the delineation and description of my Tables of Veins and Arteries, by
Mr. Cooper, the chirurgeon, in order to their being engraved.
8th March, 1702. The King had a fall from his horse, and broke his
collar bone, and having been much indisposed before, and aguish, with a
long cough and other weakness, died this Sunday morning, about four
o'clock.
I carried my accounts of Greenwich Hospital to the Committee.
12th April, 1702. My brother-in-law, Glanville, departed this life this
morning after a long languishing illness, leaving a son by my sister,
and two granddaughters. Our relation and friendship had been long and
great. He was a man of excellent parts. He died in the 84th year of his
age, and willed his body to be wrapped in lead and carried down to
Greenwich, put on board a ship, and buried in the sea, between Dover and
Calais, about the Goodwin sands; which was done on the Tuesday, or
Wednesday after. This occasioned much discourse, he having no relation
at all to the sea. He was a gentleman of an ancient family in
Devonshire, and married my sister Jane. By his prudent parsimony he much
improved his fortune. He had a place in the Alienation Office, and might
have been an extraordinary man, had he cultivated his parts.
My steward at Wotton gave a very honest account of what he had laid out
on repairs, amounting to £1,900.
3d May, 1702. The report of the committee sent to examine the state of
Greenwich hospital was delivered to the House of Commons, much to their
satisfaction. Lord Godolphin made Lord High Treasurer.
Being elected a member of the Society lately incorporated for the
propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, I subscribed £10 per annum
toward the carrying it on. We agreed that every missioner, besides the
£20 to set him forth, should have £50 per annum out of the stock of the
Corporation, till his settlement was worth to him £100 per annum. We
sent a young divine to New York.
22d June, 1702. I dined at the Archbishop's with the newly made Bishop
of Carlisle, Dr. Nicolson, my worthy and learned correspondent.
27th June, 1702. I went to Wotton with my family for the rest of the
summer, and my son-in-law, Draper, with his family, came to stay with
us, his house at Addiscombe being new-building, so that my family was
above thirty. Most of the new Parliament were chosen of Church of
England principles, against the peevish party. The Queen was
magnificently entertained at Oxford and all the towns she passed through
on her way to Bath.
31st October, 1702. Arrived now to the 82d year of my age, having read
over all that passed since this day twelvemonth in these notes, I render
solemn thanks to the Lord, imploring the pardon of my past sins, and the
assistance of his grace; making new resolutions, and imploring that he
will continue his assistance, and prepare me for my blessed Savior's
coming, that I may obtain a comfortable departure, after so long a term
as has been hitherto indulged me. I find by many infirmities this year
(especially nephritic pains) that I much decline; and yet of his
infinite mercy retain my intellect and senses in great measure above
most of my age. I have this year repaired much of the mansion house and
several tenants' houses, and paid some of my debts and engagements. My
wife, children, and family in health: for all which I most sincerely
beseech Almighty God to accept of these my acknowledgments, and that if
it be his holy will to continue me yet longer, it may be to the praise
of his infinite grace, and salvation of my soul. Amen!
8th November, 1702. My kinsman, John Evelyn, of Nutfield, a young and
very hopeful gentleman, and Member of Parliament, after having come to
Wotton to see me, about fifteen days past, went to London and there died
of the smallpox. He left a brother, a commander in the army in Holland,
to inherit a fair estate.
Our affairs in so prosperous a condition both by sea and land, that
there has not been so great an union in Parliament, Court, and people,
in memory of man, which God in mercy make us thankful for, and continue!
The Bishop of Exeter preached before the Queen and both Houses of
Parliament at St. Paul's; they were wonderfully huzzaed in their
passage, and splendidly entertained in the city.
December, 1702. The expectation now is, what treasure will be found on
breaking bulk of the galleon brought from Vigo by Sir George Rooke,
which being made up in an extraordinary manner in the hold, was not
begun to be opened till the fifth of this month, before two of the Privy
Council, two of the chief magistrates of the city, and the Lord
Treasurer.
