ng hath made； and the hopes I have that it will save the kingdom from perishing： and how it do encourage me to take pains again； after my having through despair neglected it！ which he told me of himself that it was so with him； that he had given himself up to more ease than ever he expected； and that his opinion of matters was so bad that there was no public employment in the kingdom should have been accepted by him but this which the King hath now given him； and therein he is glad； in hopes of the service he may do therein； and in my conscience he will。 So into the Duke of York's closet； and there； among other things； Sir W。 Coventry did take notice of what he told me the other day； about a report of Commissioner Pett's dealing for timber in the Navy and selling it to us in other names； and besides his own proof； did produce a paper I had given him this morning about it； in the case of Widow Murford and Morecocke； which was so handled； that the Duke of York grew very angry； and commanded us presently to fall into the examination of it； saying that he would not trust a man for his sake that lifts up the whites of his eyes。 And it was declared that if he be found to have done so； he should be reckoned unfit to serve the Navy； and I do believe he will be turned out： and it was； methought； a worthy saying of Sir W。 Coventry to the Duke of York； 〃Sir；〃 says he； 〃I do not make this complaint out of any disrespect to Commissioner Pett； but because I do love to do these things fairly and openly。〃 This day coming from Westminster with W。 Batten； we saw at White Hall stairs a fisher…boat with a sturgeon that he had newly catched in the River； which I saw； but it was but a little one； but big enough to prevent my mistake of that for a colt； if ever I become Mayor of Huntingdon。
23rd。 Sir John Duncomb is sworn yesterday a Privy…councillor。 This day I hear also that last night the Duke of Kendall； ＇Henry Stuart。 Created Duke of Kendall； 1664。＇ second son of the Duke of York； did die； and that the other； Duke of Cambridge； continues very ill still。
26th。 All our discourse about Brampton； and my intentions to build there if I could be free of my engagement to my uncle Thomas and his son； that they may not have what I have built against my will in case of me and my brother's being without heirs male； which is the true reason why I am against laying out money upon that place； together with my fear of some inconvenience by being so near Hinchingbroke； being obliged to be a servant to that family； and subject to what expence they shall call me； and to have all that I shall buy or do esteemed as got by the death of my uncle； when indeed what I have from him is not worth naming。
27th。 The new Commissioners of the Treasury have chosen Sir G。 Downing for their Secretary： and I think in my conscience they have done a great thing in it； for he is active and a man of business； and values himself upon having of things do well under his hand； so that I am mightily pleased in their choice。 Abroad； and stopped at Bear…garden stairs； there to see a prize fought。 But the house so full there was no getting in there； so forced to go through an alehouse into the pit； where the bears are baited； and upon a stool did see them fight； which they did very furiously； a butcher and a waterman。 The former had the better all along till by and by the latter dropped his sword out of his hand； and the butcher； whether not seeing his sword dropped I know not； but did give him a cut over the wrist； so as he was disabled to fight any longer。 But； Lord！ to see how in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play； and the butchers to defend their fellow； though most blamed him； and there they all fell to it to knocking down and cutting many on each side。 It was pleasant to see； but that I stood in the pit； and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt。 At last the battle broke up； and so I away。 The Duke of Cambridge very ill still。
28th。 Up； and by coach to St。 James's； where I find Sir W。 Coventry desirous to have spoke with me。 It was to read over a draught of a letter which he hath made for his brother Commissioners and him to sign to us； demanding an account of the whole business of the Navy accounts； and I perceive； by the way he goes about it； that they will do admirable things。 He tells me that they have chosen Sir G。 Downing their Secretary； who will be as fit a man as any in the world： and he said； by the by； speaking of the banquers being fearful of Sir G。 Downing's being Secretary； he being their enemy； that they did not intend to be ruled by their Secretary but do the business themselves。 My heart is glad to see so great hopes of good to the nation as will be by these men； and it do me good to see Sir W。 Coventry so cheerfull as he now is on the same score。 My wife away down with Jane and W。 Hewer to Woolwich； in order to a little ayre and to lie there to night； and so to gather May…dew to…morrow morning； which Mrs。 Turner hath taught her is the only thing in the world to wash her face with； and I am contented with it。 I by water to Fox…hall； and there walked in Spring…garden。 A great deal of company； and the weather and garden pleasant： and it is very pleasant and cheap going thither； for a man may go to spend what he will； or nothing； all as one。 But to hear the nightingale and other birds； and hear fiddles and there a harp； and here a Jew's trump； and here laughing； and there fine people walking； is mighty divertising。
29th。 Our parson Mills having the offer of another benefice ＇The Rectory of Wansted in Essex； to which he was presented。＇ by Sir Robert Brookes； who was his tutor； he by my Lord Barkeley is made one of the Duke's Chaplains； which qualifies him for two livings。 But to see how slightly such things are done； the Duke of York only taking my Lord Barkeley's word upon saying； that we the officers of the Navy do say that he is a good man and minister of our parish； and the Duke of York admits him to kiss his hand； but speaks not one word to him； but so a warrant will be drawn from the Duke of York to qualify him； and there's an end of it。
30th。 After dinner I walked to Arundell House； the way very dusty； （the day of meeting of the Society being changed from Wednesday to Thursday； which I knew not before； because the Wednesday is a Council…day； and several of the Council are of the Society； and would come but for their attending the King at Council；） where I find very much company； in expectation of the Duchesse of Newcastle； who had desired to be invited to the Society； and was； after much debate PRO and CON； it seems many being against it； and we do believe the town will be full of ballads of it。 Anon comes the Duchesse with her women attending her； among others the Ferabosco； of whom so much talk is that her lady would bid her show her face and kill the gallants。 She is indeed black； and hath good black little eyes； but otherwise a very ordinary woman I do think； but they say sings well。 The Duchesse hath been a good； comely woman； but her dress so antick； and her deportment so ordinary； that I do not like her at all； nor did I hear her say any thing that was worth hearing； but that she was full of admiration； all admiration。 Several fine experiments were shown her of colours； loadstones； microscopes； and of liquors： among others； of one that did while she was there turn a piece of roasted mutton into pure blood； which was very rare。 Here was Mrs。 Moore of Cambridge； whom I had not seen before； and I was glad to see her； as also a very black boy that ran up and down the room； somebody's child in Arundell House。 After they had shown her many experiments； and she cried still she was full of admiration； she departed； being led out and in by several Lords that were there； among others； Lord George Barkeley and Earl of Carlisle； ＇Charles Howard； created Earl of Carlisle 1661； employed on several Embassies； and Governor of Jamaica。 Ob。 1684。＇ and a very pretty young man； the Duke of Somerset。 ＇Francis fifth Duke of Somerset； murdered in Italy 1678。＇
31st。 At the Treasury chamber。 Here I saw Duncomb look as big； and take as much state on him； as if he had been born a lord。 Here I met； with Sir H。 Cholmly； who tells me that he is told this day by Secretary Morris that he believes we are； and shall be only fooled by the French； and that the Dutch are very high and insolent； and do look upon us as come over only to beg a peace； which troubles me very much； and I do fear it is true。 Thence to Sir G。 Carteret at his lodgings； who； I perceive； is mightily displeased with this new Treasury； and he hath reason； for it will eclipse him。 And he tells me that my Lord Ashly says they understand nothing； and he says he believes the King do not intend they shall sit long。 But I believe no such thing； but that the King will find such benefit by them as he will desire to have them continue； as we see he hath done in the late new Act that was so much decried about the King； but yet the King hath since permitted it； and found good by it。 He says； and I believe； that a great many persons at Court are angry at the rise of this Duncomb； whose father； he tells me； was a long…Parliament man； and a