The Diary, 1754–1765
At home all day…In reading Homer’s Odyssey, I think the character which Menelaus gives Telemachus of Ulysses, when he is speaking of his war-like virtues in the 4th book, is very good.
“Heroes in various climes myself have found…
[4 lines omitted]
Wise to resolve and patient to perform.”
And again Telemachus says in the 395th line:
“’Inclement fate! ‘Telemachus replies,
‘Frail is the boasted attribute of wise.’”
Friday, May 14: At home all day. My brother William came to see us. He dined with us on the remains of Wednesday’s dinner with a few ratios [rasher] of pork. I appointed to go to Uckfield Fair, but my brother’s coming prevented my going. In the afternoon Thomas Cornwell, Thomas Durrant and myself sued my pond in the orchard and caught two small perch only. My brother went away about 10:15. In the afternoon I was sent for over to Mrs Virgoe’s to talk with Mr Thomas Tourle Jr who has a mortgage on Mrs Virgoe’s house of £100 at 3½ percent per annum. There is now about 2½ years’ interest due, and he seems to be very impatient for his interest, so is to have the whole 3 years’ interest paid when it becomes due, or otherwise (he was so kind as to tell Mrs Virgoe) he should enter upon the house.
At home all day. This day I resigned up my school to Francis Elless. We dined on the remains of Wednesday’s dinner. In the afternoon my brother Moses came over and took up a suit of clothes for Peter Adams’s son. In the evening read part of the Freeholder where I find the following quotation from Seneca when he is advising the fair sex to abstain from interfering with politics: “I will discover to you a philter that has neither drug nor simple nor enchantment in it: Love, if you would raise Love.” The motto of the Rt Hon Lord Chancellor Somers: “Useful rather than conspicuous.” The Freeholder gives my lord a most exalted character for virtue, humility and wisdom.
My wife and I neither at church in the morning on account we stayed at home to be bleeded, but we were disappointed, Dr Stone not coming. We dined on a piece of cold bacon and the remains of Wednesday’s dinner with a bread pudding. My wife, self and maid at church in the afternoon… After churchtime my wife and I walked up to Mr Piper’s. We stayed and smoked 2 pipes and drank tea and nothing else.
At home all the morning and busy. Paid Joseph Fuller 15½ d for 1 neck of mutton, 4½ lbs at 3½d. In the afternoon went down in the park to a cricket match; to wit, the Street against the Nursery quarter [now the hamlet of Halland]. I played and we beat them, having 6 wickets to go up the last hand. Came home about 10 o’clock. Spent no more than my shilling for the game. We dined on a piece of cold bacon and a little piece of the scrag end of the neck of mutton boiled. Bishop Stillingfleet’s motto: “Serve God and be Cheerful.”
At home all the morning. We dined on cold bacon and a piece of neck of mutton boiled and green salad. After dinner I rode over to Framfield to borrow 2 cheeses of my mother until Friday; drank tea there. Came home about 6 o’clock. Dame Merricks drank tea with my wife. I paid Dame Trill 6/- in full for keeping Ann Braizer to yesterday. I also gave them 2/6 towards their own maintenance. In the evening read part of the Freeholder.
At home all the morning and busy. We dined on a piece of cold bacon and the remainder of the neck of mutton boiled, with a green salad. After dinner rode over to Framfield to carry over some buttons to my brother Moses. Drank tea there and came home about 6 o’clock. Paid to Joseph Fuller 12d for a bullock’s heart.
At home all day. We dined on the bullock’s heart baked and stuffed, with a pudding under it. Catherine Trill drank tea with us. This day I completed reading the Freeholder, which I think an extreme: good thing… George Richardson called and breakfasted with us. He informed me that war was declared against France on Monday last [the beginning of the Seven Years’ War].
In the morning my sister Sally and Molly Dine came over. Molly Dine altered 2 gowns for my wife and took another home to make. About 12 o’clock Charles Nebuchar came in, who also dined with us, as did my sister and Molly Dine, on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Miss Day and Molly Fuller, with the above that dined with us, drank tea with us. After tea my wife, Miss Day, Mrs Fuller, Molly and Elizabeth Fuller and Frances Cole went for Whitesmith Fair. But as soon as they were gone, I received a letter from my brother Moses to acquaint me that my cousin Charles Hill was at their house and asking that I would come over immediately. I then sent for my wife, who came back directly, they not being got more than ¼ of a mile, and proposed to ride over to Framfield. But I was no sooner astride on my horse than dismounted, he throwing me off in the court, on which I made a resolution never to get on his back again. So my sister and I walked over to Framfield, and Molly Dine walked with us as far as Eason’s Green. Charles Nebuchar set out for Lewes when we did for Framfield.
I got to my mother’s about 7 o’clock where I found Dr Hill. He was to set out tomorrow for Portsmouth in his way directly for Plymouth where he is to go on board of H.M.S. MONARCH, a third-rater, 74 guns, in the capacity of Surgeon’s First Mate. He stayed about 4O minutes after I came in, and my brother and I went to bring him on his way to Little Horsted so far as half across Tealing’s Common. We came back to my mother’s, who lent me her horse to ride home upon, I hurting my hip a little in my fall. Came home about 11 o’clock. This day received of Mrs Akins 1 hind quarter of pork, 17¼ lbs.
In the morning went down to Mr Adams’s with a suit of clothes for his son. A-going along I met with Mr Clinch, to whom I sold my horse for 50/- to be paid on delivery. Came home and sent our maid over to Framfield with my mother’s horse… This day paid Mrs Rebecca Fuller £8 in full for 1 year’s rent due the 5th April. Also paid her £4 for one year’s interest due the same day. William Burrage at work a-gardening for me half the day. My brother drank tea with us. At home all day except as before mentioned…