the picture near so good as any yet he hath made for
me: however, it is pretty well, and thence through the fair home, but
saw nothing, it being late, and so home to my business at the office,
and thence to supper and to bed.

6th (Lord's day). Up betimes, and got myself ready to go by water, and
about nine o'clock took boat with Henry Russell to Gravesend, coming
thither about one, where, at the Ship, I dined; and thither come to me
Mr. Hosier, whom I went to speak with, about several businesses of work
that he is doing, and I would have him do, of writing work, for me. And
I did go with him to his lodging, and there did see his wife, a pretty
tolerable woman, and do find him upon an extraordinary good work of
designing a method of keeping our Storekeeper's Accounts, in the Navy.
Here I should have met with Mr. Wilson, but he is sick, and could not
come from Chatham to me. So, having done with Hosier, I took boat again
the beginning of the flood, and come home by nine at night, with much
pleasure, it being a fine day. Going down I spent reading of the "Five
Sermons of Five Several Styles," worth comparing one with another: but
I do think, when all is done, that, contrary to the design of the book,
the Presbyterian style and the Independent are the best of the five
sermons to be preached in; this I do, by the best of my present judgment
think, and coming back I spent reading of a book of warrants of our
office in the first Dutch war, and do find that my letters and warrants
and method will be found another gate's business than this that the
world so much adores, and I am glad for my own sake to find it so. My
boy was with me, and read to me all day, and we sang a while together,
and so home to supper a little, and so to bed.

7th. At the office all the morning, we met, and at noon dined at home,
and after dinner carried my wife and Deb. to Unthanke's, and I to White
Hall with Mr. Gibson, where the rest of our officers met us, and to the
Commissioners of the Treasury about the Victualling contract, but staid
not long, but thence, sending Gibson to my wife, I with Lord Brouncker
(who was this day in an unusual manner merry, I believe with drink), J.
Minnes, and W. Pen to Bartholomew-Fair; and there saw the dancing mare
again, which, to-day, I find to act much worse than the other day, she
forgetting many things, which her master beat her for, and was
mightily vexed; and then the dancing of the ropes, and also the little