太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the diary of samuel pepys >

第3节

the diary of samuel pepys-第3节

小说: the diary of samuel pepys 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



。; replaced in a situation where his skill and experience could not be well dispensed with; and rose afterwards to be Secretary of the Admiralty; which office he retained till the Revolution。  It is remarkable that James II。 was sitting to Sir Godfrey Kneller for a portrait designed as a present to Pepys; when the news of the landing of the Prince of Orange was brought to that unhappy monarch。  The King commanded the painter to proceed; and finish the portrait; that his good friend might not be disappointed。

Pepys had been too much personally connected with the King; (who had been so long at the Admiralty;) to retain his situation upon the accession of William and Mary; and he retired into private life' accordingly; but without being followed thither; either by persecution or ill will。

The Diary; as already explained; comprehends ten years of Mr。 Pepys official life; extending from January; 1659…60; to May; 1669。  It is highly necessary to keep in mind that Mr。 Pepys was only thirty…seven years of age when he closed his Diary in 1669; and that of the remainder of his life we have no regular account; although the materials for it which exist have encouraged the hope that this portion of the Life may yet be written。  After the death of Cromwell; Pepys seems to have consorted much with Harrington; Hazelrigge; and other leading Republicans; but when the Restoration took place; he becameas; perhaps was naturala courtier; still; it is said of him that 〃were the eulogy of Cromwell now to be written; abounding particulars and material for the purpose might be found in and drawn from Pepys' Diary。〃

Mr。 Pepys sat in Parliament for Castle Rising; and subsequently he represented the borough of Harwich; eventually rising to wealth and eminence as clerk of the treasurer to the Commissioners of the affairs of Tangier; and Surveyor…general of the Victualling Department; 〃proving himself to be;〃 it is stated; 〃a very useful and energetic public servant。〃

In the year 1700; Mr。 Pepys; whose constitution had been long impaired by the stone; was persuaded by his physicians to quit York Buildings; now Buckingham…street; (the last house on the west side; looking on the Thames;) and retire; for change of air; to the house of his old friend and servant; William Hewer; at Clapham。  Soon after; he was visited here by John Evelyn; who; in his Diary; Sept。 22; 1700; records; 〃I went to visit Mr。 Pepys; at Clapham; where he has a very noble and wonderfully well… furnished house; especially with India and Chinese curiosities。 The offices and gardens well accommodated for pleasure and retirement。〃  In this retreat; however; his health continued to decline; and he died in May; 1703; a victim in part; to the stone; which was hereditary in his constitution; and to the increase of that malady in the course of a laborious and sedentary life。  In the LONDON JOURNAL of the above year is this entry:  〃London; June 5。 Yesterday in the evening were performed the obsequies of Samuel Pepys; Esq。; in Crutched Friars Church; whither his corpse was brought in a very honourable and solemn manner from Clapham; where he departed this life; the 26th day of the last month。POST BOY; June 5; 1703。〃  The burial…service at his funeral was read at 9 at night; by Dr。 Hickes; author of the THESAURUS which bears his name。  There is no memorial to mark the site of his interment in the church; but there is a monument in the chancel to Mrs。 Pepys; and Mr。 Pepys is interred in a vault of his own making; by the side of his wife and brother。

Pepys had an extensive knowledge of naval affairs。  He thoroughly understood and practised music; and he was a judge of painting; sculpture; and architecture。  In 1684; he was elected President of the Royal Society; and held that honourable office two years。 He contributed no less than 60 plates to Willoughby's HISTORIA PISCIUM。

To Magdalene College; Cambridge; he left an invaluable collection of manuscript naval memoirs; of prints; and ancient English poetry; which has often been consulted by critics and commentators; and is; indeed; unrivalled of its kind。  One of its most singular curiosities is a collection of English ballads in five large folio volumes; begun by Selden and carried down to the year 1700。  Percy's 〃Reliques〃 are for the most part; taken from this collection。  Pepys published 〃Memoirs relating to the State of the Royal Navy in England for ten years; determined December; 1688;〃 8vo。 London; 1690; and there is a small book in the Pepysian Library; entitled 〃A Relation of the Troubles in the Court of Portugal in 1667 and 1668;〃 by S。 P。; 12mo。; Lond。; 1677; which Watt ascribes to Pepys。

