Читать книгу Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete 1660 N.S - Samuel Pepys - Страница 6

"The sickness in general thickens round us, and particularly upon

our neighbourhood. You, sir, took your turn of the sword; I must

not, therefore, grudge to take mine of the pestilence."

At this time his wife was living at Woolwich, and he himself with his clerks at Greenwich; one maid only remained in the house in London.

Pepys rendered special service at the time of the Fire of London. He communicated the king's wishes to the Lord Mayor, and he saved the Navy Office by having up workmen from Woolwich and Deptford Dockyards to pull down the houses around, and so prevent the spread of the flames.

When peace was at length concluded with the Dutch, and people had time to think over the disgrace which the country had suffered by the presence of De Ruyter's fleet in the Medway, it was natural that a public inquiry into the management of the war should be undertaken. A Parliamentary Committee was appointed in October, 1667, to inquire into the matter. Pepys made a statement which satisfied the committee, but for months afterwards he was continually being summoned to answer some charge, so that he confesses himself as mad to "become the hackney of this office in perpetual trouble and vexation that need it least."

At last a storm broke out in the House of Commons against the principal officers of the navy, and some members demanded that they should be put out of their places. In the end they were ordered to be heard in their own defence at the bar of the House. The whole labour of the defence fell upon Pepys, but having made out his case with great skill, he was rewarded by a most unexpected success. On the 5th March, 1667–68, he made the great speech of his life, and spoke for three hours, with the effect that he so far removed the prejudice against the officers of the Navy Board, that no further proceedings were taken in parliament on the subject. He was highly praised for his speech, and he was naturally much elated at his brilliant success.

About the year 1664 we first hear of a defect in Pepys's eyesight. He consulted the celebrated Cocker, and began to wear green spectacles, but gradually this defect became more pronounced, and on the 31st of May, 1669, he wrote the last words in his Diary:

"And thus ends all that I doubt I shall ever be able to do with my

own eyes in the keeping of my journal, I being not able to do it any

longer, having done now as long as to undo my eyes almost every time

that I take a pen in my hand."

He feared blindness and was forced to desist, to his lasting regret and our great loss.

At this time he obtained leave of absence from the duties of his office, and he set out on a tour through France and Holland accompanied by his wife. In his travels he was true to the occupation of his life, and made collections respecting the French and Dutch navies. Some months after his return he spoke of his journey as having been "full of health and content," but no sooner had he and his wife returned to London than the latter became seriously ill with a fever. The disease took a fatal turn, and on the 10th of November, 1669, Elizabeth Pepys died at the early age of twenty-nine years, to the great grief of her husband. She died at their house in Crutched Friars, and was buried at St. Olave's Church, Hart Street, where Pepys erected a monument to her memory.

Pepys's successful speech at the bar of the House of Commons made him anxious to become a member, and the Duke of York and Sir William Coventry heartily supported him in his resolution. An opening occurred in due course, at Aldborough, in Suffolk, owing to the death of Sir Robert Brooke in 1669, but, in consequence of the death of his wife, Pepys was unable to take part in the election. His cause was warmly espoused by the Duke of York and by Lord Henry Howard (afterwards Earl of Norwich and sixth Duke of Norfolk), but the efforts of his supporters failed, and the contest ended in favour of John Bruce, who represented the popular party. In November, 1673, Pepys was more successful, and was elected for Castle Rising on the elevation of the member, Sir Robert Paston, to the peerage as Viscount Yarmouth. His unsuccessful opponent, Mr. Offley, petitioned against the return, and the election was determined to be void by the Committee of Privileges. The Parliament, however, being prorogued the following month without the House's coming to any vote on the subject, Pepys was permitted to retain his seat. A most irrelevant matter was introduced into the inquiry, and Pepys was charged with having a crucifix in his house, from which it was inferred that he was "a papist or popishly inclined." The charge was grounded upon reported assertions of Sir John Banks and the Earl of Shaftesbury, which they did not stand to when examined on the subject, and the charge was not proved to be good.

["The House then proceeding upon the debate touching the Election

for Castle Rising, between Mr. Pepys and Mr. Offley, did, in the

first place, take into consideration what related personally to Mr.

