I Read Therefore I Am discussion

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Diaries and Journals > Mr Pepys' Diary daily

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message 751: by [deleted user] (new)

Bet the people in the surrounding rooms weren't so happy :0)


message 752: by [deleted user] (new)

Friday 18 January 1660/61

The Captains went with me to the post-house about 9 o’clock, and after a morning draft I took horse and guide for London; and through some rain, and a great wind in my face, I got to London at eleven o’clock. At home found all well, but the monkey loose, which did anger me, and so I did strike her till she was almost dead, that they might make her fast again, which did still trouble me more. In the afternoon we met at the office and sat till night, and then I to see my father who I found well, and took him to Standing’s to drink a cup of ale. He told me my aunt at Brampton is yet alive and my mother well there. In comes Will Joyce to us drunk, and in a talking vapouring humour of his state, and I know not what, which did vex me cruelly. After him Mr. Hollier had learned at my father’s that I was here (where I had appointed to meet him) and so he did give me some things to take for prevention. Will Joyce not letting us talk as I would I left my father and him and took Mr. Hollier to the Greyhound, where he did advise me above all things, both as to the stone and the decay of my memory (of which I now complain to him), to avoid drinking often, which I am resolved, if I can, to leave off.

Hence home, and took home with me from the bookseller’s Ogilby’s Aesop, which he had bound for me, and indeed I am very much pleased with the book.

Home and to bed.


message 753: by [deleted user] (new)

I really hope Sam was exaggerating about the state of the poor monkey. I guess she had made a huge mess of everything which is the thing most calculated to enrage him - poor, poor monkey.


message 754: by Laurel (new)

Laurel | 1486 comments Mod
Awww I didn't know he had a pet monkey! Bless her, I know they didn't really have animal rights in those days but there's no need for him to be so cruel :(


message 755: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Do you think that Sam will stick to the resolution of staying off the drink to prevent his stones and his memory loss? No? Me neither!


message 756: by [deleted user] (new)

Lol!


message 757: by [deleted user] (new)

Saturday 19 January 1660/61

To the Comptroller’s, and with him by coach to White Hall; in our way meeting Venner and Pritchard upon a sledge, who with two more Fifth Monarchy men were hanged to-day, and the two first drawn and quartered. Where we walked up and down, and at last found Sir G. Carteret, whom I had not seen a great while, and did discourse with him about our assisting the Commissioners in paying off the Fleet, which we think to decline. Here the Treasurer did tell me that he did suspect Thos. Hater to be an informer of them in this work, which we do take to be a diminution of us, which do trouble me, and I do intend to find out the truth.

Hence to my Lady, who told me how Mr. Hetley is dead of the small-pox going to Portsmouth with my Lord. My Lady went forth to dinner to her father’s, and so I went to the Leg in King Street and had a rabbit for myself and my Will, and after dinner I sent him home and myself went to the Theatre, where I saw “The Lost Lady,” which do not please me much. Here I was troubled to be seen by four of our office clerks, which sat in the half-crown box and I in the 1s. 6d.

From thence by link, and bought two mouse traps of Thomas Pepys, the Turner, and so went and drank a cup of ale with him, and so home and wrote by post to Portsmouth to my Lord and so to bed.


message 758: by [deleted user] (new)

The cat is not earning it's keep then:0)


message 759: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Poor Sam, how embarrassing to find his clerks in more expensive theatre seats than himself. I wonder if he said hello or tried to hide!


message 760: by Laurel (new)

Laurel | 1486 comments Mod
The drinking ban didn't last very long did it?


message 761: by [deleted user] (new)

True - though I think it was pretty much impossible to avoid all alcohol then - tea and coffee we're quite rare and expensive and drinking the water was unwise. I think most of the beer was quite low in alcohol compared to today - perhaps Sam was aiming to cut down on the stronger stuff - we shall see :0)


message 762: by [deleted user] (new)

Sunday 20 January 1660/61

(Lord’s day). To Church in the morning. Dined at home. My wife and I to Church in the afternoon, and that being done we went to see my uncle and aunt Wight. There I left my wife and came back, and sat with Sir W. Pen, who is not yet well again. Thence back again to my wife and supped there, and were very merry and so home, and after prayers to write down my journall for the last five days, and so to bed.


message 763: by [deleted user] (new)

Sam must have a great memory, despite his fears. I don't think I could remember the events of the last 5 days in such detail!


message 764: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Me neither, I don't think he needs to worry about his memory and his drinking.


message 765: by [deleted user] (new)

Monday 21 January 1660/61

This morning Sir W. Batten, the Comptroller and I to Westminster, to the Commissioners for paying off the Army and Navy, where the Duke of Albemarle was; and we sat with our hats on, and did discourse about paying off the ships and do find that they do intend to undertake it without our help; and we are glad of it, for it is a work that will much displease the poor seamen, and so we are glad to have no hand in it.

