PEPYS’ DIARY

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) was the naval administrator and first secretary of the British Admiralty. Here’s what he wrote on this day in 1665.

Up and to White Hall to a Committee for Tangier, where his Royal Highness was. Our great design was to state to them the true condition of this Committee for want of money. At this Committee, unknown to me, comes my Lord of Sandwich, who, it seems, come to towne last night.After the Committee was up, my Lord Sandwich did take me aside, and we walked an hour alone together, telling me how much the Duke and Mr. Coventry did, both in the fleete and here; and as a more private message, he told me that he hath been with them both when they have made sport of the Prince and laughed at him. It therefore troubles my Lord that Mr. Coventry should not mention a word of him in his relation. So parted, with my head full of care about this business.

Thence home to the‘Change, and so to dinner.Thence by appointment with him and Creed to one Mr. Finch; one of the Commissioners for the Excise, to be informed about some things of the Excise, in order to our settling matters therein better for us for our Tangier business. Thence well satisfied I and Creed to Mr. Fox at White Hall to speak with him about the same matter, and having some pretty satisfaction from him also, he and I took boat and to Fox Hall, which, with the ayre and pleasure of the garden, was a great refreshment to me, and,‘methinks, that which we ought to joy ourselves in. Thence back to White Hall, where we parted, and I to find my Lord to receive his farther direction about his proposal this morning. So home by hackney-coach, which is become a very dangerous passage now-adays, and to bed.