Friday 10 March 1664/65

Up, and to the office all the morning. At noon to the ’Change, where very hot, people’s proposal of the City giving the King another ship for “The London,” that is lately blown up, which would be very handsome, and if well managed, might be done; but I fear if it be put into ill hands, or that the courtiers do solicit it, it will never be done.

Home to dinner, and thence to the Committee of Tangier at White Hall, where my Lord Barkely and Craven and others; but, Lord! to see how superficially things are done in the business of the Lottery, which will be the disgrace of the Fishery, and without profit. Home, vexed at my loss of time, and thereto my office. Late at night come the two Bellamys, formerly petty warrant Victuallers of the Navy, to take my advice about a navy debt of theirs for the compassing of which they offer a great deal of money, and the thing most just. Perhaps I may undertake it, and get something by it, which will be a good job. So home late to bed.

9 Annotations

First Reading

Robert Gertz  •  Link

"Late at night come the two Bellamys, formerly petty warrant Victuallers of the Navy, to take my advice about a navy debt of theirs for the compassing of which they offer a great deal of money, and the thing most just. Perhaps I may undertake it, and get something by it, which will be a good job."

Nothing bring satisfaction like doing good turns for others, eh Sam?

Say, why not get the boys at Gresham to design the London II? Petty, Hooke, Newton and others all throwing in their ideas with Pett's able guidance under your management...Maybe even Papa Alex the inventor would have an idea or two.

"So, Pepys? You say this new ship will...What?" York stares at the vast portfolio of design.

"Fly, your Grace, at about 10000 feet, Hooke says. As well as travel underwater. But it's the cannon-proof armor and the heat ray that really makes this vessel a superior war machine."

"Fly? And no sails?" "Oh, no, your Grace. And it will run on a ton of coal per year."

dirk  •  Link

"how superficially things are done in the business of the Lottery"

I'm probably missing something here, but could someone remind me what this is about? And why it "will be the disgrace of the Fishery"?

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"the two Bellamys, formerly petty warrant Victuallers of the Navy"

All in the family; just a little nepotism; the Bellamys Pepys's relatives by cousinage and marriage.

***
Isn't the lottery supposed to be a fund-raiser for the Fishery.

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"people’s proposal of the City giving the King another ship for “The London,” that is lately blown up, which would be very handsome, and if well managed, might be done;"

L&M note it was done "by voluntary subscription from the city. The Loyal London [well-titled] was completed in 1666. [SPOILER] She was burnt by the Dutch at Chatham in June 1667" -- no reference to a Diary entry abt. this last piece of info.

dirk  •  Link

Thanks Todd!

A. Hamilton  •  Link

"which will be a good job"

It was managed by a job, and a good job too!

W.S. Gilbert

Second Reading

Terry Foreman  •  Link

"Late at night come the two Bellamys, formerly petty warrant Victuallers of the Navy, to take my advice about a navy debt of theirs for the compassing of which they offer a great deal of money, and the thing most just."

This was a debt dating back to 1658 (see http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1… ; no trace of its payment has been found. Petty-warrant victuals were bought independent of the navy victualer, on warrants from the clerks of the cheque. Thomas and Robert Bellamy were related to Pepys though the Trices. (L&M footnote)

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