Osborne's arguments, so as that in downright disputation they would not
bear weight; at least, so far, but that they might be weakened, and better
found in their rooms to confirm what is there said. He shewed finely
whence it happens that good writers are not admired by the present age;
because there are but few in any age that do mind anything that is
abstruse and curious; and so longer before any body do put the true
praise, and set it on foot in the world, the generality of mankind
pleasing themselves in the easy delights of the world, as eating,
drinking, dancing, hunting, fencing, which we see the meanest men do the
best, those that profess it. A gentleman never dances so well as the
dancing master, and an ordinary fiddler makes better musique for a
shilling than a gentleman will do after spending forty, and so in all the
delights of the world almost. Thence to the 'Change, and after doing much
business, home, taking Commissioner Pett with me, and all alone dined
together. He told me many stories of the yard, but I do know him so well,
and had his character given me this morning by Hempson, as well as my own
too of him before, that I shall know how to value any thing he says either
of friendship or other business. He was mighty serious with me in
discourse about the consequence of Sir W. Petty's boat, as the most
dangerous thing in the world, if it should be practised by endangering our
losse of the command of the seas and our trade, while the Turkes and
others shall get the use of them, which, without doubt, by bearing more
sayle will go faster than any other ships, and, not being of burden, our
merchants cannot have the use of them and so will be at the mercy of their
enemies. So that I perceive he is afeard that the honour of his trade
will down, though (which is a truth) he pretends this consideration to
hinder the growth of this invention. He being gone my wife and I took
coach and to Covent Garden, to buy a maske at the French House, Madame
Charett's, for my wife; in the way observing the streete full of coaches
at the new play, "The Indian Queene;" which for show, they say, exceeds