Pepys. Information being given to the House that they had received

an account from a person of quality, that he saw an Altar with a

Crucifix upon it, in the house of Mr. Pepys; Mr. Pepys, standing up

in his place, did heartily and flatly deny that he ever had any

Altar or Crucifix, or the image or picture of any Saint whatsoever

in his house, from the top to the bottom of it; and the Members

being called upon to name the person that gave them the information,

they were unwilling to declare it without the order of the House;

which, being made, they named the Earl of Shaftesbury; and the House

being also informed that Sir J. Banks did likewise see the Altar, he

was ordered to attend the Bar of the House, to declare what he knew

of this matter. 'Ordered that Sir William Coventry, Sir Thomas

Meeres, and Mr. Garraway do attend Lord Shaftesbury on the like

occasion, and receive what information his Lordship, can give on

this matter.'"—Journals of the House of Commons, vol. ix., p.

306.—" 13th February, Sir W. Coventry reports that they attended

the Earl of Shaftesbury, and received from him the account which

they had put in writing. The Earl of Shaftesbury denieth that he

ever saw an Altar in Mr. Pepys's house or lodgings; as to the

Crucifix, he saith he hath, some imperfect memory of seeing somewhat

which he conceived to be a Crucifix. When his Lordship was asked

the time, he said it was before the burning of the Office of the

Navy. Being asked concerning the manner, he said he could not

remember whether it were painted or carved, or in what manner the

thing was; and that his memory was so very imperfect in it, that if

he were upon his oath he could give no testimony."—. Ibid., vol.

ix., p. 309.—" 16th February—Sir John Banks was called in—The

Speaker desired him to answer what acquaintance he had with; Mr.

Pepys, and whether he used to have recourse to him to his house and

had ever seen there any Altar or Crucifix, or whether he knew of his

being a Papist, or Popishly inclined. Sir J. Banks said that he had

known and had been acquainted with Mr. Pepys several years, and had

often visited him and conversed with him at the Navy Office, and at

his house there upon several occasions, and that he never saw in his

house there any Altar or Crucifix, and that he does not believe him

to be a Papist, or that way inclined in the least, nor had any

reason or ground to think or believe it."—Ibid., vol, ix., p. 310.]

It will be seen from the extracts from the Journals of the House of Commons given in the note that Pepys denied ever having had an altar or crucifix in his house. In the Diary there is a distinct statement of his possession of a crucifix, but it is not clear from the following extracts whether it was not merely a varnished engraving of the Crucifixion which he possessed:

July 20, 1666. "So I away to Lovett's, there to see how my picture

goes on to be varnished, a fine crucifix which will be very fine."

August 2. "At home find Lovett, who showed me my crucifix, which

will be very fine when done." Nov. 3. "This morning comes Mr.

Lovett and brings me my print of the Passion, varnished by him, and

the frame which is indeed very fine, though not so fine as I

expected; but pleases me exceedingly."

Whether he had or had not a crucifix in his house was a matter for himself alone, and the interference of the House of Commons was a gross violation of the liberty of the subject.

In connection with Lord Shaftesbury's part in this matter, the late Mr. W. D. Christie found the following letter to Sir Thomas Meres among the papers at St. Giles's House, Dorsetshire:—

"Exeter House, February 10th, 1674.

"Sir—That there might be no mistake, I thought best to put my

answer in writing to those questions that yourself, Sir William

Coventry, and Mr. Garroway were pleased to propose to me this

morning from the House of Commons, which is that I never designed to

be a witness against any man for what I either heard or saw, and

therefore did not take so exact notice of things inquired of as to

be able to remember them so clearly as is requisite to do in a

testimony upon honour or oath, or to so great and honourable a body

as the House of Commons, it being some years distance since I was at

Mr. Pepys his lodging. Only that particular of an altar is so

signal that I must needs have remembered it had I seen any such

thing, which I am sure I do not. This I desire you to communicate

with Sir William Coventry and Mr. Garroway to be delivered as my

answer to the House of Commons, it being the same I gave you this

morning.

"I am, Sir,

"Your most humble servant,

"SHAFTESBURY."

After reading this letter Sir William Coventry very justly remarked, "There are a great many more Catholics than think themselves so, if having a crucifix will make one." Mr. Christie resented the remarks on Lord Shaftesbury's part in this persecution of Pepys made by Lord Braybrooke, who said, "Painful indeed is it to reflect to what length the bad passions which party violence inflames could in those days carry a man of Shaftesbury's rank, station, and abilities." Mr. Christie observes, "It is clear from the letter to Meres that Shaftesbury showed no malice and much scrupulousness when a formal charge, involving important results, was founded on his loose private conversations." This would be a fair vindication if the above attack upon Pepys stood alone, but we shall see later on that Shaftesbury was the moving spirit in a still more unjustifiable attack.

