John Evelyn's Diary 1695

 John Evelyn's Diary 1695 January John Evelyn's Diary 1695 February John Evelyn's Diary 1695 May John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July John Evelyn's Diary 1695 September John Evelyn's Diary 1695 October John Evelyn's Diary 1695 November

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 is in John Evelyn's Diary 1690s.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 January

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 January 13

13 Jan 1695. The Thames was frozen over. The deaths by smallpox increased to five hundred more than in the preceding week. The King (age 44) and Princess Anne (age 29) reconciled, and she was invited to keep her Court at Whitehall, having hitherto lived privately at Berkeley House [Map]; she was desired to take into her family divers servants of the late Queen; to maintain them the King (age 44) has assigned her £5,000 a quarter.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 January 20

20 Jan 1695. The frost and continual snow have now lasted five weeks.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 February

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 February 01

01 Feb 1695. Lord Spencer (age 19) married the Duke of Newcastle's daughter (age 21), and our neighbor, Mr. Hussey, married a daughter of my cousin, George Evelyn, of Nutfield (age 53).

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 February 03

03 Feb 1695. The long frost intermitted, but not gone.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 February 17

17 Feb 1695. Called to London by Lord Godolphin (age 49), one of the Lords of the Treasury, offering me the treasurership of the hospital [Map] designed to be built at Greenwich for worn-out seamen.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 February 24

24 Feb 1695. I saw the Queen lie in state.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 February 27

27 Feb 1695. The Marquis of Normanby (age 46) told me King Charles had a design to buy all King Street, and build it nobly, it being the street leading to Westminster. This might have been done for the expense of the Queen's funeral, which was £50,000, against her desire.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 March

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 March 05

05 Mar 1695. I went to see the ceremony. Never was so universal a mourning; all the Parliament men had cloaks given them, and four hundred poor women; all the streets hung and the middle of the street boarded and covered with black cloth. There were all the nobility, mayor, aldermen, judges, etc.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 March 08

08 Mar 1695. I supped at the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry's (age 67), who related to me the pious behavior of the Queen in all her sickness, which was admirable. She never inquired of what opinion persons were, who were objects of charity; that, on opening a cabinet, a paper was found wherein she had desired that her body might not be opened, or any extraordinary expense at her funeral, whenever she should die. This paper was not found in time to be observed. There were other excellent things under her own hand, to the very least of her debts, which were very small, and everything in that exact method, as seldom is found in any private person. In sum, she was such an admirable woman, abating for taking the Crown without a more due apology, as does, if possible, outdo the renowned Queen Elizabeth.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 March 10

10 Mar 1695. I dined at the Earl of Sunderland's (age 53) with Lord Spencer (age 19). My Lord showed me his library, now again improved by many books bought at the sale of Sir Charles Scarborough, an eminent physician, which was the very best collection, especially of mathematical books, that was I believe in Europe, once designed for the King's Library at St. James's; but the Queen dying, who was the great patroness of that design, it was let fall, and the books were miserably dissipated.

10 Mar 1695. The new edition of Camden's "Britannia" was now published (by Bishop Gibson (age 26)), with great additions; those to Surrey were mine, so that I had one presented to me. Dr. Gale (age 60) showed me a MS. of some parts of the New Testament in vulgar Latin, that had belonged to a monastery in the North of Scotland, which he esteemed to be about eight hundred years old; there were some considerable various readings observable, as in John i., and genealogy of St. Luke.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 March 24

24 Mar 1695. Easter Day. Mr. Duncomb, parson of this parish, preached, which he hardly comes to above once a year though but seven or eight miles off; a florid discourse, read out of his notes. The Holy Sacrament followed, which he administered with very little reverence, leaving out many prayers and exhortations; nor was there any oblation. This ought to be reformed, but my good brother (age 77) did not well consider when he gave away this living and the next [Abinger].

