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I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. This day balanced accounts with Mr Thomas Carman… Pretty indifferently busy.

Paid to the postboy for Mr Thomas Freeman 5/3 in full for pattens etc. received from him today. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a bread pudding and French beans. Mrs Browne drank tea with me and brought up her books, part of which I posted… In the evening read part of Russell’s OEconomy of Human Nature. The thoughts of my mind are so full of melancholy apprehension from the dullness of trade in general that I am even alarmed at what may prove the consequence, and the severe loss I sustain in that of an affectionate wife.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a light pudding and French beans… In the evening went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and supped and came home about 10:20.

…In the afternoon a gentleman whose name was Hastings and a humble servant of my servant’s drank tea with me and stayed all night. He brought me a present of some pigeons… At home all day and pretty busy, but mostly set down. I hourly am truly sensible of my loss.

In the morning my friend George Richardson called on me and he, together with Mr Hastings, breakfasted with me and then went away. Myself and one servant at church in the morning, where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Chalice, curate of Ripe (Mr Porter preaching at Ripe) from the 6th verse of the 71st Psalm: “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.”

Sam Jenner dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, six pigeons roasted, a raisin suet pudding, carrots and cabbage. After dinner we walked to Little Horsted Church, where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Philips, curate of Maresfield and Horsted, from Philippians 1:23,24: “For I am in a strait betwixt the two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” The gentleman whom we heard appears to be not more then 20 years of age, though I suppose he is about 26. I think I never heard a finer churchman in my life, he being a good orator, and delivered an extreme good sermon, both for beauty of language and piety of thought.

From Horsted we walked to Framfield where we drank tea with my brother, who brought us going on our road home. I came home about 7:40. In the evening I read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the forenoon my brother came over and gave me in cash £20 for which I gave him in return 1 bill on Mr Will Margesson… My friend George Richardson called on me and dined with me… He stayed with me till about 4 o’clock… In the evening Sam Jenner and myself posted Mrs Browne’s carpenter’s book. At home all day and but very little to do. Rec’d by Richard Page 12 sacks of salt.

…In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me; at home all day and but very little to do. What will become of me? — no trade, and great expenses — Sure my situation is truly deplorable.

…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.