"
In the year 1700, Mr. Pepys, whose constitution had been long
impaired by the stone, was persuaded by his physicians to quit
York Buildings, now Buckingham-street, (the last house on the
west side, looking on the Thames,) and retire, for change of air,
to the house of his old friend and servant, William Hewer, at
Clapham. Soon after, he was visited here by John Evelyn, who, in
his Diary, Sept. 22, 1700, records, "I went to visit Mr. Pepys,
at Clapham, where he has a very noble and wonderfully well-
furnished house, especially with India and Chinese curiosities.
The offices and gardens well accommodated for pleasure and
retirement." In this retreat, however, his health continued to
decline, and he died in May, 1703, a victim in part, to the
stone, which was hereditary in his constitution, and to the
increase of that malady in the course of a laborious and
sedentary life. In the LONDON JOURNAL of the above year is this
entry: "London, June 5. Yesterday in the evening were performed
the obsequies of Samuel Pepys, Esq., in Crutched Friars Church,
whither his corpse was brought in a very honourable and solemn
manner from Clapham, where he departed this life, the 26th day of
the last month.
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