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 March 26

26 Mar 1695. The latter end of the month sharp and severely cold, with much snow and hard frost; no appearance of spring.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 March 31

31 Mar 1695. Mr. Lucas preached in the afternoon at Wotton.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 April

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 April 07

07 Apr 1695. Lord Halifax (deceased) died suddenly at London, the day his daughter (age 18) was married to the Earl of Nottingham's (age 61) son (age 22) at Burleigh. Lord H. was a very rich man, very witty, and in his younger days somewhat positive.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 April 14

14 Apr 1695. After a most severe, cold, and snowy winter, without almost any shower for many months, the wind continuing N. and E. and not a leaf appearing; the weather and wind now changed, some showers fell, and there was a remission of cold.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 April 21

21 Apr 1695. The spring begins to appear, yet the trees hardly leafed. Sir T. Cooke discovers what prodigious bribes have been given by some of the East India Company out of the stock, which makes a great clamor. Never were so many private bills passed for unsettling estates, showing the wonderful prodigality and decay of families.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 May

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 May 05

05 May 1695. I came to Deptford, Kent [Map] from Wotton, Surrey [Map], in order to the first meeting of the Commissioners for endowing an hospital [Map] for seamen at Greenwich; it was at the Guildhall [Map], London. Present, the Archbishop of Canterbury (age 58), Lord Keeper, Lord Privy Seal, Lord Godolphin (age 49), Duke of Shrewsbury (age 34), Duke of Leeds (age 63), Earls of Dorset (age 52) and Monmouth (age 37), Commissioners of the Admiralty and Navy, Sir Robert Clayton, Sir Christopher Wren (age 71), and several more. The Commission was read by Mr. Lowndes, Secretary to the Lords of the Treasury, Surveyor-General.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 May 17

17 May 1695. Second meeting of the Commissioners, and a committee appointed to go to Greenwich [Map] to survey the place, I being one of them.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 May 21

21 May 1695. We went to survey Greenwich, Sir Robert Clayton, Sir Christopher Wren, Mr. Travers, the King's Surveyor, Captain Sanders, and myself.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 May 24

24 May 1695. We made report of the state of Greenwich house, and how the standing part might be made serviceable at present for £6,000, and what ground would be requisite for the whole design. My Lord Keeper ordered me to prepare a book for subscriptions, and a preamble to it.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 May 31

31 May 1695. Met again. Mr. Vanbrugh was made secretary to the commission, by my nomination of him to the Lords, which was all done that day.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 June

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 June 07

07 Jun 1695. The commissioners met at Guildhall, when there were scruples and contests of the Lord Mayor, who would not meet, not being named as one of the quorum, so that a new commission was required, though the Lord Keeper and the rest thought it too nice a punctilio.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July 05

05 Jul 1695. At Guildhall; account of subscriptions, about £7,000 or £8,000.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July 06

06 Jul 1695. I dined at Lambeth [Map], making my first visit to the Archbishop (age 58), where there was much company, and great cheer. After prayers in the evening, my Lord (age 58) made me stay to show me his house, furniture, and garden, which were all very fine, and far beyond the usual Archbishops, not as affected by this, but being bought ready furnished by his predecessor. We discoursed of several public matters, particularly of the Princess of Denmark (age 30), who made so little figure.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July 11

11 Jul 1695. Met at Guildhall; not a full committee, so nothing done.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July 14

14 Jul 1695. No sermon at church; but, after prayers, the names of all the parishioners were read, in order to gathering the tax of 4s. for marriages, burials, etc. A very imprudent tax, especially this reading the names, so that most went out of the church.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July 19

19 Jul 1695. I dined at Sir Purbeck Temple's (age 71), near Croydon; his lady is aunt to my son-in-law, Draper; the house exactly furnished. Went thence with my son and daughter to Wotton. At Wotton, Mr. Duncomb, parson of Albury, preached excellently.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 July 28

28 Jul 1695. A very wet season.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 August

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 August 11

11 Aug 1695. The weather now so cold, that greater frosts were not always seen in the midst of winter; this succeeded much wet, and set harvest extremely back.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 September

