there continued till noon. So
to dinner, and in comes uncle Fenner and the two Joyces. I sent for a
barrel of oysters and a breast of veal roasted, and were very merry; but
I cannot down with their dull company and impertinent. After dinner to
the office again. So at night by coach to Whitehall, and Mr. Coventry
not being there I brought my business of the office to him, it being
almost dark, and so came away and took up my wife. By the way home and
on Ludgate Hill there being a stop I bought two cakes, and they were our
supper at home.

9th. Sir George Carteret, Sir Williams both and myself all the morning
at the office passing the Victualler's accounts, and at noon to dinner
at the Dolphin, where a good chine of beef and other good cheer. At
dinner Sir George showed me an account in French of the great famine,
which is to the greatest extremity in some part of France at this day,
which is very strange.

[On the 5th of June following, Louis, notwithstanding the scarcity,
gave that splendid carousal in the court before the Tuileries, from
which the place has ever since taken its name.--B.]

So to the Exchange, Mrs. Turner (who I found sick in bed), and several
other places about business, and so home. Supper and to bed.

10th. To Westminster with the two Sir Williams by water, and did several
businesses, and so to the Wardrobe with Mr. Moore to dinner. Yesterday
came Col. Talbot with letters from Portugall, that the Queen is
resolved to embarque for England this week. Thence to the office all the
afternoon. My Lord Windsor came to us to discourse of his affairs, and
to take his leave of us; he being to go Governor of Jamaica with this
fleet that is now going. Late at the office. Home with my mind full of
business. So to bed.

11th. Up early to my lute and a song, then about six o'clock with Sir
W. Pen by water to Deptford; and among the ships now going to Portugall
with men and horse, to see them dispatched. So to Greenwich; and had
a fine pleasant walk to Woolwich, having in our company Captn. Minnes,
with whom I was much pleased to hear him talk in fine language, but
pretty well for all that. Among other things, he and the other Captains
that were with us tell me that negros drowned look white and lose their
blackness, which I never heard before. At Woolwich, up and down to do
the same business; and so back to Greenwich by water, and there while
something is dressing for our dinner, Sir William and