then a messenger from Mr. Coventry, who stays
in his boat at the Tower for us. So we to him, and down to Deptford
first, and there viewed some deals lately served in at a low price,
which our officers, like knaves, would untruly value in their worth, but
we found them good. Then to Woolwich, and viewed well all the houses and
stores there, which lie in very great confusion for want of storehouses,
and then to Mr. Ackworth's and Sheldon's to view their books, which we
found not to answer the King's service and security at all as to the
stores. Then to the Ropeyard, and there viewed the hemp, wherein we
found great corruption, and then saw a trial between Sir R. Ford's yarn
and our own, and found great odds. So by water back again. About five in
the afternoon to Whitehall, and so to St. James's; and at Mr. Coventry's
chamber, which is very neat and fine, we had a pretty neat dinner, and
after dinner fell to discourse of business and regulation, and do think
of many things that will put matters into better order, and upon the
whole my heart rejoices to see Mr. Coventry so ingenious, and able, and
studious to do good, and with much frankness and respect to Mr. Pett and
myself particularly. About 9 o'clock we broke up after much discourse
and many things agreed on in order to our business of regulation, and so
by water (landing Mr. Pett at the Temple) I went home and to bed.

12th. Up by five o'clock, and put things in my house in order to be laid
up, against my workmen come on Monday to take down the top of my house,
which trouble I must go through now, but it troubles me much to think of
it. So to my office, where till noon we sat, and then I to dinner and to
the office all the afternoon with much business. At night with Cooper at
arithmetique, and then came Mr. Creed about my Lord's accounts to even
them, and he gone I to supper and to bed.

13th (Lord's day).... I had my old pain all yesterday and this morning,
and so kept my bed all this morning. So up and after dinner and some
of my people to church, I set about taking down my books and papers and
making my chamber fit against to-morrow to have the people come to work
in pulling down the top of my house. In the evening I walked to the
garden and sent for Mr. Turner (who yesterday did give me occasion of
speaking to him about the difference between him and me), and I told him
my whole mind, and how it was in my power to do him a discourtesy about
his place of petty purv