is to see
the towne full of people again as now it is; and shops begin to open,
though in many places seven or eight together, and more, all shut; but
yet the towne is full, compared with what it used to be. I mean the City
end; for Covent-Guarden and Westminster are yet very empty of people, no
Court nor gentry being there. Set Mrs. Williams down at my Lord's house
and he and I to Sir G. Carteret, at his chamber at White Hall, he being
come to town last night to stay one day. So my Lord and he and I much
talke about the Act, what credit we find upon it, but no private talke
between him and I. So I to the 'Change, and there met Mr. Povy, newly
come to town, and he and I to Sir George Smith's and there dined nobly.
He tells me how my Lord Bellases complains for want of money and of
him and me therein, but I value it not, for I know I do all that can
be done. We had no time to talk of particulars, but leave it to another
day, and I away to Cornhill to expect my Lord Bruncker's coming back
again, and I staid at my stationer's house, and by and by comes my Lord,
and did take me up and so to Greenwich, and after sitting with them a
while at their house, home, thinking to get Mrs. Knipp, but could not,
she being busy with company, but sent me a pleasant letter, writing
herself "Barbary Allen." I went therefore to Mr. Boreman's for pastime,
and there staid an houre or two talking with him, and reading a
discourse about the River of Thames, the reason of its being choked up
in several places with shelfes; which is plain is, by the encroachments
made upon the River, and running out of causeways into the River at
every wood-wharfe; which was not heretofore when Westminster Hall and
White Hall were built, and Redriffe Church, which now are sometimes
overflown with water. I had great satisfaction herein. So home and to my
papers for lacke of company, but by and by comes little Mrs. Tooker and
sat and supped with me, and I kept her very late talking and making her
comb my head, and did what I will with her. So late to bed.

6th. Up betimes and by water to the Cockepitt, there met Sir G. Carteret
and, after discourse with the Duke, all together, and there saw a letter
wherein Sir W. Coventry did take notice to the Duke with a commendation
of my paper about Pursers, I to walke in the Parke with the
Vice-Chamberlain, and received his advice about my deportment about the
advancing the credit of the Act; giving me caution to see that we d