We extract the following interesting Memoranda, relative to a remarkable period of our history, from the "Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq. F. R. S., Secretary to the Admiralty in the Reigns of Charles 2d and James the 2d." which have just appeared in two Volumes 4to. deciphered by the Rev. J. Smith from the original MS.

Pepys, was born in 1632, and was the son of a citizen and tailor of London, of a good family, and probably originally from Scotland. He was educated at St. Paul's school and Cambridge, married very young, and became a protege of his relative, Sir E.Montagu, afterwards the celebrated Earl of Sandwich. He appears to have been a very drudge in his official appointments, and rose to value by his application and comparative purity; for in those days the purest men in office seem to have had a less correct notion of integrity than the meanest have now. In private he acted with much simplicity, and might well be esteemed a worthy fellow, though he did not neglect his own advancement, nor shun (after he acquired fortunes) the pleasures which surrounded him. He had at last a seat in Parliament, was two years President of the Royal Society, and on the accession of William and Mary, retired from the bustle and fatigue of public affairs. He died at Clapham, in 1703, and was buried in St. Olave's, Hart-street.

Now follow an extracts from his Diary, in which he was accustomed

to note down every circumstance which he deemed worthy of notice:→→

Jan. 1659-60.-Home from my office to my Lord's lodgings, where my wife had got ready a very fine dinner-viz, a dish of marrow-bones, a leg of mutton, a loin of veal, a dish of fowl, three pullets, and a dozen of larks, all in a dish; a great tart, a neat's tongue, a dish of anchovies, a dish of prawns and cheese. My com pany was my father, my uncle Fen ner, his two sons, Mr. Pierce, and all their wives, and my brother Tom,

"The news of this day is a letter that speaks absolutely Monk's con currence with this Parliament, and nothing else, which yet I hardly believe.

"Feb. 2. I this day left off my great skirt suit, and put on my white suit with silver lace coat, and went over to Harper's, where I met with W. Simons, Doling, Luellip, and three merchants, one of which had occasion to use a porter, so they sent for one, and James the soldier came, who told us how they had been all day and night upon their guard at St. James's, and that through the whole town they did resolve to stand to what they had begun, and that to-morrow he did believe they would go into the city, and be received there. After this we went to a sport called selling of a horse for a dish of eggs and herrings, and sat talking there till about twelve at night."

Within a few days Monk entered the metropolis, and the restoration became certain.

"We were told that the Parliament had sent Scott and Robinson to Monk this afternoon, but he would not hear them. Aud that the Mayor and Aldermen had offered their own houses for himself and his officers; and that his soldiers would lack for nothing. And, indeed, I saw many people give the soldiers. drink and money, and all along the streets cried, God bless them, and extraordinary good words. Hence we went to a merchant's house, hard by, where I saw Sir Nicholas Crisp, and so we went to the Star Tavern, (Monk being then at Benson's). In Cheapside there was agreat many bonfires, and Bow bells and all the bells in all the churches as we went home were a ringing. Hence we went homewards, it being about ten at night. But the common joy that was every where to be seen! The number of bonfires, their being fourteen between St. Dunstan's and Temple-bar, and at Strandbridge I could at one time tell 31 fires. In King-street seven or eight; and all along burning and roasting, and drinking for rumps. There being rumps tied upon sticks carried up and down. The butchers at the May Pole in the Stand* rang a peal with their knives when they were going to sacrifice their rump. On Ludgate-hill there was turning of a spit that had a rump tied upon it, and another basting of it. Indeed it was past imagination, both the greatness and the suddenness of it. At one end of the street you would think there was a whole lane of fire, and so hot that we were fain to keep on the further side.

"Oct. 13th.-I went out to Charing-cross to see Major-General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as

* Compare NIC-NAC, vol.i. P.

+" Thomas Harrison, son of a butcher at Newcastle-under-Line, appointed by Cromwell to convey Charles I. from Windsor to Whitehall, in order to his trial, and afterwards set as one of his judges.'

cheerful as any man could do in that condition. He was presently cut down, and his head and heart shown to the people, at which there were great shouts of joy. It is said that he was sure to come shortly at the right hand of Christ, to judge them that now had judged him; and that his wife do expect his coming again. Thus it was my chance to see the King beheaded at Whitehall, and to see the first blood shed in revenge for the King at Charing-cross.

