Author: Thomas Turner

In the morning my brother went to Lewes for me. I paid him for money he paid in Lewes for me as under:

To George Lambert	0.9.0
To 1 bond for Mr Burgess	0.2.7
To 1¼ yd shaloon	0.2.3
To 3 lbs powder	0.4.6
To the turnpike	0.0.2

My brother came back and dined with us on 2 boiled carp, a piece of bacon and French beans. After dinner I went to Lewes to offer Mr Friend my wool…

In the morning my brother went over to Framfield… Just as we had dined, Mr John Collison came in, who dined on the remains of what we left. He and I balanced accounts, but I paid him no money. He stayed and drank tea with us. I lent Master Hook my mare to go to Lewes upon, and he in return brought home my wife… Down at Halland twice…

In the morning my brother went over to Framfield and came back and breakfasted with us. After breakfast my brother and I went over to Mr Peckham’s, where we weighed up his wool; viz., cloth No. 5, 187 fleeces; weight 13 tod 14 lbs, at 21/-, £14.2.2¼, for which I gave him my note of hand. We dined there on a neck of lamb boiled, a piece of pork, a butter pudding cake, white cabbage and carrots, my family at home dining on the sheep’s head and bell bought yesterday.

In the morning my brother came over and went to Lewes for me and brought over my wife’s sister Ann Slater… Down at Halland 4 times. Read. Part of Martin’s Library of Arts and Sciences.

…Down at Halland 5 times today. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of the London Magazine for July.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 2/11½ for 1 shoulder veal, weight 9½ lbs at 3d, and 1 loin of lamb, 2 lbs at 3½d, both which I received today. We dined on the loin of lamb roasted in the oven with a batter pudding under it. In the afternoon my brother went to Lewes, and I paid him, in cash 2/3½ for money he paid there for me; viz.,

To 1 pair stirrup irons	0.1.6
To 6 mustard pot	0.0.7
To turnpike	0.0.2½

Down at Halland today 6 times. This day the Duke of Newcastle came to Halland. In the day read part of the supplement to The Universal Magazine. Mrs Roase sent us by my brother 2 fine plaice.

In the morning my wife, self, nephew Mr and Mrs Beard, Dame Weller and Master Weller and their daughter went down to Halland to see some turtles. We saw 2, one of which weighed 367 lbs. My brother rode over to Framfield in the morning. Myself and Ann Slater at church in the morning, and while we were at church, my brother and mother came to our house, and both of them came to church… My mother and brother dined with us on the best end of a shoulder of veal roasted, the knuckle boiled and a piece of bacon, a currant. rice pudding, 2 plaice fried and carrots, pickles etc.

This being a public day at Halland, I spent about 3 hours there in the afternoon from about 5 to 8 in company with several of our neighbors. There was a great company of people of all denominations from a duke to a beggar. Among the rest of the nobility were his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, the Hon Lord Cholmondely, Lord Gage, the Earl of Ashburnham, Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, Mr Justice Denison and a great number of gentlemen.

My cousin Potter drank tea with my wife, as did my mother. My mother and brother went home about 7:30. I was down at Halland three times today. What a small pleasure it is to be in such a concourse of people, 1 hour spent in solitude being worth more, in my private opinion, than a whole day in such tumult, there being nothing but vanity and tumult in such public assemblies, and their mirth being rather obstreperous, than serious and agreeable! 0, how silly is mankind to delight so much in vanity and transitory joys, which, instead of leaving a lasting joy behind, must only leave a sting to continually gnaw the consciences of us poor deluded mortals.

…Down at Halland once. This day the assizes held at Lewes before the Rt Hon Lord Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, and Mr Justice Denison. 8 prisoners were tried; viz., Thomas Sheather and Robert Rutley for violently assaulting, beating and abusing Robert Dunk and Anthony Goddard on the King’s highway, and taking from them 25 sacks of wheat, value £40; Sheather was acquitted and Rutley found guilty—death; the judge reprieved him before he left the town; Henry Boxall, concerned in a riot–to be transported for 7 years; John Smith, Richard Hopkins and John Hawkins, concerned in riots–acquitted, nobody appearing against them; Jonathan Evans for stealing a bed-tick, bolster etc. was discharged by proclamation; John Ayling, attained at the assizes before, was ordered to be transported for 14years.

At home all day. My brother came over… and mended a frock for me and went home about 6:30. This day I lent my mare to Mr Coates for some of the Duke’s servants to ride to Bishopstone upon. Read part of Martin’s Theological Library of Literary Arts and Sciences. Very busy all day.

…Myself, wife and maid down Halland five times today. At home all day. Read part of The Universal Magazine for July. Posted my day book and wrote out several bills.