In this excerpt from "The Diary of Samuel Pepys," it appears that he is describing a scene where people are throwing their belongings into the river or loading them onto lighters (cargo barges that lay off or anchor nearby). The use of the word "endeavoring" suggests that people are making a concerted effort to get rid of their goods. This act could be motivated by various reasons, such as moving, cleaning, or discarding unwanted items. However, without further context or information from the diary entry, it is hard to determine the exact circumstances.
