Thursday, which
I knew not before, because the Wednesday is a Council-day, and several of
the Council are of the Society, and would come but for their attending the
King at Council; where I find much company, indeed very much company, in
expectation of the Duchesse of Newcastle, who had desired to be invited to
the Society; and was, after much debate, pro and con., it seems many being
against it; and we do believe the town will be full of ballads of it.
Anon comes the Duchesse with her women attending her; among others, the
Ferabosco,2 of whom so much talk is that her lady would bid her show her
face and kill the gallants. She is indeed black, and hath good black
little eyes, but otherwise but a very ordinary woman I do think, but they
say sings well. The Duchesse hath been a good, comely woman; but her
dress so antick, and her deportment so ordinary, that I do not like her at
all, nor did I hear her say any thing that was worth hearing, but that she
was full of admiration, all admiration. Several fine experiments were
shown her of colours, loadstones, microscopes, and of liquors among
others, of one that did, while she was there, turn a piece of roasted
mutton into pure blood, which was very rare. Here was Mrs. Moore of
Cambridge, whom I had not seen before, and I was glad to see her; as also
a very pretty black boy that run up and down the room, somebody's child in
Arundell House. After they had shown her many experiments, and she cried
still she was full of admiration, she departed, being led out and in by
several Lords that were there; among others Lord George Barkeley and Earl
of Carlisle, and a very pretty young man, the Duke of Somerset. She gone,
I by coach home, and there busy at my letters till night, and then with my
wife in the evening singing with her in the garden with great pleasure,
and so home to supper and to bed.

31st. Up, and there came young Mrs. Daniel in the morning as I expected
about business of her husband's. I took her into the office to discourse
with her about getting some employment for him . . . . By water to
White Hall to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the first time I
ever was there and I think the second that they have met at the Treasury
chamber there. Here I saw Duncomb look as big, and take as much state on
him, as if he had been born a lord. I was in with him about Tangier, and
at present received but little answer from them, they being in a cloud of
business