In the Supplement to Collier's Dictionary; published contemporaneously; is this tribute to the character of Samuel Pepys:〃It may be affirmed of this Gentleman; that he was; without exception; the greatest and most useful Minister that ever filled the same situations in England; the Acts and Registers of the Admiralty proving this fact beyond contradiction。  The principal rules and establishments in present use in those offices are well known to have been of his introducing and most of the officers serving therein; since the Restoration; of his bringing up。  He was a most studious promoter and strenuous assertor of order and discipline through all their dependencies。  Sobriety; diligence; capacity; loyalty; and subjection to command; were essentials required in all whom he advanced。  Where any of these were found wanting; no interest or authority were capable of moving him in favour of the highest pretender; the Royal command only excepted; of which he was also very watchful; to prevent any undue procurements。  Discharging his duty to his Prince and Country with a religious application and perfect integrity; he feared no one; courted no one; neglected his own fortune。  Besides this; he was a person of universal worth; and in great estimation among the Literati; for his unbounded reading; his sound judgment; his great elocution; his mastery in method; his singular curiosity; and his uncommon munificence towards the advancement of learning; arts; and industry; in all degrees:  to which were joined the severest morality of a philosopher; and all the polite accomplishments of a gentleman; particularly those of music; languages; conversation; and address。  He assisted; as one of the Barons of the Cinque Ports; at the Coronation of James II。; and was a standing Governor of all the principal houses of charity in and about London; and sat at the head of many other honourable bodies; in divers of which; as he deemed their constitution and methods deserving; he left lasting monuments of his bounty and patronage。〃


*





PEPYS'S DIARY。


1659…60。  Blessed be God; at the end of the last year I was in very good health; without any sense of my old pain; but upon taking of cold。  I lived in Axe Yard; having my wife; and servant Jane; and no other in family than us three。

The condition of the State was thus; viz。 the Rump; after being disturbed by my Lord Lambert; 'Sufficiently known by his services as a Major…General in the Parliament forces during the Civil War; and condemned as a traitor after the Restoration; but reprieved and banished to Guernsey; where he lived in confinement thirty years。'  was lately returned to sit again。  The officers of the Army all forced to yield。  Lawson 'Sir John Lawson; the son of a poor man at Hull; rose to the rank of Admiral; and distinguished himself during the Protectorate; and; though a republican in his heart; readily closed with the design of restoring the King。  He was mortally wounded in the sea fight in 1665。'  lies still in the river; and Monk is with his army in Scotland。  'George Monk; afterwards Duke of Albemarle。'  Only my Lord Lambert is not yet come into the Parliament; nor is it expected that he will without being forced to it。  The new Common Council of the City do speak very high; and had sent to Monk their sword…bearer; to acquaint him with their desires for a free and full Parliament; which is at present the desires; and the hopes; and the expectations of all。  Twenty…two of the old secluded members having been at the House…door the last week to demand entrance; but it was denied them; and it is believed that neither they nor the people will be satisfied till the House be filled。  My own private condition very handsome; and esteemed rich; but indeed very poor; besides my goods of my house; and my office; which at present is somewhat certain。  Mr。 Downing master of my office。   'George Downing; son of Calibute Downing; D。D。 and Rector of Hackney。  Wood calls him a sider with all times and changes; skilled in the common cant; and a preacher occasionally。  He was sent by Cromwell to Holland as resident there。  About the Restoration he espoused the King's cause; and was knighted and elected M。P。 for Morpeth in 1661。 afterwards; becoming Secretary to the Treasury and Commissioner of Customs; he was in 1663 created a Baronet of East Hatley; in Cambridgeshire。'  'The office appears to have been in the Exchequer; and connected with the pay of the army。'

JAN。 1; 1659…60 (Lord's day)。  This morning (we living lately in the garret;) I rose; put on my suit with great skirts; having not lately worn any

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的