African Company in 1663, who, as an encouragement to bring over gold
to be coined, were permitted by their charter from Charles II. to
have their stamp of an elephant upon the coin. When first coined
they were valued at 20s., but were worth 30s. in 1695. There were
likewise fivepound pieces, like the guinea, with the inscription
upon the rim.]

22nd. Up, and to the Office, where sitting all the morning at noon, home
to dinner, with my people, and so to the Office again, where busy all the
afternoon, and in the evening spent my time walking in the dark, in the
garden, to favour my eyes, which I find nothing but ease to help. In the
garden there comes to me my Lady Pen and Mrs. Turner and Markham, and we
sat and talked together, and I carried them home, and there eat a bit of
something, and by and by comes Sir W. Pen, and eat with us, and mighty
merry-in appearance, at least, he being on all occasions glad to be at
friendship with me, though we hate one another, and know it on both sides.
They gone, Mrs. Turner and I to walk in the garden . . . . So led her
home, and I back to bed. This day Mr. Wren did give me, at the Board,
Commissioner Middleton's answer to the Duke of York's great letter; so
that now I have all of them.

23rd. At my office busy all the morning. At noon comes Mr. Evelyn to me,
about some business with the Office, and there in discourse tells me of
his loss, to the value of F 500, which he hath met with, in a late attempt
of making of bricks

[At the end of the year 1666 a Dutchman of the Prince of Orange's
party, named Kiviet, came over to England with proposals for
embanking the river from the Temple to the Tower with brick,
and was knighted by the king. He was introduced to Evelyn, whom he