the diary of samuel pepys-第2节
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PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION
In submitting the following pages to the Public； I feel that it is incumbent upon me to explain by what circumstances the materials from which the Work has been compiled were placed at my disposal。 The original Diary； comprehending six volumes； closely written in short…hand by Mr。 Pepys himself； belonged to the valuable collection of books and prints； bequeathed by him to Magdalene College； Cambridge； and had remained there unexamined； till the appointment of my Brother； the present Master； under whose auspices the MS。 was deciphered by Mr。 John Smith； with a view to its publication。
My Brother's time； however； being too much engrossed by more important duties to admit of his editing the work； the task of preparing it for the press was undertaken by me at his request。
The Diary commences January 1st； 1659…60 and after being regularly kept for ten years； it is brought to a sudden conclusion； owing to the weak state of Mr。 Pepys's eyes； which precluded him from continuing or resuming the occupation。 As he was in the habit of recording the most trifling occurrences of his life； it became absolutely necessary to curtail the MS。 materially； and in many instances to condense the matter； but the greatest care has been taken to preserve the original meaning； without making a single addition； excepting where； from the short…hand being defective； some alteration appeared absolutely necessary。 It may be objected by those who are not aware how little is known from authentic sources of the History of the Stage about the period of the Restoration； that the notices of theatrical performances occur too frequently； but as many of the incidents recorded； connected with this subject； are not to be met with elsewhere； I thought myself justified in retaining them； at the risk of fatiguing those readers who have no taste for the concerns of the Drama。 The general details may also； in some instances； even in their abridged form； be considered as too minute； nor is it an easy task； in an undertaking of this sort； to please everybody's taste： my principal study in making the selection； however； has been to omit nothing of public interest； and to introduce at the same time a great variety of other topics； less important； perhaps； put tending in some degree to illustrate the manners and habits of the age。
In justice to Mr。 Pepys's literary reputation； the reader is forewarned that he is not to expect to find in the Diary accuracy of style or finished composition。 We should rather consider the Work as a collection of reminiscences hastily thrown together at the end of each succeeding day； for the exclusive perusal of the Author。
The Journal contains the most unquestionable evidences of veracity； and； as the writer made no scruple of committing his most secret thoughts to paper； encouraged no doubt by the confidence which he derived from the use of short…hand； perhaps there never was a publication more implicitly to be relied upon for the authenticity of its statements and the exactness with which every fact is detailed。 Upon this point； I can venture to speak with the less hesitation； having； in preparing the sheets for the press； had occasion to compare many parts of the Diary with different accounts of the same transactions recorded elsewhere； and in no instance could I detect any material error or wilful misrepresentation。
The Notes at the bottom of the pages were introduced to elucidate obscure passages； and I have been tempted occasionally to insert short Biographical Sketches of the principal persons who are named； accompanied by such references as will enable the curious reader to inform himself more fully respecting them。 In some instances I experienced considerable difficulty in identifying the individuals； but I trust that the notices will be found； on the whole； sufficiently correct to answer the object intended。
In justice to the Reverend John Smith； （with whom I am not personally acquainted；） it may be added； that he appears to have performed the task allotted to him； of deciphering the short…hand Diary； with diligence and fidelity； and to have spared neither time nor trouble in the undertaking。
The best account of Mr。 Pepys occurs in the Supplement to Collier's Historical Dictionary； published soon after his death； and written； as I have reason to believe； by his relative Roger Gale。 Some particulars may also be obtained from Knight's Life of Dean Colet； Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary； Cole's MSS。 in the British Museum： the MSS in the Bodleian and Pepysian Libraries； and the Cockerell Papers。
BRAYBROOKE。 Audley End； May 14th； 1825
MEMOIR OF SAMUEL PEPYS
Samuel Pepys； the author of the Diary here presented to the reader was descended from the family of Pepys originally seated at Diss； in Norfolk； and who settled at Cottenham； in Cambridgeshire； early in the sixteenth century。 His father； John Pepys； followed for some time the trade of a tailor； and the reader may hereafter notice the influence which this genealogy seems to have exercised over the style and sentiments of his son's Diary。 The father retired to Brampton； in Huntingdonshire； where he ended his days in 1680。 His wife； Margaret； died in 1666…7； having had a family of six sons and five daughters。 Samuel was born February 23； 1632； most probably in London； but by some it is thought at Brampton； he certainly passed his boyish days in the Metropolis； and was educated regularly at St。 Paul's School； and afterwards at the University of Cambridge； and probably went through his studies with success。 But little is known of him as an undergraduate。 One record； however； remains which proves that in his early life； as in later years； he was a BON VIVANT。 The following appears in the register book of the college respecting his pranks when there：〃October 21； 1653。 Mem。 That Peapys and Hind were solemnly admonished by myself and Mr。 Hill for having been scandalously over…served with drink ye night before。 This was done in the presence of all the fellows then resident； in Mr。 Hill's chamber （Signed） John Wood； Registrar。〃 Early in life； Pepys took one of those decided steps which tend； according to circumstances； to a man's marring or making。 He appears to have married Elizabeth St。 Michel； a beautiful girl of fifteen； when he himself was only about twenty… three。 She was of good family her mother being descended from the Cliffords of Cumberland； and her daughter had only just quitted the convent in which she was educated。 She brought her husband no fortune； but the patronage of Pepys's relation； Sir Edward Montagu； afterwards first Earl of Sandwich； prevented the ill consequences with such a step might naturally have been attended； and young Pepys's aptitude for business soon came to render him useful。 The distresses of the young couple at this period were subjects of pleasant reflexion during their prosperityas recorded in the Diary； 25th February； 1667。
But better times were approaching Mr。 Pepys： he accompanied Sir Edward Montagu upon his Expedition to the Sound； in March； 1658； and upon his return obtained a clerkship in the Exchequer。 Through the interest of the Earl of Sandwich； Mr。 Pepys was nominated Clerk of the Acts： this was the commencement of his connexion with a great national establishment； to which in the sequel his diligence and acuteness were of the highest service。 From his Papers； still extant （says Lord Braybrooke）； we gather that he never lost sight of the public good； that he spared no pains to check the rapacity of contractors； by whom the naval stores were then supplied； that he studied order and economy in the dockyards； advocated the promotion of old…established officers in the Navy； and resisted to the utmost the infamous system of selling places； then most unblushingly practised。 His zeal and industry acquired for him the esteem of the Duke of York； with whom； as Lord High Admiral； he had almost daily intercourse。 At the time of his entering upon this employment； he resided in Seething…lane； Crutched Friars。 He continued in this office till 1673； and during those great events； the Plague； the Fire of London； and the Dutch War； the care of the Navy in a great measure rested upon Pepys alone。 He behaved with calm and deliberate courage and integrity。 Nevertheless； he had the misfortune to experience some part of the calumnies of the time of 〃the Popish Plot。〃 The Earl of Shaftesbury； the foster…father of this most wicked delusion； showed a great desire to implicate Pepys in a charge of Catholicism； and went so far as to spread a report that the Clerk of the Acts had in his house an altar and a crucifix。 The absence not only of evidence； but even of ground of suspicion； did not prevent Pepys being committed to the Tower on the charge of being an aider and abettor of the plot； and he was； for a time； removed from the Navy Board。 He was afterwards allowed； with Sir Anthony Deane； who had been committed with him； to find security in 30；000l。； and upon the withdrawal of the deposition against him； he was discharged。 He was soon； by the special command of Charles II。； replaced in a situation where his skill and experience could not be well dispensed with
