I'm not quite sure whose side the other officers are on. I'm guessing from the context that "he has carried himself very much unbecoming him" refers to Cooper, the Master, who we must remember owed his position to Sam's influence. But then the "cried shame of it" seems to refer to Holmes's not-so-veiled threat of a duel. It's unlike Sam to put himself openly on the opposite side of the fence from the prevailing opinion. And it's interesting to note that he insists that he is taking a stand on proper procedure, not on the merits of the case.
There are at least three scanning errors in this entry. Besides the one Terry mentions, we also have the cost of the stockings at "I 5s.", and "till 9 or to at night." I don't have L&M, but based on some prior observations of how the scanner works, I read these as "15s." and "10 at night." Somebody with L&M can check.
This evening I saw The Libertine. It is in limited release in the U.S., on some 300 screens. If you have a chance to see it, I would recommend you do so.
The story is the later life, and death, of John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester, noted wit, poet, and playwright in the court of Charles II. The story is set in the mid to late 1670s, so after the diary period, but still in an England that has become alive to us in the diary.
The highlight of the film is Johnny Depp's performance as the self-destructive Rochester. He is absolutely riveting on screen, from prologue to epilogue. Malkovich portrays a more mature and sagacious Charles II than we see in the diary, and is willing to cede the center of attention to Depp. The dialogue is sparkling; the writer seems to be channeling the great Restoration dramatists.
The movie is not without its weaknesses, notably the last act depicting Rochester's decay and death from syphilis, which does not work well. But for us Pepys followers, it's two hours well spent.
I find Robert Gertz's and Glyn's analysis persuasive. I didn't understand the 20L refund to Turner either, but I concocted a scenario in which Coventry, honest man that he is, said to Turner that the going rate for this position is only 80L and refunded him the difference. The idea of a kickback to Penn makes a lot more sense. So change the antecedent of the last "him" to [WP].
I had Dirk's problem with that sentence. After some study, here is my guess as to the antecedents. Disagreements welcome.
“…how sensible he [JM] is of Sir W. Pen’s treachery in this business, and what poor ways he [WP] has taken all along to ingratiate himself by making Mr. Turner write out things for him [WP] and then he [WP] gives them to the Duke, and how he [WP] directed him [Turner] to give Mr. Coventry 100l. for his [Turner's] place, but that Mr. Coventry did give him [Turner] 20l. back again.”
"The crowns of Cromwell are now sold ... for 25s. and 30s. apiece."
A visit to the Currency Units page reminded me that a crown is 5s. So Cromwell's crowns have appreciated considerably. Was this due to their numismatic (collector's) value, or because they had more silver in them, or for some other reason?
I would have thought that coin collecting as we understand it today was a relatively modern preoccupation, but Wikipedia says it is generally believed to have started in the 14th century with Petrarch, so maybe there were collectors in 17th century London bidding up the value of Cromwell's crowns.
Sir W. Pen's patent: It's not clear to me why Sam thinks HE has put a stop to Sir W's effort, when it's Sir J Minnes who refuses to consent to it. How can Sam play the spoiler here? Any thoughts?
"The troops in Tangier pioneered the use of new weapons such [as] hand-grenades" Surely you have forgotten the use of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch by King Arthur and his men in their battle against the fierce rabbit of Caerbannog:
Many thanks for all the info on "pasquill" I spent over an hour yesterday trying to find out what it meant, with no success. Got so frustrated I ordered a copy of the OED on CD-ROM. Might have known our learned colleagues would come to the rescue.
I agree with A. Hamilton in remaining unpersuaded that Pepys deliberately undertook to deceive Coventry on Creed's behalf. I understand that others disagree, but please don't treat the matter as a settled conclusion, to be presupposed in further annotations.
"the little chamber that was mine heretofore" Does this mean that Sir John M. really did appropriate part of Sam's house for himself, as Sam was fearing a couple of months ago? Or is it some other chamber?
What a great pair of posts! Today's whale story was exciting enough in its own right, and then Aqua-man comes up with John Evelyn's observation of an even more prodigious creature in 1658. I'll bet that curious Sam was among that "infinite concourse" that came to see it; too bad it was before the Diary. Thanks to both of you.
