describes as "a very extraordinary town indeed for beauty and trade, much
superior to any in Scotland."

Pepys had now been out of office for some time, but he was soon to have
employment again. Tangier, which was acquired at the marriage of the King
to Katharine of Braganza, had long been an incumbrance, and it was
resolved at last to destroy the place. Colonel Legge (now Lord Dartmouth)
was in August, 1683, constituted Captain-General of his Majesty's forces
in Africa, and Governor of Tangier, and sent with a fleet of about twenty
sail to demolish and blow up the works, destroy the harbour, and bring
home the garrison. Pepys received the King's commands to accompany Lord
Dartmouth on his expedition, but the latter's instructions were secret,
and Pepys therefore did not know what had been decided upon. He saw quite
enough, however, to form a strong opinion of the uselessness of the place
to England. Lord Dartmouth carried out his instructions thoroughly, and
on March 29th, 1684, he and his party (including Pepys) arrived in the
English Channel.

The King himself now resumed the office of Lord High Admiral, and
appointed Pepys Secretary of the Admiralty, with a salary of L500 per
annum. In the Pepysian Library is the original patent, dated June 10th,
1684: "His Majesty's Letters Patent for ye erecting the office of
Secretary of ye Admiralty of England, and creating Samuel Pepys, Esq.,
first Secretary therein." In this office the Diarist remained until the
period of the Revolution, when his official career was concluded.

A very special honour was conferred upon Pepys in this year, when he was
elected President of the Royal Society in succession to Sir Cyril Wyche,
and he held the office for two years. Pepys had been admitted a fellow of
the society on February 15th, 1664-65, and from Birch's "History" we find