thing abroad pleases me better; nothing at home approaches it. I have no design, my Lord, to gratify the architect, beyond what I am obliged, as a professed honourer of virtue wheresoever 'tis conspicuous; but when I had seriously contemplated every room (for I went into them all, from the cellar to the platform on the roof), seen how well and judiciously the walls were erected, the arches cut and turned; the timber braced, their scantlings and contignations disposed, I was incredibly satisfied, and do acknowledge myself to have much improved by what I observed. What shall I add more ? rumpatur invidia; I pronounce it the first Palace in England, deserving all I have said of it, and a better encomiast. May that great and illustrious person, whose large and ample heart has honoured his country with so glorious a structure, and, by an example worthy of himself, showed our nobility how they ought indeed to build, and value their qualities, live many long years to enjoy it; and when he shall have passed to that upper building not made with hands, may his posterity (as you, my Lord) inherit his goodness, this palace, and all other circumstances of his grandeur, to consummate their felicity; with which happy augure, permit me in all faithfulness and sincerity, to subscribe myself, my Lord, Your, &c. John Evelyn to Samuel Pepys. Sayes-Court, 26 March, 1666. SIB, I know not with what success I have endeavoured to perform your commands; but it has been to the utmost of my skill, of which you are to be my judge. The favour I bespeak of you is, your pardon for not sending it before. I have not enjoyed one minute's repose since my return (now a fortnight past) till this very morning; having been ever since soliciting for a little money to preserve my miserable flock from perishing. On Saturday, very late, I dispatched Mr. Barber towards my Kentish circle, where our sick people are in quarters; and at his return, I hope to present you a complete account: but till this instant :: morning I had not written one line of those tedious papers; so that, if through haste (the parent of mistakes), there may haply appear some escapes, give pardon to your servant; or let me purchase it with a small present of fragments (such yet as you have been pleased to accept), and a little book that I also recommend to excuse my expense of such leisure as I can redeem from the other impertinences of my life. As to the report which I send you, I would receive it as a favour, however your resolutions of putting it in execution may succeed (the time of year being so far elapsed, in regard of action and more immediate use), it might yet be gratefully presented to his Royal Highness, or rather indeed, to his Majesty himself, who has so frequently been pleased to take notice of it to me as an acceptable project; because it would afflict me to have them think I have either been remiss or trifling in my proposal. This obligation I can only hope for from your dexterity, address, and friendship, who Sir, am, Your most affectionate and humble servant, J. EVELYN. SIE,-There is nothing in the other paper which you commanded me to return, but what is included in these, with ample and (I hope) considerable improvements. I must beg a copy of those papers when the clerks are at leisure, having never a duplicate by me: and it may haply need a review. SIR,-The bearer hereof, Roger Winn, being our mes senger (and without whose services I cannot possibly be, having so frequent occasions of sending him about business belonging to my troublesome employment), does by me supplicate your protection, that he may not be pressed, of which he is hourly in danger as he travels about our affairs without your particular indulgence, which I therefore conjure you to let him bave under your hand and signature. SIR, John Evelyn to Samuel Pepys. Sayes-Court, 26 March, 1666. If to render you an account of the progress of my late proposal be any testimony of my obedience to your commands, be pleased to believe that I most faithfully present it in these papers according to the best of my talent. And if you find the estimate considerably to exceed the first calculation, you will remember it was made to the meridian of London; that the walls were, both by his Majesty and the directions of the principal officers, to be made thicker and higher; that the materials and workmen were presumed to be found much cheaper in the country; and that the place and area to build on was supposed a level. But it has fallen out so much to our prejudice, and beyond all expectation in these particulars, that, to commence with the ground, we could not in four or five miles walking about Chatham and Rochester find one convenient spot that would bear a level of 200 foot square, unless it were one field beyond the dock, in the occupation of Mr. Commissioner Pett, near the bog and marsh, which has neither solid foundation, nor fresh water to it. There is a very handsome green close at the end of the Long-Rope-house, towards Chatham; but the declivity is so sudden and great to the west, that less than ten-foot raising will not bring it to such a rectitude as that we can lay our plate upon the wall, which will be a considerable trouble and charge to reform, as may be easily demonstrated: for either the earth must be so much abated towards the east, or the wall advanced to the height of near twenty foot, while one extreme of the roof will touch the superficies of the earth: beside the field is not above 150 feet wide. But supposing all this might be encountered (as indeed it might with charge), it borders so near to the rope-houses, the dock, and that ample way leading to it from the hill-house and Chatham, as might endanger his Majesty's people in case of any contagion; because it will be impossible to restrain them from sometimes mingling amongst the workmen and others, who have employment in the dock, when the convalescent men shall be able or permitted to walk abroad. This, and some other difficulties, made us quit the thoughts of that otherwise gracefully-situated place. After many other surveys, we at last pitched on a field called the Warren, just beneath the Mill, and regarding the north towards the river. The access is commodious; it has a well of excellent water, ready dug, and wanting only repairs; and though this ground be likewise somewhat uneven, yet, with help, it will carry about 240 feet in length, and 150 in breadth, allowing the filling up of some valleys and depressures of about four or five foot deep to be taken from several risings. This, for many reasons, I conceive to be the fittest for our purpose, it having also a solid foundation on the chalk, and being at a competent distance from all dangerous commerce with the town, which will greatly contribute to the health of the sick, and protection of the inhabitants; but, being at present in lease to the Chest, leave must be obtained, and the tenant, who now rents it, satisfied; in all which Mr.Commissioner Pett (whose direction and assistance I took, according to the injunctions) informs me, there will be no difficulty. Upon examination of the materials on the place: £ s. d. Bricks will not be delivered at the place under Lime, per load, containing 32 bushels, per thousand 0 18 0 0 16 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 210 0 3 4 026 Upon those materials we conceived thus of the scantlings: And if stone-floors to the four-corner rooms, as has been since judged more commodious, the G'ists Besides partitions, posts, interstices, quarterage. At those scantlings, together with the alteration of the walls for height and thickness, &c. Every rod of square brick-work, solid, at 14 brick thick, And every rod after the rate of 18d. for one foot high, in Which for 98 rod, is So as the brick-work for the whole will come to Single doors and cases, at 20s. each; double doors and cases (for the more commodious bringing in of the sick, being frequently carried), at 36s., with the casements, locks, hinges, &c. Stone-floors Stairs, per step, 3s., 76 in all Levelling the ground, as computed upon view. But this erection, reduced to 400 beds, or rather persons £431 12 2 1 4 9 122 6 0 371 0 0 487 18 0 |