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In the morning about 8 o’clock I was sent for down to Mr Porter’s to be a witness to something, but what I do not know. (I conjecture it to be articles of agreement between Mr Porter and some other for the sale of a farm of Mr Porter’s lying in Essex, and now in the occupation of Thomas Wright). Mr Porter signed one paper, and the gentleman’s name that signed the other was, I think, John Benison. He was dressed in a band and had a gown or cassock on and seemed as if he belonged to some college or hospital. Miss Dinah Benge and myself witnessed both the papers. Paid

Thomas Fuller, butcher, 18½d for 1 leg of lamb weighing 6¼ lbs… I extracted the following list of our navy out of Martin’s Magazine, No. 20: A list of the royal navy in commission June 1, 1756… [List omitted]… As my brother went to the races, he stayed and dined with us. At home all day. Read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio wherein I find he mentions Bishop Beveridge, Bishop Hopkins, Bishop Reynolds and Bishop Davenant as men distinguished for piety and religion… This day thank God I had a pretty deal of business.

In the evening our maid went to sit up with Elizabeth Hutson. In the evening read the 41st.of Tillotson’s sermons. It was a thanksgiving sermon; the text, 23rd and 24th verses, 9th chapter of Jeremiah: “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord to which exercise loving-kindness, judgement and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” This day the subscription purse of £50 was run for on Lewes Downs when there were only 2 started for the same; viz., Lord Craven’s bay mare Princess Mary, and Mr Howe’s chestnut horse. It was won by the mare with ease, there being only two heats, though the odds at starting were 12 to 10 on the horse.

My wife, maid, nephew and self at church in the morning… We dined on a piece of pork, apple pudding and carrots. All at church in the afternoon; the text in Matthew 26:24: “It had been good for that man if he had not been born.” From which words we had an excellent sermon. After churchtime went down to Mr Samuel Gibbs’s (I being sent for), they having this day lost their youngest child. They wanted to know if I had any shrouds small enough. I drank tea there in company with Mrs Fuller, Mrs Gibbs and Mrs Thunder. In the day read the 42nd, 43rd and 44th of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning, marked up Messrs Margesson and Collison’s parcel… My brother came over in the forenoon and stayed and dined with us on a leg of mutton roasted (in Marchant’s oven), a plum batter pudding and carrots. My brother also stayed and drank tea with us. Mr Holroide, Mr Leander Cox’s partner, called to see my wool, but I not having it all in, he could not see it.

In the afternoon very bad with the tooth-ache. Read the newspaper wherein I find the nation is all in a ferment upon the account of losing dear Minorca. A remarkably wet day. In the evening put up about 60 papers of tobacco.

This day sent Francis Smith by his servant Joseph Page in cash 12.5.0…which he is to pay in London for me. I also sent Messrs Margesson and Collison the bill on Weeks which I received of John Cayley the 20th instant, value: 6.4.0… Samuel and Charles Diggens dined with us… they both went away about 2:10. My brother came over about the same time, but did not stop. Dame Trill drank tea with us… This day drew out a barrel of beer. At home all day and busy. Paid Dame Trill 3/- in full for keeping of Ann Braizer, due yesterday.

Paid Thomas Fuller, butcher, 6d for a lamb’s bell. We dined on some lamb’s liver and pork fried and cucumbers. At home all day and made two wool cloths. Paid Halland gardener 12d in full for cucumbers I have sold for him, and also 3d for 12 he brought me tonight for my own use. He also made me a present of a fine melon. In reading Martin’s Magazine I find

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on a shoulder of lamb roasted and French beans (my family at home dining on a heart pudding with the lamb’s head bought yesterday and the lights etc. minced). After dinner my brother and I went up to Master Diggens’s to take leave of Samuel, who was tomorrow to set out again for his residence at Newport Pagnell in Bucks. Mr Diggens bought this day of Mr William Stone the house where Edward Wood now lives and was accordingly admitted to it by a private court held at their house this day. There was Mr Stone (alias ”romancing Stone”), Mr Peckham, Mr Durrant, Mr Rowles, the steward and beadle of the court. We came back to my mother’s about 7 o’clock, and my brother and I came riding home about 9 o’clock. My brother stayed all night. My mother made me a present of a fine parcel of French beans, which my brother and I brought home with us.

In the morning Mr French brought in his wool, 108 fleeces weighing 7 tod 2 lbs at 7d per 1b, which amounts to 6.11.10. After breakfast my brother and I packed my wool; viz., 1 cloth marked “A” containing 127 fleeces, weighing 8 tod 18 lbs…

This day received the books I bought of Mr Baker the 16th instant. After dinner I went up to Mr Burgess’s to know if Thomas Tester had left any money in his hands to go towards paying Savage, who this day called on me and insisted either on our paying the money or that they would stop no longer without arresting him. In the evening Mr French, Joseph Fuller and myself went up again to consult with Mr Burgess which would be the best way to proceed in the affair, but we came to no resolution. Came home at 8:45. This day lent John Jones by Elizabeth Akehurst in cash 1 guinea. Paid my brother 2/10 for 6 brushes, 1 m 2 1b clouts he bought for me at Lewes on Saturday.

In the morning James Marchant took up a coat and pair of breeches for himself. I also sent my maid to Framfield to let my mother and my brother know I could not conveniently come over to-weigh their wool as I appointed my brother yesterday… Rec’d of Thomas Fuller 78 lbs of wool at 7d, and 6½ lbs of lambs’ wool at 5d, which together amounts to the sum of 2.8.1¼… About 4:30 my brothers Moses and Richard called at my house. My brother Moses did not stay, but went away soon for the Wells. Richard stayed and drank tea with us and stayed till near 7 o’clock. This day paid John Streeter 4/- for Gibbs’s certificate; viz., 3/- for the certificate and signing, 12d for his trouble etc.

In the morning our maid went to see her parents, Paid her 12/-. About 9:20 George Richardson came to see us, and he and I went both to church where we had a fine sermon from the 11th, 12th and 13^th verses of the 23th chapter of Job: “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.” We dined on a roasted loin of mutton and French beans with a pond currant pudding. George Richardson, my wife, nephew and self at church in the afternoon. The text in Ephesians 5:16: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” From which words we had a fine sermon wherein Mr Porter very earnestly begged and entreated all his hearers to reform the vicious courses of their lives and to immediately set about a reformation and repent them of their past bad actions and to become new Christians.

George Richardson stayed and drank tea with us and went away about 6:30. I paid him 2/1 in full for 2 pairs of boot straps he got for me. In the evening read two of Tillotson’s sermons. Gave John Globs 2d for carrying of a letter for me to Thomas Page’s in order to go to Tunbridge Wells2