welve o'clock, and nobody comes in
afterwards: so we lost our labour, and therefore back to White Hall,
and thence walked my boy Jacke with me, to my Lord Crew, whom I have
not seen since he was sick, which is eight months ago, I think and there
dined with him: he is mightily broke. A stranger a country gentleman,
was with him: and he pleased with my discourse accidentally about the
decay of gentlemen's families in the country, telling us that the old
rule was, that a family might remain fifty miles from London one hundred
years, one hundred miles from London two hundred years, and so farther,
or nearer London more or less years. He also told us that he hath heard
his father say, that in his time it was so rare for a country gentleman
to come to London, that, when he did come, he used to make his will
before he set out. Thence: to St. James's, and there met the Duke of
York, who told me, with great content, that he did now think he should
master our adversaries, for that the King did tell him that he was;
satisfied in the constitution of the Navy, but that it was well to give
these people leave to object against it, which they having not done, he
did give order to give warrant to the Duke of York to direct Sir Jeremy
Smith to be a Commissioner of the Navy in the room of Pen; which, though
he be an impertinent fellow, yet I am glad of it, it showing that the
other side is not so strong as it was: and so, in plain terms, the
Duke of York did tell me, that they were every day losing ground; and
particularly that he would take care to keep out Child: at all which I
am glad, though yet I dare not think myself secure, as the King may
yet be wrought upon by these people to bring changes in our Office, and
remove us, ere it be long. Thence I to White Hall, an there took boat
to Westminster, and to Mrs. Martin's, who is not come to town from her
husband at Portsmouth. So drank only at Cragg's with Doll, and so to the
Swan, and there baiser a new maid that is there, and so to White Hall
again, to a Committee of Tangier, where I see all things going to rack
in the business of the Corporation, and consequently in the place, by
Middleton's going. Thence walked a little with Creed, who tells me he
hears how fine my horses and coach are, and advises me to avoid being
noted for it, which I was vexed to hear taken notice of, it being what
I feared and Povy told me of my gold-lace sleeves in the Park yesterday,
which vexed me also, so as t