DIARY OF - WOTTON

secretary to the commission, by my nomination of him
to the Lords, which was all done that day.

7th June, 1695. The commissioners met at Guildhall,
when there were scruples and contests of the Lord Mayor,
who would not meet, not being named as one of the
quorum, so that a new commission • was required, though
the Lord Keeper and the rest thought it too nice a
punctilio.

i4th May, 1695. Met at Guildhall, but could do noth-
ing for want of a quorum.

5th July, 1695. At Guildhall; account of subscriptions,
about ^"7,000 or ^£8,000.

6th July, 1695. I dined at Lambeth, making my first
visit to the Archbishop, where there was much company,
and great cheer. After prayers in the evening, my Lord
made me stay to show me his house, furniture, and gar-
den, which were all very fine, and far beyond the usual
Archbishops, not as affected by this, but being bought
ready furnished by his predecessor. We discoursed of
several public matters, particularly of the Princess of
Denmark, who made so little figure.

nth July, 1695. Met at Guildhall: not a full commit-
tee, so nothing done.

i4th July, 1695. No sermon at church; but, after
prayers, the names of all the parishioners were read, in
order to gathering the tax of 48. for marriages, burials,
etc. A very imprudent tax, especially this reading the
names, so that most went out of the church.

19th July, 1695. I dined at Sir Purbeck Temple's, near
Croydon; his lady is aunt to my son-in-law, Draper; the
house exactly furnished. Went thence with my son and
daughter to Wotton. At Wotton, Mr. Duncomb, parson
of Albury, preached excellently.

28th July, 1695. A very wet season.

nth August, 1695. The weather now so cold, that
greater frosts were not always seen in the midst of
winter; this succeeded much wet, and set harvest ex-
tremely back.

25th September, 1695. Mr. Offley preached at Abinger;
too much controversy on a point of no consequence, for
the country people here. This was the first time I had
heard him preach. Bombarding of Cadiz; a cruel and
brutish way of making war, first began by the French.ng.y; that, on opening a cabinet, a paper to London to congratu-