ours.'

It were well if all men, even before attaining 60 years of age, could
bring themselves to such periods of reflection on past and present acts,
and even though all the good resolves may not have been quite rigidly
acted up to. And even in Evelyn's case, at any rate so far as his diary
shews, he appears afterwards to have continued just as much a man of the
world as he was before these solemn resolutions, although the glamour of
being a courtier seems perhaps to have henceforth become less
rose-coloured. A trivial incident happening while he was supping one
night at Lady Arlington's, in June 1683, gave rise to the reflection
that 'By this one may take an estimate of the extream slavery and
subjection that courtiers live in, who have not time to eate and drink
at their pleasure. It put me in mind of Horace's Mouse, and to blesse
God for my owne private condition.' Twenty years previously he would not
have thought or said this.

Evelyn took a leading part in the negociations for the repurchase of
Chelsea College for L1,300 from the Royal Society to whom it had been
recently presented by the King, and for the establishment of a hospital
for old soldiers there at a cost of L20,000 with an endowment of L5,000
a year.

Several violent fits of ague having afflicted him during the winter of
1681-82, to cure which 'recourse was had to bathing my legs in milk up
to ye knees, made as hot as I could endure it', Evelyn made his will
and put all his affairs in order 'that now growing in yeares, I might
have none of the secular things and concerns to distract me when it
should please Almighty God to call me from this transitory life'. In
November 1682 he was asked by many friends to stand for election as
president of the Royal Society, in succession to Sir Christopher Wren,
but pleading 'remote dwelling, and now frequent infirmities' he declined
the proffered honour. Subsequently, in 1690, he had actually, 'been
chosen President of the Royal Society', but desired to decline it 'and
with greate difficulty devolv'd the election on Sir Robert Southwell,
Secretary of State to King William in Ireland.' For a third time, in
November 1693, the honour was again offered--'Much importun'd to take
the office of President of the Royal Society, but I againe declin'd it.'

On 12th February 1683 his father-in-law, Sir Richard Browne, who had
been created a baronet in 1649, and to whose influence he owed much,
died at his house at Sayes Cou