whereof one has been the very nearest to my dwelling: after a servant of mine now sick of a swelling (whom we have all frequented, before our suspicion was pregnant), and which we know not where will determine, behold me a living monument of God Almighty's protection and mercy! It was Saturday last 'ere my courageous wife would be persuaded to take the alarm; but she is now fled, with most of my family whilst my conscience, or something which I would have taken for my duty, obliges me to this sad station, till his Majesty take pity on me, and send me a considerable refreshment for the comfort of these poor creatures, the sick and wounded seamen under mine inspection through all the ports of my district. For mine own particular, I am resolved to do my duty as far as I am capable, and trust God with the event; but the second causes should cooperate: for in sum, my Lord, all will, and must, fall into obloquy and desolation, unless our supplies be speedily settled on some more solid fonds to carry this important service on. My brother commissioner, Sir William D'Oily, after an account of £17,000, is indebted about £6000, and my reckoning comes after it apace. The prisoners of war, our infirmatories, and the languishing in 12 other places; the charge of salaries to physicians, chirurgeons, officers, medicaments, and quarters; require speedy and considerable suppliesless than £2000 a week will hardly support us. And if I have been the more zealous and descriptive of this sad face of things, and of the personal danger I am exposed to, it is because I beg it may be an instance of your goodness and charity to read this article of my letter to my Lord your father, who I know has bowels, and may seriously represent it to his Majesty and my Lord High Treasurer. For, my Lord, having made mine attempts at Court by late expresses on this occasion, I am driven to lay this appeal at his Lordship's feet; because, having had experience of his favour in mine own concern and private affairs, I address myself with a confidence I shall succeed now that it imports the public. I dare not apply what St. Paul said to Timothy (because it does not become me), but give me liberty to allude: I know none (amongst all our Court great-ones) like minded, who does naturally care for our state. The consectary is ; for all seek their own. "Tis, my Lord, a sad truth, and this no time to flatter; we should succumb under the poise but for some few such Atlasses as are content to accept of the burthen with the honour; which, though it makes it sit heavy, makes it sit with a good conscience, and the expectation of a blessing. I am a plain country gentleman; yet hear, and see, and observe, as those in the vallies best discern the mountains. This nation is ruined for want of activity on our parts; religion and gratitude on all. But, my Lord, I tyrannise y' patience; pardon the excess; I have not often the opportunity, and God knows when I may enjoy another, who daily carry my life in my hands. If the malignity of this sad contagion spend no faster before winter, the calamity will be indicible. It But let me now acquaint your Lordship how I pass those moments which my assiduous prayers to God for your prosperity, and my service of His Majesty do not take up. is now about 2 months since I consigned a large epistle to Royston; for that piece your Lordship enjoyned me to publish in consequence of the former, and which I have made bold to inscribe to my Lord Chancellor, under somewhat an enigmatical character, because of the invidiousness of the argument. The book itself was quite finished, and wrought off; but Royston being fled, and the presses dissolved, we cannot hope to get our freedom, till it please God in mercy to abate the contagion. This is that which hinders us from that most incomparable piece of Mr. Stillingfleet's friend against Searjeant, and divers other particulars, which, though printed, will not as yet be published ;-both vendors, and buyers, and readers, being universally_scathed. As to our philosophical concerns, Dr. Wilkins, Sir Wm. Petty, and Mr. Hooke, with our operator, live all together at my Lord Geo. Barclay's at Durdans near my brother, where they are excogitating new rigging for ships, new chariots, and new ploughs, &c. so as I know not of such another happy conversation of Virtuosi in England. And now I mentioned my brother, I were ungrateful to omit my acknowledgement of the infinite honour he tells me my Lord Chancellor was pleased to do me, before so many persons of quality and gentlemen of our county of Surrey as came in to wait on him at Farnham, at my Lord Bishop's of Winchester table; when his Lordship was pleased to mention me with an eulogy, and kindness so particular and obliging, as I can never hope to merit from his goodness. But I would esteem it the most fortunate day in my life that should present me with an occasion, in which I might signalise