y wife's. But it is a strange thing to observe and fit for me
to remember that I am at no time so unwilling to part with money as when
I am concerned in the getting of it most, as I thank God of late I have
got more in this month, viz. near 0250, than ever I did in half a year
before in my life, I think. Thence to White Hall with him, and so walked
to the old Exchange and back to Povy's to dinner, where great and good
company; among others Sir John Skeffington, whom I knew at Magdalen
College, a fellow-commoner, my fellow-pupil, but one with whom I had no
great acquaintance, he being then, God knows, much above me. Here I
was afresh delighted with Mr. Povy's house and pictures of perspective,
being strange things to think how they do delude one's eye, that
methinks it would make a man doubtful of swearing that ever he saw any
thing. Thence with him to St. James's, and so to White Hall to a Tangier
Committee, and hope I have light of another opportunity of getting a
little money if Sir W. Warren will use me kindly for deales to Tangier,
and with the hopes went joyfully home, and there received Captain
Tayler's money, received by Will to-day, out of which (as I said above)
I shall get above L30. So with great comfort to bed, after supper. By
discourse this day I have great hopes from Mr. Coventry that the Dutch
and we shall not fall out.

22nd. Up and at the office all the morning. To the 'Change at noon, and
among other things discoursed with Sir William Warren what I might do
to get a little money by carrying of deales to Tangier, and told him the
opportunity I have there of doing it, and he did give me some advice,
though not so good as he would have done at any other time of the year,
but such as I hope to make good use of, and get a little money by. So to
Sir G. Carteret's to dinner, and he and I and Captain Cocke all alone,
and good discourse, and thence to a Committee of Tangier at White Hall,
and so home, where I found my wife not well, and she tells me she thinks
she is with child, but I neither believe nor desire it. But God's will
be done! So to my office late, and home to supper and to bed; having got
a strange cold in my head, by flinging off my hat at dinner, and sitting
with the wind in my neck.

[In Lord Clarendon's Essay, "On the decay of respect paid to Age,"
he says that in his younger days he never kept his hat on before
those older than himself, except at dinner.--B.]

23rd. My cold a