Sasha Clarkson

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Sasha Clarkson has posted 752 annotations/comments since 16 February 2013.

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Second Reading

About Saturday 12 November 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

It turns out that Batten makes a fool of himself here, by badmouthing an able man.
It turns out that (Captain Silas) Taylor gets the job eventually, and Sam lends him money to help him set up.

https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/…

He's conflated in the diary with another Captain Silas Taylor, a musical acquaintance of Sam's.

About Friday 11 November 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

I took part in the Lord Mayor's show twice. Firstly in 1976, on the King's College London Student's Union float; in 1977 we didn't have a float, but the college principal, Sir Richard Way, hired an open coach, two horses and a driver, and invited the president, secretary (me) and vice-president of the students' union to accompany him in the procession. We students hired suitable costumes from Moss Bros. The President and Vice-President were ladies, and had quite exotic dresses; Sir Richard and I wore grey morning suits with top-hats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mor…

About Friday 11 November 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

I'm sure that there are several instances of men who married an heiress taking their wife's surname to continue it.

One interesting case which comes to mind is Sir Hugh Smithson Bart (1714 -1786), who married Lady Elizabeth Seymour, heiress to the Earl of Northumberland's estates. He therefore took his wife's grandmother's maiden name of Percy, the surname of the earls, and was created first Duke of Northumberland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hug…

Of particular interest to our transatlantic friends is that the Duke had an illegitimate son, James Smithson, (1865 - 1729), whose will endowed the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Smithson had inherited a considerable fortune from his mother's family.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam…

About Monday 7 November 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

"I see the greatest businesses are done so superficially that I wonder anything succeeds at all among us, that is publique."

Regular meetings for a jolly and expenses, which does not actually achieve anything? I've been to a few of those I'm afraid ...

About Wednesday 26 October 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Personally, I think all that happened today is that they all had a day out, and Elizabeth & the servants were late home. Sam was worried about their safety, especially as the weather was "foule", and he himself had nearly "broke" his leg.. Under those circumstances anger mixed with relief on their eventual return is perfectly natural, as is a rapid reconciliation afterwards. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

About Monday 24 October 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Re "Protestant pretenders": I'm not sure that Sam is referring just to the Cromwellian soldiers: O'Neill had had his lands in Ulster taken from him as a minor, as part of the Ulster Plantation policy of James I & VI. The Commonwealth/Protectorate Irish policy was a continuation of that of the Tudors and early Stuarts.

Sam's use of the word "pretender" might indicate that even good Anglicans might be somewhat sceptical about the legality, morality and sustainability of the Ulster plantations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pla…

About Friday 21 October 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

(1) Remember that Sir William Turner is cousin Jane's brother-in-law, so its busoness for a cloe family connection.

(2) If M'Lord has heard that Creed is worth £10,000 he might wonder how much of that was amassed when Creed was his "deputy treasurer" for the Portugal expedition which fetched Queen Catherine? And of course, Sam saved Creed's bacon when his accounts were queried by Southampton, the Lord Treasurer.

About Saturday 15 October 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

re Robert G on Margaret:
"one wonders if she's felt John has unfaired favored and spoiled Sam, his bright boy with the best prospects, over the others"

Sam has hardly been "spoiled": he's worked, grafted & networked for everything he's got. With Sam's help and encouragement, young John certainly has had the same advantages given him as Sam, ie St Paul's and Cambridge; he just hasn't made as much of them. Nor did he have the good fortune or ability to impress an influential relative with his personal qualities. Poor brother Tom of course did not have those advantages offered, but given his speech impediment, and the fact that examinations were oral, there was little point given the social realities of the day.

Sam's worldly success, and his closeness to old John may well have helped inspire young John's resentment, but one can't really blame the old man. Old John needed an adult helpmeet to manage the complex family affairs resulting from uncle Robert's will, which specifically named old John and Sam, as his eldest son, as heirs. At the moment however, Brampton is of no net benefit to Sam personally, as he is subsiding his parents living there.

About Tuesday 11 October 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

Lady Castlemaine has just given birth (4th September) to her daughter Charlotte, so, whatever the state of her belly, she might not be looking her best at the moment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cha…

Alas for the ill wishes and Schadenfreude of the more respectable ladies in court circles, she retains her influence for several more years.

My guess re Will Joyce is that, for some unspecified reason, despite his distaste. Sam felt under a social obligation to invite him. I do find the description of Joyce's company as "chargeable and troublesome", rather amusing! :D

About Sunday 9 October 1664

Sasha Clarkson  •  Link

PS, the lower end of Seething lane seems much narrower on Google Maps: it isn't, but it *is* pedestrianised, as looking on Street view will show you.

In fact, if you use Street View to navigate, you will find several perspectives of Sam's own St Olaves. Frustratingly, you can't quite see the bust of Sam in the churchyard through the gates.