In the morning I arose and went up to Thomas Fuller’s in order to borrow a horse to go to Heathfield Fair upon. But not finding any of them, I came back and did not go. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the evening I walked down in the park to see Mr Elless and Thomas Durrant run, which they did, and Mr Francis Elless was beat.
This day I subjected my good nature or ignorance to be imposed on by policy of villainy; viz., some time since I looked upon a horse of Mr Vine’s of Heathfield with an intent to purchase him; the price he had some time ago been offered at was 9.9.0. Now I, knowing nothing of a horse myself, entreated the favor of Joseph Fuller as a friend to give me his opinion, which he did–that he did not know but the horse might suit me, but he thought it too much money, being more, he said, than he should choose to give. But, however, he having business near the house today, he promised me to call and treat with Mr Vine for me about the horse. Now what we agreed on this morning before he went out was that if the horse appeared to him as if he would do, he was to buy him for me at the lowest he could, and for so doing I was to give him a treat.
Now! my worthy friend accordingly went, and instead of buying the horse for me, rap’d [?] with Mr Vine in some manner and got the horse for himself and when he came home sent for me down and offered me the horse at £11 and no otherwise. And by reason I seemed to think it ill usage to have the horse bought out of my hands in that manner when I had entrusted him to buy him for me as a friend, he only laughed at me and counted it as a piece of wit and a sharp look-out for a man to serve himself when he can and his neighbor next. But if this usage is consistent to honesty, religion or anything else that should be acted by Christians, I am utterly at a loss to know that is right and wrong. But this I think of it: that if Joseph Fuller could with as much impunity, defraud a man in any way whatsoever, I shall make it my opinion he would do it. For I think robbing a man on the highway is not a baser action in proportion to the consideration than this. But still I do not envy him his talent of having wit and a sharp lookout without honesty. Today Dame Cornwell made us a present of some eels.