ffice a while, and so to supper and
bed.

27th. Up, and after some discourse with Mr. Duke, who is to be Secretary
to the Fishery, and is now Secretary to the Committee for Trade, who
I find a very ingenious man, I went to Mr. Povy's, and there heard a
little of his empty discourse, and fain he would have Mr. Gauden been
the victualler for Tangier, which none but a fool would say to me when
he knows he hath made it his request to me to get him something of these
men that now do it. Thence to St. James's, but Mr. Coventry being ill
and in bed I did not stay, but to White Hall a little, walked up and
down, and so home to fit papers against this afternoon, and after dinner
to the 'Change a little, and then to White Hall, where anon the Duke
of Yorke came, and a Committee we had of Tangier, where I read over my
rough draught of the contract for Tangier victualling, and acquainted
them with the death of Mr. Alsopp, which Mr. Lanyon had told me this
morning, which is a sad consideration to see how uncertain a thing
our lives are, and how little to be presumed of in our greatest
undertakings. The words of the contract approved of, and I home and
there came Mr. Lanyon to me and brought my neighbour, Mr. Andrews, to
me, whom he proposes for his partner in the room of Mr. Alsopp, and
I like well enough of it. We read over the contract together, and
discoursed it well over and so parted, and I am glad to see it once over
in this condition again, for Mr. Lanyon and I had some discourse to-day
about my share in it, and I hope if it goes on to have my first hopes of
L300 per ann. They gone, I to supper and to bed. This afternoon came my
great store of Coles in, being to Chaldron, so that I may see how long
they will last me.

28th. At the office all the morning, dined, after 'Change, at home, and
then abroad, and seeing "The Bondman" upon the posts, I consulted my
oaths and find I may go safely this time without breaking it; I went
thither, notwithstanding my great desire to have gone to Fleet Alley,
God forgive me, again. There I saw it acted. It is true, for want
of practice, they had many of them forgot their parts a little; but
Betterton and my poor Ianthe outdo all the world. There is nothing more
taking in the world with me than that play. Thence to Westminster to my
barber's, and strange to think how when I find that Jervas himself did
intend to bring home my periwigg, and not Jane his maid, I did desire
not to have it at al