yet. So to my
office till late, and then home to bed, after being at prayers, which is
the first time after my late vowe to say prayers in my family twice in
every week.

13th. Up and to my office a little, and then abroad to many several
places about business, among others to the geometrical instrument
makers, and through Bedlam (calling by the way at an old bookseller's
and there fell into looking over Spanish books and pitched upon some,
till I thought of my oathe when I was going to agree for them, and so
with much ado got myself out of the shop glad at my heart and so away)
to the African House to look upon their book of contracts for several
commodities for my information in the prices we give in the Navy. So to
the Coffee [house] where extraordinary good discourse of Dr. Whistler's'
upon my question concerning the keeping of masts, he arguing against
keeping them dry, by showing the nature of corruption in bodies and the
several ways thereof. So to the 'Change, and thence with Sir W. Rider to
the Trinity House to dinner, and then home and to my office till night,
and then with Mr. Bland to Sir T. Viner's about pieces of eight for Sir
J. Lawson, and so back to my office, and there late upon business, and
so home to supper and to bed.

14th. Up and to the office, where all the morning, and at noon all
of us, viz., Sir G. Carteret and Sir W. Batten at one end, and Mr.
Coventry, Sir J. Minnes and I (in the middle at the other end, being
taught how to sit there all three by my sitting so much the backwarder)
at the other end, to Sir G. Carteret's, and there dined well. Here I saw
Mr. Scott, the bastard that married his youngest daughter. Much pleasant
talk at table, and then up and to the office, where we sat long upon our
design of dividing the Controller's work into some of the rest of our
hands for the better doing of it, but he would not yield to it, though
the simple man knows in his heart that he do not do one part of it. So
he taking upon him to do it all we rose, I vexed at the heart to see the
King's service run after this manner, but it cannot be helped. Thence to
the Old James to the reference about Mr. Bland's business. Sir W.
Rider being now added to us, and I believe we shall soon come to some
determination in it. So home and to my office, did business, and then up
to Sir W. Pen and did express my trouble about this day's business, he
not being there, and plainly told him what I thought of it, and thou