persuaded to join with him in a great undertaking for the making of
bricks. On March 26th, 1667, the two went in search of brick-earth,
and in September articles were drawn up between them for the purpose
of proceeding in the manufacture. In April, 1668, Evelyn subscribed
50,000 bricks for the building of a college for the Royal Society,
in addition to L50 given previously for the same purpose. No more
information on the subject is given in Evelyn's "Diary."]

upon an adventure with others, by which he presumed to have got a great
deal of money: so that I see the most ingenious men may sometimes be
mistaken. So to the 'Change a little, and then home to dinner, and then
by water to White Hall, to attend the Commissioners of the Treasury with
Alderman Backewell, about L10,000 he is to lend us for Tangier, and then
up to a Committee of the Council, where was the Duke of York, and they did
give us, the Officers of the Navy, the proposals of the several bidders
for the victualling of the Navy, for us to give our answer to, which is
the best, and whether it be better to victual by commission or contract,
and to bring them our answer by Friday afternoon, which is a great deal of
work. So thence back with Sir J. Minnes home, and come after us Sir W.
Pen and Lord Brouncker, and we fell to the business, and I late when they
were gone to digest something of it, and so to supper and to bed.

24th. Up betimes and Sir D. Gawden with me, and I told him all, being
very desirous for the King's sake, as well as my own, that he may be kept
in it, and after consulting him I to the Office, where we met again and
spent most of the morning about this business, and no other, and so at
noon home to dinner, and then close with Mr. Gibson till night, drawing up
our answer, which I did the most part by seven at night, and so to Lord
Brouncker and the rest at his lodgings to read it, and they approved of
it. So back home to supper, and made my boy read to me awhile, and then