In the morning about 5 o’clock my brother and I set out on our intended journey. We arrived at Seaford about 8:20 where, after viewing the goods (which consisted of about 26 quarters of peas, 18 quarters grots, 5230 lbs of Smyrna raisins, and 20 bags of hops–all very much damaged with sea-water) in company with Mr George Beard, we then walked down to the sea-side. The sale began about 11:20 when the peas were sold from 15 to 22/- per quarter, and the grots nearly the same, the raisins from about 14 to 18/- per cwt. But they having lost much of their goodness, neither Mr Beard or myself bought any. The sale ended about 1 o’clock.
My brother and I dined at Mr Beard’s mother’s on a leg of mutton boiled, turnips and a plain pudding (my family at home dining on a calf’s heart pudding). We came home about 5:10. My brother went away immediately. My wife in my absence paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 1.18.0, being the same sum which he paid to Mr William Ashmore in full on my account to the 1st instant. Spent today… 0.1.9½.
After I came home, my wife and I went down to Joseph Fuller’s, where we drank tea. We stayed and played at brag with the company hereafter mentioned. My wife and I won 18d. We stayed and supped there on two boiled chickens, a roasted shoulder of mutton, part of a cold ham, cold tongue, a cold veal pasty, tarts etc. in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Mr Coates, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Dame Durrant, Master Fuller’s family and Mrs Atkins. After supper my wife being very ill, she went home, as would I very gladly, making several vigorous attempts, but was still opposed by Mr Porter; so at last I was obliged to sit myself down contentedly and make myself a beast for fashion’s sake, or else be stigmatized with the name of bad company.
There we continued drinking like horses (as the vulgar phrase is) and singing till many of us were very drunk, and then we went to dancing and pulling off wigs, caps and hats. There we continued in this frantic manner (behaving more like mad people than they that profess the name of Christians) till 9 o’clock when I deserted them and was twice pursued, but at last got clear off with first being well-rolled in the dirt. I came home far from being sober, though I must charge all this upon our reverend clergyman, whose behaviour I am sorry to see. I shall always think it is contrary as well to the Christian religion as my own conscience. They then continued their perambulation from house till 12 o’clock when they got home and with imprudence and impudence declared themselves neither sick nor sorry. Now whether this is consistent to the wise saying of Solomon, let anyone judge: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Gave Molly Fuller 12d.