Thursday 20 June 1661

At home the greatest part of the day to see my workmen make an end, which this night they did to my great content.

13 Annotations

First Reading

A. De Araujo  •  Link

"to see my workmen make an end" I think they were goofing off because it took them so long! after all they were just painting these stairs!...

dirk  •  Link

"see my workmen make an end
which they did to my great content"

Sounds almost like a poem. Which I'm sure was unintentional.

daniel  •  Link

Bravo!

dirk  •  Link

almost the shortest diary entry so far...

If I'm correct only the entry for Tuesday 18 December 1660 was shorter.

vicente  •  Link

"...they did to my great content...." not a splash to be scene. After three days work?
"vexing about the delay of my painters"

It belies the latin sayin'."Inter dominum et servum nulla amicitia est"

There is no friendship between the master and the slave. Or just a case of
"alls well that ends well." from the Bard.

vicente  •  Link

"All day at home, without stirring at all, looking after my workmen." 18th.
he does find watching the Hired Help time consuming.

A. Hamilton  •  Link

No wonder he's become the most negligent man in the world as to matters of news -- and not even a "so to bed" to frame his days. The cares of domestic life.

andy  •  Link

I agree with Sam, it's good to get your house back when the painters have gone. It reminds me of the time when we hired painters to do the stairwell because the alternative was for me to balance on a plank between a stepladder and stairs at different heights whilst wielding a paintbrush - no thanks! Anyhow the professional finish was better. If Sam had had D-I-Y stores in his day I bet he wouldn't have used them either.

Second Reading

Third Reading

Michael Cook  •  Link

My father circa 1950 decided to paint the stairwell. A bucket of paint and a rag soaked in it was thrown at the wall..... Mother was at the bottom to receive the rag and return it to Dad. More paint on Mum than the wall...Couldnt resist.. Sorry.

San Diego Sarah  •  Link

Sandwich's log:

"20th. Thursday. In the morning, about 8 oclock, a Council of War was called aboard. Our rendezvous agreed to be in the Channel Torbay. in the Staits Malaga. The fleet to be put to short allowances 6 to 4. Fighting and sailing instructions given out. Our course shaped along the Channel, W.S.W."

Copied from
The Journal of Edward Mountagu,
First Earl of Sandwich
Admiral and General-at-Sea 1659 - 1665

Edited by RC Anderson
Printed for the Navy Records Society
MDCCCCXXIX

Section III - Mediterranean 1661/62

Do any of our naval/sailing annotators know about the straits near Malaga? My google librarian thinks I'm asking about the Malay Peninsula. This has nothing to do with Torbay, Devon.

It was necessary for Sandwich to brief all the Captains about their true destination in case a storm or fighting breaks up the fleet.
But I wonder why he cut rations for no apparent reason -- unless they were short all ready.

Eric the Bish  •  Link

“… to my great content.”

Contentment is of great value, and Pepys knew it, although I sense that with his ambition and drive contentment was only ever temporary. As the diary continues, we shall find out whether he can enjoy the virtue which, biblically, should accompany it, leading to enduring fulfilment: “… godliness with contentment is great gain”. (1 Tim 6:6)

Alter Kacker  •  Link

I’m no sailor, but I’m just back from a trip that included Malaga, Cadiz, Tarifa, Gibraltar and a ferry crossing to Tangier. When the Levante wind is blowing, as it was two weeks ago, the Venturi effect as it passes between the Pillars of Hercules is really nasty.

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