Lord Sandwich died heroically in the naval action in Southwold Bay, and on June 24th,1672, his remains were buried with some pomp in Westminster Abbey. There were eleven earls among the mourners, and Pepys, as the first among "the six Bannerolles," walked in the procession.

About this time Pepys was called from his old post of Clerk of the Acts to the higher office of Secretary of the Admiralty. His first appointment was a piece of favouritism, but it was due to his merits alone that he obtained the secretaryship. In the summer of 1673, the Duke of York having resigned all his appointments on the passing of the Test Act, the King put the Admiralty into commission, and Pepys was appointed Secretary for the Affairs of the Navy.

[The office generally known as Secretary of the Admiralty dates back

many years, but the officer who filled it was sometimes Secretary to

the Lord High Admiral, and sometimes to the Commission for that

office. "His Majesties Letters Patent for ye erecting the office of

Secretary of ye Admiralty of England, and creating Samuel Pepys,

Esq., first Secretary therein," is dated June 10th, 1684.]

He was thus brought into more intimate connection with Charles II., who took the deepest interest in shipbuilding and all naval affairs. The Duke of Buckingham said of the King:—

"The great, almost the only pleasure of his mind to which he seemed

addicted was shipping and sea affairs, which seemed to be so much

his talent for knowledge as well as inclination, that a war of that

kind was rather an entertainment than any disturbance to his

thoughts."

When Pepys ceased to be Clerk of the Acts he was able to obtain the appointment for his clerk, Thomas Hayter, and his brother, John Pepys, who held it jointly. The latter does not appear to have done much credit to Samuel. He was appointed Clerk to the Trinity House in 1670 on his brother's recommendation, and when he died in 1677 he was in debt £300 to his employers, and this sum Samuel had to pay. In 1676 Pepys was Master of the Trinity House, and in the following year Master of the Clothworkers' Company, when he presented a richly-chased silver cup, which is still used at the banquets of the company. On Tuesday, 10th September, 1677, the Feast of the Hon. Artillery Company was held at Merchant Taylors' Hall, when the Duke of York, the Duke of Somerset, the Lord Chancellor, and other distinguished persons were present. On this occasion Viscount Newport, Sir Joseph Williamson, and Samuel Pepys officiated as stewards.

About this time it is evident that the secretary carried himself with some haughtiness as a ruler of the navy, and that this was resented by some. An amusing instance will be found in the Parliamentary Debates. On May 11th, 1678, the King's verbal message to quicken the supply was brought in by Mr. Secretary Williamson, when Pepys spoke to this effect:

"When I promised that the ships should be ready by the 30th of May,

it was upon the supposition of the money for 90 ships proposed by

the King and voted by you, their sizes and rates, and I doubt not by

that time to have 90 ships, and if they fall short it will be only

from the failing of the Streights ships coming home and those but

two. … .

"Sir Robert Howard then rose and said, 'Pepys here speaks rather

like an Admiral than a Secretary, "I" and "we." I wish he knows

half as much of the Navy as he pretends.'"

Pepys was chosen by the electors of Harwich as their member in the short Parliament that sat from March to July, 1679, his colleague being Sir Anthony Deane, but both members were sent to the Tower in May on a baseless charge, and they were superseded in the next Parliament that met on the 17th October, 1679.

The high-handed treatment which Pepys underwent at this time exhibits a marked instance of the disgraceful persecution connected with the so-called Popish plot. He was totally unconnected with the Roman Catholic party, but his association with the Duke of York was sufficient to mark him as a prey for the men who initiated this "Terror" of the seventeenth century. Sir. Edmund Berry Godfrey came to his death in October, 1678, and in December Samuel Atkins, Pepys's clerk, was brought to trial as an accessory to his murder. Shaftesbury and the others not having succeeded in getting at Pepys through his clerk, soon afterwards attacked him more directly, using the infamous evidence of Colonel Scott. Much light has lately been thrown upon the underhand dealings of this miscreant by Mr. G. D. Scull, who printed privately in 1883 a valuable work entitled, "Dorothea Scott, otherwise Gotherson, and Hogben of Egerton House, Kent, 1611–1680."

