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In the forenoon accompanied Mr French and Mr Porter to Hailsham, this being the day appointed for Mr Fage and Mr Porter to settle the affair between Mr Beckett and Mr French relating to Mr Beckett’s post chariot killing Mr French’s horse the 29th June last, of which accident I was a spectator and therefore went as a witness, but however our journey was to no purpose, for the affair could not be settled, both parties being rather obstinate, and I am afraid Master Beckett’s clan are hardly good principled and honest.

We dined at the George in Hailsham on a forequarter of lamb roasted, a piece of beef roasted, a giblet and pigeon pasty, boiled and roasted chicken, ham, plum pudding, carrots, cabbage, French beans etc., in company with a great many people, there being a sitting of the justices for granting beer licenses, as also a meeting of the commissioners of the land tax for hearing and determining all appeals to the land and window tax. (My servant at home dined the remains of yesterday’s dinner). We came home very safe, and thank God very sober, about 7:30. Spent nothing today, Mr John French paying all expenses. A very pleasant fine day.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. This day came to Jones’s a man with a cartload of millinery, mercery, linen drapery, silver etc. to keep a sale for two days. This must undoubtedly be some hurt to trade, for the novelty of the thing (and novelty is surely the predominant passion of the English nation, and of Sussex in particular) will catch the ignorant multitude, and perhaps not them only, but people of sense who are not judges of goods and trade, as indeed very few are, but however as it is it must pass.

In the evening Mr Clapinson and myself played I dare say upwards of 40 games of [cribbage] for 1d each, but neither of us won, we leaving off play even. Very busy in the afternoon a-marking up a parcel of linen goods. Ann and Sal Prall, buying some things in the shop, both drank tea with me.

I dined on some cider toast, apple pie and bread and cheese… Paid Benjamin Shelley 2½d for 2 lemons bought in London for me. In the evening my old acquaintance Mr Long (who is at present out of business) came to my house and stayed all night, and took part of my bed. James Marchant’s wife assisting my servant iron a few hours in the afternoon, she, her husband and Mr Long drank tea with me.
 

In the morning Mr Long went to Uckfield. I dined on some boiled tripe. At home all day and very busy. In the evening Mr Long cane back from Uckfield and stayed at my house all night. A very fine pleasant day.

Myself and Mr Long at church in the morning …Mr Long dined with me on some boiled tripe, a piece of pork, a plain suet pudding and carrots. In the afternoon myself, Mr Long and my servant at church, the text in John 13:17: “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them,” from which text we had the same sermon this day month in the afternoon.

After churchtime Molly and Bett Carman drank tea with me, and in the evening Mr Long and myself took a walk. Meeting with Joseph Fuller, we went into Mr Burgess’s, where we stayed and smoked a pipe, and had one mug of brandy and water, for which we paid our 4d apiece, and came home about 8:50 very sober. Mr Long took part of my bed.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of part of a neck of lamb boiled (Mr Long dining at Master Hook’s). In the afternoon the infant daughter of Mr Bannister was baptized by the name of Ann, and in the evening Mr Long and myself, upon Mr Bannister’s invitation, spent the evening there in company with Mrs Burgess, Mr James Fuller and his wife, Joseph Durrant and his wife, Thomas Durrant, John Piper and Robert Hook. We stayed till 12:30 and came home sober. Gave the nurse 12d and maid 6d. Mr Long took part of my bed. At home all day and very busy. In the afternoon wrote my London letters.

Mr Long stayed and breakfasted with me, and then went away. I dined on part of a neck of lamb roasted, and some carrots. At home all day and very busy. In the evening paid. Joseph Fuller Jr in cash £20 in full for the same sum borrowed of him the 20^th day July, and took up my note of hand which I then gave him. Also paid him in cash 20/- in full for 2 years’ interest due on a note of hand for ten pounds due the 11th day of March last, which note of hand I took up and gave him another for ten pounds payable to himself or order on demand, with interest for the same after the rate of five pounds percent per annum, to commence from the 11th of March last, and dated this day.

James Emery at work for me all day and dined with me. My servant sat up with the wife of John Streeter, who is dangerously ill. Thomas Durrant took part of my bed. At home all day and thank God very busy.

This morning about 5:10 died Constant, the wife of John Streeter, aged 70 years.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Posted part of my day book. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the afternoon we had a pretty smart tempest of thunder, lightning and rain.

I dined on a plain suet pudding boiled and some cabbage. Rec’d of Mr Sam Stace in cash £5 in full for grass now growing on lands late in the occupancy of John Vine, which I received for the use of myself and the other assigns of Mr Vine.

Spent at Mr Burgess’s, at the taking the money, 12d out of it. This day myself as churchwarden and Mr Thomas Carman as overseer granted a certificate to the parish of Maresfield for Richard Braizer and Catherine his daughter, and also John his son and Judith his wife and Sarah and Susan their children. The certificate was attested by Robert Hook and Edward Foord.

In the evening balanced accounts with Joseph Fuller Jr on account with his father, and paid him 0.5.6½ in full on account of his father… Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening. At home all day; posted part of my day book; and thank God very busy.

Oh, how unpleasant is the present situation & my affairs, for what it was in my dear Peggy’s lifetime; I have now not one friend in the world to whom I can trust the management of my affairs to, even my servant which bears the character of an excellent one is defective in a proper care, and what is beyond all that, seriousness of temper and pious behavior is not so easy attainable as then.

Paid John Tamkin for work done on Mr Vine’s farm. Paid John Thomson…for work dons on Mr Vine’s farm for his assigns. I dined on a piece of pork boiled, a light pudding and cabbage. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 6.4.9 in full for the same sum he paid this week in London for me. At home all day and finished posting my day book and thank God very busy.