My brother Will called on me in the forenoon in his way to Herstmonceux, but did not stay. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. I rec’d of Thomas Cornwell the bills I delivered to him yesterday, he not finding my brother Richard at home.
In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry to choose surveyors for the ensuing year and also to pass and balance the accounts of the last surveyors. Upon balancing the same there was due to the parish the sum of 0.11.7½. We then we chose the two old surveyors and the two electioners; viz., Thomas Carman and James Fuller surveyors and John Vine and Edward Hope electioners. And I think had we tried all Sussex, or even England, for to have found two such, we could not have done it. These people are very improper to serve the office of surveyors, being litigious to the extremest degree and withal very ill-natured, executing law to the utmost. But in the midst of law they quite forget justice, equity or charity, and in permitting those two to continue their office I think the parish has and will sustain a very great injury, as well to the parish in general as also to every individual thereof.
Gave the following boys as under for box money:
| John Gasson | 0.0.6 |
| Will Burrage | 0.0.6 |
| Thomas Fuller | 0.0.6 |
| Isaac Turner | 0.0.3 |
| Robert Hook | 0.0.3 |
| T. Vine | 0.0.3 |
| The Post Boy | 0.0.6 |
| 0.2.9 |
We stayed at the vestry and spent 6d each and came home about 3:20, not very sober. Oh! liquor, what extravagances does it make us commit! Sure man is stupid that transgresses the rule of moderation.
My friend Sam Jenner went away as soon as he had breakfasted. I received of him £5 which I lent him the 30th October and accordingly gave him his note of hand.