Author: Thomas Turner

…At home all day, and I think I hardly ever knew so dull a time for trade in my life. Paid Thomas Fuller by William Burrage 3/4 for 6 lbs of candles received by him today.

…In the afternoon I walked up to Mrs Piper’s and measured a piece of land. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr and I walked down to Jones’s, where I spent 6d. We came home about 8:30. Dame Burfield at Laughton drank tea with me.

About noon died a little boy of Mr Porter’s (an infant of about 9 months old) and in the evening died John French (aged 18 years) after an illness of near 6 months.

In the forenoon walked down to Mr French’s, and also in the forenoon my brother came over and we both rode to Lewes. I dined at Mr Madgwick’s on a piece of pork, greens and a plain pudding… In the evening walked down to Mrs Browne’s. Paid Ben Shelley in cash 20.2.6 in full as under:

The 10th instant. To cash paid Mr William Margesson on my account	20.0.0
Paid for carriage etc. for a puppy for Mr Sam Gibbs	0.2.6

My brother came home with me, but did not stay… Oh, melancholy time — trade was never so dull nor money so scarce… [19 words omitted]… But let [??], let me patiently submit to the ways of providence.

Down at Mrs Browne’s twice today. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some French beans. Paid Thomas Fuller by William Burrage 6/8 for 1 dozen of candles received by him today. Dame Cornwell Jr drank tea with me.

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me, and in the evening I wrote my London letters. Oh, how dull my trade, and melancholy my situation.

In the morning one of my servants went to see her friends. Myself only at church in the morning… I dined on a piece of beef boiled and two chickens roasted, carrots and cabbage. In the afternoon myself and servant at church…

Sam Jenner came home with me and drank tea with me, to whom I read part of Young’s Night Thoughts. In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons. Oh, how impossible it is for my pen to describe or even (I think) imagination to paint my unpleasant situation: not a friend with whom I can spend one pleasant hour; my affairs at sixes and sevens; my expenses very high; trade dull; and no prospect of any amendment.

In the morning rode down to John Cayley’s to look upon his hops. In the forenoon rode down to Mr French’s. In the forenoon my brother came over and stayed and dined with me… In the afternoon went down to Mr Porter’s and screwed down their child’s coffin. From thence I went down to Mr French’s and served their son’s funeral. Came back to Mr Porter’s and attended their child to church, and then went and met the other corpse and attended that to church, and came home about 6:45. In the evening wrote my London letters.

In the forenoon walked down to Whyly. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some French beans. In the afternoon posted part of my day book. Very little to do all day.

…In the evening Mr Thornton and I walked over to Chiddingly in order to carry a pair of gloves to Mr Herring on account of Mr Porter. I also walked down to Richard Page’s. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me, and after he was gone I read part of a volume of The Spectator. How melancholy my situation; now the evenings are long, how severely do I know the loss of the most agreeablest and endearing companions.

…In the forenoon Mr Thornton and I walked over to Chiddingly, where I gave Mr Herring a pair of gloves on account of Mr Porter. I dined on a loin of mutton boiled and French beans with a piece of pork. Dame Trill drank tea with me… In the afternoon posted my day book and part of Mrs Browne’s.

Paid John Nutley in cash and goods 5/- for the under, received by him today:

1 bushel flour	0.3.9
½ bushel oats	0.1.0
l pk pollard	0.0.3

In the forenoon walked down to Halland… In the forenoon Joseph Fuller and I walked over to Edward Russell’s to buy his hops, but we did not. Pretty busy all day. In the evening read part of the 3rd volume of The Spectator… Rec’d 21/- of William Wenham in part of poor tax due to Mr Will Piper.