Hall, and there met Mr. Grey, who tells me the House is sitting still
(and now it was six o'clock), and likely to sit till midnight; and have
proceeded fair to give the King his supply presently; and herein
have done more to-day than was hoped for. So to White Hall to Sir W.
Coventry, and there would fain have carried Captain Cocke's business for
his bargain of hemp, but am defeated and disappointed, and know hardly
how to carry myself in it between my interest and desire not to offend
Sir W. Coventry. Sir W. Coventry did this night tell me how the business
is about Sir J. Minnes; that he is to be a Commissioner, and my Lord
Bruncker and Sir W. Pen are to be Controller joyntly, which I am very
glad of, and better than if they were either of them alone; and do
hope truly that the King's business will be better done thereby, and
infinitely better than now it is. Thence by coach home, full of thoughts
of the consequence of this alteration in our office, and I think no evil
to me. So at my office late, and then home to supper and to bed. Mr.
Grey did assure me this night, that he was told this day, by one of the
greater Ministers of State in England, and one of the King's Cabinet,
that we had little left to agree on between the Dutch and us towards a
peace, but only the place of treaty; which do astonish me to hear, but
I am glad of it, for I fear the consequence of the war. But he says that
the King, having all the money he is like to have, we shall be sure of a
peace in a little time.

9th. Up and to the office, where did a good deale of business, and then
at noon to the Exchange and to my little goldsmith's, whose wife is very
pretty and modest, that ever I saw any. Upon the 'Change, where I seldom
have of late been, I find all people mightily at a losse what to expect,
but confusion and fears in every man's head and heart. Whether war or
peace, all fear the event will be bad. Thence home and with my brother
to dinner, my wife being dressing herself against night; after dinner
I to my closett all the afternoon, till the porter brought my vest back
from the taylor's, and then to dress myself very fine, about 4 or 5
o'clock, and by that time comes Mr. Batelier and Mercer, and away by
coach to Mrs. Pierces, by appointment, where we find good company: a
fair lady, my Lady Prettyman, Mrs. Corbet, Knipp; and for men, Captain
Downing, Mr. Lloyd, Sir W. Coventry's clerk, and one Mr. Tripp, who
dances well. After some trifling dis