Volume II Part 45 (1/2)
13th June, 1703. Rains have been great and continual, and now, near midsummer, cold and wet.
11th July, 1703. I went to Addis...o...b.., sixteen miles from Wotton, to see my son-in-law's new house, the outside, to the coving, being such excellent brickwork, based with Portland stone, with the pilasters, windows, and within, that I p.r.o.nounced it in all the points of good and solid architecture to be one of the very best gentlemen's houses in Surrey, when finished. I returned to Wotton in the evening, though weary.
25th July, 1703. The last week in this month an uncommon long-continued rain, and the Sunday following, thunder and lightning.
12th August, 1703. The new Commission for Greenwich hospital was sealed and opened, at which my son-in-law, Draper, was present, to whom I resigned my office of Treasurer. From August 1696, there had been expended in building 89,364 14s. 8d.
31st October, 1703. This day, being eighty-three years of age, upon examining what concerned me, more particularly the past year, with the great mercies of G.o.d preserving me, and in the same measure making my infirmities tolerable, I gave G.o.d most hearty and humble thanks, beseeching him to confirm to me the pardon of my sins past, and to prepare me for a better life by the virtue of his grace and mercy, for the sake of my blessed Savior.
21st November, 1703. The wet and uncomfortable weather staying us from church this morning, our Doctor officiated in my family; at which were present above twenty domestics. He made an excellent discourse on 1 Cor.
xv., v. 55, 56, of the vanity of this world and uncertainty of life, and the inexpressible happiness and satisfaction of a holy life, with pertinent inferences to prepare us for death and a future state. I gave him thanks, and told him I took it kindly as my funeral sermon.
[Sidenote: LONDON]
26-7th November, 1703. The effects of the hurricane and tempest of wind, rain, and lightning, through all the nation, especially London, were very dismal. Many houses demolished, and people killed. As to my own losses, the subversion of woods and timber, both ornamental and valuable, through my whole estate, and about my house the woods crowning the garden mount, the growing along the park meadow, the damage to my own dwelling, farms, and outhouses, is almost tragical, not to be paralleled, with anything happening in our age. I am not able to describe it; but submit to the pleasure of Almighty G.o.d.
7th December, 1703. I removed to Dover Street, where I found all well; but houses, trees, garden, etc., at Sayes Court, suffered very much.
31st December, 1703. I made up my accounts, paid wages, gave rewards and New Year's gifts, according to custom.
January, 1703-04. The King of Spain[95] landing at Portsmouth, came to Windsor, where he was magnificently entertained by the Queen, and behaved himself so n.o.bly, that everybody was taken with his graceful deportment. After two days, having presented the great ladies, and others, with valuable jewels, he went back to Portsmouth, and immediately embarked for Spain.
[Footnote 95: Charles III., afterward Emperor of Germany, by the t.i.tle of Charles VI.]
16th January, 1704. The Lord Treasurer gave my grandson the office of Treasurer of the Stamp Duties, with a salary of 300 a year.
30th January, 1704. The fast on the Martyrdom of King Charles I. was observed with more than usual solemnity.
May, 1704. Dr. Bathurst, President of Trinity College, Oxford, now died,[96] I think the oldest acquaintance now left me in the world. He was eighty-six years of age, stark blind, deaf, and memory lost, after having been a person of admirable parts and learning. This is a serious alarm to me. G.o.d grant that I may profit by it! He built a very handsome chapel to the college, and his own tomb. He gave a legacy of money, and a third part of his library, to his nephew, Dr. Bohun, who went hence to his funeral.
[Footnote 96: There is a very good Life of him, with his portrait prefixed, by Thomas Warton, Fellow of Trinity College, and Poetry Professor at Oxford.]
[Sidenote: LONDON]
7th September, 1704. This day was celebrated the thanksgiving for the late great victory,[97] with the utmost pomp and splendor by the Queen, Court, great Officers, Lords Mayor, Sheriffs, Companies, etc. The streets were scaffolded from Temple Bar, where the Lord Mayor presented her Majesty with a sword, which she returned. Every company was ranged under its banners, the city militia without the rails, which were all hung with cloth suitable to the color of the banner. The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Aldermen were in their scarlet robes, with caparisoned horses; the Knight Marshal on horseback; the Foot-Guards; the Queen in a rich coach with eight horses, none with her but the d.u.c.h.ess of Marlborough in a very plain garment, the Queen full of jewels. Music and trumpets at every city company. The great officers of the Crown, n.o.bility, and Bishops, all in coaches with six horses, besides innumerable servants, went to St. Paul's, where the Dean preached. After this, the Queen went back in the same order to St. James's. The city companies feasted all the n.o.bility and Bishops, and illuminated at night. Music for the church and anthems composed by the best masters.
The day before was wet and stormy, but this was one of the most serene and calm days that had been all the year.
[Footnote 97: Over the French and Bavarians, at Blenheim, 13th August, 1704.]
October, 1704. The year has been very plentiful.
31st October, 1704. Being my birthday and the 84th year of my life, after particular reflections on my concerns and pa.s.sages of the year, I set some considerable time of this day apart, to recollect and examine my state and condition, giving G.o.d thanks, and acknowledging his infinite mercies to me and mine, begging his blessing, and imploring his protection for the year following.
December, 1704. Lord Clarendon presented me with the three volumes of his father's ”History of the Rebellion.”