John Scott (calling himself Colonel Scott) ingratiated himself into acquaintance with Major Gotherson, and sold to the latter large tracts of land in Long Island, to which he had no right whatever. Dorothea Gotherson, after her husband's death, took steps to ascertain the exact state of her property, and obtained the assistance of Colonel Francis Lovelace, Governor of New York. Scott's fraud was discovered, and a petition for redress was presented to the King. The result of this was that the Duke of York commanded Pepys to collect evidence against Scott, and he accordingly brought together a great number of depositions and information as to his dishonest proceedings in New England, Long Island, Barbadoes, France, Holland, and England, and these papers are preserved among the Rawlinson Manuscripts in the Bodleian. Scott had his revenge, and accused Pepys of betraying the Navy by sending secret particulars to the French Government, and of a design to dethrone the king and extirpate the Protestant religion. Pepys and Sir Anthony Deane were committed to the Tower under the Speaker's warrant on May 22nd, 1679, and Pepys's place at the Admiralty was filled by the appointment of Thomas Hayter. When the two prisoners were brought to the bar of the King's Bench on the 2nd of June, the Attorney-General refused bail, but subsequently they were allowed to find security for £30,000.

Pepys was put to great expense in collecting evidence against Scott and obtaining witnesses to clear himself of the charges brought against him. He employed his brother-in-law, Balthasar St. Michel, to collect evidence in France, as he himself explains in a letter to the Commissioners of the Navy:—

"His Majesty of his gracious regard to me, and the justification of

my innocence, was then pleased at my humble request to dispence with

my said brother goeing (with ye shippe about that time designed for

Tangier) and to give leave to his goeing into France (the scene of

ye villannys then in practice against me), he being the only person

whom (from his relation to me, together with his knowledge in the

place and language, his knowne dilligence and particular affection

towards mee) I could at that tyme and in soe greate a cause pitch

on, for committing the care of this affaire of detecting the

practice of my enemies there."

In the end Scott refused to acknowledge to the truth of his original deposition, and the prisoners were relieved from their bail on February 12th, 1679–80. John James, a butler previously in Pepys's service, confessed on his deathbed in 1680 that he had trumped up the whole story relating to his former master's change of religion at the instigation of Mr. William Harbord, M.P. for Thetford.

Pepys wrote on July 1st, 1680, to Mrs. Skinner:

"I would not omit giving you the knowledge of my having at last

obtained what with as much reason I might have expected a year ago,

my full discharge from the bondage I have, from one villain's

practice, so long lain under."

William Harbord, of Cadbury, co. Somerset, second son of Sir Charles Harbord, whom he succeeded in 1682 as Surveyor. General of the Land Revenues of the Crown, was Pepys's most persistent enemy. Several papers referring to Harbord's conduct were found at Scott's lodging after his flight, and are now preserved among the Rawlinson MSS. in the Bodleian. One of these was the following memorandum, which shows pretty plainly Pepys's opinion of Harbord:—

"That about the time of Mr. Pepys's surrender of his employment of

Secretary of the Admiralty, Capt. Russell and myself being in

discourse about Mr. Pepys, Mr. Russell delivered himself in these or

other words to this purport: That he thought it might be of

advantage to both, if a good understanding were had between his

brother Harbord and Mr. Pepys, asking me to propose it to Mr. Pepys,

and he would to his brother, which I agreed to, and went immediately

from him to Mr. Pepys, and telling him of this discourse, he gave me

readily this answer in these very words: That he knew of no service

Mr. Harbord could doe him, or if he could, he should be the last man

in England he would receive any from."

[William Harbord sat as M.P. for Thetford in several parliaments.

In 1689 he was chosen on the Privy Council, and in 1690 became Vice-

Treasurer for Ireland. He was appointed Ambassador to Turkey in

1692, and died at Belgrade in July of that year.]

Besides Scott's dishonesty in his dealings with Major Gotherson, it came out that he had cheated the States of Holland out of £7,000, in consequence of which he was hanged in effigy at the Hague in 1672. In 1682 he fled from England to escape from the law, as he had been guilty of wilful murder by killing George Butler, a hackney coachman, and he reached Norway in safety, where he remained till 1696. In that year some of his influential friends obtained a pardon for him from William III., and he returned to England.

In October, 1680, Pepys attended on Charles II. at Newmarket, and there he took down from the King's own mouth the narrative of his Majesty's escape from Worcester, which was first published in 1766 by Sir David Dalrymple (Lord Hailes) from the MS., which now remains in the Pepysian library both in shorthand and in longhand? It is creditable to Charles II. and the Duke of York that both brothers highly appreciated the abilities of Pepys, and availed themselves of his knowledge of naval affairs.

In the following year there was some chance that Pepys might retire from public affairs, and take upon himself the headship of one of the chief Cambridge colleges. On the death of Sir Thomas Page, the Provost of King's College, in August, 1681, Mr. S. Maryon, a Fellow of Clare Hall, recommended Pepys to apply to the King for the appointment, being assured that the royal mandate if obtained would secure his election. He liked the idea, but replied that he believed Colonel Legge (afterwards Lord Dartmouth) wanted to get the office for an old tutor. Nothing further seems to have been done by Pepys, except that he promised if he were chosen to give the whole profit of the first year, and at least half of that of each succeeding year, to "be dedicated to the general and public use of the college." In the end Dr. John Coplestone was appointed to the post.

