The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

DIARY OF LONDON

brings from a filthy part of the Thames near it a most
perfect and pure water. He had newly buried ^"200
worth of music books six feet tinder ground, being, as
he said, love songs and vanity. He plays himself psalms
and religious hymns on the theorbo. Very mild weather
the whole of October.

loth November, 1695. Mr. Stanhope, Vicar of Lewis-
ham, preached at Whitehall. He is one of the most ac-
complished preachers I ever heard, for matter, eloquence,
action, voice, and I am told, of excellent conversation.

i3th November, 1695. Famous fireworks and very
chargeable, the King being returned from his progress.
He stayed seven or eight days at Lord Sunderland's at
Althorpe, where he was mightily entertained. These fire-
works were shown before Lord Romney, master of the
ordnance, in St. James's great square, where the King
stood.

iyth November, 1695. I spoke to the Archbishop of
Canterbury to interest himself for restoring a room be-
longing to St. James's library, where the books want
place.

2ist November, 1695. I went to see Mr. Churchill's
collection of rarities.

23d November, 1695. To Lambeth, to get Mr. Wil-
liams continued in Boyle's lectures another year. Among
others who dined there was Dr. Covel, the great Oriental
traveler.

ist December, 1695. I dined at Lord Sunderland's,
now the great favorite and underhand politician, but not
adventuring on any character, being obnoxious to the
people for having twice changed his religion.

23d December, 1695. The Parliament wondrously in-
tent on ways to reform the coin; setting out a Proclama-
tion prohibiting the currency of half-crowns, etc., which,
made much confusion among the people.

25th December, 1695. Hitherto mild, dark, misty,
weather. Now snow and frost.

i2th January, 1695-96. Great confusion and distraction
by reason of the clipped money, and the difficulty found
in reforming it.

2d February, 1696. An extraordinary wet season, though
temperate as to cold. The «Royal Sovereign» man-
of-war burned at Chatham. It was built in 1637, and hav-nvention of writing, which was very ingenious; also