After the excess of honor conferred by the Queen on the Earl of
Marlborough, by making him a Knight of the Garter and a Duke, for the
success of but one campaign, that he should desire £5,000 a year to be
settled on him by Parliament out of the Post Office, was thought a bold
and unadvised request, as he had, besides his own considerable estate,
above £30,000 a year in places and employments, with £50,000 at
interest. He had married one daughter to the son of my Lord Treasurer
Godolphin, another to the Earl of Sunderland, and a third to the Earl of
Bridgewater. He is a very handsome person, well-spoken and affable, and
supports his want of acquired knowledge by keeping good company.
January, 1702-03. News of Vice-Admiral Benbow's conflict with the French
fleet in the West Indies, in which he gallantly behaved himself, and was
wounded, and would have had extraordinary success, had not four of his
men-of-war stood spectators without coming to his assistance; for this,
two of their commanders were tried by a Council of War, and
executed;[94] a third was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, loss of
pay, and incapacity to serve in future. The fourth died.
[Footnote 94: The Captains Kirby and Wade, having been tried and
condemned to die by a court-martial held on them in the West Indies,
were sent home in the "Bristol;" and, on its arrival at Portsmouth
were both shot on board, not being suffered to land on English
ground.]
Sir Richard Onslow and Mr. Oglethorpe (son of the late Sir Theo. O.)
fought on occasion of some words which passed at a committee of the
House. Mr. Oglethorpe was disarmed. The Bill against occasional
conformity was lost by one vote. Corn and provisions so cheap that the
farmers are unable to pay their rents.
[Sidenote: LONDON]
February, 1703. A famous cause at the King's Bench between Mr. Fenwick
and his wife, which went for him with a great estate. The Duke of
Marlborough lost his only son at Cambridge by the smallpox. A great
earthquake at Rome, etc. A famous young woman, an Italian, was hired by
our comedians to sing on the stage, during so many plays, for which they
gave her £500; which part by her voice alone at the end of three scenes
she performed with such modesty and grace, and above all with such
skill, that there was never any who did anything comparable with their
voices. She was to go home to the Court of the King of Prussia, and I
believe carried with her out of this vain nation above £1,000, everybody
coveting to hear her at their private houses.
26th May, 1703. This day died Mr. Samuel Pepys, a very worthy,
industrious and curious person, none in England exceeding him in
knowledge of the navy, in which he had passed through all the most
considerable offices, Clerk of the Acts and Secretary of the Admiralty,
all which he performed with great integrity. When King James II. went
out of England, he laid down his office, and would serve no more; but
withdrawing himself from all public affairs, he lived at Clapham with
his partner, Mr. Hewer, formerly his clerk, in a very noble house and
sweet place, where he enjoyed the fruit of his labors in great
prosperity. He was universally beloved, hospitable, generous, learned in
many things, skilled in music, a very great cherisher of learned men of
whom he had the conversation. His library and collection of other
curiosities were of the most considerable, the models of ships
especially. Besides what he published of an account of the navy, as he
found and left it, he had for divers years under his hand the History of
the Navy, or _Navalia_, as he called it; but how far advanced, and what
will follow of his, is left, I suppose, to his sister's son, Mr.
Jackson, a young gentleman, whom Mr. Pepys had educated in all sorts of
useful learning, sending him to travel abroad, from whence he returned
with extraordinary accomplishments, and worthy to be heir. Mr. Pepys had
been for near forty years so much my particular friend, that Mr. Jackson
sent me complete mourning, desiring me to be one to hold up the pall at
his magnificent obsequies; but my indisposition hindered me from doing
him this last office.
13th June, 1703. Rains have been great and continual, and now, near
midsummer, cold and wet.
11th July, 1703. I went to Addiscombe, sixteen miles from Wotton, to
see my son-in-law's new house, the outside, to the coving, being such
excellent brickwork, based with Portland stone, with the pilasters,
windows, and within, that I pronounced it in all the points of good and
solid architecture to be one of the very best gentlemen's houses in
Surrey, when finished. I returned to Wotton in the evening, though
weary.
25th July, 1703. The last week in this month an uncommon long-continued
rain, and the Sunday following, thunder and lightning.
12th August, 1703. The new Commission for Greenwich hospital was sealed
and opened, at which my son-in-law, Draper, was present, to whom I
resigned my office of Treasurer. From August 1696, there had been
expended in building £89,364 14s. 8d.
