-ships,
though we cannot hear that they have with them above eighteen. The French
are not yet joined with the Dutch, which do dissatisfy the Hollanders, and
if they should have a defeat, will undo De Witt; the people generally of
Holland do hate this league with France. We cannot think of any business,
but lie big with expectation of the issue of this fight, but do conclude
that, this fight being over, we shall be able to see the whole issue of
the warr, good or bad. So homeward, and walked over the Parke (St.
James's) with Sir G. Downing, and at White Hall took a coach; and there to
supper with much pleasure and to bed.

24th. Up, and to the office, where little business done, our heads being
full of expectation of the fleete's being engaged, but no certain notice
of it, only Sheppeard in the Duke's yacht left them yesterday morning
within a league of the Dutch fleete, and making after them, they standing
into the sea. At noon to dinner, and after dinner with Mercer (as of late
my practice is) a song and so to the office, there to set up again my
frames about my Platts, which I have got to be all gilded, and look very
fine, and then to my business, and busy very late, till midnight, drawing
up a representation of the state of my victualling business to the Duke, I
having never appeared to him doing anything yet and therefore I now do it
in writing, I now having the advantage of having had two fleetes
dispatched in better condition than ever any fleetes were yet, I believe;
at least, with least complaint, and by this means I shall with the better
confidence get my bills out for my salary. So home to bed.

25th. Up betimes to write fair my last night's paper for the Duke, and so
along with Sir W. Batten by hackney coach to St. James's, where the Duke
is gone abroad with the King to the Parke, but anon come back to White
Hall, and we, after an houre's waiting, walked thither (I having desired
Sir W. Coventry in his chamber to read over my paper about the
victualling, which he approves of, and I am glad I showed it him first, it
makes it the less necessary to show it the Duke at all, if I find it best
to let it alone). At White Hall we find [the Court] gone to Chappell, it
being St. James's-day. And by and by, while they are at chappell, and we
waiting chappell being done, come people out of the Parke, telling us that
the guns are heard plain. And so every body to the Parke, and by and by
the chappell done, and t