On May 22nd, 1681, the Rev. Dr. Milles, rector of St. Olave's, who is so often mentioned in the Diary, gave Pepys a certificate as to his attention to the services of the Church. It is not quite clear what was the occasion of the certificate, but probably the Diarist wished to have it ready in case of another attack upon him in respect to his tendency towards the Church of Rome.

Early in 1682 Pepys accompanied the Duke of York to Scotland, and narrowly escaped shipwreck by the way. Before letters could arrive in London to tell of his safety, the news came of the wreck of the "Gloucester" (the Duke's ship), and of the loss of many lives. His friends' anxiety was relieved by the arrival of a letter which Pepys wrote from Edinburgh to Hewer on May 8th, in which he detailed the particulars of the adventure. The Duke invited him to go on board the "Gloucester" frigate, but he preferred his own yacht (the "Catherine "), in which he had more room, and in consequence of his resolution he saved himself from the risk of drowning. On May 5th the frigate struck upon the sand called "The Lemon and Oar," about sixteen leagues from the mouth of the Humber. This was caused by the carelessness of the pilot, to whom Pepys imputed "an obstinate over-weening in opposition to the contrary opinions of Sir I. Berry, his master, mates, Col. Legg, the Duke himself, and several others, concurring unanimously in not being yet clear of the sands." The Duke and his party escaped, but numbers were drowned in the sinking ship, and it is said that had the wreck occurred two hours earlier, and the accompanying yachts been at the distance they had previously been, not a soul would have escaped.

Pepys stayed in Edinburgh for a short time, and the Duke of York allowed him to be present at two councils. He then visited; with Colonel George Legge, some of the principal places in the neighbourhood, such as Stirling, Linlithgow, Hamilton, and Glasgow. The latter place he describes as "a very extraordinary town indeed for beauty and trade, much superior to any in Scotland."

Pepys had now been out of office for some time, but he was soon to have employment again. Tangier, which was acquired at the marriage of the King to Katharine of Braganza, had long been an incumbrance, and it was resolved at last to destroy the place. Colonel Legge (now Lord Dartmouth) was in August, 1683, constituted Captain-General of his Majesty's forces in Africa, and Governor of Tangier, and sent with a fleet of about twenty sail to demolish and blow up the works, destroy the harbour, and bring home the garrison. Pepys received the King's commands to accompany Lord Dartmouth on his expedition, but the latter's instructions were secret, and Pepys therefore did not know what had been decided upon. He saw quite enough, however, to form a strong opinion of the uselessness of the place to England. Lord Dartmouth carried out his instructions thoroughly, and on March 29th, 1684, he and his party (including Pepys) arrived in the English Channel.

The King himself now resumed the office of Lord High Admiral, and appointed Pepys Secretary of the Admiralty, with a salary of £500 per annum. In the Pepysian Library is the original patent, dated June 10th, 1684: "His Majesty's Letters Patent for ye erecting the office of Secretary of ye Admiralty of England, and creating Samuel Pepys, Esq., first Secretary therein." In this office the Diarist remained until the period of the Revolution, when his official career was concluded.

A very special honour was conferred upon Pepys in this year, when he was elected President of the Royal Society in succession to Sir Cyril Wyche, and he held the office for two years. Pepys had been admitted a fellow of the society on February 15th, 1664–65, and from Birch's "History" we find that in the following month he made a statement to the society:—

"Mr. Pepys gave an account of what information he had received from the Master of the Jersey ship which had been in company with Major Holmes in the Guinea voyage concerning the pendulum watches (March 15th, 1664–5)."

The records of the society show that he frequently made himself useful by obtaining such information as might be required in his department. After he retired from the presidency, he continued to entertain some of the most distinguished members of the society on Saturday evenings at his house in York Buildings. Evelyn expressed the strongest regret when it was necessary to discontinue these meetings on account of the infirmities of the host.

In 1685 Charles II. died, and was succeeded by James, Duke of York. From his intimate association with James it might have been supposed that a long period of official life was still before Pepys, but the new king's bigotry and incapacity soon made this a practical impossibility. At the coronation of James II. Pepys marched in the procession immediately behind the king's canopy, as one of the sixteen barons of the Cinque Ports.

