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My brother came over in the forenoon. I received of him in cash 15/6, and 5/6 he paid Mr Davy, which is in full for the guinea I gave him yesterday. We dined on a piece of beef roasted in the oven and a batter pudding under it. In the evening I went down to Mr Porter’s and paid him…in full for the bill I received of him the 29th of November… for which I gave him my note of hand, which I now took up and burnt at Mr Porter’s in his and his wife’s presence. In the evening read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons. I this day received a letter from Mr Sewell wherein he informs me he has given over all thoughts of taking my or my mother’s shop. My brother brought me 6 whiting, which Mrs Roase sent my wife for a present.

In the morning my brother called on us in his way to Lewes, and I sent by him a bill to Mr John Madgwick (in full)… value 11.16.6. I also gave him in cash 1.1.0, part or all of which he was to pay in Lewes for me… I was obliged to send James Marchant to Lewes for 2¼ yds cloth for Mr Coates, and he, like a calf, stays all night. Oh, such fools! By this piece of his folly I shall have the cloth left in my hands. At home all day. In the evening read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. A remarkable cold frosty day.

At home all day. In the forenoon my wife and I papered up about 70 papers of tobacco… Thomas Fuller coming in the evening to choose a culled dimity frock, he and James Marchant stayed and smoked 2 pipes with us and drank part of 2 bottles of beer. A remarkable cold day, but no frost.

At home all day… My wife and I papered up 91 papers of tobacco, containing 22¾ lbs. Mr and Mrs Burgess and their children drank tea at our house. Mr Burgess and his wife stayed and played at cards (my wife and I lost 6d) and supped at our house on the remains of today’s dinner. This is not that pleasure as if I had spent the evening in reading. In the morning paid Mr Thornton 3/4 for writing a letter to Peter Adams.

At home all day and busy. My brother, coming over in the forenoon, dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner and the addition of a beef pudding, as did Dame Vinal, who was a-washing for us all day. Mrs Vine Sr and her daughter Bab, together with my brother, drank tea with us. In the evening read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Elless sat with us in the evening while I read one of Tillotson’s sermons and Bally’s poem on the wisdom of the Supreme Being to him…

At home all day. In the morning went down to Joseph Fuller’s and bought a lot of Mr French’s bull beef. Dame Vinal a-washing for us half the day… In the afternoon Dame Weller and her 2 daughters drank tea with us. In the afternoon Robert Diggens called on us, but did not stay. My brother came over in the evening, but did not stay. I went down to Robert Hook’s and stayed about an hour…

In the morning my wife, self, nephew and maid at church… We dined on a small buttock beef stuffed with parsley and boiled, a piece of bacon, turnips and potatoes. My whole family at church in the afternoon… After churchtime paid the poor as under, and also wrote a letter to Dr Stone for him to go and see Thomas Tester:-

Paid Widow Pilfold	0.6.0
Paid John Streeter for doing for do.	0.3.0
Paid Ann Wood	0.4.0
Paid Ed Badcock	0.4.0
Paid Dame Trill	0.5.0
	1.2.0

In the evening Thomas Davy sat with us an hour or 2, to whom, and in the day, I read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons.

After breakfast I went down to Master Trill’s with Thomas Overing the glazier in order for to give him directions for glazing of Trill’s house. Came home about 12:10… At home all day except as above and going down to Mr Porter’s, to whom I paid in cash 10.14.9½ in part of the bill I received the 29th of November, for which I gave him my note of hand. There now remains due on it £6.

In the evening read to Thomas Davy an appeal to the public in behalf of Admiral Byng wherein he is clearly proved to be no ways guilty of what has been laid to his charge, nay, even so far from it that he behaved like a prudent and courageous commander in the Mediterranean. His bad luck proceeded from an inferior fleet, and one which our treacherous or simple ministers, or the Lords of the Admiralty, or whoever the planners of the voyage were, could never expect to have success, having but few men, not one hospital, nor fire-ship, nor never a tender sent with them. Every time they received a letter from him wherein he mentioned the want of fresh succor, or anything that might inform the public of the faults of the ministry, it never was published in the gazette, [but] only such parts of his letters as might, for want of the whole, make him look odious to the world.

Thomas Davy supped with us and stayed near 3 hours with us. I also read Bally’s poem on the wisdom of the Supreme Being, which I think is a very sublime piece of poetry and almost too much so for my mean capacity. But as I find the author’s views are good, I do, as I am bound in duty, like it very much.

In the morning went down to see the widow Pilfold, and from thence I went up to Joseph Fuller’s, where I bought a sheep’s head and bell and sent [them] to Master Trill. Came home and breakfasted, and after breakfast walked over to Framfield where I balanced accounts with my mother; there remains due to me 64.16.5 on our account current, for £60 of which I received her note of hand, dated the 25th of this instant, with interest for the same to commence from that day at £4 percent per annum, and the remaining £4.16.5 still remains on my book. In the time I was at my mother’s there came in Mr Will Francis, Messrs Barlow and Wigginton’s rider, who also dined at my mother’s on some boiled beef broiled up… Mr Francis went away immediately after dinner. My mother and I both gave him a small order. I drank tea at my mother’s and came riding home about 6 o’clock. My brother came home with me to have the mare back again, which he had directly so soon as we came home. Mr Francis Elless sat an hour or 2 in the evening with us, and he and I read four of Tillotson’s sermons.

After breakfast my brother Sam Slater went away. I gave him in cash 24/- for him to pay Mr Percival Hart of Uckfield in full on my account… At home all day except for going down to see Dame Pilfold. In the evening posted my day book and wrote out Mr Piper’s bill and read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. This day the child of Mr Will Piper was baptized; the sponsors were Mrs Tealing, Mrs French and Mr Diplock. They made the poor old man’s pocket suffer by the company’s emptying as many of his old rusty bottles as they possibly could, and more than their behavior could give sanction to (as I hear), supposing decency to be the standard for good behavior.