第 141 节
作者:
敏儿不觉 更新:2022-11-28 19:16 字数:9322
al places where he was to go; and among others his house; where he was to dine; and did dine yesterday。 And after dinner went into the church; and there saw his corpse with the wound in his left breast; a sad spectacle; and a broad wound; which makes my hand now shake to write of it。 His brother intending; it seems; to kill the coachman; who did not please him; this fellow stepped in and took away his sword; who thereupon took out his knife; which was of the fashion; with a falchion blade; and a little cross at the hilt like a dagger; and with that stabbed him。 Drove hard towards Clerkenwell; thinking to have overtaken my Lady Newcastle; whom I saw before us in her coach; with 100 boys and girls running looking upon her; but I could; not: and so she got home before I could come up to her。 But I will get a time to see her。
12th。 Walked over the fields to Kingsland; and back again; a walk; I think; I have not taken these twenty years; but puts me in mind of my boy's time when I boarded at Kingsland; and used to shoot with my bow and arrows in these fields。
13th。 This morning come Sir H。 Cholmly to me for a tally or two; and tells me that he hears that we are by agreement to give the King of France Nova Scotia; which he do not like: but I do not know the importance of it。 Sir Philip Warwick do please himself like a good man to tell some of the good ejaculations of my Lord Treasurer concerning the little worth of this world; to buy it with so much pain; and other things fit for a dying man。
14th。 To my Lord Chancellor's; where I met Mr。 Povy expecting the coming of the rest of the Commissioners for Tangier。 Here I understand how the two Dukes; both the only sons of the Duke of York; are sick even to danger; and that on Sunday last they were both so ill; as that the poor Duchesse was in doubt which would die: the Duke of Cambridge; of some general disease; the other little Duke; whose title I know not; of the convulsion fits; of which he had four this morning。 Fear that either of them might be dead; did make us think that it was the occasion that the Duke of York and others were not come to the meeting of the Commission which was designed; and my Lord Chancellor did expect。 And it was pretty to observe how; when my Lord sent down to St。 James's to see why the Duke of York come not; and Mr。 Povy; who went; returned; my Lord did ask (not how the Princes or the Dukes do; as other people do; but) 〃How do the Children?〃 which methought was mighty great; and like a great man and grandfather。 I find every body mightily concerned for these children; as a matter wherein the State is much concerned that they should live。
16th。 I away with Sir G。 Carteret to London; talking all the way; and he do tell me that the business of my Lord Hinchingbroke his marriage with my Lord Burlington's daughter; is concluded on by all friends; and that my Lady is now told of it; and do mightily please herself with it: which I am mightily glad of。 News still that my Lord Treasurer is so ill as not to be any man of this world; and it is said that the Treasury shall be managed by Commission。 I would to God Sir G。 Carteret; or my Lord Sandwich; be in it! But the latter is the more fit for it。
16th。 This being Holy Thursday; when the boys go our procession round the parish; we were to go to the Three Tuns Tavern to dine with the rest of the parish; where all the parish almost was; Sir Andrew Rickard and others; and of our house; J。 Minnes; W。 Batten; W。 Pen; and myself: and Mr。 Mills did sit uppermost at the table。 Sir John Fredricke 'Lord Mayor of London 1662; and President of Christ's Hospital。 His eldest son; John; was created a Baronet 1723。' and Sir R。 Ford did talk of Paul's School; which; they tell me; must be taken away; and then I fear it will be long before another place; such as they say is promised; is found: but they do say that the honour of their Company 'The Mercers' Company; under whose superintendence St。 Paul's school was placed by the Founder。' is concerned in the doing of it; and that it is a thing that they are obliged to do。 To my Lord Treasurer's; where I find the porter crying; and suspected it was that my Lord is dead; and; poor Lord! we did find that he was dead just now。 There is a good man gone: and I pray God that the Treasury may not be worse managed the hand or hands it shall now be put into; though; for certain; the slowness (though he was of great integrity) of this man and remissness have gone as far to undo the nation; as any thing else that hath happened; and yet; if I knew all the difficulties that he hath lain under; and his instrument Sir Philip Warwick; I might be true to another mind。 