25th. Up, having lain the last night the first night that I have lain
with my wife since she was last ill, which is about eight days. To the
office, where busy all the morning. At noon comes W. Howe to me, to
advise what answer to give to the business of the prizes, wherein I did
give him the best advice I could; but am sorry to see so many things,
wherein I doubt it will not be prevented but Sir Roger Cuttance and Mr.
Pierce will be found very much concerned in goods beyond the distribution,
and I doubt my Lord Sandwich too, which troubles me mightily. He gone I
to dinner, and thence set my wife at the New Exchange, and I to Mr.
Clerke, my solicitor, to the Treasury chamber, but the Lords did not sit,
so I by water with him to the New Exchange, and there we parted, and I
took my wife and Deb. up, and to the Nursery, where I was yesterday, and
there saw them act a comedy, a pastorall, "The Faythful Shepherd," having
the curiosity to see whether they did a comedy better than a tragedy; but
they do it both alike, in the meanest manner, that I was sick of it, but
only for to satisfy myself once in seeing the manner of it, but I shall
see them no more, I believe. Thence to the New Exchange, to take some
things home that my wife hath bought, a dressing-box, and other things for
her chamber and table, that cost me above L4, and so home, and there to
the office, and tell W. Hewer of the letter from Captain Allen last night,
to give him caution if any thing should be discovered of his dealings with
anybody, which I should for his sake as well, or more than for my own, be
sorry for; and with great joy I do find, looking over my memorandum books,
which are now of great use to me, and do fully reward me for all my care
in keeping them, that I am not likely to be troubled for any thing of the
kind but what I shall either be able beforehand to prevent, or if
discovered, be able to justify myself in, and I do perceive, by Sir W.
Warren's discourse, that they [the House] do all they can possibly to get
out of him and others, what presents they have made to the Officers of the
Navy; but he tells me that he hath denied all, though he knows that he is