My
wife seemed very pretty to-day, it being the first time I had
given her leave to weare a black patch.
5th. At the office at night, to make up an account of what the
debts of nineteen of the twenty-five ships that should have been
paid off, is increased since the adjournment of the Parliament,
they being to sit again to-morrow. This 5th day of November is
observed exceeding well in the City; and at night great bonfires
and fireworks.
6th. Mr. Chetwind told me that he did fear that this late
business of the Duke of York's would prove fatal to my Lord
Chancellor. To our office, where we met all, for the sale of two
ships by an inch of candle (the first time that ever I saw any of
this kind), where I observed how they do invite one another, and
at last how they all do cry, and we have much to do to tell who
did cry last. The ships were the Indian, sold for 1300l. and the
Half-moone, sold for 830l.
7th. Went by water to my Lord, where I dined with him, and he in
a very merry humour (present Mr. Borfett and Childe) at dinner:
he, in discourse of the great opinion of the virtue--gratitude,
(which he did account the greatest thing in the world to him, and
had, therefore, in his mind been often troubled in the late times
how to answer his gratitude to the King, who raised his father,)
did say it was that did bring him to his obedience to the King;
and did also bless himself with his good fortune, in comparison
to what it was when I was with him in the Sound, when he durst
not own his correspondence with the King; which is a thing that I
never did hear of to this day before; and I do from this raise an
opinion of him, to be one of the most secret men in the world,
which I was not so convinced of before.
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