It is remarkable that this afternoon Mr。 Moore come to me; and there among other things did tell me how Mr。 Moyer the merchant; having procured an order from the King and Duke of York and Council; with the consent of my Lord Chancellor; and by assistance of Lord Arlington; for the releasing out of prison his brother Samuel Moyer; who was a great man in the late times in Haberdashers'…hall; and was engaged under hand and seal to give the man that obtained it so much in behalf of my Lord Chancellor; but it seems my Lady Duchesse of Albemarle had before undertaken it for so much money; but hath not done it。 The Duke of Albemarle did the next day send for this Moyer; to tell him that notwithstanding this order of the King and Council's being passed for release of his brother; yet; if he did not consider the pains of some friends of his; he would stop that order。 This Moyer being an honest; bold man; told him that he was engaged to the hand that had done the thing to give him a reward; and more; he could not give; nor could own any kindness done by his Grace's interest: and so parted。 The next day Sir Edward Savage did take the said Moyer in tax about it; giving ill words of this Moyer and his brother; which he not being able to bear; told him he would give to the person that had engaged him what he promised; and not any thing to any body else; and that both he and his brother were as honest men as himself or any man else: and so sent him going; and bid him do his worst。 It is one of the most extraordinary cases that ever I saw or understood; but it is true。
17th。 To Sir R。 Viner's with 600 pieces of gold to turn into silver; for the enabling me to answer Sir G。 Carteret's 3000l。; which he now draws all out of my hand towards the paying for a purchase he hath made for his son and my Lady Jemimah; in Northamptonshire; of Sir Samuel Luke; 'Sir Samuel Luke was (according to Granger) the original Hudibras of Butler。' in a good place: a good house; and near all her friends; which is a very happy thing。
19th。 Great talk of the good end that my Lord Treasurer made; closing his own eyes; and wetting his mouth; and bidding adieu with the greatest content and freedom in the world: and is said to die with the cleanest hands that ever any Lord Treasurer did。 Mr。 How come to see us; and; among other things; told us how the Barristers and Students of Gray's Inne rose in rebellion against the Benchers the other day; who outlawed them; and a great deal of do: but now they are at peace again。
20th。 Among other news I hear that the Commissioners for the Treasury were named by the King yesterday; but who they are nobody could tell: but the persons are the Lord Chancellor; the two Secretaries; Lord Ashly; and others say Sir W。 Coventry and Sir John Duncomb; but all conclude the Duke of Albemarle: but reports do differ。
22nd。 Up; and by water to White Hall to Sir G。 Carteret; who tells me now for certain how the Commission for the Treasury is disposed of; viz。 to Duke of Albemarle; Lord Ashly; Sir W。 Coventry; Sir John Duncomb; and Sir Thomas Clifford: at which; he says; all the whole Court is disturbed; it having been once concluded otherwise into the other hands formerly mentioned in yesterday's notes; but all of a sudden the King's choice was changed; and these are to be the men: the first of which is only for a puppet to give honour to the rest。 He do presage that these men will make it their business to find faults in the management of the late Lord Treasurer; and in discouraging the bankers: but I am (whatever I in compliance do say to him) of another mind; and my heart is very glad of it; for I do expect they will do much good; and that it is the happiest thing that hath appeared to me for the good of the nation since the King come in。 Thence to St。 James's; and up to the Duke of York; and there in his chamber Sir W。 Coventry did of himself take notice of this business of the Treasury; wherein he is in the Commission; and desired that I would be thinking of any thing fit for him to be acquainted with for the lessening of charge and bettering of our credit; and what our expence hath been since the King's coming home; which he believes will be one of the first things they shall enquire into: which I promised him; and from time to time; which he desires; give him an account of what I can think of worthy his knowledge。 I am mighty glad of this opportunity of professing my joy to him in what choice the King hath made; and the hopes I have that it will save the kingdom from perishing: and how it do enco