Deane to a second lesson upon my
Shipwrightry, wherein I go on with great pleasure. He being gone I to
the office late, and so home to supper and to bed. But, Lord! to see
how my very going to the 'Change, and being without my gowne, presently
brought me wind and pain, till I came home and was well again; but I am
come to such a pass that I shall not know what to do with myself, but
I am apt to think that it is only my legs that I take cold in from my
having so long worn a gowne constantly.

29th (Whitsunday. King's Birth and Restauration day). Up, and having
received a letter last night desiring it from Mr. Coventry, I walked
to St. James's, and there he and I did long discourse together of the
business of the office, and the warr with the Dutch; and he seemed to
argue mightily with the little reason that there is for all this. For
first, as to the wrong we pretend they have done us: that of the East
Indys, for their not delivering of Poleron, it is not yet known whether
they have failed or no; that of their hindering the Leopard cannot
amount to above L3,000 if true; that of the Guinny Company, all they had
done us did not amount to above L200 or L300 he told me truly; and that
now, from what Holmes, without any commission, hath done in taking an
island and two forts, hath set us much in debt to them; and he believes
that Holmes will have been so puffed up with this, that he by this time
hath been enforced with more strength than he had then, hath, I say,
done a great deale more wrong to them. He do, as to the effect of the
warr, tell me clearly that it is not any skill of the Dutch that can
hinder our trade if we will, we having so many advantages over them, of
winds, good ports, and men; but it is our pride, and the laziness of the
merchant. He seems to think that there may be some negotiation which may
hinder a warr this year, but that he speaks doubtfully as unwilling I
perceive to be thought to discourse any such thing. The main thing he
desired to speake with me about was, to know whether I do understand my
Lord Sandwich's intentions as to going to sea with this fleete; saying,
that the Duke, if he desires it, is most willing to it; but thinking
that twelve ships is not a fleete fit for my Lord to be troubled to
go out with, he is not willing to offer it to him till he hath some
intimations of his mind to go, or not. He spoke this with very great
respect as to my Lord, though methinks it is strange they should n