31st October, 1703. This day, being eighty-three years of age, upon
examining what concerned me, more particularly the past year, with the
great mercies of God preserving me, and in the same measure making my
infirmities tolerable, I gave God most hearty and humble thanks,
beseeching him to confirm to me the pardon of my sins past, and to
prepare me for a better life by the virtue of his grace and mercy, for
the sake of my blessed Savior.
21st November, 1703. The wet and uncomfortable weather staying us from
church this morning, our Doctor officiated in my family; at which were
present above twenty domestics. He made an excellent discourse on 1 Cor.
xv., v. 55, 56, of the vanity of this world and uncertainty of life, and
the inexpressible happiness and satisfaction of a holy life, with
pertinent inferences to prepare us for death and a future state. I gave
him thanks, and told him I took it kindly as my funeral sermon.
[Sidenote: LONDON]
26-7th November, 1703. The effects of the hurricane and tempest of
wind, rain, and lightning, through all the nation, especially London,
were very dismal. Many houses demolished, and people killed. As to my
own losses, the subversion of woods and timber, both ornamental and
valuable, through my whole estate, and about my house the woods crowning
the garden mount, the growing along the park meadow, the damage to my
own dwelling, farms, and outhouses, is almost tragical, not to be
paralleled, with anything happening in our age. I am not able to
describe it; but submit to the pleasure of Almighty God.
7th December, 1703. I removed to Dover Street, where I found all well;
but houses, trees, garden, etc., at Sayes Court, suffered very much.
31st December, 1703. I made up my accounts, paid wages, gave rewards and
New Year's gifts, according to custom.
January, 1703-04. The King of Spain[95] landing at Portsmouth, came to
Windsor, where he was magnificently entertained by the Queen, and
behaved himself so nobly, that everybody was taken with his graceful
deportment. After two days, having presented the great ladies, and
others, with valuable jewels, he went back to Portsmouth, and
immediately embarked for Spain.
[Footnote 95: Charles III., afterward Emperor of Germany, by the
title of Charles VI.]
16th January, 1704. The Lord Treasurer gave my grandson the office of
Treasurer of the Stamp Duties, with a salary of £300 a year.
30th January, 1704. The fast on the Martyrdom of King Charles I. was
observed with more than usual solemnity.
May, 1704. Dr. Bathurst, President of Trinity College, Oxford, now
died,[96] I think the oldest acquaintance now left me in the world. He
was eighty-six years of age, stark blind, deaf, and memory lost, after
having been a person of admirable parts and learning. This is a serious
alarm to me. God grant that I may profit by it! He built a very handsome
chapel to the college, and his own tomb. He gave a legacy of money, and
a third part of his library, to his nephew, Dr. Bohun, who went hence to
his funeral.
[Footnote 96: There is a very good Life of him, with his portrait
prefixed, by Thomas Warton, Fellow of Trinity College, and Poetry
Professor at Oxford.]
[Sidenote: LONDON]
7th September, 1704. This day was celebrated the thanksgiving for the
late great victory,[97] with the utmost pomp and splendor by the Queen,
Court, great Officers, Lords Mayor, Sheriffs, Companies, etc. The
streets were scaffolded from Temple Bar, where the Lord Mayor presented
her Majesty with a sword, which she returned. Every company was ranged
under its banners, the city militia without the rails, which were all
hung with cloth suitable to the color of the banner. The Lord Mayor,
Sheriffs, and Aldermen were in their scarlet robes, with caparisoned
horses; the Knight Marshal on horseback; the Foot-Guards; the Queen in a
rich coach with eight horses, none with her but the Duchess of
Marlborough in a very plain garment, the Queen full of jewels. Music and
trumpets at every city company. The great officers of the Crown,
Nobility, and Bishops, all in coaches with six horses, besides
innumerable servants, went to St. Paul's, where the Dean preached. After
this, the Queen went back in the same order to St. James's. The city
companies feasted all the Nobility and Bishops, and illuminated at
night. Music for the church and anthems composed by the best masters.
The day before was wet and stormy, but this was one of the most serene
and calm days that had been all the year.
[Footnote 97: Over the French and Bavarians, at Blenheim, 13th
August, 1704.]
October, 1704. The year has been very plentiful.
