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…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some mutton chops broiled. Paid Ben Shelley in cash 3.13.6 in full for the same sum he paid Mr Sam Post in full on my account the 30th ult. Gave John Shelley 12d to his Christmas box, as it is called. At home all day, but not a great deal to do. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening.

My brother stayed and breakfasted with me and then went away… In the afternoon Mr Shoesmith and Richard Fuller came to see me and stayed an hour or 2 with me and Richard Fuller, being in liquor, stayed all night.

In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr, myself and Thomas Durrant went down to Jones’s, where we spent 8 ½ d each and came home about 9:10. Rec’d of Mr John Vine by the payment of his son Charles 4.8.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last…

In the forenoon my brother and I walked out in order to get in some land taxes, but I could not succeed. We then walked to Dr Stone’s in order to ask his opinion on my throat; we came home about 2:20. My brother dined with me on a piece of pork, a piece of beef, and a raisin suet pudding and turnips boiled.

Rec’d of Thomas Reeve as I came home 2.16.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. In the evening went down and balanced accounts with Mr Porter, and received of him in cash 57.10.11 in full to this day; viz.,

Mr Porter Dr.
To sundry goods from Dec. 27, 1760, to Dec. 31, 1761, both days inclusive	63.3.3
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by 4 cord wood	2.12.0
Do. by 4 hundred faggots	2.12.0
Rec’d by soap tubs and mustard seed	0.1.4
Do. in cash today	57.10.11
Rec’d 4 bushel Oats	0.7.0
	63.3.3

I then received of Mr Porter 1.8.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. Also 5/- for some things not charged in the foregoing account. Stayed at Mr Porter’s till about 11:40. My brother stayed all night with me. One of my servants out all night a-dancing. Rec’d of John Vine Jr (by his son) 10/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last.

In the forenoon my brother Will came to see me and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a few rashers of pork boiled. At home all day. Mr Francis Elless spent the afternoon with me and supped with me. We played a few games at cribbage in the evening; I lost 6d. My brother stayed all night. Very little to do all day; a truly melancholy time for trade. Somewhat indisposed today with a sore throat occasioned as I presume by the lodging of a raisin stone in my throat the 21st instant.

In the forenoon carried in Mr Coates’s bill. Collected…of Mr Richard Bristed 5.2.0…of Edward Hope 1.8.0…of Edward Scribbens…0.12.0 in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael last. Sam Jenner and I played a few games of cribbage in the evening; I lost 3 ½ d. It being a very wet evening, Sam Jenner supped with me and stayed all night.

…Rec’d of Thomas Roase by the payment of his wife 4/- in full for half a year’s land tax due at St Michael lest. Thomas Durrant dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Gave the following box money:

T. Fuller’s boy	0.0.6
Isaac Turner	0.0.3
Joseph Durrant’s boy	0.0.6

In the evening wrote my London letters. Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant smoked a pipe with me in the evening. At home all day.

Myself and both servants at church in the morning… Sam Jenner and Mr Long dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter being ill. My servant went to Chiddingly Church. Sam Jenner stayed and spent the afternoon and drank tea with me and to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. In the evening went down to Joseph Fuller’s, where I stayed and supped ad came home about 9:10.

In the morning Mr Long walked with me to many places to collect in some land tax, but I found myself unsuccessful in the attempt, not getting one farthing… In the afternoon went down to a public vestry at Jones’s, and made up the accounts between the heirs of the last surveyors and the parish and it evidently appeared there was 4/- due to the ensuing surveyors. There was also a poor rate made after the rate of three shillings to the pound. The surveyors for the year ensuing are Edward Foord and Thomas Fuller; electioners: John Vine and Edward Hope. I came home about 8:20 and then went in and smoked a pipe or 2 with Thomas Durrant. Came home about 10:20, and I can (with raptures) say sober, having drunk nothing stronger than mild beer all the evening. But very little to do all day. Gave the following box money:

To Jenner the hatter’s son	0.0.3
J. Durrant’s apprentice	0.0.6

This being Christmas day, myself and one servant were at church in the morning, the text in the 3lst verse, 10^th chapter, 1st Epistle Corinthians: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” We both stayed the communion; I gave 6d. The widow Marchant, James Marchant, Bett Mepham and Philip dined with me on a buttock of beef roasted, a raisin suet pudding and turnips. They together with Joseph Fuller Jr drank tea with me. Paid Richard Page 4/- in full for my highway tax… as I have this day received the blessed sacrament of our Lord and savior, may I be a worthy partaker of the benefits thereby derived upon all sincere Christians… [58 words omitted]… In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. In the evening Joseph fuller Jr, Thomas Durrant and James Marchant smoked a pipe with me.

…At home all day and not very busy. How melancholy a time I have, not that I would be thought anyways to murmur at the wise distributions of providence; no, far from it…[15 words omitted]…I doubt not if I were to look around me upon the rest of mankind, I might see many more wretched than myself, and that I enjoy many blessings denied to a great number of my fellow creatures, and if not, I can with propriety say I enjoy more than I deserve; but still, as I am fearful my trade does not answer, and am at a loss to get into any other branch (nor do I think my capacity equal to carry on a great trade), how can I help being uneasy, and more particularly as I have not a friend to whom I can entrust the management of my affairs to, so that when I am from home my affairs suffer at home, and when I am at home my affairs are neglected abroad, for wanting seeing after; so that I have as it were a curb put upon any industry I might exert myself with.