writing letters late,
and then home to supper and to read myself asleep, after piping, and so to
bed. Great newes to-night of the blowing up of one of the Dutch greatest
ships, while a Council of War was on board: the latter part, I doubt, is
not so, it not being confirmed since; but the former, that they had a ship
blown up, is said to be true. This evening comes Sir G. Carteret to the
office, to talk of business at Sir W. Batten's; where all to be undone for
want of money, there being none to pay the Chest at their publique pay the
24th of this month, which will make us a scorn to the world. After he had
done there, he and I into the garden, and walked; and the greatest of our
discourse is, his sense of the requisiteness of his parting with his being
Treasurer of the Navy, if he can, on any good terms. He do harp upon
getting my Lord Bruncker to take it on half profit, but that he is not
able to secure him in paying him so much. But the thing I do advise him
to do by all means, and he resolves on it, being but the same counsel
which I intend to take myself. My Lady Jem goes down to Hinchingbroke to
lie down, because of the troubles of the times here. He tells me he is
not sure that the King of France will not annoy us this year, but that the
Court seems [to] reckon upon it as a thing certain, for that is all that I
and most people are afeard of this year. He tells me now the great
question is, whether a Parliament or no Parliament; and says the
Parliament itself cannot be thought able at present to raise money, and
therefore it will be to no purpose to call one. I hear this day poor
Michell's child is dead.

19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy with Fist again,
beginning early to overtake my business in my letters, which for a post or
two have by the late and present troubles been interrupted. At noon comes
Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen, and we to [Sir] W. Pen's house, and there
discoursed of business an hour, and by and by comes an order from Sir R.
Browne, commanding me this afternoon to attend the Council-board, with all
my books and papers touching the Medway. I was ready [to fear] some
mischief to myself, though it appears most reasonable that it is to inform
them about Commissioner Pett. I eat a little bit in haste at Sir W.
Batten's, without much comfort, being fearful, though I shew it not, and
to my office and get up some papers, and found out the most material
letters and orde