my prone and most ardent inclinations to his service, as being professedly more engaged to his Lordship than to any person living in this world. And if God hear the humble prayers which I pour out for the continuance of your prosperity, I shall have performed but my duty, who am with a most unfeigned resignation, My Lord, Your, &c. John Evelyn to Lord Viscount Cornbury. MY LORD, Sayes-Court, 12 Sep., 1665. By this most agreeable opportunity I continue to present your Lordship with my faithful service, and if it arrive seasonably to supplicate your Lordship's pardon for the style, the mistake, and the length of mine of the ninth instant: it will excite in you different passions, and one, my Lord, not an unpleasant one. Smile at my intelligence, and pity all the rest; for it will deserve it, and find a way to your noble breast. My servant (whom I there mention to have sent from my house for fear of the worst) will recover, and prove sick only of a very ugly surfeit; which not only frees me from infinite apprehensions, but admits me to give my wife a visit, who is at my brother's, and within a fortnight of bringing me my seventh son: and it is time, my Lord, he were born; for they keep us so short of moneys at Court, that his Majesty's Commissioners had need of one to do wonders, and heal the sick and wounded by miracle, till we can maintain our chirurgeons. My Lord, I do not forget your injunction of waiting on you this month at Cornbury; but I am momentarily threatened to be hurried to the sea-side again, after this conflict of my Lord Sandwich: and the woman in the straw I would gladly see out of peril. I will not question your Lordship's being at Oxford this approaching reconvention of Parliament. My Father-in-law waits there, and it must go ill with me if I kiss not your hands. Just now I hear the guns from the Tower; this petty triumph revives us much; but the miserably afflicted City, and even this our poor village, want other consolations: my very heart turns within me at the contemplation of our calamity. God give the repentance of David, to the sins of David! We have all added some weights to this burthen; ingratitude and luxury, and the too, too soon oblivion of miracles. The Almighty preserve your Lordship, and my best friend in the world my most honoured Lord Chancellor. I would say a thousand affectionate things more to conjure your Lordship's belief, that I am, &c. COUSIN, My Lord, your, &c. Sir Philip Warwick to John Evelyn.' Stratton, 16 Sept. 1665, 8 at Night. I am to seek how to answer your letter: for without passing any compliment upon you how much I am concerned in your safety, which I find endangered by your employment; without professing how sensible I am, that scarce any particular in the Navy ought to have that care and tenderness wait upon it as the sick and wounded men, and the prisoners-though a less regard in respect I hear ours are not so well used, and that the Ambassador's servant seems to take such little care for exchanges as if he meant to burthen us with them, and that these fellows are so stubborn that they will not work, nay beat any that will -yet a shame it is if they be not, in the proportion the King allows them, provided for. The ill effect of both these I acknowledge if they be neglected. And when I have said this you will wonder what I can say next, that my Lord Treasurer makes not the provision. Sir, I must say, though I offend my good friend Sir George Carteret, that from the first my Lord Treasurer told him this charge was a chief part of the expense of the Navy, and by his assignments to be provided for. It was the first sin, transferring faults one from another; and therefore I am ashamed to be making such returns, and know that it will as little feed 1 See Diary, vol. i. p. 358. Sir Philip Warwick was at this time Secretary to the Lord High Treasurer. The letter is in answer to Evelyn's complaints of the inadequacy of funds for the proper dischargo of his official duties as one of the commissioners for the care of the sick and wounded during the Dutch war. the hungry and clothe the naked, as a mouth that's open with a benediction, and a hand closed with the money. And yet how to make you judge of this I cannot, without showing you how the whole royal aid is distributed. (And this I assure you, the distribution of the whole £2,500,000 is not of particular concern unto me, fine paid). Of the City, for the Navy, before the Parliament borrowed Of the Dunkirk money Thirteen Counties wholly assigned County of Bucks, for the Naval Regiment it. Remaining on the 17 counties, 50,000 on Wales £200,000 50,0001 1,277,604 47,346 96,047 170,000 1,840,997 367,686 170,616 45,121 25,000 608,423 59,000 109,000 And now do you see by whose friendship you have received that small refreshment, which I say not to diminish his kindness, but to show you that properly you were a care of Mr. Vice-Chamberlain's. |