y
to be a very great man, I believe. Here also we had another mention of
Carcasses business, and we directed to bring in a report of our opinion
of his case, which vexes us that such a rogue shall make us so much
trouble. Thence I presently to the Excise Office, and there met the
Cofferer and [Sir] Stephen Fox by agreement, and agreed upon a method
for our future payments, and then we three to my Lord Treasurer, who
continues still very ill. I had taken my stone with me on purpose,
and Sir Philip Warwicke carried it in to him to see, but was not in
a condition to talk with me about it, poor man. So I with them to
Westminster by coach; the Cofferer telling us odd stories how he was
dealt with by the men of the Church at Westminster in taking a lease of
them at the King's coming in, and particularly the devilish covetousness
of Dr. Busby. Sir Stephen Fox, in discourse, told him how he is selling
some land he hath, which yields him not above three per cent., if so
much, and turning it into money, which he can put out at ten per cent.;
and, as times go, if they be like to continue, it is the best way for
me to keep money going so, for aught I see. I to Westminster Hall, and
there took a turn with my old acquaintance Mr. Pechell, whose red nose
makes me ashamed to be seen with him, though otherwise a good-natured
man. So away, I not finding of Mr. Moore, with whom I should have met
and spoke about a letter I this day received from him from my Lord
Hinchingbroke, wherein he desires me to help him to L1900 to pay a bill
of exchange of his father's, which troubles me much, but I will
find some way, if I can do it, but not to bring myself in bonds or
disbursements for it, whatever comes of it. So home to dinner, where my
wife hath 'ceux la' upon her and is very ill with them, and so forced
to go to bed, and I sat by her a good while, then down to my chamber and
made an end of Rycaut's History of the Turks, which is a very good book.
Then to the office, and did some business, and then my wife being pretty
well, by coach to little Michell's, and there saw my poor Betty and
her little child, which slept so soundly we could hardly wake it in an
hour's time without hurting it, and they tell me what I did not know,
that a child (as this do) will hunt and hunt up and down with its mouth
if you touch the cheek of it with your finger's end for a nipple, and
fit its mouth for sucking, but this hath not sucked yet, she having
no nipples. He