In the year 1685 a new charter was granted to the Trinity Company, and Pepys was named in it the first master, this being the second time that he had held the office of master.

Evelyn specially refers to the event in his Diary, and mentions the distinguished persons present at the dinner on July 20th.

It is evident that at this time Pepys was looked upon as a specially influential man, and when a parliament was summoned to meet on May 19th, 1685, he was elected both for Harwich and for Sandwich. He chose to serve for Harwich, and Sir Philip Parker was elected to fill his place at Sandwich.

This parliament was dissolved by proclamation July 2nd, 1687, and on August 24th the king declared in council that another parliament should be summoned for November 27th, 1688, but great changes took place before that date, and when the Convention Parliament was called together in January and February, 1689–90, Pepys found no place in it. The right-hand man of the exiled monarch was not likely to find favour in the eyes of those who were now in possession. When the election for Harwich came on, the electors refused to return him, and the streets echoed to the cry of "No Tower men, no men out of the Tower!" They did not wish to be represented in parliament by a disgraced official.

We have little or no information to guide us as to Pepys's proceedings at the period of the Revolution. We know that James II. just before his flight was sitting to Kneller for a portrait intended for the Secretary to the Admiralty, and that Pepys acted in that office for the last time on 20th February, 1688–89, but between those dates we know nothing of the anxieties and troubles that he must have suffered. On the 9th March an order was issued from the Commissioners of the Admiralty for him to deliver up his books, &c., to Phineas Bowies, who superseded him as secretary.

Pepys had many firm friends upon whom he could rely, but he had also enemies who lost no opportunity of worrying him. On June 10th, 1690, Evelyn has this entry in his Diary, which throws some light upon the events of the time:—

"Mr. Pepys read to me his Remonstrance, skewing with what malice and

injustice he was suspected with Sir Anth. Deane about the timber of

which the thirty ships were built by a late Act of Parliament, with

the exceeding danger which the fleete would shortly be in, by reason

of the tyranny and incompetency of those who now managed the

Admiralty and affairs of the Navy, of which he gave an accurate

state, and shew'd his greate ability."

On the 25th of this same month Pepys was committed to the Gatehouse at Westminster on a charge of having sent information to the French Court of the state of the English navy. There was no evidence of any kind against him, and at the end of July he was allowed to return to his own house on account of ill-health. Nothing further was done in respect to the charge, but he was not free till some time after, and he was long kept in anxiety, for even in 1692 he still apprehended some fresh persecution.

Sir Peter Palavicini, Mr. James Houblon, Mr. Blackburne, and Mr. Martin bailed him, and he sent them the following circular letter:—

"October 15, 1690.

"Being this day become once again a free man in every respect, I

mean but that of my obligation to you and the rest of my friends, to

whom I stand indebted for my being so, I think it but a reasonable

part of my duty to pay you and them my thanks for it in a body; but

know not how otherwise to compass it than by begging you, which I

hereby do, to take your share with them and me here, to-morrow, of a

piece of mutton, which is all I dare promise you, besides that of

being ever,

"Your most bounden and faithful humble servant,

"S. P."

He employed the enforced idleness caused by being thrust out of his employment in the collection of the materials for the valuable work which he published in 1690, under the title of "Memoirs of the Navy." Little more was left for him to do in life, but as the government became more firmly established, and the absolute absurdity of the idea of his disloyalty was proved, Pepys held up his head again as a man to be respected and consulted, and for the remainder of his life he was looked upon as the Nestor of the Navy.

There is little more to be told of Pepys's life. He continued to keep up an extended correspondence with his many friends, and as Treasurer of Christ's Hospital he took very great interest in the welfare of that institution. He succeeded in preserving from impending ruin the mathematical foundation which had been originally designed by him, and through his anxious solicitations endowed and cherished by Charles II. and James II. One of the last public acts of his life was the presentation of the portrait of the eminent Dr. John Wallis, Savilian Professor of Geometry, to the University of Oxford.

In 1701 he sent Sir Godfrey Kneller to Oxford to paint the portrait, and the University rewarded him with a Latin diploma containing in gorgeous language the expression of thanks for his munificence.'

On the 26th May, 1703, Samuel Pepys, after long continued suffering, breathed his last in the presence of the learned Dr. George Hickes, the nonjuring Dean of Worcester, and the following letter from John Jackson to his uncle's lifelong friend Evelyn contains particulars as to the cause of death:

Mr. Jackson to Mr. Evelyn.

"Clapham, May 28th, 1703.

"Friday night.

