Author: Thomas Turner

…We dined on a piece of beef stewed, a light pudding and greens. In the afternoon our servant went, over to Framfield, by whom I sent home Philip to my mother again. At home all day. Very uneasy for yesterday morning’s frolic, though I am still of the same mind that it was contrary to my mind and that it was quite by force.

In the morning I walked over to Framfield and breakfasted at my mother’s. I stayed and cut out for her 9 round frocks and dined there on some salt fish, apple pudding, cold beef etc… My wife paid 4d for 2 lbs tripe in my absence. I received of my mother 5/6 in full for Philip’s board, due yesterday. I came home about 1:50.

About 3:50 my wife went down to Mr Porter’s [according to a previous] invitation given us yesterday by Mr Porter; about 7:20 I went down. We played at brag the 1st part of the evening; my wife and self won 4/4½. We stayed and supped at Mr Porter’s on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a cold veal pasty, some fried veal, a cold ham, tarts etc. in company with Mr Gibbs and his wife, Mr Piper and his wife, Thomas Fuller and his wife and Mrs Virgoe.

After supper the old sport went on, such as: dancing, pulling off of hats, wigs, caps, shoes etc., with a variety of such-like frantic tricks, but no swearing or ill words, by which reason Mr Porter calls it innocent mirth. I in opinion differ therefrom, for I think it abounds too much with libertinism to be called innocent. Poor Mr Piper had a very great fall, but received little hurt. We stayed and breakfasted at Mr Porter’s and came home about 8:30, and I think not sober. My wife and I gave their servants 2/6.

Paid Joseph Fuller 3/7½ in full for 1 leg of veal, 12½ lbs received today. Paid Ben Shelley 2/- in full for 1 salt fish he bought in London for me. At home all day, very piteous… Read part of the London Magazine for February. Merry nights produce heavy days. Oh, what is more sharp than the bitter and tormenting stings of a conscience which is conscious to itself having acted wrong, not only against the rules of decorum (which getting drunk certainly is), but also against the most holy laws of God. Oh! how little do we, and especially myself, deserve the name of Christians! For it is too too plain, if I judge it right, that it must consist in nought but the name when our actions differ so far from it. Oh, the very thought of it is intolerable–to think that through fear of anger and being stigmatized with the name of being singular and a poor conceited particular wretch, one must be guilty of enough to forever plunge ourselves into that lake which ever burneth, and into that fire which shall never be quenched. For without holiness no men shall see the Lord.

In the morning my brother Will came to see me. My servant and nephew only at church in the morning. Just before dinner Mr Thomas Scrase of Lewes came and who also stayed and dined with us on a knuckle of veal and bacon, a beef pudding and a hard pudding and turnips. My wife, maid and nephew at church in the afternoon. Mr Scrase cut off my brother’s hair. They both stayed and drank tea and then both went away. A day quite misspent and lost, though I believe worse employed than in doing nothing by reason I was not at church.

At home all day. My brother came over in the forenoon, but did not stay. In the morning my wife went down to Halland. This is the first time she has walked so far since August last. In the evening wrote my London letters. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Rec’d of John Watford the note of hand which Mr Burgess and I gave him the 12th November last for £20 on the parish account. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. John Burgess of Hartfield called on us, but did not stay.

At home all day. Paid Mr Thomas Carman in cash and goods 1.4.0 in full for 27 bushels sea coal. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. Mr John Burgess of Hartfield called on us again, but did not stay. Mrs French, Mrs Coates, Mr and Mrs Porter, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Mr Piper and his wife and Mr Calverley drank tea with us. They together with Mr Coates, Mr French and Joseph Fuller stayed and spent the evening with us and played at brag. My wife and I lost 3/6. They all stayed and supped with us on some salt fish, a dish of Scotch collops with force meat balls, a piece of cold roast beef, some potted beef, a cold baked rice pudding, bouillis, and gooseberry tarts, celery, watercresses, egg sauce, cold ham and parsnips. They all stayed, except Mrs Coates, until near 6 o’clock, and many of them not sober.

The old frantic sports went on as usual. But now I hope all revelling for this season is over, and may I never more be discomposed with too much drink or the noise of an obstreperous multitude, but may I once more calm my troubled mind and soothe my disturbed conscience with future goodness. Oh, may all the transitory fleeting foolish pleasures of this life be no more in my thoughts, but let me lay hold on that durable and permanent happiness that fadeth not away, but remaineth eternal in the heavens. Oh, may I have the unspeakable pleasure to hear that comfortable sentence pronounced of: “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation…”

At home all day and better than I have once been after such a revel. We dined on the remains of last night’s supper. In the evening paid Joseph Fuller Jr in cash 51.14.0 and gave him my note of a hand for £2, payable to him or bearer on demand, which together makes the sum of 53.14.0 and is in full for the, same sum paid by Mr Ready (by order of Mr Joseph Fuller) to Messrs Margesson and Collison on my account the 13th instant. Joseph Fuller stayed and smoked a pipe with me. In the day read part of The Universal Magazine for February.

At home all day. Mary Heath a-washing for us half the day. She dined with us on the remains of Tuesday’s supper with the addition of a fillet of veal, roasted. In the morning read part of The Universal Magazine for February. In the afternoon and evening posted part of the parish accounts. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. A very remarkable fine mild day, but about 10:10 in the evening we had several very long and loud claps of thunder and several flashes of lightning, and also some showers of rain.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr the £2 for the note of hand I gave him the 15th instant, but he not having the note of hand with him, I did not take it up. Mary Heath a-washing for us all day. She dined with us on the remains of Tuesday’s supper and yesterday’s dinner. This day made up the parish accounts. Paid Mary Heath 13½d for washing. In the evening I went down to Jones’s, where we had a public vestry (notice thereof being previously given on Sunday last) in order to make a poor rate, which we accordingly did at the rate of 2/8 to the pound. The same was agreed to and attested by myself, Mr Joseph Burgess, Mr Thomas Carman, Mr William Piper, Mr Jeremiah French and Mr Joseph Fuller. We all broke up about 9:40, and all very sober. In my absence my wife received of Joseph Fuller the note of hand I gave him the 15th instant and for which I paid him the money today.

In the morning Messrs Heywood and Blake’s rider called on me, to whom I gave a bill… I also gave him an order… At home all day. We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s supper with the addition of some turnips and potatoes. A continual rainy day after 10 o’clock. In the evening Master Bull sat with us a while on account of the rain. In the evening also read part of the New Whole Duty of Man.