14th.-To White-hall chappell, where one Dr. Crofts made an indifferent sermon, and after it an anthem, ill sung, which made the King laugh. Here I first did see the Princesse Royall since she came into England. Here I also observed, how the Duke of York and Mrs. Palmer did talk to one another very wantonly, through the hangings that parts the King's closet and the closet where the ladies sit.

"24th.-To Mr. Lilly's, with Mr. Spong, were well received, there being a clubb to-night among his friends. Among the rest Esquire Ashmole, the antiquarian, who I found was a very ingenious gentle

man.

With him we two sang afterwards in Mr. Llly's study. That done, we all parted; and I home by coach, taking Mr. Rooker with me, who did tell me a great many fooleries, which may be done by nativities, and blaming Mr. Lilly for writing to please his friends and to keep in with the times, (as he did formerly to his own dishonour), and not according to the rules of art, by which he could not well erre, as he had done.

66

November 1st.-This morning Sir W. Penn and I were mounted early, and had very merry discourse all the way, he being very good company. We come to Sir W. Batten's where he lived like a prince, and we were made very welcome. Among other things he showed me my Lady's closet, wherein was great store of rarities; as also a chair, which he calls King Harry's chaire, where he that sits down is catched with two irons, that come round about him, which makes good sport. Here dined

with us two or three more country gentlemen; among the rest Mr. Christmas, my old schoolfellow, with whom I had much talk. He did remember that I was a great Rounhead when I was a boy, and I was much afraid that he would have remembered the words that I said the day the King was beheaded (that, were 1 to preach upon him, my text should be-The memory of the wicked shall rot;') but I found afterwards that he did not go away from school before that time.

7th.-Notwithstanding this was the first day of the King's proclamation against hackney-coaches coming into the street to stand to be hired, yet I got one to carry me home.

"Dec. 4th.-This day the Parliament voted that the bodies of Oliver, Ireton, Bradshaw, &c., should be taken up out of their graves in the Abbey, and drawn to the gallows, and there hanged and buried under it which, (methinks) do troubled me that a man of so great courage as he was, should have that dishonour, though otherwise he might deserve it enough.

:

"Jan. 22d -I met with Dr. Thos. Fuller. He tells me of his last and great book that is coming out; that is, the History of all the Families in England; and could tell me more of my owne, than I knew myself. And also to what perfection he hath now brought the art of memory: that he did lately to four eminently great scholars dictate together in Latin, upon different subjects of their proposing, faster than they were able to write, till they were tired and that the best way of beginning a sentence, if a man should be out and forget his last sentence (which he never was), that then his last refuge is to begin with an Utcunque.

30th.-To my Lady Batten's, where my wife and she are lately come back again from being abroad, and seeing of Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw, hanged and buried at Tyburne.

has sworn to-day at the Exchequer, with a great company of Lords and persons of honour to attend him) go up to the Treasury Offices, and take possession thereof; and also saw the heads of Cromwell, Bradshaw, and Ireton, set up at the further end of the Hall.

"April 2-To St. James's Park, where I saw the Duke of York playing at Pelemele, the first time that ever I saw the sport. Then to the Dolphin to Sir W. Batten and Pen, and other company; among others Mr. Delabar: where strange how these men, who at other times are all wise men, do now, in their drink, betwitt and reproach one another with their former conditions, and their actions as in public concerns, till Į was ashaped to see it.

"20th.-Come my boy, to tell me that the Duke of York had sent for all the principal officers, &c. to come to him to-day. So I went by water to Mr. Coventry's, and there staid and talked a good while with him, till all the rest come. We went up and saw the Duke dress himself, and in his night habitt he is a very plain man.

Then he sent us to his closett, where we saw among other things two very fine chests, covered with gold and Indian varnish, given him by the East India Company of Holland. The Duke comes; and after he had told us that the fleet was designed for Algier (which was kept from us till now), we did advise about many things as to the fitting of the fleet, and so went away to Whitehall; and in the Banquetting-house saw the King create my Lord Chancellor and several others, Earles, and Mr Crewe and several others, Barons; the first being led up by Heralds and five old Earles to the King, and there the patent is read, and the King puts on his vest, and sword, and coronet, and gives him the patent. And then he kisseth the King's hand, and rises and stands covered before the King. And the same for each Baron, only he is led up by three of the old Barons. And they are girt with swords before they go

to the King. To the Cockpit; and there by the favour of one Mr. Bowman, he and I got in, and there saw the King and Duke of York and his Duchesse, (which is a plain woman, and like her mother, my Lady Chancellor). And so saw "The Humersome Lieutenant" acted before the King, but not very well done. But my pleasure was great to see the manner of it, and so many great beauties, but above all Mrs. Palmer, with whom the King do discover a great deal of familiarity.

