So home, and after being at my
office an hour with Mr. Povy talking about his business of Tangier,
getting him some money allowed him for freight of ships, wherein I hope
to get something too. He gone, home hungry and almost sick for want of
eating, and so to supper and to bed.

29th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to the Committee of Lords at the
Council Chamber, where Sir G. Carteret told us what he had said to
the King, and how the King inclines to our request of making us
Commissioners of the Prize office, but meeting him anon in the gallery,
he tells me that my Lord Barkely is angry we should not acquaint him
with it, so I found out my Lord and pacified him, but I know not whether
he was so in earnest or no, for he looked very frowardly. Thence to the
Parliament House, and with Sir W. Batten home and dined with him, my
wife being gone to my Lady Sandwich's, and then to the office, where we
sat all the afternoon, and I at my office till past 12 at night, and so
home to bed. This day I hear that the King should say that the Dutch do
begin to comply with him. Sir John Robinson told Sir W. Batten that he
heard the King say so. I pray God it may be so.

30th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes to the Committee of
the Lords, and there did our business; but, Lord! what a sorry dispatch
these great persons give to business. Thence to the 'Change, and there
hear the certainty and circumstances of the Dutch having called in their
fleete and paid their men half-pay, the other to be paid them upon their
being ready upon beat of drum to come to serve them again, and in the
meantime to have half-pay. This is said. Thence home to dinner, and so
to my office all the afternoon. In the evening my wife and Sir W. Warren
with me to White Hall, sending her with the coach to see her father and
mother. He and I up to Sir G. Carteret, and first I alone and then both
had discourse with him about things of the Navy, and so I and he calling
my wife at Unthanke's, home again, and long together talking how to
order things in a new contract for Norway goods, as well to the King's
as to his advantage. He gone, I to my monthly accounts, and, bless God!
I find I have increased my last balance, though but little; but I hope
ere long to get more. In the meantime praise God for what I have, which
is L1209. So, with my heart glad to see my accounts fall so right in
this time of mixing of monies and confusion, I home to bed.

DECEMBER 166