uke of Albemarle in repute again, I doubt, though
there is nothing of his in this. But, Lord! to see what successe
do, whether with or without reason, and making a man seem wise,
notwithstanding never so late demonstration of the profoundest folly in
the world. Thence walked over the Parke with Sir W. Coventry, in our way
talking of the unhappy state of our office; and I took an opportunity to
let him know, that though the backwardnesses of all our matters of the
office may be well imputed to the known want of money, yet, perhaps,
there might be personal and particular failings; and that I did,
therefore, depend still upon his promise of telling me whenever he
finds any ground to believe any defect or neglect on my part, which he
promised me still to do; and that there was none he saw, nor, indeed,
says he, is there room now-a-days to find fault with any particular man,
while we are in this condition for money. This, methought, did not so
well please me; but, however, I am glad I have said this, thereby giving
myself good grounds to believe that at this time he did not want an
occasion to have said what he pleased to me, if he had had anything in
his mind, which by his late distance and silence I have feared. But then
again I am to consider he is grown a very great man, much greater than
he was, and so must keep more distance; and, next, that the condition of
our office will not afford me occasion of shewing myself so active
and deserving as heretofore; and, lastly, the muchness of his business
cannot suffer him to mind it, or give him leisure to reflect on
anything, or shew the freedom and kindnesse that he used to do. But I
think I have done something considerable to my satisfaction in doing
this; and that if I do but my duty remarkably from this time forward,
and not neglect it, as I have of late done, and minded my pleasures, I
may be as well as ever I was. Thence to the Exchequer, but did nothing,
they being all gone from their offices; and so to the Old Exchange,
where the towne full of the good newes, but I did not stay to tell or
hear any, but home, my head akeing and drowsy, and to dinner, and then
lay down upon the couch, thinking to get a little rest, but could not.
So down the river, reading "The Adventures of Five Houres," which the
more I read the more I admire. So down below Greenwich, but the wind
and tide being against us, I back again to Deptford, and did a little
business there, and thence walked to Red