Tender by [John] Mason of 555 loads of timber, at 50s. to 60s. a load, for 500/. in hand, and ready money on the delivery of every load; the 500/. to be deducted out of the last money due when the contract shall be completed.
There's a man who knows whom he is dealing with! It would be interesting to know if the Navy Office accepted such terms - or even if they were able to.
"Wot" and "What" I'm reading the diary for the second time and remember the little spat I had with Language Hat ten years ago. It turns out that we were both wrong because Sam used 'wot' to mean 'know' at least twice (although I have not kept a note of the dates).
Thence with Creed, thinking, but failed, of dining with Lord Crew, and so he and I to Hercules Pillars, and there dined, So the habit of dropping in for lunch at one of the aristocratic houses did not always work? " I'm sorry gentlemen, but every seat in the house is taken ( and the venison pie has all been consumed)"
Thence my Lord Brouncker and I into the Park in his coach, and there took a great deal of ayre, saving that it was mighty dusty, and so a little unpleasant.
A reminder of the foul air in the built-up areas of London, especially in the colder months from coal fires.
Surely, the maid's situation is that she is disposable - no contracts, employment tribunals, etc. On the other hand, her master is protected by his wealth and social position. His wife, whether she believes him or not, is unlikely to take the side of a 'wronged' maid which could make her own position vulnerable.
It's not fair, or pretty, but it's the way the world works - then and today.
Seems odd he waited until the last minute to try to get a cook.
Maybe due to Bess being unwell. She must have organised the knapkin sculptor in advance but, perhaps, discovered too late that Philips was not available. " Sam, my dear, pray find me a cook...." "No problem, the town is full of cooks!"
Note that nearly half of the workers may also have to be persuaded, as they fear that salaries could harm their Religion or the modesty of their wives.
Stephane, I followed your link (fascinating) but could only find the first part of the letter from Wren to Sam. The modern use of 'paying off' is dismissal, not introducing a salaried system, and why would their religion or wives be harmed by regular payments?
This may be true of performers, but in the case of artisans it is probably job protection. To some craftsman, teaching their craft is never done.
That reminds me of an Irishman I knew, talking about having taken his son-in-law into his business: "I've taught him everything he knows - but not everything I know."
Sorry, it's a long link which continues from: 1016/the-winter-auction/391-a-colection-of-autographs-compiled-by-j-w-newton-1874. I hope this will work - computerspeak is not my first language.
A friend who deals in such things recently showed me an 1870's autograph album compiled by a member of the Royal Geographical Society. In addition to Victorian worthies like Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens, it also had signatures of William Penn and - yes! - Samuel Pepys which appear to have been snipped from documents. It was touching to see Sam's elegant signature and imagine him with sore eyes, possibly in the light of a candle. It's up for auction if you are interested - see http://app.dukes-auctions.com/en/….
he told the Duke of York that he was none of them: which shews how things are now-a-days ordered, that there should be a Committee for the Navy; and the Lord Admiral not know the persons of it! A misprint surely? he was one of them.
" Lord! how full was the house, and how silly the play, there being nothing in the world good in it, and few people pleased in it." "but I sat mightily behind, and could see but little, and hear not all." So what is your criticism based on Sam? Just your personal discomfort - or, perhaps, the comments of others later?
"the boy" One would have to have a disciplined mind (like Sam) to make best use of this messaging service - once he was sent off on his errands he could be gone for several hours. I'm old enough to recall when the only way of getting a written message delivered speedily was by a telegram which was charged by the word and not cheap. Now, with social media, email, etc, nearly all that discipline has gone and the ether is filled with verbal garbage which few people have the time to study, let alone to respond to..... progress eh?
"and mightily with Mr. Gibson’s talking; he telling me so many good stories relating to the warr and practices of commanders, which I will find a time to recollect;"
I have spent a few entertaining evenings with groups from a particular line of work listening to stories, usually of ever-increasing foul-ups, from their experiences. Studs Terkel, of course, made a good living from it.
" a man of a brave, high spirit," "When the King insisted to oblige him to declare himself, he said "Sir, I wish you would put away this woman that you keep".'
That really was brave, especially for a distant successor to Thomas a Beckett.
Sarah, you should have given us the whole piece! Nothing much to do on Boxing Day, after all.
Re John Evelyn, amongst his other achievements he discovered Grinling Gibbons by happening to walk by his poor home and spotting a piece of his exquisite carving in the window. He then promoted G.G. to his wealthy friends, ensuring his success and fame.
That which exasperated them was his presuming to stay and contest the accusation as long as it was possible: and they were on the point of sending him to the Tower."
Yet another chime with modern times - - - "THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED!"
"discharging of two or three little vessels by ticket without money” I'll admit I'm not clear about this since everyone knew that money was short. Sam's words sound like he is already preparing his defence - "only little vessels, perhaps two or three? Nothing to see here..."
Thanks for renewing the Youtube link TF. A strange instrument with considerable volume but not what I would call tuneful. Perhaps Monsieur Prin's expertise made the difference.
Comments
Second Reading
About Monday 6 July 1668
Tonyel • Link
Tender by [John] Mason
of 555 loads of timber, at 50s. to 60s. a load, for 500/. in hand, and ready money on the delivery of every load;
the 500/. to be deducted out of the last money due when the contract shall be completed.
There's a man who knows whom he is dealing with! It would be interesting to know if the Navy Office accepted such terms - or even if they were able to.
About Wednesday 10 June 1668
Tonyel • Link
"Wot" and "What"
I'm reading the diary for the second time and remember the little spat I had with Language Hat ten years ago.
