SAMUEL PEPYS (1633-1703)

T is fortunate for the students of society in the Restoration Period that Samuel Pepys decided to keep a diary, for he was eminently fitted for such a task. By nature he was inquisitive and a good deal of a gossip. He delighted in collecting anecdotes about famous people and important events. He was frank in voicing his own opinions and describing his personal feelings. Furthermore he occupied a position which gave him an exceptional opportunity to observe his fellowmen.

Pepys' cousin, the Earl of Sandwich, secured for him several positions in the service of the government. In 1660 he became Clerk of the Acts of the Navy. He was almost continuously connected with the navy in some official capacity until 1688. Notwithstanding his love for the theater and other amusements, Pepys devoted much of his time to business. He was sincerely interested in improving conditions in the Navy and tried in every way to economize. He collected much information both at home and on the continent concerning naval matters and hoped to write a History of the English Navy. He was prevented from carrying out this project after his retirement from office by age and ill-health.

The Diary covers the first nine years of the reign of Charles II. The first entry is dated January 1, 1660 and the last May 31, 1669, when Pepys was forced to discontinue it because of failing eyesight. It is written in a shorthand resembling a well known system of the day. To its pages, therefore, Pepys confided freely his personal thoughts and opinions. Perhaps he intended in his old age to relive through it the experiences of his youth and then destroy it before his death. The people, the pleasures, the business, and the most intimate details of the daily life of the reign of Charles II are revealed by a pen which knew no reticence.

SELECTIONS FROM THE DIARY

(Jan.) 23d (1662-3). Mr. Grant and I to a coffeehouse, where Sir J. Cutler 1 was; and he did fully make out

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that the trade of England is as great as ever it was, only in more hands; and that of all trades there is a greater number than ever there was, by reason of men's taking more 'prentices. His discourse was well worth hearing. I bought "Audley's Way to be Rich," 2 a serious pamphlett, and some good things worth my minding. Meeting Sir W. Batten,3 drunk more. Much discourse, but little to be learned, but of a design in the North of a rising, which is discovered, among some men of condition, and they sent for up. To see Sir W. Pen, where was Sir J. Lawson and his lady and daughter, which is pretty enough.

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(March) 19th (1662-3). 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. In Fleet Street, bought me a little sword, with gilt handle, cost me 23s., and silk stockings to the colour of my riding cloth suit cost me 15s., and bought me a belt there cost 15s. Meeting with Mr. Kirton's kinsman in Paul's Church Yard, he and I to a coffee-house; where I hear how there had like to have been a surprizall of Dublin by some discontented Protestants, and other things of like nature; and it seems the Commissioners have carried themselves so high for the Papists that the others will not endure it. Hewlett and some others are taken and clapped up; and they say the King hath sent over to dissolve the Parliament there, who went very high against the Commissioners. Pray God send all well!

(Feb.) 19th (1663-64). Mr. Cutler come, and walked and talked with me a great while: and then to the 'Change together; and it being early, did tell me several excellent

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examples of men raised upon the 'Change by their great diligence and saving; as also his own fortune, and how credit grew upon him; that when he was not really worth 1,100£, he had credit for 100,000£: of Sir W. Rider, how he rose; and others. By and by joyned with us Sir John Bankes; 8 who told us several passages of the East India Company; and how, in every case, when there was due to him and Alderman Mico 64,000£, from the Dutch for injury done to them in the East Indys, Oliver," presently after the peace they delaying to pay them the money, sent them word, that if they did not pay them by such a day, he would grant letters of mark to those merchants against them: by which they were so fearful of him, they did presently pay the money every farthing. Took my wife, and, taking a coach, went to visit my Ladys Jemimah and Paulina Montagu, and Mrs. Elizabeth Pickering,10 whom we find at their father's new house in Lincoln's Inn Fields; but the house all in dirt. They received us well enough; but I did not endeavour to carry myself over familiarly with them: and so, after a little stay, there coming in presently after us my Lady Aberguenny and other ladies, we back again by coach.

(April) 17th (1666). To the office, but Lord! what a conflict I had with myself, my heart tempting me 1000 times to go abroad, about some pleasure or other, notwithstanding the weather foul. However, I did not budge; and, to my great content, did a great deal of business.

(Nov.) 2d (1666). On board the Ruby, French prize, the only ship of war we have taken from any of our enemies this year. It seems a very good ship, but with galleries quite round the sterne, to walk in as a balcone, which will be taken down. She had also about forty good brass guns, but will make little amends to our loss in the Prince. I also did buy some apples and pork, by the same token the butcher

commended it as the best in England for cloath and colour. And for his beef, says he, "look how fat it is, the lean appears only here and there a spek, like beauty-spots.'

January 1st. (1667-8). Dined with my Lord Crewe, with whom was Mr. Browne, Clerke of the House of Lords, and Mr. John Crewe. Here was mighty good discourse, as there is always: and among other things my Lord Crewe did turn to a place in the Life of Sir Philip Sidney, wrote by Sir Fulke Greville, which do foretell the present condition of this nation, in relation to the Dutch, to the very degree of a prophecy; and is so remarkable that I am resolved to buy one of them, it being, quite throughout, a good discourse. Here they did talk much of the present cheapness of corne, even to a miracle; so as their farmers can pay no rent, but do fling up their lands; and would pay in corne: but, which I did observe to my Lord, and he liked well of it, our gentry are grown so ignorant in every thing of good husbandry, that they know not how to bestow this corne: which, did they understand but a little trade, they would be able to joyne together, and know what markets there are abroad, and send it thither, and thereby ease their tenants and be able to pay themselves. They did talk much of the disgrace the Archbishop is fallen under with the King, and the rest of the Bishops also. Thence I after dinner to the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw "Sir Martin Marall"; 11 which I have seen so often, and yet am mightily pleased with it, and think it mighty witty, and the fullest of proper matter for mirth that ever was writ; and I do clearly see that they do improve in their acting of it. Here a mighty company of citizens, 'prentices, and others; and it makes me observe, that when I began first to be able to bestow a play on myself, I do not remember that I saw so many by half of the ordinary 'prentices and mean people in

the pit at 2s. 6d. a-piece as now; I going for several years no higher than the 12d. and then the 18d. places, though I strained hard to go in when I did: so much the vanity and prodigality of the age is to be observed in this particular.

(June) 27th (1668). Dined at home, and then my wife, and Deb., and I to the King's playhouse, to see "The Indian Queene," 12 but I do not doat upon Nan Marshall's acting therein, as the world talks of her excellence. Thence with my wife to buy some linnen, 13£. worth, for sheets, &c., at the new shop over against the New Exchange; 13 and the master, who is come out of London since the fire, says his and other tradesmen's retail trade is so great here, and better than it was in London, that they believe they shall not return, nor the city be ever so great for retail as heretofore.

S. PEPYS TO ISAAC NEWTON

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November 22, 1693.

Sir- However this comes accompanied to you with a little trouble, yet I cannot but say, that the occasion is welcome to me, in that it gives me an opportunity of telling you that I continue sensible of my obligations to you, most desirous of rendering you service in whatever you shall think me able, and no less afflicted when I hear of your being in town, without knowing how to wait on you till it be too late for me to do it. This said, and with great truth and respect, I go on to tell you that the bearer, Mr. Smith, is one I bear great goodwill to, no less for what I personally know of his general ingenuity, industry, and virtue, than for the general reputation he has in this town, inferior to none, but superior to most, for his mastery in the two points of his profession; namely, fair writing and arithmetic, so far, principally, as is subservient to accountantship. Now, so it is, that the late project, of which you cannot but have heard, of Mr. Neale,