Sir J. Lawson himself was upon the deck, to the endangering of the whole
fleete. It therefore troubles my Lord that Mr. Coventry should not
mention a word of him in his relation. I did, in answer, offer that I was
sure the relation was not compiled by Mr. Coventry, but by L'Estrange, out
of several letters, as I could witness; and that Mr. Coventry's letter
that he did give the Duke of Albemarle did give him as much right as the
Prince, for I myself read it first and then copied it out, which I
promised to show my Lord, with which he was somewhat satisfied. From that
discourse my Lord did begin to tell me how much he was concerned to
dispose of his children, and would have my advice and help; and propounded
to match my Lady Jemimah to Sir G. Carteret's eldest son, which I approved
of, and did undertake the speaking with him about it as from myself, which
my Lord liked. So parted, with my head full of care about this business.
Thence home to the 'Change, and so to dinner, and thence by coach to Mr.
Povy's. Thence by appointment with him and Creed to one Mr. Finch; one of
the Commissioners for the Excise, to be informed about some things of the
Excise, in order to our settling matters therein better for us for our
Tangier business. I find him a very discreet, grave person. Thence well
satisfied I and Creed to Mr. Fox at White Hall to speak with him about the
same matter, and having some pretty satisfaction from him also, he and I
took boat and to Fox Hall, where we spent two or three hours talking of
several matters very soberly and contentfully to me, which, with the ayre
and pleasure of the garden, was a great refreshment to me, and, 'methinks,
that which we ought to joy ourselves in. Thence back to White Hall, where
we parted, and I to find my Lord to receive his farther direction about
his proposal this morning. Wherein I did that I should first by another
hand break my intentions to Sir G. Carteret. I pitched upon Dr. Clerke,
which my Lord liked, and so I endeavoured but in vain to find him out
to-night. So home by hackney-coach, which is become a very dangerous
passage now-a-days, the sickness increasing mightily, and to bed.