called to me again and again,and afterwards sent for me"
You all must remember that like I said before I hate Sir William Batten with all my heart.
Bradford • Link
"my mind pleased with business, but sad for the absence of my wife."
But Mr. Pepys, it's so much cheaper sending the missus to Coventry, I mean to the country, and what is sentiment compared to saving cash? All right, we shouldn't tease him for that---but rather for playing hard to get with the dinner invitation from his dearest office-mate (see A. De A. above), and having to have a servant sent running after him, no doubt.
A proper lady is not exactly the opposite of an improper one (who might be more fun), but may mean a woman of some distinction. (Cf. "proper" = "distinctive," Companion, Large Glossary.)
TerryF • Link
A wise man knows others' soft spots
Does Mr. Cutler know Mr. Pepys is flattered when his "diligence is taken notice of"?
Australian Susan • Link
Sir William B seems to be going to a great deal of trouble to ensure he offers hospitality to Sam.
Although Sam has been anxious to get his wife away from what he perceives as the bad influence of Pembleton, she would have gone into the country anyway. If people could in those days, they did get out of London during the summer as it was seen as being unhealthy - plague outbreaks and other contagious diseases (typhoid, typhus, meningitis) were observed as occurring more frequently in hot weather. So Sam is doing the middle class thing here and sending the wife to the wholesome country air away from the noxious fumes of London (they thought diseases were caused by bad air).
Robert Gertz • Link
To be fair to Sam he was being courteous in calling on Sir Will B, then retreating on seeing he had guests to dinner. To be fair to Sir Will, it's a testiment to his generous nature that he always seems ready to extend hospitality to Sam even when they've been at odds.
***
Well, why the hell did you send Bess away, you clod? "I must get her into the country..." Still it must be uncomfortable in London now and plague season, so Bess is probably better off.
At least my Lord Sandwich is still in town or was yesterday...That sudden notice by him of Bess I do not like, Sam.
***
"So the King and the Duke tell Hyde as I stand by 'Hyde, that's some beauty Palmer's got for a wife.' So I smile and say thankee...And the next thing I knew..." Roger Palmer, Lord Castlemaine sighs to his table mates at the Sign of the Bull as Sam, with the office crew, listens.
"Pepys?" Batten stares as Sam rises suddenly, a shocked look...
"Didn't my Lord Sandwich say he was heading out to the country this morning? To see his estate and all the pretty new things there...?"
"Oh, yes." Minnes nods. "I remember he mentioned how pleasant and useful a fellow that...What was his name?...Pepys, your wife's dancing master...?"
"P-P-P-Pembleton?! My Lord knows Pembleton?"
"He was bringing the lad along, I believe. I don't like to make insinuations, gentlemen..." Sir John smiles a wordly smile... "But I suspect my Lord has employed the fellow on a number of errands de l'amour. Nothing like having a lad like that make the initial contact for one. Every house with a pretty lady inside open to him..."
"Pepys?" Batten stares at Sam on the floor.
TerryF • Link
Mr. Cutler's "very excellent" discourse - on a less cynical note -
Just a year ago -- 21 June 1662 - Samuel Pepys's Diary records that he contracted with Sir W. Rider, Capt. Cocke, and Mr. Cutler for 500 tons of hemp - so the man does know diligence.
Before that, after a dinner feast at Trinity House, SP demanded of the "Lieutenant of the Tower...how Sir H. Vane died" - an incident that seems to me so long ago. but isn't.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
TerryF • Link
"Sir William B seems to be going to a great deal of trouble to ensure he offers hospitality to Sam" - indeed!
The last appearance of Sir Francis Clerke (13 November 1662 http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… ) was occasioned by the first meeting of the commission to audit the assets and conduct of the Chatham Chest -- with Sir J. Mennes, Sir Francis Clerke, Mr. Heath, Attorney of the Dutchy, Mr. Prinn, Sir W. Rider, Captn. Cocke and Mr. Pepys -- Sir W. Batten having been the Master = party responsible for the (questionable) management of the Chest.
(Chatham Chest - http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo… )
This is a matter in which Pepys regarded Batten as 'corrupt.'
in Aqua scripto • Link
That be no Irish Jig, he be playing after having sat on a lonely cloth cushioned chair, munching on leg of old mutton and quaffing some red liquid, at the table that be having 2 chairs be unwarmed.
A. Hamilton • Link
Musical but melancholy
Don McCahill • Link
where I staid till 11 o’clock at night, and so home and to bed.
I want to see if Sam rises at 4 am again tomorrow.
language hat • Link
Pepys has just turned 30.
I used to stay up into the small hours and get up early for work at that age too.
john • Link
Wrote "language hat": I used to stay up into the small hours and get up early for work at that age too.
Did Pepys take naps in the afternoon? Even at 30, five hours of sleep does not bode well for alertness.
Bradford • Link
I did the same, to start teaching composition to two early sections of college-bound Catholic high school students before heading to my afternoon grad school classes, always carrying around a bag of essays to correct in odd moments, then leading a rousing social life all evening before a strict bedtime at midnight. And all of this conducted with a mind as sharp as a safety razor. Let us say that only (italicize) during a certain window of opportunity, c. aet. 28-32, is such devotion to duty possible, physically or spiritually.
Michael Robinson • Link
writing out in my Navy collections the ordinary estimate of the Navy
House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 18 June 1663 | British History Online
"And all the Members of this House, that shall come to the Committee, are to have Voices: And they are to meet in the Exchequer Chamber, To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon: And are hereby impowered to receive such Proposals as shall be offered for retrenching the Charge of his Majesty's Navy: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records."
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
Second Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... all the morning writing out in my Navy collections the ordinary estimate of the Navy, and did it neatly."
Michael Robinson's note leads me to think that today Pepys copies what he understands to be the recently-approved Navy budget into his "collections" (i.e. his formal working records?) ... but on the 18th (SPOILER ALERT) the Commons change their minds and ask for proposals on how to retrench the budget. Anyone know what a retrenched Charge of His Majesty's Navy is? Or have I totally misunderstood what's going on?
San Diego Sarah • Link
Forget the SPOILER ALERT ... today is the 18th! So Pepys is copying something as the Commons is asking for proposals on retrenchment. The question remains, what is a retrenched budget?
Sasha Clarkson • Link
'Retrenchment' = "efficiency savings" = cuts.
Chris Squire UK • Link
OED has:
‘retrenchment, n.2 < Middle French
. . 2. b. A reduction in expenditure; a cutback.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 9 Aug. (1974) VIII. 378 We did talk of many retrenchments of charge of the Navy which he will put in practice . . ‘
…………
Peace, Retrenchment and Reform was a political slogan used in early nineteenth century British politics by Whigs, Radicals and Liberals.