Which excerpt from The Diary of Samuel Pepys most clearly indicates that he was a wealthy man?
One excerpt from The Diary of Samuel Pepys that clearly indicates his wealth is found in an entry from January 1, 1663:
"After church my wife and I, by Mr. Rawlinson’s conduct, to the New Exchange, and there she bought things, and I did give her a piece in gold for her New Year’s gift. Here also we did buy a stick of liquorice and handed it to one another without speaking to comfort ourselves against the cold weather."
In this entry, Samuel Pepys mentions his wife buying things at the New Exchange, a popular shopping center for luxury goods in London at the time. Additionally, he casually mentions giving his wife a "piece in gold" as a New Year's gift, implying that he had sufficient wealth to offer extravagant presents. Lastly, his mention of buying a stick of liquorice in passing suggests that he possesses disposable income and can afford indulgences even on a whim.