tters Patent for "an invencon to make certeyne
guns or pistolls which in the tenth parte of one minute of an houre
may, with a flaske contrived to that purpose, be re-charged the
fourth part of one turne of the barrell which remaines still fixt,
fastening it as forceably and effectually as a dozen thrids of any
scrue, which in the ordinary and usual way require as many turnes."
On March 3rd, 1664, Abraham Hill obtained Letters Patent for a "gun
or pistoll for small shott, carrying seaven or eight charges of the
same in the stocke of the gun."]
brought my Lord this morning, to shoot off often, one after another,
without trouble or danger, very pretty. Thence to the Temple, and there
taking White's boat down to Woolwich, taking Mr. Shish at Deptford in
my way, with whom I had some good discourse of the Navy business. At
Woolwich discoursed with him and Mr. Pett about iron worke and other
businesses, and then walked home, and at Greenwich did observe the
foundation laying of a very great house for the King, which will cost a
great deale of money.
[Building by John Webb; now a part of Greenwich Hospital. Evelyn
wrote in his Diary, October 19th, 1661: "I went to London to visite
my Lord of Bristoll, having been with Sir John Denham (his Mates
surveyor) to consult with him about the placing of his palace at
Greenwich, which I would have had built between the river and the
Queene's house, so as a large cutt should have let in ye Thames like
a bay; but Sir John was for setting it in piles at the very brink of
the water, which I did not assent to and so came away, knowing Sir
John to be a better poet than architect, tho' he had Mr. Webb (Inigo
Jones's man) to assist him."]
So home to dinner, and my uncle Wight coming in he along with my wife
and I by coach, and setting him down by the way going to Mr. Maes we
two to my Lord Sandwich's to visit my Lady, with whom I left my wife
discoursing, and I to White Hall, and there being met by the Duke of
Yorke, he called me to him and discoursed a pretty while with me about
the new ship's dispatch building at Woolwich, and talking of the charge
did say that he finds always the best the most cheape, instancing in
French guns, which in France you may buy for 4 pistoles, as good to look
to as others of 16, but not the service. I never had so much discourse
with the Duke before, and till now did ev
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