After breakfast I intending to come away, I gave Mr Hill’s servant 12d, the man who cleaned my boots 6d, and to my very great surprise, Mr Hill permitted, nay almost forced me to pay the expense of my horse at Yalden, which was 5/-. Now this is what I could not have once thought would be so. I always gave Mr Hill, when at Hoathly, entertainment both for himself and horse, though I might use the same excuse Mr Hill did, of not having a stable of my own. And then I went entirely about Mr Hill’s business to Yalden, which was to talk to him about the money he owed me. Because had I written about it, Mrs Hill would in all likelihood have discovered it, and as it was unknown to her, so he desired it might remain a secret. Oh, ingratitude, ingratitude! thou common but hateful vice, a vice which in my opinion clouds all our other virtues, and I think no man guilty of it in a higher degree than Mr Hill. Mr Hill accompanied me on my road as far as Tunbridge where we dined on a calf’s head boiled, a piece of bacon and greens, and then we parted, he for Yalden and I for home.
I just called at my brother’s in Tunbridge Wells, but did not stop, as I also did at my Aunt Ovendean’s at Boarshead, but did not stay. Came home thank God very safe and sober about 7:20. Spent today on myself, horse and ostler 2/2.