Produced by David Widger
(Unabridged)
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. FEBRUARY 1667-1668
February 1st. Up, and to the office pretty betimes, and the Board notmeeting as soon as I wished, I was forced to go to White Hall inexpectation of a Committee for Tangier, but when I come it was put off,and so home again to the office, and sat till past two o'clock; where atthe Board some high words passed between Sir W. Pen and I, begun by me,and yielded to by him, I being in the right in finding fault with him forhis neglect of duty. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner out with mywife, thinking to have gone to the Duke of York's playhouse, but was, tomy great content in the saving my vow, hindered by coming a little toolate; and so, it being a fine day, we out to Islington, and there to theold house and eat cheese-cakes and drank and talked, and so home in theevening, the ways being mighty bad, so as we had no pleasure in beingabroad at all almost, but only the variety of it, and so to the office,where busy late, and then home to supper and to bed, my head mighty fullof business now on my hands: viz., of finishing my Tangier Accounts; ofauditing my last year's Accounts; of preparing answers to theCommissioners of Accounts; of drawing up several important letters to theDuke of York and the Commissioners of the Treasury; the marrying of mysister; the building of a coach and stables against summer, and thesetting many things in the Office right; and the drawing up a new form ofContract with the Victualler of the Navy, and several other things, whichpains, however, will go through with, among others the taking care of KateJoyce in that now she is in at present for saving her estate.
2nd (Lord's day). Wife took physick this day, I all day at home, and allthe morning setting my books in order in my presses, for the followingyear, their number being much increased since the last, so as I am fain tolay by several books to make room for better, being resolved to keep nomore than just my presses will contain. At noon to dinner, my wife comingdown to me, and a very good dinner we had, of a powdered leg of pork and aloin of lamb roasted, and with much content she and I and Deb. Afterdinner, my head combed an hour, and then to work again, and at it, doingmany things towards the setting my accounts and papers in order, and so inthe evening Mr. Pelling supping with us, and to supper, and so to bed.
3rd. Up, and to the office, where with my clerks all the morning verybusy about several things there wherein I was behindhand. At noon home todinner, and thence after dinner to the Duke of York's house, to the play,"The Tempest," which we have often seen, but yet I was pleased again, andshall be again to see it, it is so full of variety, and particularly thisday I took pleasure to learn the tune of the seaman's dance, which I havemuch desired to be perfect in, and have made myself so. So home with mywife and Deb., and there at the office met to my trouble with a warra