4th (Lord's day). Busy at my Office from morning till night, in writing
with my own hand fair our large general account of the expence and debt
of the Navy, which lasted me till night to do, that I was almost blind,
and Mr. Gibson with me all day long, and dined with me, and excellent
discourse I had with him, he understanding all the business of the Navy
most admirably. To walk a little with my wife at night in the garden, it
being very hot weather again, and so to supper and to bed.

5th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten in the morning to St. James's, where we
did our ordinary business with the Duke of York, where I perceive they
have taken the highest resolution in the world to become good husbands,
and to retrench all charge; and to that end we are commanded to give him
an account of the establishment in the seventh year of the late King's
reign, and how offices and salaries have been increased since; and I
hope it will end in the taking away some of our Commissioners, though
it may be to the lessening of some of our salaries also. After done
with the Duke of York, and coming out through his dressing-room, I there
spied Signor Francisco tuning his gittar, and Monsieur de Puy with him,
who did make him play to me, which he did most admirably--so well as I
was mightily troubled that all that pains should have been taken upon so
bad an instrument. Walked over the Park with Mr. Gawden, end with him by
coach home, and to the Exchange, where I hear the ill news of our loss
lately of four rich ships, two from Guinea, one from Gallipoly, all with
rich oyles; and the other from Barbadoes, worth, as is guessed, L80,000.
But here is strong talk, as if Harman had taken some of the Dutch
East India ships, but I dare not yet believe it, and brought them into
Lisbon.

["Sept. 6, 1667. John Clarke to James Hickes. A vessel arrived
from Harwich brings news that the English lost 600 to 700 men in the
attempt on St. Christopher; that Sir John Harman was not then there,
but going with 11 ships, and left a ketch at Barbadoes to bring more
soldiers after him; that the ketch met a French sloop with a packet
from St. Christopher to their fleet at Martinico, and took her,
whereupon Sir John Harman sailed there and fell upon their fleet of
27 sail, 25 of which he sank, and burnt the others, save two which
escaped; also that he left three of his fleet there, and went with
the rest to Nevis, to m