After breakfast I went down to Master Trill’s with Thomas Overing the glazier in order for to give him directions for glazing of Trill’s house. Came home about 12:10… At home all day except as above and going down to Mr Porter’s, to whom I paid in cash 10.14.9½ in part of the bill I received the 29th of November, for which I gave him my note of hand. There now remains due on it £6.
In the evening read to Thomas Davy an appeal to the public in behalf of Admiral Byng wherein he is clearly proved to be no ways guilty of what has been laid to his charge, nay, even so far from it that he behaved like a prudent and courageous commander in the Mediterranean. His bad luck proceeded from an inferior fleet, and one which our treacherous or simple ministers, or the Lords of the Admiralty, or whoever the planners of the voyage were, could never expect to have success, having but few men, not one hospital, nor fire-ship, nor never a tender sent with them. Every time they received a letter from him wherein he mentioned the want of fresh succor, or anything that might inform the public of the faults of the ministry, it never was published in the gazette, [but] only such parts of his letters as might, for want of the whole, make him look odious to the world.
Thomas Davy supped with us and stayed near 3 hours with us. I also read Bally’s poem on the wisdom of the Supreme Being, which I think is a very sublime piece of poetry and almost too much so for my mean capacity. But as I find the author’s views are good, I do, as I am bound in duty, like it very much.