18th. Sir W. Coventry is returned this night from the fleet; he
being the activest man, in the world, and we all (myself
particularly) more afraid of him than of the King or his service,
for aught I see; God forgive us! This day the great news is come
of the French, their taking the island of St. Christopher from
us; and it is to be feared they have done the like of all those
islands thereabouts: this makes me mad.
19th. I to Sir G. Carteret's by appointment; where I perceive by
him the King is going to borrow some money of the City; but I
fear it will do no good, but hurt. He tells me how the Generall
is displeased, and there have been some high words between the
Generall and Sir W. Coventry. And it may be so; for I do not
find Sir W. Coventry so highly commending the Duke as he used to
be, but letting fall now and then some little jerkes: as this
day, speaking of news from Holland, he says, "I find their
victory begins to shrinke there as well as ours here." Here I
met with Captain Cocke, and he tells me that the first thing the
Prince said to the King upon his coming was, complaining of the
Commissioners of the Navy: that they could have been abroad in
three or four days but for us; that we do not take care of them:
which I am troubled at, and do fear may in violence break out
upon this office some time or other; for we shall not be able to
carry on the business.
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