31st October, 1704. Being my birthday and the 84th year of my life,
after particular reflections on my concerns and passages of the year, I
set some considerable time of this day apart, to recollect and examine
my state and condition, giving God thanks, and acknowledging his
infinite mercies to me and mine, begging his blessing, and imploring his
protection for the year following.
December, 1704. Lord Clarendon presented me with the three volumes of
his father's "History of the Rebellion."
My Lord of Canterbury wrote to me for suffrage for Mr. Clarke's
continuance this year in the Boyle Lecture, which I willingly gave for
his excellent performance of this year.
9th February, 1704. I went to wait on my Lord Treasurer, where was the
victorious Duke of Marlborough, who came to me and took me by the hand
with extraordinary familiarity and civility, as formerly he was used to
do, without any alteration of his good-nature. He had a most rich George
in a sardonyx set with diamonds of very great value; for the rest, very
plain. I had not seen him for some years, and believed he might have
forgotten me.
21st February, 1704. Remarkable fine weather. Agues and smallpox much in
every place.
11th March, 1704. An exceedingly dry season. Great loss by fire,
burning the outhouses and famous stable of the Earl of Nottingham, at
Burleigh [Rutlandshire], full of rich goods and furniture, by the
carelessness of a servant. A little before, the same happened at Lord
Pembroke's, at Wilton. The old Countess of Northumberland, Dowager of
Algernon Percy, Admiral of the fleet to King Charles I., died in the 83d
year of her age. She was sister to the Earl of Suffolk, and left a great
estate, her jointure to descend to the Duke of Somerset.
May, 1704. The Bailiff of Westminster hanged himself. He had an ill
report.
On the death of the Emperor, there was no mourning worn at Court,
because there was none at the Imperial Court on the death of King
William.
18th May, 1704. I went to see Sir John Chardin, at Turnham Green, the
gardens being very fine, and exceedingly well planted with fruit.
20th May, 1704. Most extravagant expense to debauch and corrupt votes
for Parliament members. I sent my grandson with his party of my
freeholders to vote for Mr. Harvey, of Combe.
4th January, 1704-05. I dined at Lambeth with the Archbishop of Dublin,
Dr. King, a sharp and ready man in politics, as well as very learned.
June, 1705. The season very dry and hot. I went to see Dr. Dickinson the
famous chemist. We had long conversation about the philosopher's elixir,
which he believed attainable, and had seen projection himself by one who
went under the name of Mundanus, who sometimes came along among the
adepts, but was unknown as to his country, or abode; of this the doctor
had written a treatise in Latin, full of very astonishing relations. He
is a very learned person, formerly a Fellow of St. John's College,
Oxford, in which city he practiced physic, but has now altogether given
it over, and lives retired, being very old and infirm, yet continuing
chemistry.
I went to Greenwich hospital, where they now began to take in wounded
and worn-out seamen, who are exceedingly well provided for. The
buildings now going on are very magnificent.
[Sidenote: LONDON]
October, 1705. Mr. Cowper made Lord Keeper. Observing how uncertain
great officers are of continuing long in their places, he would not
accept it, unless £2,000 a year were given him in reversion when he was
put out, in consideration of his loss of practice. His predecessors, how
little time soever they had the Seal, usually got £100,000 and made
themselves Barons. A new Secretary of State. Lord Abington, Lieutenant
of the Tower, displaced, and General Churchill, brother to the Duke of
Marlborough, put in. An indication of great unsteadiness somewhere, but
thus the crafty Whig party (as called) begin to change the face of the
Court, in opposition to the High Churchmen, which was another
distinction of a party from the Low Churchmen. The Parliament chose one
Mr. Smith, Speaker. There had never been so great an assembly of members
on the first day of sitting, being more than 450. The votes both of the
old, as well as the new, fell to those called Low Churchmen, contrary to
all expectation.
31st October, 1705. I am this day arrived to the 85th year of my age.
Lord teach me so to number my days to come, that I may apply them to
wisdom!
1st January, 1705-06. Making up my accounts for the past year, paid
bills, wages, and New Year's gifts, according to custom. Though much
indisposed and in so advanced a stage, I went to our chapel [in London]
to give God public thanks, beseeching Almighty God to assist me and my
family the ensuing year, if he should yet continue my pilgrimage here,
and bring me at last to a better life with him in his heavenly kingdom.