From thence to the Exchequer, and took 200l. and carried it home, and so to the office till night, and then to see Sir W. Pen, whither came my Lady Batten and her daughter, and then I sent for my wife, and so we sat talking till it was late. So home to supper and then to bed, having eat no dinner to-day.

It is strange what weather we have had all this winter; no cold at all; but the ways are dusty, and the flyes fly up and down, and the rose-bushes are full of leaves, such a time of the year as was never known in this world before here. This day many more of the Fifth Monarchy men were hanged.


message 766: by [deleted user] (new)

Had a google of the significance of everyone keeping their hats on - it doesn't mean that no one lost their temper :0) but that every one at this meeting was considered to be an equal (at least for the duration of the meeting).
Interesting to see that the weather was playing tricks back in the 1660's as well as today.


message 767: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Yes, and they couldn't blame global warming!


message 768: by [deleted user] (new)

Lol!


message 769: by [deleted user] (new)

Tuesday 22 January 1660/61

To the Comptroller’s house, where I read over his proposals to the Lord Admiral for the regulating of the officers of the Navy, in which he hath taken much pains, only he do seem to have too good opinion of them himself. From thence in his coach to Mercer’s Chappell, and so up to the great hall, where we met with the King’s Councell for Trade, upon some proposals of theirs for settling convoys for the whole English trade, and that by having 33 ships (four fourth-rates, nineteen fifths, ten sixths) settled by the King for that purpose, which indeed was argued very finely by many persons of honour and merchants that were there.

It pleased me much now to come in this condition to this place, where I was once a petitioner for my exhibition in Paul’s School; and also where Sir G. Downing (my late master) was chairman, and so but equally concerned with me.

From thence home, and after a little dinner my wife and I by coach into London, and bought some glasses, and then to Whitehall to see Mrs. Fox, but she not within, my wife to my mother Bowyer, and I met with Dr. Thomas Fuller, and took him to the Dog, where he tells me of his last and great book that is coming out: that is, his History of all the Families in England; and could tell me more of my own, than I knew myself. And also to what perfection he hath now brought the art of memory; that he did lately to four eminently great scholars dictate together in Latin, upon different subjects of their proposing, faster than they were able to write, till they were tired.

And by the way in discourse tells me that the best way of beginning a sentence, if a man should be out and forget his last sentence (which he never was), that then his last refuge is to begin with an Utcunque.

From thence I to Mr. Bowyer’s, and there sat a while, and so to Mr. Fox’s, and sat with them a very little while, and then by coach home, and so to see Sir Win. Pen, where we found Mrs. Martha Batten and two handsome ladies more, and so we staid supper and were very merry, and so home to bed.


message 770: by [deleted user] (new)

"Utcunque" apparently means however. Which, followed by a swift change of subject, would definitely be a good word to carry on with if you'd forgotten what you were saying .
Here is some more about the fascinating Mr Fuller. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...


message 771: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Glad you told me that Lee, and I'll remember the tip when I yet again forget what I was talking about!


message 772: by Ellie (new)

Ellie (theelliemo) I have a desire to bring the word 'thence' back into common usage, Sam uses it several times and I think it sounds so nice!


message 773: by [deleted user] (new)

I like thither- also used by our Sam. Corporal Jones, from Dad's Army was known to say it but I haven't heard it since :0)


message 774: by Tracey (new)

Tracey | 304 comments The thing about saying utcunque (I've had three attempts at overriding my autocorrect to say that!) is that no one would have a clue what you were talking about so it's obviously a good distraction from the fact that you didn't know what you were talking about either.


message 775: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Haha, very true


message 776: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments I realised today I never read this thread. Can I request a brief overview? I'd like to jump on the wagon :-)


message 777: by [deleted user] (new)

@ Tracey - Lol! Saying utcunque would also have the effect of distracting me so much that I wouldn't know what to say next!


message 778: by [deleted user] (new)

@ Angela, I've cut and pasted this from thr introduction of an old edition of the Diaries

