give him some very good musique, Mr. Caesar being here
upon his lute. They gone I to the office, where all the afternoon very
busy, and among other things comes Captain Jenifer to me, a great servant
of my Lord Sandwich's, who tells me that he do hear for certain, though I
do not yet believe it, that Sir W. Coventry is to be Secretary of State,
and my Lord Arlington Lord Treasurer. I only wish that the latter were as
fit for the latter office as the former is for the former, and more fit
than my Lord Arlington. Anon Sir W. Pen come and talked with me in the
garden, and tells me that for certain the Duke of Richmond is to marry
Mrs. Stewart, he having this day brought in an account of his estate and
debts to the King on that account. At night home to supper and so to bed.
My father's letter this day do tell me of his own continued illness, and
that my mother grows so much worse, that he fears she cannot long
continue, which troubles me very much. This day, Mr. Caesar told me a
pretty experiment of his, of angling with a minikin, a gut-string
varnished over, which keeps it from swelling, and is beyond any hair for
strength and smallness. The secret I like mightily.

19th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon dined
at home very pleasantly with my wife, and after dinner with a great deal
of pleasure had her sing, which she begins to do with some pleasure to me,
more than I expected. Then to the office again, where all the afternoon
close, and at night home to supper and to bed. It comes in my mind this
night to set down how a house was the other day in Bishopsgate Street
blowed up with powder; a house that was untenanted, and between a flax
shop and a-----------, both bad for fire; but, thanks be to God, it did no
more hurt; and all do conclude it a plot. I would also remember to my
shame how I was pleased yesterday, to find the righteous maid of Magister
Griffin sweeping of 'nostra' office, 'elle con the Roman nariz and bonne'
body which I did heretofore like, and do still refresh me to think 'que
elle' is come to us, that I may 'voir her aliquando'. This afternoon I am
told again that the town do talk of my Lord Arlington's being to be Lord
Treasurer, and Sir W. Coventry to be Secretary of State; and that for
certain the match is concluded between the Duke of Richmond and Mrs.
Stewart, which I am well enough pleased with; and it is pretty to consider
how his quality will allay people's tal