MEMOIR OF SAMUEL PEPYS.

Samuel Pepys, the author of the Diary here presented to the
reader was descended from the family of Pepys originally seated
at Diss, in Norfolk, and who settled at Cottenham, in
Cambridgeshire, early in the sixteenth century. His father, John
Pepys, followed for some time the trade of a tailor; and the
reader may hereafter notice the influence which this genealogy
seems to have exercised over the style and sentiments of his
son's Diary. The father retired to Brampton, in Huntingdonshire,
where he ended his days in 1680. His wife, Margaret, died in
1666-7, having had a family of six sons and five daughters.
Samuel was born February 23, 1632, most probably in London, but
by some it is thought at Brampton; he certainly passed his boyish
days in the Metropolis, and was educated regularly at St. Paul's
School; and afterwards at the University of Cambridge, and
probably went through his studies with success. But little is
known of him as an undergraduate. One record, however, remains
which proves that in his early life, as in later years, he was a
BON VIVANT. The following appears in the register book of the
college respecting his pranks when there:--"October 21, 1653.
Mem. 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 (Signed) John Wood,
Registrar." Early in life, Pepys took one of those decided steps
which tend, according to circumstances, to a man's marring or
making. He appears to have married Elizabeth St. Michel, a
beautiful girl of fifteen, when he himself was only about twenty-
three. She was of good family her mother being descended from