about the ground behind our house, of
which I have a mind to buy enough to make a stable and coach-house; for
I do see that my condition do require it, as well as that it is more
charge to my purse to live as I do than to keep one, and therefore I
am resolved before winter to have one, unless some extraordinary thing
happens to hinder me. He promises me to look after it for me, and so I
home to dinner, where I find my wife's flageolette master, and I am
so pleased with her proceeding, though she hath lost time by not
practising, that I am resolved for the encouragement of the man to
learn myself a little for a month or so, for I do foresee if God send my
wife and I to live, she will become very good company for me. He gone,
comes Lovett with my little print of my dear Lady Castlemayne varnished,
and the frame prettily done like gold, which pleases me well. He dined
with me, but by his discourse I do still see that he is a man of good
wit but most strange experience, and acquaintance with all manner of
subtleties and tricks, that I do think him not fit for me to keep any
acquaintance with him, lest he some time or other shew me a slippery
trick. After dinner, he gone, I to the office, where all the afternoon
very busy, and so in the evening to Sir R. Viner's, thinking to finish
my accounts there, but am prevented, and so back again home, and late at
my office at business, and so home to supper and sing a little with my
dear wife, and so to bed.

9th. Up, and to the office, and at noon home to dinner, and then with my
wife and Barker by coach, and left them at Charing Cross, and I to St.
James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry alone in his chamber, and
sat and talked with him more than I have done a great while of several
things of the Navy, how our debts and wants do unfit us for doing any
thing. He tells me he hears stories of Commissioner Pett, of selling
timber to the Navy under other names, which I told him I believe is
true, and did give him an instance. He told me also how his clerk
Floyd he hath put away for his common idlenesse and ill company, and
particularly that yesterday he was found not able to come and attend
him, by being run into the arme in a squabble, though he pretends it was
done in the streets by strangers, at nine at night, by the Maypole in
the Strand. Sir W. Coventry did write to me this morning to recommend
him another, which I could find in my heart to do W. Hewer for his good;
but do believe