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 September 25

25 Sep 1695. Mr. Offley preached at Abinger; too much controversy on a point of no consequence, for the country people here. This was the first time I had heard him preach. Bombarding of Cádiz; a cruel and brutish way of making war, first began by the French. The season wet, great storms, unseasonable harvest weather. My good and worthy friend, Captain Gifford (age 46), who that he might get some competence to live decently, adventured all he had in a voyage of two years to the East Indies, was, with another great ship, taken by some French men-of-war, almost within sight of England, to the loss of near £70,000, to my great sorrow, and pity of his wife, he being also a valiant and industrious man. The losses of this sort to the nation have been immense, and all through negligence, and little care to secure the same near our own coasts; of infinitely more concern to the public than spending their time in bombarding and ruining two or three paltry towns, without any benefit, or weakening our enemies, who, though they began, ought not to be imitated in an action totally averse to humanity, or Christianity.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 September 29

29 Sep 1695. Very cold weather. Sir Purbeck Temple, uncle to my son Draper, died suddenly. A great funeral at Addiscombe. His lady being own aunt to my son Draper, he hopes for a good fortune, there being no heir. There had been a new meeting of the commissioners about Greenwich Hospital [Map], on the new commission, where the Lord Mayor, etc. appeared, but I was prevented by indisposition from attending. The weather very sharp, winter approaching apace. The King (age 44) went a progress into the north, to show himself to the people against the elections, and was everywhere complimented, except at Oxford, Oxfordshire [Map], where it was not as he expected, so that he hardly stopped an hour there, and having seen the theater, did not receive the banquet proposed. I dined with Dr. Gale (age 60) at St. Paul's school, who showed me many curious passages out of some ancient Platonists' MSS. concerning the Trinity, which this great and learned person would publish, with many other rare things, if he was encouraged, and eased of the burden of teaching.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 October

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 October 25

25 Oct 1695. The Archbishop (age 59) and myself went to Hammersmith, Middlesex [Map], to visit Sir Samuel Morland (age 70), who was entirely blind; a very mortifying sight. He showed us his invention of writing, which was very ingenious; also his wooden calendar, which instructed him all by feeling; and other pretty and useful inventions of mills, pumps, etc., and the pump he had erected that serves water to his garden, and to passengers, with an inscription, and brings from a filthy part of the Thames near it a most perfect and pure water. He had newly buried £200 worth of music books six feet under ground, being, as he said, love songs and vanity. He plays himself psalms and religious hymns on the theorbo. Very mild weather the whole of October.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 November

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 November 10

10 Nov 1695. Mr. Stanhope, Vicar of Lewisham, preached at Whitehall. He is one of the most accomplished preachers I ever heard, for matter, eloquence, action, voice, and I am told, of excellent conversation.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 November 13

13 Nov 1695. Famous fireworks and very chargeable, the King (age 45) being returned from his progress. He stayed seven or eight days at Lord Sunderland's (age 54) at Althorpe [Map], where he was mightily entertained. These fireworks were shown before Lord Romney (age 54), Master of the Ordnance, in St. James's great square, where the King (age 45) stood.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 November 17

17 Nov 1695. I spoke to the Archbishop of Canterbury (age 59) to interest himself for restoring a room belonging to St. James's library, where the books want place.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 November 21

21 Nov 1695. I went to see Mr. Churchill's collection of rarities.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 November 23

23 Nov 1695. To Lambeth, to get Mr. Williams continued in Boyle's lectures another year. Among others who dined there was Dr. Covel, the great Oriental traveler.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1695 December

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 December 01

01 Dec 1695. I dined at Lord Sunderland's (age 54), now the great favorite and underhand politician, but not adventuring on any character, being obnoxious to the people for having twice changed his religion.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 December 23

23 Dec 1695. The Parliament wondrously intent on ways to reform the coin; setting out a Proclamation prohibiting the currency of half-crowns, etc., which made much confusion among the people.

John Evelyn's Diary 1695 December 25

25 Dec 1695. Hitherto mild, dark, misty, weather. Now snow and frost.