Divers of our friends and relations dined with us this day.
27th January, 1706. My indisposition increasing, I was exceedingly ill
this whole week.
3d February, 1706. Notes of the sermons at the chapel in the morning and
afternoon, written with his own hand, conclude this Diary.[98]
[Footnote 98: Mr. Evelyn died on the 27th of this month.]
END OF THE DIARY.
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Footnotes have been moved below the paragraph to which they relate.
Inconsistencies have been retained in spelling, hyphenation, formatting,
punctuation, and grammar, except where indicated in the list below:
- "dilligent" changed to "diligent" on Page 1
- "suprising" changed to "surprising" on Page 2
- Period added after "1665" on Page 5
- Period added after "ought!)" on Page 12
- Semicolon changed to a period added after "1666" on
Page 13
- Period added after "etc" on Page 26
- "Luke, xix," changed to "Luke xix." on Page 26
- Quote added after "Writings," in Footnote 9
- "day's" changed to "days" in Footnote 10
- "Fore-land" changed to "Foreland" on Page 34
- Comma added after "August" on Page 36
- Period changed to a comma after "received" on Page 40
- Comma changed to a period after "1667" on Page 41
- Comma added after "April" on Page 41
- Period added after "years" on Page 45
- Period changed to a comma after "September" on
Page 51
- Period added after "1671" on Page 68
- "rarites" changed to "rarities" on Page 72
- Comma changed to a period added after "fowl" on
Page 73
- Period added after "April" on Page 79
- Period added after "home" on Page 83
- Period added after "me" on Page 83
- Period added after "1672" on Page 86
- Comma removed after "Psalm" on Page 87
- Period added after "design" on Page 89
- Period added after "go-by" on Page 91
- Closed paren changed to a comma after "Burnet"
on Page 98
- "eloqence" changed to "eloquence" on Page 98
- Comma removed after "Luke" on Page 102
- Period added after "Dr" on Page 104
- Period changed to a comma after "him" on Page 104
- Period added after "1675" on Page 105
- Period added after "London" on Page 106
- "gentelman" changed to "gentleman" on Page 107
- Comma added after "November" on Page 108
- Comma added after "December" on Page 108
- Period added after "xx" on Page 109
- Comma removed after "Isaiah" on Page 109
- Period added after "Mr" on Page 110
- Period added after "manner" on Page 110
- Period added after "chargeable" on Page 111
- "Duke s" changed to "Duke's" on Page 111
- Period added after "Mr" on Page 111
- Period added after "large" on Page 119
- Period added after "Queen" on Page 120
- "Brounker" changed to "Brouncker" on Page 121
- "exemplaily" changed to "exemplarily" on Page 124
- Comma removed after "Europeans" on Page 147
- Comma added after "Mingrelia" on Page 147
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Page 168
- Period added after "lute" on Page 195
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Page 212
- Period added after "solemn" on Page 212
- "ingenius" changed to "ingenious" on Page 214
- "familar" changed to "familiar" on Page 214
- Period added after "spirits" on Page 216
- Period added after "family" on Page 216
- Period removed after "Sir" on Page 220
- Period added after "worship" on Pago 224
- "pro ceeded" changed to "proceeded" on Page 229
- Period added after "end" on Page 229
- Semicolon changed to colon after "note" in
Footnote 61
- Quote added after "but, says he," on page 234
- Comma added after "February" on Page 248
- "etc," changed to "etc." on Page 256
- "minatures" changed to "miniatures" on Page 258
- "minatured" changed to "miniatured" on Page 258
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- Period added after "Mr" on Page 262
- "Martin s" changed to "Martin's" on Page 262
- Period added after "ended" on Page 263
- Period added after "1687" on Page 263
- "mal-administration" changed to "maladministration"
on Page 294
- "Guatavus" changed to "Gustavus" on Page 295
- Period added after "St" on Page 300
- Comma added after "February" on Page 300
- Period added after "£40,000" on Page 307
- Period added after "season" on Page 307
- Period added after "Bishop" on Page 307
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- Period added after "Tower" on Page 307
- Period added after "years" on Page 308
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- "Norfold" changed to "Norfolk" on Page 356