apers with him I did return into
the City and to Sir G. Carteret, whom I found with the Commissioners of
Prizes dining at Captain Cocke's, in Broad Streete, very merry. Among
other tricks, there did come a blind fiddler to the doore, and Sir G.
Carteret did go to the doore and lead the blind fiddler by the hand in.
Thence with Sir G. Carteret to my Lord Treasurer, and by and by come Sir
W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, and anon we come to my Lord, and there did
lay open the expence for the six months past, and an estimate of the
seven months to come, to November next: the first arising to above
L500,000, and the latter will, as we judge, come to above L1,000,000.
But to see how my Lord Treasurer did bless himself, crying he could do
no more than he could, nor give more money than he had, if the occasion
and expence were never so great, which is but a sad story. And then
to hear how like a passionate and ignorant asse Sir G. Carteret did
harangue upon the abuse of Tickets did make me mad almost and yet was
fain to hold my tongue. Thence home, vexed mightily to see how simply
our greatest ministers do content themselves to understand and do
things, while the King's service in the meantime lies a-bleeding. At my
office late writing letters till ready to drop down asleep with my late
sitting up of late, and running up and down a-days. So to bed.

2nd (Lord's day). At my office all the morning, renewing my vowes in
writing and then home to dinner. All the afternoon, Mr. Tasborough,
one of Mr. Povy's clerks, with me about his master's accounts. In the
evening Mr. Andrews and Hill sang, but supped not with me, then after
supper to bed.

3rd. Up and to the Duke of Albemarle and White Hall, where much
business. Thence home and to dinner, and then with Creed, my wife, and
Mercer to a play at the Duke's, of my Lord Orrery's, called "Mustapha,"
which being not good, made Betterton's part and Ianthe's but ordinary
too, so that we were not contented with it at all. Thence home and to
the office a while, and then home to supper and to bed. All the pleasure
of the play was, the King and my Lady Castlemayne were there; and
pretty witty Nell,--[Nell Gwynne]--at the King's house, and the younger
Marshall sat next us; which pleased me mightily.

4th. All the morning at the office busy, at noon to the 'Change, and
then went up to the 'Change to buy a pair of cotton stockings, which I
did at the husband's shop of the most pretty woman there, w