Returned and walked from the Docke home, Mr. Coventry and I very much
troubled to see how backward Commissioner Pett is to tell any of the
faults of the officers, and to see nothing in better condition here for
his being here than they are in other yards where there is none. After
some discourse to bed. But I sat up an hour after Mr. Coventry was gone
to read my vows, it raining a wonderful hard showre about 11 at night for
an hour together. So to bed.

3rd. Up both of us very betimes and to the Yard, and see the men called
over and choose some to be discharged. Then to the Ropehouses and viewed
them all and made an experiment which was the stronger, English or Riga
hemp, the latter proved the stronger, but the other is very good, and much
better we believe than any but Riga. We did many other things this
morning, and I caused the Timber measurer to measure some timber, where I
found much fault and with reason, which we took public notice of, and did
give them admonition for the time to come. At noon Mr. Pett did give us a
very great dinner, too big in all conscience, so that most of it was left
untouched. Here was Collonell Newman and several other gentlemen of the
country and officers of the yard. After dinner they withdrew and
Commissioner Pett, Mr. Coventry and I sat close to our business all the
noon in his parler, and there run through much business and answered
several people. And then in the evening walked in the garden, where we
conjured him to look after the yard, and for the time to come that he
would take the whole faults and ill management of the yard upon himself,
he having full power and our concurrence to suspend or do anything else
that he thinks fit to keep people and officers to their duty. He having
made good promises, though I fear his performance, we parted (though I
spoke so freely that he could have been angry) good friends, and in some
hopes that matters will be better for the time to come. So walked to the
Hillhouse (which we did view and the yard about it, and do think to put it