It turns out that we were both wrong because Sam used 'wot' to mean 'know' at least twice (although I have not kept a note of the dates).
About Monday 20 April 1668
Tonyel • Link
Thence with Creed, thinking, but failed, of dining with Lord Crew, and so he and I to Hercules Pillars, and there dined,
So the habit of dropping in for lunch at one of the aristocratic houses did not always work?
" I'm sorry gentlemen, but every seat in the house is taken ( and the venison pie has all been consumed)"
About Saturday 4 April 1668
Tonyel • Link
Thence my Lord Brouncker and I into the Park in his coach, and there took a great deal of ayre, saving that it was mighty dusty, and so a little unpleasant.
A reminder of the foul air in the built-up areas of London, especially in the colder months from coal fires.
About Wednesday 1 April 1668
Tonyel • Link
The Servant Problem:
Surely, the maid's situation is that she is disposable - no contracts, employment tribunals, etc. On the other hand, her master is protected by his wealth and social position. His wife, whether she believes him or not, is unlikely to take the side of a 'wronged' maid which could make her own position vulnerable.
It's not fair, or pretty, but it's the way the world works - then and today.
About Friday 13 March 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
Seems odd he waited until the last minute to try to get a cook.
Maybe due to Bess being unwell. She must have organised the knapkin sculptor in advance but, perhaps, discovered too late that Philips was not available.
" Sam, my dear, pray find me a cook...."
"No problem, the town is full of cooks!"
About Monday 9 March 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
Note that nearly half of the workers may also have to be persuaded, as they fear that salaries could harm their Religion or the modesty of their wives.
Stephane, I followed your link (fascinating) but could only find the first part of the letter from Wren to Sam. The modern use of 'paying off' is dismissal, not introducing a salaried system, and why would their religion or wives be harmed by regular payments?
About Tuesday 3 March 1668
Tonyel • Link
This may be true of performers, but in the case of artisans it is probably job protection. To some craftsman, teaching their craft is never done.
That reminds me of an Irishman I knew, talking about having taken his son-in-law into his business: "I've taught him everything he knows - but not everything I know."
About Thursday 20 February 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
Sorry, it's a long link which continues from: 1016/the-winter-auction/391-a-colection-of-autographs-compiled-by-j-w-newton-1874.
I hope this will work - computerspeak is not my first language.
About Thursday 20 February 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
A friend who deals in such things recently showed me an 1870's autograph album compiled by a member of the Royal Geographical Society. In addition to Victorian worthies like Charles Darwin and Charles Dickens, it also had signatures of William Penn and - yes! - Samuel Pepys which appear to have been snipped from documents. It was touching to see Sam's elegant signature and imagine him with sore eyes, possibly in the light of a candle.
It's up for auction if you are interested - see http://app.dukes-auctions.com/en/….
About Thursday 13 February 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
he told the Duke of York that he was none of them: which shews how things are now-a-days ordered, that there should be a Committee for the Navy; and the Lord Admiral not know the persons of it!
A misprint surely? he was one of them.
About Thursday 6 February 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
" Lord! how full was the house, and how silly the play, there being nothing in the world good in it, and few people pleased in it."
"but I sat mightily behind, and could see but little, and hear not all."
So what is your criticism based on Sam? Just your personal discomfort - or, perhaps, the comments of others later?
About Friday 24 January 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
My thought too. Would they have expected a wake afterwards, perhaps? Free beer and a cake?
About Monday 20 January 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
"the boy"
One would have to have a disciplined mind (like Sam) to make best use of this messaging service - once he was sent off on his errands he could be gone for several hours.
I'm old enough to recall when the only way of getting a written message delivered speedily was by a telegram which was charged by the word and not cheap.
Now, with social media, email, etc, nearly all that discipline has gone and the ether is filled with verbal garbage which few people have the time to study, let alone to respond to..... progress eh?
(Don't bother to read this if you are busy).
About Thursday 16 January 1667/68
Tonyel • Link
"and mightily with Mr. Gibson’s talking; he telling me so many good stories relating to the warr and practices of commanders, which I will find a time to recollect;"
I have spent a few entertaining evenings with groups from a particular line of work listening to stories, usually of ever-increasing foul-ups, from their experiences. Studs Terkel, of course, made a good living from it.
About Friday 27 December 1667
Tonyel • Link
" a man of a brave, high spirit,"
"When the King insisted to oblige him to declare himself, he said "Sir, I wish you would put away this woman that you keep".'
That really was brave, especially for a distant successor to Thomas a Beckett.
About Wednesday 25 December 1667
Tonyel • Link
Sarah, you should have given us the whole piece! Nothing much to do on Boxing Day, after all.
Re John Evelyn, amongst his other achievements he discovered Grinling Gibbons by happening to walk by his poor home and spotting a piece of his exquisite carving in the window. He then promoted G.G. to his wealthy friends, ensuring his success and fame.
About Friday 29 November 1667
Tonyel • Link
That which exasperated them was his presuming to stay and contest the accusation as long as it was possible: and they were on the point of sending him to the Tower."
Yet another chime with modern times - - - "THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED!"
Sorry - couldn't resist it.
About Wednesday 20 November 1667
Tonyel • Link
"discharging of two or three little vessels by ticket without money”
I'll admit I'm not clear about this since everyone knew that money was short. Sam's words sound like he is already preparing his defence - "only little vessels, perhaps two or three? Nothing to see here..."
About Thursday 24 October 1667
Tonyel • Link
Thanks for renewing the Youtube link TF. A strange instrument with considerable volume but not what I would call tuneful. Perhaps Monsieur Prin's expertise made the difference.