12th (Lord’s day).  Up, and borrowing Sir J. Minnes’s coach, to my Lord Sandwich’s, but he was gone abroad.  I sent the coach back for my wife, my Lord a second time dining at home on purpose to meet me, he having not dined once at home but those times since his coming from sea.  I sat down and read over the Bishop of Chichester’s’ sermon upon the anniversary of the King’s death, much cried up, but, methinks, but a mean sermon.  By and by comes in my Lord, and he and I to talke of many things in the Navy, one from another, in general, to see how the greatest things are committed to very ordinary men, as to parts and experience, to do; among others, my Lord Barkeley.  We talked also of getting W. Howe to be put into the Muster-Mastershipp in the roome of Creed, if Creed will give way, but my Lord do it without any great gusto, calling Howe a proud coxcomb in passion.  Down to dinner, where my wife in her new lace whiske, which, indeed, is very noble, and I much pleased with it, and so my Lady also.  Here very pleasant my Lord was at dinner, and after dinner did look over his plate, which Burston hath brought him to-day, and is the last of the three that he will have made.  After satisfied with that, he abroad, and I after much discourse with my Lady about Sir G. Carteret’s son, of whom she hath some thoughts for a husband for my Lady Jemimah, we away home by coach again, and there sang a good while very pleasantly with Mr. Andrews and Hill.  They gone; we to supper, and betimes to bed.

13th.  Up betimes, this being the first morning of my promise upon a forfeite not to lie in bed a quarter of an hour after my first waking.  Abroad to St. James’s, and there much business, the King also being with us a great while.  Thence to the ’Change, and thence with Captain Tayler and Sir W. Warren dined at a house hard by for discourse sake, and so I home, and there meeting a letter from Mrs. Martin desiring to speak with me, I (though against my promise of visiting her) did go, and there found her in her childbed dress desiring my favour to get her husband a place.  I staid not long, but taking Sir W. Warren up at White Hall home, and among other discourse fell to a business which he says shall if accomplished bring me L100.  He gone, I to supper and to bed.  This day my wife begun to wear light-coloured locks, quite white almost, which, though it makes her look very pretty, yet not being natural, vexes me, that I will not have her wear them.  This day I saw my Lord Castlemayne at St. James’s, lately come from France.

14th.  Up before six, to the office, where busy all the morning.  At noon dined with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, at the Tower, with Sir J. Robinson, at a farewell dinner which he gives Major Holmes at his going out of the Tower, where he hath for some time, since his coming from Guinny, been a prisoner, and, it seems, had presented the Lieutenant with fifty pieces yesterday.  Here a great deale of good victuals and company.  Thence home to my office, where very late, and home to supper and to bed weary of business.