was

*Sept. 7th, 1661.-Having ap pointed the young ladies at the wardrobe to go with them to the play today, my wife and I took them to the theatre, where we seated ourselves close by the King, and Duke of York, and Madame Palmer, which great content; and, indeed, I can never enough admire her beauty. And here was Bartholomew Fayre,' with the puppet-shewe, acted to-day, which had not been these forty years (it being so satyricall against puritansim, they durst not till now, which is strange they should already dare to do it, and the King do countenance it); but I do never a whit like it the better for the puppets, but rather the worse. Thence home with the ladies, it being by reason of our staying a great while for the King's coming, and the length of the play, near nine o'clock before it was done.

"11th. To Dr. Williams, who did carry me into his garden, where he hath abundance of grapes; and he did show me how a dog that he hath do kill all the cats that come thither to kill his pigeons, and do afterwards bury them; and do it with so much care that they shall be quite covered; that if the tip of the tail hangs out he will take up the cat again, and dig the hole deeper: which is very strange; and he tells me, that he do believe that he hath killed above 100 cats."

Buckhust hath got Nell* away from the King's houser and gives her 1001. a year, so as she hath sent her parts to the house, and will act no more.

"14th. To Epsum by eight o'clock, to the well; where much company. And to the towne to the King's Head; and hear that my Lord Buckhurst and Nelly are lodged at the next house, and Sir Charles Sedley with them, and keep a merry house. Poor girl! I pity her; but more the loss of her at the King's house.

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August 22d.-With my Lord Brouncker and his mistress to the King's play-house, and there saw The Indian Emperous;' where I find Nell come again, which I am glad of; but was most infinitely diapleased with her being put to act the Emperour's daughter, which is a great and serious part, which she does most basely.

26th. Sir W. Pen and 1 had a great deal of discourse with Mall, who tells us that Nell is already left by my Lord Buckhurst, and that he makes sport of her, and swears that she hath had all she could get of him; and Hart her great admirer now hates her; and that she is very poor, and hath lost my Lady Castlemaine, who was her great friend, also; but she is come to the playhouse, but is neg lected by them all.

"Oct. 5th-To the King's house; and there going in met with Knipp, and she took us up into the tireing rooms; and to the woman's shift, where Nell was dressing herself, and was all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than I thought. And into the scene-room, and there sat down, and she gave us fruit; and here 1 she answered me, through all her read the questions to Knipp, while part of "FLORA'S FIGARYS," which was acted to-day. But, Lord! to

i. e. Nell Gwynn.

+ i. e. The house at which the King's Company performed, in Drury Lane. See NIC-NAC, vol, 1, p.

see how they were both painted, would make a man mad, and did make me loathe them; and what base company of men comes among them; and how lewdly they talk! And how poor the men are in clothes, and yet what a show they make on the stage by candle-light, is very observable. But to see how Nell cursed,

for having so few people in the pit, was strange; the other house carrying away all the people at the new, play, and it is said now-a-days to have generally most company, as being better players. By and by into the pit, and there saw the play, which is pretty good."

b

F

[We have taken the liberty to copy the above cut, and the ensuing explanation of it, from that excellent publication, "The London Mechanics' Register," to the pages of which we have before been indebted for some valuable information.]

AA is a board, about two feet long and one foot wide, in which are inserted two upright pieces, BB, through which pass two beams, C and D, confined in their places by wire pins, but having the apertures through which they pass in the uprights cut, as described by the dotted lines at aa. E is a common spring bell, fixed to the top of one of the uprights, to which is attached a piece of whipcord, passing over a small pulley at b, and fastened to one end of the beam, C, whose other end must rest on that of D. F is a small weight,

suspended from beam, D. Ga tin funnel, having a very small hole at the bottom, also suspended from beam D. Ha tin vessel, similar to a saucepan, but without a handle, to

receive the sand.

The method of using this alarum is by putting some very fine and dry white sand into the funnel, G (the precise quantity of which must neces sarily vary, according to the hour the party intends rising, but which, by a little experience, may be easily ascertained*); when a sufficient quantity of sand has passed through the funnel, G, the weight at the end of beam, D, will descend, causing the

serving how much sand passes through *This may be accomplished by ob the funnel in one hour, and measuring it in a small vessel, to be kept for that purpose..