xiv INTRODUCTION 



ever a thought being bestowed on authorship and ultimate 

 publication. 



With Evelyn's Diary, however, it was different. Although 

 it was not published until 1818, and though it may never 

 have been intended by its writer to have been given to the 

 world in book form, yet it was very clearly intended to be 

 an autobiographical legacy to his family. Hence it is no 

 mere outpouring of the spirit upon pages meant only for the 

 subsequent perusal of him who thus rendered in indelible 

 characters his passing thoughts of the moment. And this 

 being the case, comparison between the two Diaries would be 

 just as unfair as it is unnecessary. The one is the fruit of 

 unrestrained freedom and a mirthful mind, while the other 

 is the product of cultured leisure and a refined literary 

 method. When Evelyn was Commissioner for the mainten- 

 ance of the Dutch prisoners (1664-70) he had frequent 

 communications with Pepys, then of the Navy, and there are 

 special references to him in Evelyn's memoirs. That an 

 intimate friendship existed there is no doubt, and that they 

 each held the other in great respect as a man of intellect, as 

 well as of good business capacity, is equally clear. Thus, in 

 June, 1669, he encouraged Pepys to be operated on c when 

 exceedingly afflicted with the stone;' and on 19 February, 

 1671,' This day din'd with me Mr. Surveyor, Dr. Christopher 

 Wren, and Mr. Pepys, Cleark of the Acts, two extraordinary 

 ingenious and knowing persons, and other friends. I carried 

 them to see the piece of carving which I had recommended 

 to the King. ' This was a masterpiece of Grinling Gibbon's 

 work, which Charles admired but did not purchase; so Gibbon 

 not long after sold it for 80, though * well worth ^100, 

 without the frame, to Sir George Viner. ' Evelyn at this 

 time got Wren, however, to promise faithfully to employ 

 Gibbon to do the choir carving in the new St. Paul's 

 Cathedral. 



Each of their Diaries teems with reference to the other. 

 Pepys asked Evelyn to sit to Kneller for his portrait which 

 he desired for * reasons I had (founded upon gratitude, 

 affection, and esteeme) to covet that in effigie which I most 

 truly value in the original. ' This refers to the well-known 

 portrait, now at Wotton, that has been copied and engraved. 



