Author: Louse Falcini

[The following passage, from the lost volume “3B”, is taken from Sussex Archaeological Collections…, Vol. XI, p. 185:]

This day made an end of instructing Miss Day. Read part of The Spectator; prodigiously admire the beauties pointed out in the eighth book of Milton’s Paradise Lost by The Spectator’s criticism, wherein is beautifully expressed Adam’s conference with the Almighty, and likewise his distress on losing sight of the phantom in his dreams, and his joy in finding it a real creature when awake.
 

[No entry. Vol. “C” ends. No further entry until Vol. 1 begins:]

…Posted some of the parish accounts.

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Homer’s Odyssey and in the evening 5 of Tillotson’s sermons. I can with truth say I have not been one pole from my house today. Oh, nothing to do, the thought of which almost drives me to despair.

At home all day. Gave Dame Burrage 12d on the parish account… Dame Braizer and her daughter drank tea with us. In the evening read part of Homer’s Odyssey. Oh! a terrible time took but £5 this week. Dame Durrant’s maid lodged at our house tonight. Thomas Davy sat about an hour with us in the evening.

…Prodigious uneasy to think my wife did not come home according to her appointment, which was last night, neither for my brother to come over as he promised. It quite astonishes me to see how I am as it were deserted by all my friends, though it is no other than what I have seen approaching those 5 years past (and better). But, however, what to attribute the coldness and indifference with which I am treated by my friends and relations I am at a loss to guess. Sometimes I think I must be a prodigy that all my relations in general seem to be so indifferent to me, but when I come to take a more nearer view, I can find among the greatest part of their behavior something of self-interest intermixed with it, to which if we add that easy temper of mine; that is, easy to be imposed upon, I believe it will easily solve the appearing oddity; so that I shall find I have nought to trust to except the divine Providence and my own industry…

About 1:20 my brother Sam Slater brought home my wife and dined with us on some veal and bacon fried… At home all day. John Hesman supped with us.

[The following excerpts from vol. 40 of the diary are taken from the Sussex Archaeological Collections, XI, 199-200.]

Pretty bad all day, with the stings of a guilty and tormenting conscience.

[The following excerpts from vol. 40 of the diary are taken from the Sussex Archaeological Collections, XI, 199-200.]

At home all day and thank GOD extremely busy. Was every day to be productive of as much business as today, I should in no wise envy the rich and great their continual rounds of ease and pleasure. No, it would add fresh vigor to my drooping spirits and give an agreeable elasticity to my ardent desire of carrying on my trade with vigor; then would I exert my utmost power in buying in my goods, that I might run them out with a quick return.

Balanced accounts with Mr Will Piper and paid him in cash 15/3½ and by a book debt 6/8½, which together makes the sum of 1.2.0, and is in full for 2 sacks of oats… In the forenoon my brother came over and borrowed my horse. He came back and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

In the evening I went into Joseph Durrant’s to smoke a pipe with Mr Thornton, where were Joseph Fuller Jr and Mr Elless. We stayed until near 3:20 when I came home sober. Mr Elless came and lodged at our house. I think I never spent an evening with less pleasure in my life, most of the company being in liquor, and very indifferent company, some before they were in liquor and some afterward, though if I speak truly I think universal good nature did not abound.

Gave the following boys as under for box money:

Stephen Starnes	0.0.6
Richard Fuller	0.0.6
Robert Hook	0.0.3
Henry Vine	0.0.6
Isaac Turner	0.0.6
	0.2.3

Paid Joseph Fuller 4/- for highway tax.