Samuel Pepys [ Art and Literature / Politics ]
… at the Royal Exchange in Cheapside and in the surrounding coffeehouses , he was also busy making himself known among the merchants who supplied the navy. This was often a rather tricky negotiation: as a navy novice, Pepys wanted to master the details of trade and to make alliances with powerful merchants, such as William W arren – these alliances came with the benefit of substantial kickbacks. Yet he was wary of being misled and exploited by the se men . Picking his own allies among the merchants also meant facing-off against colleagues on the Navy Board, who had their own favourite merchants when it came …
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