Samuel Pepys was born on the 23rd February, 1632-3,
Samuel's early youth appears to have been spent pretty equally between town and country. He went to school at Huntingdon, from which he was transferred to St. Paul's School in London. He remained at the latter place until 1650, early in which year his name was entered as a sizar on the boards of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was admitted on the 21st June, but subsequently he transferred his allegiance to Magdalene College, where he was admitted a sizar on the 1st October of this same year.
Little or nothing is known of Pepys's career at college, but soon after obtaining the Smith scholarship he got into trouble, and, with a companion, was admonished for being drunk.
[October 21st, 1653. "Memorandum: that Peapys and Hind were solemnly admonished by myself and Mr. Hill, for having been scandalously over-served with drink ye night before. This was done in the presence of all the Fellows then resident, in Mr. Hill's chamber.—JOHN WOOD, Registrar." (From the Registrar's-book of Magdalene College.)]
His time, however, was not wasted, and there is evidence that he carried into his busy life a fair stock of classical learning and a true love of letters. Throughout his life he looked back with pleasure to the time he spent at the University, and his college was remembered in his will when he bequeathed his valuable library. In this same year, 1653, he graduated B.A. On the 1st of December, 1655, when he was still without any settled means of support, he married Elizabeth St. Michel, a beautiful and portionless girl of fifteen. Her father, Alexander Marchant, Sieur de St. Michel, was of a good family in Anjou, and son of the High Sheriff of Bauge (in Anjou).
Sir Edward Montage (afterwards Earl of Sandwich), who was Pepys's first cousin , was a true friend to his poor kinsman, and he at once held out a helping hand to the imprudent couple, allowing them to live in his house. John Pepys does not appear to have been in sufficiently good circumstances to pay for the education of his son, and it seems probable that Samuel went to the university under his influential cousin's patronage. At all events he owed his success in life primarily to Montage, to whom he appears to have acted as a sort of agent.
On March 26th, 1658, he underwent a successful operation for the removal of a stone, and we find him celebrating each anniversary of this important event of his life with thanksgiving. He went through life with little trouble on this score, but when he died at the age of seventy a nest of seven stones was found in his left kidney.
In June, 1659, Pepys accompanied Sir Edward Montage in the "Naseby," when the Admiral of the Baltic Fleet and Algernon Sidney went to the Sound as joint commissioners. It was then that Montage corresponded with Charles II., but he had to be very secret in his movements on account of the suspicions of Sidney. Pepys knew nothing of what was going on, as he confesses in the Diary:
"I do from this raise an opinion of him, to be one of the most secret men in the world, which I was not so convinced of before."
On Pepys's return to England he obtained an appointment in the office of Mr., afterwards Sir George Downing, who was one of the Four Tellers of the Receipt of the Exchequer. He was clerk to Downing when he commenced his diary on January 1st, 1660, and then lived in Axe Yard, close by King Street, Westminster, a place on the site of which was built Fludyer Street. This, too, was swept away for the Government offices in 1864-65. His salary was L50 a year. Downing invited Pepys to accompany him to Holland, but he does not appear to have been very pressing, and a few days later in this same January he got him appointed one of the Clerks of the Council, but the recipient of the favour does not appear to have been very grateful. A great change was now about to take place in Pepys's fortunes, for in the following March he was made secretary to Sir Edward Montage in his expedition to bring about the Restoration of Charles II., and on the 23rd he went on board the "Swiftsure" with Montage. On the 30th they transferred themselves to the "Naseby."
When Montagu and Pepys had both returned to London, the former told the latter that he had obtained the promise of the office of Clerk of the Acts for him. Many difficulties occurred before Pepys actually secured the place, so that at times he was inclined to accept the offers which were made to him to give it up. General Monk was anxious to get the office for Mr. Turner, who was Chief Clerk in the Navy Office, but in the end Montagu's influence secured it for Pepys. Then Thomas Barlow, who had been appointed Clerk of the Acts in 1638, turned up, and appeared likely to become disagreeable. Pepys bought him off with an annuity of too.
This office was one of considerable importance, for not only was the holder the secretary or registrar of the Navy Board but he was also one of the principal officers of the navy, and, as member of the board, of equal rank with the other commissioners. This office Pepys held during the whole period of the Diary.

That brings us up to date - Sam is living in a set of rooms with his wife, apprentice and 2 maids (one of which is his sister). He lives a very busy life - always rushing around on Navy or Lord Montagues business and when he's not doing that he's likely to be having a merry time with family or friends.


message 779: by [deleted user] (new)

That was really interesting - we just plunged into the diaries without knowing much of the background.
Now I know why he's so loyal to his Lord and so careful about his money.
Nice to know that he must have married his wife for love too


message 780: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments Wow I can't believe I've never been into this before! He sounds like an interesting chap, although his wife was very young when they married but I suppose that wasn't unusual. Sort of a rags to riches story for them.

Thanks for bringing me up to speed Lee :-D


message 781: by [deleted user] (new)

Wednesday 23 January 1660/61

To the office all the morning. My wife and people at home busy to get things ready for tomorrow’s dinner. At noon, without dinner, went into the City, and there meeting with Greatorex, we went and drank a pot of ale. He told me that he was upon a design to go to Teneriffe to try experiments there. With him to Gresham Colledge (where I never was before), and saw the manner of the house, and found great company of persons of honour there.

