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I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Dame Cornwell drank tea with me. Balanced accounts with John Watford Jr and received of him in cash 1.12.6 in full. In the evening went down to Whyly in order to balance accounts with Mr French, but did not.

I stayed smoking a pipe with Mr French till near 10:20. Mr Porter informed me today that Burrage, who some years ago absconded and left his wife and 6 small children to this parish, was heard of again, and advised the parish officers to send and get him home.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day; wrote out some bills. A very dull time indeed for trade. In the evening read part of the 2nd volume of The Tatler.

…Mrs French and Molly dined with me on a goose roasted, a piece of beef boiled, a raisin butter pond pudding, cabbage, turnips and applesauce. They both stayed and drank tea with me. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening read part of a volume of The Spectator. Oh, melancholy, melancholy time. What way to pursue I know not! Let me, oh, let me rest contented and think that whatever is by the appointment of heaven is right, is best… [26 words omitted].

…In the evening wrote my London letters, after which I went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and supped and spent the evening, and stayed until 9:20, but came home not thoroughly sober …Rec’d of the Rev Mr Richard Porter, per order of Mr Benge, and by the payment of Mrs Porter, 4.10.0 in full for one year’s interest due on a note of hand the 15th instant on account of Mr Will Piper deceased.

Myself and servants at church in the morning… I dined on a piece of beef boiled and turnips, and after dinner Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Little Horsted Church, where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Philips, curate of that church and Maresfield, from Haggai 2:9: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Both my servants at church in the afternoon). We came home by Mrs Browne’s, where we stayed and smoked a pipe or two and came home about 7:50. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons. Oh, how unpleasant is a man without a friend!

…Sent Mr Thomas Dyke & Son in New Sarum (enclosed in a letter delivered to the post) one bill on Mr Will Margesson…value 11.4.6, which bill when paid is in full on my account. In the afternoon my brother came over and stayed an hour or two with me. In the afternoon Mrs Browne sent me a present of a fine goose.

…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon Mrs Browne brought her books up and I posted them for her. She stayed all the afternoon with me. I received of her the 10/6 I paid on her account today, as also 24/- in full for a year‘s interest due on a bond to my brother Will, which sum I stand indebted to my brother Will for…

Dame Henly breakfasted with me. I dined on a beef pudding, turnips and potatoes. Rec’d of Mr Porter 12/9 in part of Scribbens’s poor tax, on account of Mr Will Piper deceased. At home all day and very little to do.

…Bett Mepham drank tea with me. At home all day and very busy all day. Oh, what a pleasure is business! How far preferable is an active busy life (when employed in some honest calling) to a supine and idle way of life, and happy are they whose fortune it is to be placed where commerce meets with encouragement and a person has the opportunity to push on trade with vigor…

In the forenoon rode to Laughton. Rec’d of John Piper in cash 5.10.6½, which sum balances the account of money by me received and paid on account of my executorship to Mr Piper deceased to this day… Mr French and Joseph Fuller smoked a pipe with me in the evening. In the afternoon wrote out some bills.