to see
Mrs. Pierce and called me at Whitehall stairs (where I went before by
land to know whether there was any play at Court to-night) and there
being none she and I to Mr. Creed to the Exchange, where she bought
something, and from thence by water to White Fryars, and wife to see
Mrs. Turner, and then came to me at my brother's, where I did give him
order about my summer clothes, and so home by coach, and after supper
to bed to my wife, with whom I have not lain since I used to lie with my
father till to-night.
5th. Up betimes and to my office, and there busy all the morning, among
other things walked a good while up and down with Sir J. Minnes, he
telling many old stories of the Navy, and of the state of the Navy at
the beginning of the late troubles, and I am troubled at my heart to
think, and shall hereafter cease to wonder, at the bad success of the
King's cause, when such a knave as he (if it be true what he says) had
the whole management of the fleet, and the design of putting out of my
Lord Warwick, and carrying the fleet to the King, wherein he failed most
fatally to the King's ruin. Dined at home, and after dinner up to try
my dance, and so to the office again, where we sat all the afternoon. In
the evening Deane of Woolwich went home with me and showed me the use of
a little sliding ruler, less than that I bought the other day, which
is the same with that, but more portable; however I did not seem to
understand or even to have seen anything of it before, but I find him an
ingenious fellow, and a good servant in his place to the King. Thence to
my office busy writing letters, and then came Sir W. Warren, staying for
a letter in his business by the post, and while that was writing he and
I talked about merchandise, trade, and getting of money. I made it my
business to enquire what way there is for a man bred like me to come to
understand anything of trade. He did most discretely answer me in
all things, shewing me the danger for me to meddle either in ships or
merchandise of any sort or common stocks, but what I have to keep at
interest, which is a good, quiett, and easy profit, and once in a little
while something offers that with ready money you may make use of money
to good profit. Wherein I concur much with him, and parted late with
great pleasure and content in his discourse, and so home to supper and
to bed. It has been this afternoon very hot and this evening also, and
about 11 at night going to bed i
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