"Honoured Sir,

"'Tis no small addition to my grief, to be obliged to interrupt the

quiet of your happy recess with the afflicting tidings of my Uncle

Pepys's death: knowing how sensibly you will partake with me herein.

But I should not be faithful to his desires, if I did not beg your

doing the honour to his memory of accepting mourning from him, as a

small instance of his most affectionate respect and honour for you.

I have thought myself extremely unfortunate to be out of the way at

that only time when you were pleased lately to touch here, and

express so great a desire of taking your leave of my Uncle; which

could not but have been admitted by him as a most welcome exception

to his general orders against being interrupted; and I could most

heartily wish that the circumstances of your health and distance did

not forbid me to ask the favour of your assisting in the holding up

of the pawll at his interment, which is intended to be on Thursday

next; for if the manes are affected with what passes below, I am

sure this would have been very grateful to his.

"I must not omit acquainting you, sir, that upon opening his body,

(which the uncommonness of his case required of us, for our own

satisfaction as well as public good) there was found in his left

kidney a nest of no less than seven stones, of the most irregular,

figures your imagination can frame, and weighing together four

ounces and a half, but all fast linked together, and adhering to his

back; whereby they solve his having felt no greater pains upon

motion, nor other of the ordinary symptoms of the stone. Some other

lesser defects there also were in his body, proceeding from the same

cause. But his stamina, in general, were marvellously strong, and

not only supported him, under the most exquisite pains, weeks beyond

all expectations; but, in the conclusion, contended for nearly forty

hours (unassisted by any nourishment) with the very agonies of

death, some few minutes excepted, before his expiring, which were

very calm.

"There remains only for me, under this affliction, to beg the

consolation and honour of succeeding to your patronage, for my

Uncle's sake; and leave to number myself, with the same sincerity he

ever did, among your greatest honourers, which I shall esteem as one

of the most valuable parts of my inheritances from him; being also,

with the faithfullest wishes of health and a happy long life to you,

"Honoured Sir,

"Your most obedient and

"Most humble Servant,

"J. JACKSON.

"Mr. Hewer, as my Uncle's Executor, and equally your faithful

Servant, joins with me in every part hereof.

"The time of my Uncle's departure was about three-quarters past

three on Wednesday morning last."

Evelyn alludes in his Diary to Pepys's death and the present to him of a suit of mourning. He speaks in very high terms of his friend:—

"1703, May 26th. This day died Mr. Sam Pepys, a very worthy,

industrious, and curious person, none in England exceeding him in

knowledge of the navy, in which he had passed thro' all the most

considerable offices, Clerk of the Acts and Secretary of the

Admiralty, all which he performed with great integrity. When K.

James II. went out of England, he laid down his office, and would

serve no more, but withdrawing himselfe from all public affaires, he

liv'd at Clapham with his partner Mr. Hewer, formerly his clerk, in

a very noble and sweete place, where he enjoy'd the fruits of his

labours in greate prosperity. He was universally belov'd,

hospitable, generous, learned in many things, skilfd in music, a

very greate cherisher of learned men of whom he had the conversation

. … Mr. Pepys had been for neere 40 yeeres so much my

particular friend that Mr. Jackson sent me compleat mourning,

desiring me to be one to hold up the pall at his magnificent

obsequies, but my indisposition hinder'd me from doing him this last

office."

The body was brought from Clapham and buried in St. Olave's Church, Hart Street, on the 5th June, at nine o'clock at night, in a vault just beneath the monument to the memory of Mrs. Pepys. Dr. Hickes performed the last sad offices for his friend.

Pepys's faithful friend, Hewer, was his executor, and his nephew, John Jackson, his heir. Mourning was presented to forty persons, and a large number of rings to relations, godchildren, servants, and friends, also to representatives of the Royal Society, of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, of the Admiralty, and of the Navy Office. The bulk of the property was bequeathed to Jackson, but the money which was left was much less than might have been expected, for at the time of Pepys's death there was a balance of £28,007 2s. 1d. due to him from the Crown, and none of this was ever paid. The books and other collections were left to Magdalene College, Cambridge, but Jackson was to have possession of them during his lifetime. These were the most important portion of Pepys's effects, for with them was the manuscript of the immortal Diary. The following are the directions for the disposition of the library, taken from Harl. MS., No. 7301:

