Author: Thomas Turner

…My wife and I this day saw a chameleon and salamander, which was preserved in spirits and carried about for a show; it cost 1d each.

Richard Brazier a-gardening for me all day, and he together with Lucy Durrant dined with us on the remains of Thursday night’s supper. In the afternoon walked down to Laughton to get a debt of William Gurrs. Spent 1½d. Called in at Mr Gibbs’s, but did not stay. Came home about 4:40, Mrs Virgoe and Lucy Durrant drank tea with my wife, and in the evening Lucy Durrant went away. In the evening wrote out Thomas Prall’s bill and read one of Young’s Night Thoughts.

…Lucy Durrant supped and lodged at our house all night. At home all day.

In the forenoon my brothers Moses and Richard came over and dined with us on the remains of Thursday night’s supper, and they, together with my sister Sally, went home about 3:30. I received of my mother by my brother 1.5.9 for goods as under:

7 lbs pepper 17½	0.10 2½
14 saltpetre	0.15.0
carriage	0.6.6½

In the evening wrote my London letters and part of Mr John Vine’s bill.

In the morning my sister, self and servant at church, and my brother Moses came over and came to church to us… My brother dined with us on the remains of Friday night’s supper. Our servant only at church in the afternoon. My brother stayed and drank tea at our house and then went home.

Rec’d of Joseph Fitness 3/6 on account. Oh, what a burden is a troublesome conscience, for who is there among us but what sinneth daily, and how imperfect are our best endeavors to righteousness! How great is the temptation of the world, the flesh and the devil! Therefore no man can be eased by his own righteousness, but by the righteousness that comes by Jesus Christ only…

…We dined on the remains of Thursday night’s supper. At home all day. Rec’d of Francie Turner 0.4.7 in full. Rec’d of Richard Rippington 3/8 in full. At home all day.

In the forenoon walked down to Whyly, but did not stay. We dined on the remains of last night’s supper. Molly, Bett and Nancy Fuller, Frances Weller, Molly and Sam French and Lucy Durrant drank tea at our house, and they, together with James and Joseph Fuller and John French, supped at our house on the remains of last night’s supper.

We played at brag in the evening; my wife and I won 19½d. They stayed till 1:30 and went away, all sober and in good order. And what is very remarkable, there was not that I could observe any oath sworn all the evening. Huzza! the keeping Christmas I hope is now over, and I think I was never more overjoyed, for besides the expenses attending it there is something in it that is quite foreign to my taste or inclinations, I rather choosing a recluse and steady way of living that may allow time for reason to exercise her proper faculties and to breathe as it were into the mind of man a serene and pleasing happiness, which in my opinion never can be enjoyed when it is so often disjointed and confused by such tumultuous, or at least merry, meetings.

…Mr and Mrs Porter, Mrs Atkins, Mrs Coates, Mrs Gibbs, Miss Bett Hicks and Mr Calverley drank tea at our house. We played at brag in the evening; my wife and I lost ld. The foregoing people, together with Mr French, Thomas Fuller and John and William Piper supped with us on a piece of fresh salmon boiled, some Scotch collops, 3 boiled chickens, a cold chick pie, some cold slices of ham, sturgeon, a cold tongue, potted beef, tarts etc. They stayed till about 1:10 and all went away in very good order. At home all day.

We dined on some boiled bacon. In the evening went up to Thomas Fuller’s to borrow 12 bottles of strong beer, At home all day except as above.

…My wife and sister went down to Mrs Atkins’s to dinner, and myself and servant dined at home on what remained of yesterday’s dinner… About 8:10 I went down to Mrs Atkins’s, where I supped on a piece of cold roast beef, a loin of veal roasted, tarts etc. in company with Mr Porter and his wife, Mr French and his wife, Mr Calverley, Thomas Fuller and his wife, Joseph Fuller and Mrs Virgoe. We played at brag in the evening. My wife and I won 3/2. We gave the maid only 6d. We came home about 1:10 in very good order.