The Diary, 1754–1765
Sam Jenner, coming into my house in the forenoon dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain suet pudding.
Paid. Mr Clymson, a glover at Willingdon, 8/- in full for 6 pairs men’s outseamed and 6 pairs men’s in-seamed tan leather gloves… At home all day and very little to do. A very sharp windy day and a pretty severe frost. In the evening Thomas Davy and myself played a few games of cribbage; I lost 3d.
Sam Jenner went away in the morning. I dined on a piece of beef boiled and a plain suet pudding and potatoes… In the afternoon my brother came over and stayed and drank tea with me. He and Joseph Fuller spent the evening with me. At home all day. A most severe cold day, and really very little to the shop.
Jarvis Bexhill, buying some goods in the shop, dined with me on a bullock’s mint pudding and some potatoes. At home all day. A very cold sharp frosty day. In the evening. Sam Jenner came back and took part of my bed.
In the morning early Sam Jenner set out on a journey. James Bull, buying some goods in the shop, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very little to do. A very cold day.
Sam Jenner, a-sawing wood for me part of the day dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very little to do. Sam Jenner took part of my bed. A very cold sharp and frosty day. In the evening wrote my London letters.
In the morning immediately after he arose, Sam Jenner went away. No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter being at Chailey. In the forenoon my old and I wish I could say worthy acquaintance Mr Tucker of Lewes came to see me and dined with me on a bullock’s mint pudding, part of a bullock’s cheek hashed and some boiled tripe. Myself at church in the afternoon, where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Griffiths, Curate of Ripe, from Ecclesiastes 12:15: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
During churchtime my foolish and drunken visitant went home. I drank tea at Thomas Durrant’s and then we walked up to Joseph Fuller’s, where we spent the evening till about 8:10. Sam Jenner came in the evening and took part of my bed. Last night we had a pretty deal of snow fell, it being shoe-deep in the morning, and a sharp frost.
After breakfast Mr John Robinson, servant to Mr William Margesson, called on me, and I paid him in cash 21.8.0, and by a bill on his master Mr Will Margesson, payable at sight, value £30, which leaves due on my account with Mr Margesson the sum of thirty pounds on my account of goods. I then gave him an order for some goods, and he stayed and dined on some beefsteaks fried and mint pudding. At home all day…
A Very cold day and several very smart showers of snow fell. In the evening it snowed very much. My worthy friend Sam Jenner came in the evening, and the weather being very bad, he took part of my bed. Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening. I lost 2 games, being very incapable to play, having a just heard of a book debt of £40 I am like to lose–and that in a measure through the knavery of the man and my own too great indulgence, showing him more favor than I am now by woeful experience like to find he deserves. But who can tell as the world goes the man that is now honest? For what by our extravagant living and an indolent way of life we are got into, makes custom so prevalent he that rather than retrench our expenses, we too often see people run out of their estates and defraud their creditors.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening very busy a-writing, for during the evening I wrote 8 letters and some of them very long ones…
In the afternoon several smart showers of snow. How pleasant was a winter evening in the lifetime of my dear Peggy! The greatest worldly happiness and pleasure I then knew was the enjoyment of her entertaining and delightful company, as much alone as possible. But now to be alone is to be unhappy, or at best unpleasant…
Rec’d of John Vine Jr by the payment of his son 10/- in full for ½ year’s land tax due St Michael last… Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 bullock’s cheek value 10d. Sam Jenner at work for me the whole day and dined with me on a bullock’s cheek stewed and the broth. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 4.3.0 in full for the same sum he paid Mr Will Post in full on my account yesterday.
At home all day and pretty busy. Sam Jenner took part of my bed. In the evening Robert Hook and I played a few games of cribbage. I won 6d, but in lieu thereof gave him a supper of bullock’s cheek broth. Oh, how unpleasant is my present situation! What’s life without a sincere friend? And when that valuable thing happens in a wife, how great the blessing!
My brother stayed and breakfasted with me and then went home. Sam Jenner at work for me and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork boiled and some Savoy greens. At home all day and very little to do. Sam Jenner took part of my bed.
In the day read part of Nelson’s Law of Manors. A very fine day. My servant very ill. Oh, how different the scene now and in my wife’s life. Then all was calm and serene; now nought but tempest and irregularity.