"For the further settlement and preservation of my said library,

after the death of my nephew. John Jackson, I do hereby declare,

That could I be sure of a constant succession of heirs from my said

nephew, qualified like himself for the use of such a library, I

should not entertain a thought of its ever being alienated from

them. But this uncertainty considered, with the infinite pains, and

time, and cost employed in my collecting, methodising and reducing

the same to the state it now is, I cannot but be greatly solicitous

that all possible provision should be made for its unalterable

preservation and perpetual security against the ordinary fate of

such collections falling into the hands of an incompetent heir, and

thereby being sold, dissipated, or embezzled. And since it has

pleased God to visit me in a manner that leaves little appearance of

being myself restored to a condition of concerting the necessary

measures for attaining these ends, I must and do with great

confidence rely upon the sincerity and direction of my executor and

said nephew for putting in execution the powers given them, by my

forementioned will relating hereto, requiring that the same be

brought to a determination in twelve months after my decease, and

that special regard be had therein to the following particulars

which I declare to be my present thoughts and prevailing

inclinations in this matter, viz.:

"1. That after the death of my said nephew, my said library be

placed and for ever settled in one of our universities, and rather

in that of Cambridge than Oxford.

"2. And rather in a private college there, than in the public

library.

"3. And in the colleges of Trinity or Magdalen preferably to all

others.

"4. And of these too, 'caeteris paribus', rather in the latter, for

the sake of my own and my nephew's education therein.

"5. That in which soever of the two it is, a fair roome be provided

therein.

"6. And if in Trinity, that the said roome be contiguous to, and

have communication with, the new library there.

"7. And if in Magdalen, that it be in the new building there, and

any part thereof at my nephew's election.

"8. That my said library be continued in its present form and no

other books mixed therein, save what my nephew may add to theirs of

his own collecting, in distinct presses.

"9. That the said room and books so placed and adjusted be called

by the name of 'Bibliotheca Pepysiana.'

"10. That this 'Bibliotheca Pepysiana' be under the sole power and

custody of the master of the college for the time being, who shall

neither himself convey, nor suffer to be conveyed by others, any of

the said books from thence to any other place, except to his own

lodge in the said college, nor there have more than ten of them at a

time; and that of those also a strict entry be made and account

kept, at the time of their having been taken out and returned, in a

book to be provided, and remain in the said library for that purpose

only.

"11. That before my said library be put into the possession of

either of the said colleges, that college for which it shall be

designed, first enter into covenants for performance of the

foregoing articles.

"12. And that for a yet further security herein, the said two

colleges of Trinity and Magdalen have a reciprocal check upon one

another; and that college which shall be in present possession of

the said library, be subject to an annual visitation from the other,

and to the forfeiture thereof to the life, possession, and use of

the other, upon conviction of any breach of their said covenants.

"S. PEPYS."

The library and the original book-cases were not transferred to Magdalene College until 1724, and there they have been preserved in safety ever since.

A large number of Pepys's manuscripts appear to have remained unnoticed in York Buildings for some years. They never came into Jackson's hands, and were thus lost to Magdalene College. Dr. Rawlinson afterwards obtained them, and they were included in the bequest of his books to the Bodleian Library.

Pepys was partial to having his portrait taken, and he sat to Savill, Hales, Lely, and Kneller. Hales's portrait, painted in 1666, is now in the National Portrait Gallery, and an etching from the original forms the frontispiece to this volume. The portrait by Lely is in the Pepysian Library. Of the three portraits by Kneller, one is in the hall of Magdalene College, another at the Royal Society, and the third was lent to the First Special Exhibition of National Portraits, 1866, by the late Mr. Andrew Pepys Cockerell. Several of the portraits have been engraved, but the most interesting of these are those used by Pepys himself as book-plates. These were both engraved by Robert White, and taken from paintings by Kneller.

The church of St. Olave, Hart Street, is intimately associated with Pepys both in his life and in his death, and for many years the question had been constantly asked by visitors, "Where is Pepys's monument?" On Wednesday, July 5th, 1882, a meeting was held in the vestry of the church, when an influential committee was appointed, upon which all the great institutions with which Pepys was connected were represented by their masters, presidents, or other officers, with the object of taking steps to obtain an adequate memorial of the Diarist. Mr. (now Sir) Alfred Blomfield, architect of the church, presented an appropriate design for a monument, and sufficient subscriptions having been obtained for the purpose, he superintended its erection. On Tuesday afternoon, March 18th, 1884, the monument, which was affixed to the wall of the church where the gallery containing Pepys's pew formerly stood, was unveiled in the presence of a large concourse of visitors. The Earl of Northbrook, First Lord of the Admiralty, consented to unveil the monument, but he was at the last moment prevented by public business from attending. The late Mr. Russell Lowell, then the American Minister, took Lord Northbrook's place, and made a very charming and appreciative speech on the occasion, from which the following passages are extracted:—