Having domestic servants a matter of class, cash, and locale I want to agree with and expand on several comments with a personal reminiscence. In the late 1940s I was a young child in south Texas. My mother was a war widow with a low-level white-collar job, and we lived in what one would call genteel poverty. We owned our own home, but had no financial reserves at all, living from paycheck to paycheck. Nonetheless, we had a live-in Hispanic maid (for housekeeping, not for child care, which my grandmother took care of).
In retrospect I find this quite surprising. I think there were two reasons for it. First, my mother had grown up in a house with servants, and probably felt it was simply what a well-bred person did (class). Second, we happened to live in a place where there was a pool of people available for such work, the impoverished Mexican-American population (locale). After we moved to California in 1950 there were no more servants.
I agree with IAS that WWII spelled the end of the upstairs-downstairs norm that had prevailed for centuries, probably for the reasons that he cites. However, its "benefits" did not extend uniformly to those on society's margins, at least for some while.
For a humorous look at the social squabbles over coffee (about 70 years later), see the libretto to J. S. Bach's Coffee Cantata: http://www.afactor.net/kitchen/co…
Comments
First Reading
About Saturday 21 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
I'm not quite sure
whose side the other officers are on. I'm guessing from the context that "he has carried himself very much unbecoming him" refers to Cooper, the Master, who we must remember owed his position to Sam's influence. But then the "cried shame of it" seems to refer to Holmes's not-so-veiled threat of a duel. It's unlike Sam to put himself openly on the opposite side of the fence from the prevailing opinion. And it's interesting to note that he insists that he is taking a stand on proper procedure, not on the merits of the case.
About Friday 20 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
Scanning errors
There are at least three scanning errors in this entry. Besides the one Terry mentions, we also have the cost of the stockings at "I 5s.", and "till 9 or to at night." I don't have L&M, but based on some prior observations of how the scanner works, I read these as "15s." and "10 at night." Somebody with L&M can check.
About Wednesday 18 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
Thank you, Bradford,
for answering so promptly the question that was on my mind and perhaps others'.
About Movies set in Pepys' time
Paul Chapin • Link
The Libertine
This evening I saw The Libertine. It is in limited release in the U.S., on some 300 screens. If you have a chance to see it, I would recommend you do so.
The story is the later life, and death, of John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester, noted wit, poet, and playwright in the court of Charles II. The story is set in the mid to late 1670s, so after the diary period, but still in an England that has become alive to us in the diary.
The highlight of the film is Johnny Depp's performance as the self-destructive Rochester. He is absolutely riveting on screen, from prologue to epilogue. Malkovich portrays a more mature and sagacious Charles II than we see in the diary, and is willing to cede the center of attention to Depp. The dialogue is sparkling; the writer seems to be channeling the great Restoration dramatists.
The movie is not without its weaknesses, notably the last act depicting Rochester's decay and death from syphilis, which does not work well. But for us Pepys followers, it's two hours well spent.
About Saturday 14 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
For Louise ...
The post is the mail.
About Tuesday 10 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
Penn got the 20L, not Turner
I find Robert Gertz's and Glyn's analysis persuasive. I didn't understand the 20L refund to Turner either, but I concocted a scenario in which Coventry, honest man that he is, said to Turner that the going rate for this position is only 80L and refunded him the difference. The idea of a kickback to Penn makes a lot more sense. So change the antecedent of the last "him" to [WP].
About Tuesday 10 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
Too many pronouns
I had Dirk's problem with that sentence. After some study, here is my guess as to the antecedents. Disagreements welcome.
“…how sensible he [JM] is of Sir W. Pen’s treachery in this business, and what poor ways he [WP] has taken all along to ingratiate himself by making Mr. Turner write out things for him [WP] and then he [WP] gives them to the Duke, and how he [WP] directed him [Turner] to give Mr. Coventry 100l. for his [Turner's] place, but that Mr. Coventry did give him [Turner] 20l. back again.”
