Wednesday 10 March 1668/69
Up, and by hackney-coach to Auditor Beale’s Office, in Holborne, to look for records of the Navy, but he was out of the way, and so forced to go next to White Hall, to the Privy Seal; and, after staying a little there, then to Westminster, where, at the Exchequer, I met with Mr. Newport and Major Halsey; and, after doing a little business with Mr. Burges, we by water to White Hall, where I made a little stop: and so with them by coach to Temple Bar, where, at the Sugar Loaf we dined, and W. Hewer with me; and there comes a companion of theirs, Colonel Vernon, I think they called him; a merry good fellow, and one that was very plain in cursing the Duke of Buckingham, and discoursing of his designs to ruin us, and that ruin must follow his counsels, and that we are an undone people. To which the others concurred, but not so plain, but all vexed at Sir W. Coventry’s being laid aside: but Vernon, he is concerned, I perceive, for my Lord Ormond’s being laid aside; but their company, being all old cavaliers, were very pleasant to hear how they swear and talk. But Halsey, to my content, tells me that my Lord Duke of Albemarle says that W. Coventry being gone, nothing will be well done at the Treasury, and I believe it; but they do all talk as that Duncombe, upon some pretence or other, must follow him. Thence to Auditor Beale’s, his house and office, but not to be found, and therefore to the Privy Seale at White Hall, where, with W. Hewer and Mr. Gibson, who met me at the Temple, I spent the afternoon till evening looking over the books there, and did find several things to my purpose, though few of those I designed to find, the books being kept there in no method at all. Having done there, we by water home, and there find my cozen Turner and her two daughters come to see us; and there, after talking a little, I had my coach ready, and my wife and I, they going home, we out to White Chapel to take a little ayre, though yet the dirtiness of the road do prevent most of the pleasure, which should have been from this tour. So home, and my wife to read to me till supper, and to bed.
8 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Ralph Josselin's Diary says "coldly showering:" way east in Earls Colne, Essex. Could that and the "Cloudy moist warm air" of John Gadbury’s London Diary account for "the dirtiness of the road" on the way to Whitechapel?
Tony Eldridge • Link
Terry, at this time of year in the UK even hard-surface roads in the country can be covered in mud from vehicles leaving fields, etc.
In Sam's day, all roads would probably have been rutted and muddy at least from September to May - even the King's road.
Andrew Hamilton • Link
Does L&M give any idea what Sam is so urgently looking for today in the records of the Navy? I must say his cool-headed industry impresses me. Heads near his are being threatened Queen-of-Hearts fashion by Buckingham and the king to the dismay of the old Cavaliers but Sam keeps his focus on Navy business, twice going to the Privy Seal office, where records are stored with "no method at all," when he can't find Auditor Beale.
JWB • Link
AH:
"...the Duke of York did tell us that the King would have us prepare a draught of the present administration of the Navy, and what it was in the late times, in order to his being able to distinguish between the good and the bad, which I shall do, but to do it well will give me a great deal of trouble..."
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
JWB • Link
Link above shoud be to 12 Feb entry:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1…
Andrew Hamilton • Link
JWB,
Many thanks!
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"But Halsey, to my content, tells me that my Lord Duke of Albemarle says that W. Coventry being gone, nothing will be well done at the Treasury, and I believe it; but they do all talk as that Duncombe, upon some pretence or other, must follow him."
How demoralizing to work in a social world awash in such rumors. L&M note the Treasury commission was reduced to four members on 20 March, but Duncomb retained its place.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... I met with Mr. Newport and Major Halsey; ... and a companion of theirs, Col. Vernon ... "
I thought Newport and Halsall were strange business partners until I realized they probably were old comrades, going back to 1655 and Penruddock's Rising.
I wonder what Pepys was doing with them and Col. Vernon?
No Navy connections that I can see. Not the sort of people who would be knowledgeable about the Kings James and Charles I, Parliamentary and Charles II filing systems of the different offices they visited.
What was Pepys ... and Hewer? ... up to?