The Diary, 1754–1765
At church in the morning. The text in the 4th chapter of Proverbs, verse 23. The subject: against evil thoughts, how much we ought to strive to eradicate them (when they arise in our mind) by prayer.
After dinner went to Framfield. Received of my mother 2.3.8 for one piece of hair-cloth and 2 lbs hair-thread. Likewise received of her £6, which I am to pay for nails with. Came home in the evening and read part of The Whole Duty of Man.
Rec’d of Mr T. Porter one draft on Pollard, eleven pounds one shilling, for which sum I gave him my note of hand, and likewise received of him one bill on Messrs Childs & Co., £25, twenty pounds of which I gave him and my note of hand for the other five pounds. Drew on Mr Robert Dawson in Carnaby Street to Mr Joseph Jewson for 2.19.10, being the money due to me for the plasterers’ nails used at Laughton Place. Sent Mr John Crouch Porter’s bill on Pollard, 11.1.0. Sent Margesson and Collison Childs & Company’s bill, £25. Ordered them to pay Crowley Esq 15.14.0.
Sent to Hartfield cloth and tub. At home all day, busy. Rec’d of George Cornwell 0.11.7 in full.
Balanced with Mr Thomas Porter as under:
| By bills due to me | 33.2.10½ |
| In cash | 1.17.1½ |
| 35.0.0 |
which sum I received by money paid to Messrs Margesson and Collison by Thomas Wright. At home all day. Nothing more of moment.
Paid for a bullock’s heart 9d. At home all day. In the evening read Thomson’s poems on autumn and winter. Nothing more of moment.
At home all day. Paid Mr Porter 2/- for 2 prs gloves. In the evening went into Master Durrant’s to teach Thomas.
At home all day. In the evening at Master Durrant’s instructing Thomas. Paid small things 6d.
In the morning went to Mr T. Porter’s; paid him five pounds and took up my note of hand dated the 27th January. Paid Braizer 6d for cutting the vine. At home all day. In the evening read the supplement to the 6th volume Universal Magazine.
At church in the morning; the text 9th verse 3rd chapter 1st Epistle St John. Gave 2d to a brief [an authorized charitable appeal] for fier [fire]. In the afternoon at church; sat in Mrs Browne’s seat. The text: 33rd Psalm, 5th verse.
This day John Cayley informed me that my wife and I might sit in Mrs Browne’s seat for 12d per year each. In the evening read part of the New Whole Duty of Man. Nothing more of moment.
At home all day and busy. In the evening gave Francis Smith 4.15.0 to pay Mr Joseph Jewson, which with the draft sent him the 27th January, 2.19.10 on Mr Robert Dawson, makes —, [left blank] which is in full to this day, and to pay Mr Charles Browne 0.1.6 in full, and to pay for 2 gallons gin, the remainder (to wit) — [left blank] to pay Mr Edmund Hammond (see Saturday Feb. 8).
Nothing more of moment. Ordered Margesson and Collison to pay Neal & Co. 6.12.9 in full.
Received of Mr John Vine Sr one hundred faggots 0.9.0 in the place; do. by carriage 0.3.0. At home all day. In the evening at Master Durrant’s.