Thursday 24 January 1660/61
At home all day. There dined with me Sir William Batten and his lady and daughter, Sir W. Pen, Mr. Fox (his lady being ill could not come), and Captain Cuttance.
The first dinner I have made since I came hither. This cost me above 5l., and merry we were — only my chimney smokes.
In the afternoon Mr. Hater bringing me my last quarter’s salary, which I received of him, and so I have now Mr. Barlow’s money in my hands.
The company all go away, and by and by Sir Wms. both and my Lady Batten and his daughter come again and supped with me and talked till late, and so to bed, being glad that the trouble is over.
16 Annotations
First Reading
A. De Araujo • Link
"being glad that the trouble is over" evidently he is not a foodie,no mention of the menu;entertaining at home does not seem to be his cup of tea.
roberto • Link
"my chimney smokes"
I sympathize with you Sam. There is nothing worse than a chimney that does not draw properly.
vincent • Link
For 5L he could get 1 &1/2 maids per year for that money, no wonder he wanted some goblets [waterford maybe?].
"...Hartshorne has attributed its [chrystal]discovery to a London merchant named Tilson, who in 1663 obtained a patent for making crystal glass......
About 1617 Sir R. Mansel, vice-admiral and treasurer of the navy, acquired the sole rights of making glass in England. These rights he retained for over thirty years...."
http://81.1911encyclopedia.org/G/…
P.S. no wonder he had bread and ale yesterday, he needed room for the food he did buy and cook. Now't said if the cook was worth it. SP was merry. Wine in his fancy English Goblet?
vincent • Link
"...being glad that the trouble is over..." It might not refer to his tumtum but to his witnessing the departure of the trouble-makers and his running around town with sword and pistol. He is no longer a young man now, getting close to be a man of vintage [30 years]. He no longer walks but uses the Taxi of the Strand.
Emilio • Link
my last quarter's salary
L&M elucidate these financial dealings a little bit: Pepys received 87l. 10s. for himself and 15l. for his two clerks. Not bad at all - his share is more than double his total worth less than a year ago. Also keep in mind Sam is being given a 'note' rather than a heavy bag of coinage.
And do I detect a note of satisfaction at finally having Mr. Barlow's money securely in hand, after all the fuss over the summer?
vincent • Link
Emilio: you sure duz, he was so wurried was he not.
Mary • Link
Dinner parties.
The guest list for today's party is very different from that held on 26th January last year. Then the company was made up almost entirely of relations, some of whom (e.g. W. Joyce) were less than congenial companions. Today's party reflects the change in Sam's life over the past year, in that it embraces professional contacts rather than family members.
Julio • Link
Dinner party.
I find interesting that the party went away after dinner but then, most of them, came back for supper. Taking into account that these were somewhat formal acquaintances, it would not be expected nowadays. But probably it was considered normal at the time.
Pauline • Link
the party went away after dinner but then, most of them, came back for supper.
It is interesting, Julio. The Wms and Mrs. Batten and daughter do live there in the Navy compound with the Pepys. Maybe there was plenty of food left over and this was an impromptu decision since they live right there and the dinner had been so merry. You know, "Come back this evening and we'll finish it off."
Andrew Hamilton • Link
You know, "Come back this evening and we'll finish it off."
The after-party — often the best, after the stressfulness of the formalities at the main event.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Methinks that it's "the first dinner I have made since I came hither" explains "being glad that the trouble is over."
joe fulm • Link
'at home all day' on Thursday (?). I can't help think about the poor sailors now at harbour after weeks or months at sea, not knowing if they will get paid or if they might have to go to sea again for God knows how long without getting ashore to see their families on SP's department's choosing. What exactly is Pepys' working week? Diary of a sailor's life then might be interesting.
Terry Foreman • Link
"In the afternoon Mr. Hater bringing me my last quarter’s salary, which I received of him, and so I have now Mr. Barlow’s money in my hands."
Of his salary of 87l. 10s. that was the 50l. per annum he owed Barlow.
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
Michaela • Link
On UK TV about 15 years ago there was a wonderful series called The Supersizers go... where two well known presenters dressed and ate in the style of different periods of history. I have just rewatched the first 10 minutes of the Restoration episode on YouTube (the whole episode is there) and it’s as informative and funny as I remember - although they do say a clerk would have had a salary of 500l a years, which sounds like an absolute fortune!
It really brings to life the food and drink that we have read about Sam eating, and makes me thank the Lord that I didn’t actually live then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T…
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
"What exactly is Pepys' working week?"
In those days you worked for as long as you had to.
The Navy Board had 4 Commissioners and had to meet 2x a week; a quorum was 2 Commissioners.
Since business people stopped in to conduct business, a Commissioner or 2 would need to be there during working hours, whatever they were (Pepys has not told us), just in case a decision was needed.
Every Commissioner had 2 clerks, so they probably handled most of the walk-in business.
My guess is they had a schedule so every Commissioner was "on first" equally.
Batten and Penn are now also MPs., and Parliament usually sat in the morning, so the Navy Board "sitting" was generally in the afternoon to accommodate them.
A project comes in, and Pepys will respond until it's done. Including Sundays.
As the Dowager Countess of Grantham famously said, "What's a weekend?"
Trades Unions have not been invented yet.
People were desperate for these jobs and benefits.
San Diego Sarah • Link
"... evidently he is not a foodie,no mention of the menu; ..."
Of yes he is. But you're right, no mention of the menu. Perhaps John Slater shouldn't quit his day job of being a messenger?