My great wonder is, how this man do to keep in memory so
perfectly the musique of the whole act, both for the voice and
the instrument too. I confess I do admire it: but in recitative
the sense much helps him, for there is but one proper way of
discoursing and giving the accents. Having done our discourse,
we all took coaches (my Lord's and T. Killigrew's) and to Mrs.
Knipp's chamber, where this Italian is to teach her to sing her
part. And so we all thither, and there she did sing an Italian
song or two very fine, while he played the bass upon a harpsicon
there; and exceedingly taken I am with her singing, and believe
she will do miracles at that and acting.
13th. To the Duke of York, and there did our usual business; but
troubled to see that at this time, after our declaring a debt to
the Parliament of 900,000l. and nothing paid since, but the debt
encreased, and now the fleet to set out, to hear that the King
hath ordered but 35,000l. for the setting out of the fleet, out
of the Poll Bill to buy all provisions, when five times as much
had been little enough to have done any thing to purpose.
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