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…Sam Jenner a-gardening for me half the day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a cold sheep’s heart pie, some beefsteaks broiled, French beans and cucumbers. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening Joseph Fuller and Sam Jenner smoked a pipe with me. Thomas Durrant lodged at my house.

…Finished posting my day book. In the afternoon Mr French and I rode down to Mr John Dicker’s to consult about burying of John Durrant, who died yesterday, and came home about 5:10.

Mr Tipper and Mr Buller drank tea with me in the afternoon. But very little to do all day. Oh, melancholy time! Trade very dull and money intolerable scarce and, what is still worse, no sincere friend for an agreeable companion.

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 6d for a sheep’s head and pluck bought of him today. I dined on a sheep’s head etc. boiled and carrots. At home all day and very busy. Posted part of my day book.

I dined on a chick boiled and a piece of pork and French beans. In the afternoon wrote my London letters. In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a vestry. Spent 2d and came home very sober. But little to do all day. My brother came over in the afternoon and drank tea with me.

One of my servants in the morning went to see her friends. Myself and the other at church in the morning where we had a sermon preached by a gentleman who I presume is come to be Mr Porter’s curate at Ripe (Mr Porter preaching at Mayfield) from Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

My old acquaintance Mr Tucker came to see me and dined with me on a piece of pork boiled, a chick boiled and some carrots. There being only prayers at our church in the afternoon (and that more than we knew of till we came from church), Sam Jenner and I took a ride to Seaford where we took a walk by the seaside and took a view of the two forts newly erected there, one of which has 5 24-pounders mounted and the other 5 12-pounders.

We drank tea at the Sign of the Tree. Came home by Alfriston where we overtook on the road my servant and Thomas Durrant. We came home about 11:10–oh, could I say not thoroughly sober. I think I am the most unfortunate fellow in the world, for only a few glasses of wine intoxicates my brains. I was not so far intoxicated today as to be guilty of any indiscretion, still though we only took a ride with no other design than innocent inoffensive amusement, and with an intention of reaping advantage of serious and improving conversation from each other, yet being guilty of this one folly, the whole of our journey must become contaminated, which otherwise could not have been more than a breach of an active obedience. Each of us spent today as follows:

To tea	0.0.6
Wine	0.0.6
Beer	0.0.2
Horses	0.0.4
A-coming home	0.0.7½
	0.2.1½

Mr Sterry stayed and breakfasted with me and then set forward on his journey. I dined on a plain bread pudding, a piece of pork and cucumbers. At home all day and not very busy. Oh, melancholy time!

…This day received of Ben Shelley by his brother a receipt from Mr Will Margesson for 45.19.0 and also a guinea returned, it being not weight, which together makes the sum of £47 and is in full for the £47 delivered to him the 27th instant… In the evening Mr Richard Sterry called on me and supped with me and also stayed all night. In the evening we balanced our accounts…

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me the whole day, she dined with me on a cold chick pie and French beans. At home all day, and really very little to do. Paid Dame Akehurst for washing 13½ d. In the evening read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.

Dame Akehurst, a-washing for me part of the day, dined with me on a piece of bacon, a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and French beans. She also lodged at my house. Paid Will Alcorne in cash and goods 17/6 in full for half a year’s rent due for will Starks’s [Slark’s] and of a house at Lady Day last on the parish account. At home all day and really very little to do. Oh, what a melancholy time I have…

…Delivered to… Benjamin Shelley to pay in London for me this week the money as under:

One thirty-six shilling-piece	1.16.0
Four Moidores	5.8.0
Twenty-seven guineas	28.7.0
Twenty half-do	10.10.0
One nine shilling-piece	0.9.0
One six-shilling-and-ninepence	0.6.9
Three Shillings	0.3.0
Halfpence	0.0.3
	47.00

…This day received a note of hand from Will Burrage for him to pay to the churchwardens and overseers of this parish and their or either of their successors three Shillings weekly and every week as a part of the expense this parish is now burdened with in maintaining his wife and family. In the evening rode to Waldron and bought John Gosling’s wool at 6¼d a pound. Came home about 7:30.