About Monday 9 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
"The crowns of Cromwell are now sold ... for 25s. and 30s. apiece."
A visit to the Currency Units page reminded me that a crown is 5s. So Cromwell's crowns have appreciated considerably. Was this due to their numismatic (collector's) value, or because they had more silver in them, or for some other reason?
I would have thought that coin collecting as we understand it today was a relatively modern preoccupation, but Wikipedia says it is generally believed to have started in the 14th century with Petrarch, so maybe there were collectors in 17th century London bidding up the value of Cromwell's crowns.
About Thursday 5 March 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
Sir W. Pen's patent:
It's not clear to me why Sam thinks HE has put a stop to Sir W's effort, when it's Sir J Minnes who refuses to consent to it. How can Sam play the spoiler here? Any thoughts?
About London birthday meet up, 25th Feb
Paul Chapin • Link
Thanks to LW for the great photo. I was hoping somebody would provide one.
Now can LW or someone give us an L-to-R guide to the dramatis personae?
About Tuesday 17 February 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
"she plays pretty well for a girl"
Right, Sam, I know what you mean. Jacqueline du Pre played the cello pretty well for a girl, too.
About Saturday 7 February 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
"The troops in Tangier pioneered the use of new weapons such [as] hand-grenades"
Surely you have forgotten the use of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch by King Arthur and his men in their battle against the fierce rabbit of Caerbannog:
http://arago4.tn.utwente.nl/stone…
Sorry, OT, please ignore.
About Monday 26 January 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
Many thanks for all the info on "pasquill"
I spent over an hour yesterday trying to find out what it meant, with no success. Got so frustrated I ordered a copy of the OED on CD-ROM. Might have known our learned colleagues would come to the rescue.
About Tuesday 27 January 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
I agree with A. Hamilton
in remaining unpersuaded that Pepys deliberately undertook to deceive Coventry on Creed's behalf. I understand that others disagree, but please don't treat the matter as a settled conclusion, to be presupposed in further annotations.
About Thursday 22 January 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
"the little chamber that was mine heretofore"
Does this mean that Sir John M. really did appropriate part of Sam's house for himself, as Sam was fearing a couple of months ago? Or is it some other chamber?
About River Thames
Paul Chapin • Link
What a great pair of posts!
Today's whale story was exciting enough in its own right, and then Aqua-man comes up with John Evelyn's observation of an even more prodigious creature in 1658. I'll bet that curious Sam was among that "infinite concourse" that came to see it; too bad it was before the Diary. Thanks to both of you.
About Tuesday 13 January 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
Having domestic servants a matter of class, cash, and locale
I want to agree with and expand on several comments with a personal reminiscence. In the late 1940s I was a young child in south Texas. My mother was a war widow with a low-level white-collar job, and we lived in what one would call genteel poverty. We owned our own home, but had no financial reserves at all, living from paycheck to paycheck. Nonetheless, we had a live-in Hispanic maid (for housekeeping, not for child care, which my grandmother took care of).
In retrospect I find this quite surprising. I think there were two reasons for it. First, my mother had grown up in a house with servants, and probably felt it was simply what a well-bred person did (class). Second, we happened to live in a place where there was a pool of people available for such work, the impoverished Mexican-American population (locale). After we moved to California in 1950 there were no more servants.
I agree with IAS that WWII spelled the end of the upstairs-downstairs norm that had prevailed for centuries, probably for the reasons that he cites. However, its "benefits" did not extend uniformly to those on society's margins, at least for some while.
About Mr Bowman
Paul Chapin • Link
What do you suppose "hypochondriac winds" might be?
Reminds me of the classic definition of an oboe as "an ill wind that nobody blows good."
Great post, Pedro, thanks.
About General coffee house information
Paul Chapin • Link
For a humorous look at the social squabbles over coffee (about 70 years later),
see the libretto to J. S. Bach's Coffee Cantata: http://www.afactor.net/kitchen/co…
About Saturday 17 January 1662/63
Paul Chapin • Link
and I meant to add ...
I think if he had done this deliberately, he would have reported the incident very differently in his diary.