After breakfast I rode with Thornton to the Black Boy where Joseph Gibbs and his wife signed a certificate, or at least a paper, whereby they yielded their consent for him to marry Mary their daughter, a spinster under age. From thence we went to Lewes where he took out a license to marry the young girl, myself being his bondsmen. We dined at the White Hart on part of a shoulder of mutton (my servants at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). We came home about 5:50. Spent nothing today, Mr Thornton paying my expenses.
In the evening walked down to Halland where I received of Mr Coates 26/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last… A very dull time for trade, but what is that when compared to the melancholy gloom that is in my mind in my calm and tranquil hours. There, there is a scene which would, I believe, move a heart if it was hard as the nether millstone.