Thence to my bookseller’s, and for books, and to Stevens, the silversmith, to make clean some plate against to-morrow, and so home, by the way paying many little debts for wine and pictures, &c., which is my great pleasure.

Home and found all things in a hurry of business, Slater, our messenger, being here as my cook till very late.

I in my chamber all the evening looking over my Osborn’s works and new Emanuel Thesaurus Patriarchae.

So late to bed, having ate nothing to-day but a piece of bread and cheese at the ale-house with Greatorex, and some bread and butter at home.


message 782: by [deleted user] (new)

Notes
Gresham college is "an unusual institution of higher learning off Holborn in central London. It enrolls no students and grants no degrees. Gresham College has provided lectures free and open to the public since its foundation under the Will of Sir Thomas Gresham in 1597, long before there was any university in London"
The group whose meeting Sam attends there will be chartered as the "Royal Society " in less than 2 years time - Sam will become a member and eventually president!

Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia "He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1665 and served as its President from 1 December 1684 to 30 November 1686. Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica was published during this period and its title page bears Pepys' name. There is a probability problem, called the "Newton–Pepys problem", that arose out of correspondence between Newton and Pepys about whether one is more likely to roll at least one six with six dice or at least two sixes with twelve dice.It has been only recently noted that while the gambling advice Newton gave Pepys was correct, the logical argument Newton included with it was unsound."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_So...


message 783: by [deleted user] (new)

Sam must be planning to eat loads at the dinner tomorrow - if he only had bread and cheese today!


message 784: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments Not getting his five a day! How can he think straight without a slap of veggie?


message 785: by [deleted user] (new)

Do you mean veggimite? I think he'd have probably preferred marmite :0)

Sam is more of a meat man any way - pigs heads , venison pasties etc - oh and he loves oysters, anchovies and walnuts.


message 786: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments Haha I meant vegetables! I love poetry so I'm going to look him up - love a new discovery :)


message 787: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments Oh no now I'm cross posting too! That second part was for the John D - sorry!!


message 788: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments That introduction was very interesting Lee. I just didn't realise how young they both are, Sam and his wife that is. I suppose though on second thoughts that life spans being so much shorter than ours they were going to start careers etc. that much earlier. I don't think that makes a lot of sense but you know what I mean.


message 789: by [deleted user] (new)

Yes - people had to grow up fast back then - I wonder how old (or young) Sams apprentice is.


message 790: by [deleted user] (new)

Thursday 24 January 1660/61

At home all day. There dined with me Sir William Batten and his lady and daughter, Sir W. Pen, Mr. Fox (his lady being ill could not come), and Captain Cuttance.

The first dinner I have made since I came hither. This cost me above 5l., and merry we were — only my chimney smokes.

In the afternoon Mr. Hater bringing me my last quarter’s salary, which I received of him, and so I have now Mr. Barlow’s money in my hands.

The company all go away, and by and by Sir Wms. both and my Lady Batten and his daughter come again and supped with me and talked till late, and so to bed, being glad that the trouble is over.


message 791: by [deleted user] (new)

Glad Sam's first dinner party went well - shame about the chimney though.
I guess the "trouble " was those Fanatiques who have lately been executed.


message 792: by Hilary (new)

Hilary | 2082 comments Those dinner parties are always a bit stressful! I glad you mentioned about the Fanatiques, I was thinking the trouble was getting his house finished for the dinner party!


message 793: by [deleted user] (new)

I suppose he might have meant that - if only we could ask him.


message 794: by [deleted user] (new)

Friday 25 January 1660/61

At the office all the morning. Dined at home and Mr. Hater with me, and so I did make even with him for the last quarter. After dinner he and I to look upon the instructions of my Lord Northumberland’s, but we were interrupted by Mr. Salisbury’s coming in, who came to see me and to show me my Lord’s picture in little, of his doing. And truly it is strange to what a perfection he is come in a year’s time. From thence to Paul’s Churchyard about books, and so back again home. This night comes two cages, which I bought this evening for my canary birds, which Captain Rooth this day sent me. So to bed.


message 795: by [deleted user] (new)

So far we know that Sam has: a dog, a cat a monkey and 2 canaries. He's almost rivalling George!


message 796: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments A fondness for animals always wins my heart :)


message 797: by [deleted user] (new)

Hmmmm - not sure fondness is quite the right word - see the entry for Jan 18th :0(


message 798: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments Noooooo!!!!!!!!!


message 799: by [deleted user] (new)

I know, first time we knew of the existence of the poor creature and Sam is beating it up :0(


message 800: by Angela (new)

Angela | 738 comments The jury is still out on my opinion then. Any other misdemeanours?


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