ny officer of the
City but of his putting in; nor any man that could have kept the City
for the King thus well and long but him. And if the country can be
preserved, he will undertake that the City shall not dare to stir again.
When I am confident there is no man almost in the City cares a turd for
him, nor hath he brains to outwit any ordinary tradesman. So home and
wrote a letter to Commissioner Pett to Chatham by all means to compose
the business between Major Holmes and Cooper his master, and so to bed.

18th. Wake betimes and talk a while with my wife about a wench that she
has hired yesterday, which I would have enquired of before she comes,
she having lived in great families, and so up and to my office, where
all the morning, and at noon home to dinner. After dinner by water to
Redriffe, my wife and Ashwell with me, and so walked and left them at
Halfway house; I to Deptford, where up and down the store-houses, and
on board two or three ships now getting ready to go to sea, and so
back, and find my wife walking in the way. So home again, merry with our
Ashwell, who is a merry jade, and so awhile to my office, and then
home to supper, and to bed. This day my tryangle, which was put in tune
yesterday, did please me very well, Ashwell playing upon it pretty well.

19th. Up betimes and to Woolwich all alone by water, where took the
officers most abed. I walked and enquired how all matters and businesses
go, and by and by to the Clerk of the Cheque's house, and there eat some
of his good Jamaica brawne, and so walked to Greenwich. Part of the way
Deane walking with me; talking of the pride and corruption of most of
his fellow officers of the yard, and which I believe to be true. So
to Deptford, where I did the same to great content, and see the people
begin to value me as they do the rest. At noon Mr. Wayth took me to his
house, where I dined, and saw his wife, a pretty woman, and had a good
fish dinner, and after dinner he and I walked to Redriffe talking of
several errors in the Navy, by which I learned a great deal, and was
glad of his company. So by water home, and by and by to the office,
where we sat till almost 9 at night. So after doing my own business in
my office, writing letters, &c., home to supper, and to bed, being weary
and vexed that I do not find other people so willing to do business as
myself, when I have taken pains to find out what in the yards is wanting
and fitting to be done.

20th. Up betime