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At home all day… Dame Gower of Laughton and her daughter drank tea with us… Sent Francis Smith by Thomas Hemsley in cash 11.1.0, which he in to pay in London for me.

At home all day and busy. Dame Martin and her daughter Ann dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. They stayed and drank tea with us. In the afternoon posted some London accounts, and in the evening read some old magazines wherein I find the charges of a brief in the year 1740 was 513.6.4; to wit,

Lord Chancellor’s fiat and signing	38.10.0
The patent	25.18.2
The printing	20.5.0
The stamping 9871 copies	13.10.0
The laying and collecting these at 10d each, within the bills mortality at 10d each	415.3.2

But now the charges of the fiat, patent, printer and register for stamping amounts only to 1½d per parish, and the undertaker has only 6d per parish for laying and collecting; then the charge will be 298.3.8¾

To 9871 copies at 1¼d each	51.8.2¾
To laying and collecting these at 6d Each	246.15.6

At home all day. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry. Spent 2/6 on the parish account, but did not pay for it. There were only Mr French, Joseph Fuller, Peter Adams, Mr Joseph Burgess, Edmund Elphick and myself. We agreed to take an account of Thomas Tester’s goods very soon. We also put out Lucy Braizer to Edmund Elphick at 18d per week so long as the parish shall think proper. Also put Ann Braizer out to Dame Trill to keep at 18d per week, to take either of them away at any time whensoever the parish shall think proper. Came home about 9:30. Found Master Hook and Thomas Davy at our house. I sold them the remains of Mr T. Thompsett’s library for 12/-, which they carried away with them. [They] paid me the 12/-; they stayed till near 12 o’clock. I paid Thomas Davy 20d for the bottle of French brandy borrowed of him the 12th of April. I shall get all the books I saved for myself, together with Tillotson’s works, out of the books bought of the heirs of the late Mr T. Thompsett. I posted some London accounts.

At home all day. We dined on a piece of boiled beef, pork, batter pudding and greens. Mrs Vine Sr, Ann, Bab and Chris Vine drank tea with us. Posted some London accounts in the afternoon. Rec’d a letter from Mr Stephen Fletcher to acquaint me that he shall be at Lewes with Mr Ridings’ horses on Monday the 10th instant and open the 11th, morning. In the evening read part of the 6th volume of the Universal Magazine.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork, batter pudding and greens. After dinner we sent our maid to Uckfield with a letter to acquaint my father Slater of Mr Fletcher’s coming to Lewes, and also with one for my mother to be left as she went along. This day I posted Mr John Crouch’s account wherein I find a mistake made by him of 1.18.1 in his favor. Accordingly wrote to him about it to send by the post tomorrow. My wife read to me in the evening 4 numbers of the Freeholder.

At home all day. Paid Thomas Fuller 3/1½ for 1 shoulder of veal, 12½ lbs at 3d. We dined on the remains of Friday’s and yesterday’s dinners. I this day began to read part of Tillotson’s sermons.

My wife, self and maid at church in the morning… We dined on the remains of Thursday’s and Friday’s dinners. After dinner Thomas Fuller and I walked over to Framfield; he went to church, but I did not. We found there my brothers Richard and William. I received of my mother 7.10.2 for goods I bought of Mr Ridings for her. I came home by Master Elphick’s to look on his wheat. We got home about 7 o’clock. I gave Master Darby’s man 12d for catching up my little horse. Gave 2d to a church brief. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. I read to him the 1st of Tillotson’s sermons.

I was sent for down to Mr Porter’s in the morning to inform Francis Elless, the person who is intended to take the school, when I choose to resign it, and I agreed to the 17th instant. We dined on a knuckle of the shoulder of veal bought on Saturday, a piece of pork and greens. Sent Francis Smith by his man T. Hemsley in cash £18, which he is to pay in London for me. I also sent him in bad half-pence 6d. Borrowed of John Watford hay for 1 horse tonight. My brother came over about 7 o’clock in order to go to Lewes with me tomorrow to meet Mr Fletcher, Mr Samuel Ridings’ rider; my brother stayed all night.

In the morning I got up and went to Lewes. My brother, having lately strained his ankle, is become worse with stirring upon it a little yesterday; so he could not go with me. I got to Lewes about 8:30. I breakfasted at the white Horse in company with Mr Fletcher, Mr George Beard and Mr Relfe of Ripe. After breakfast I gave Mr Fletcher 1 bill… which I drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison, value 14.19.0 in full on account of Mr Samuel Ridings. I bought a parcel of goods of him, which I left at the White Horse. Paid Mr John Madgwick 5/1½ for goods bought today as under:

5/8 yd cloth	0.4.4½
½ yd green napped	0.0.9

I dined at Mr Isaac Hook’s on a leg of mutton and caper sauce (my family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). After dinner I went to the White Horse where I smoked one pipe with Mr Fletcher and drank part of one pint of wine, which was all I drank the whole day. I looked out some earthenware at Mr William Roase’s. Spent 7d. Got home about 4:30. After I came home, I agreed with Robert Hook to take all his brother Jenner’s butter which he makes this year at 6d per pound, delivered here or at Lewes. I am to find crocks.

We dined on the shoulder of veal bought on Saturday last, stuffed and baked in the oven with a flour pudding under it. James Rabson, Martin and Gower of Laughton drank tea with us, they buying a great many things. About 6 o’clock Joseph Fuller and I went and took an account of Thomas Tester’s goods, which we valued at about 6.13.0, though I believe it is justly worth £8, and then not over-valued. We called at Master Piper’s and smoked 2 pipes and drank part of 2 bottles of beer. I also called in at Joseph Fuller’s, but did not stop. Came [–] about 9:30. I this day lent Joseph Durrant my horse to go to Berwick upon….