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Myself and both servants at church in the morning… I dined on a piece of beef and pork boiled and French beans. Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon…The King’s proclamation for the discouraging of vice and profaneness and for the promoting of piety and virtue was read this afternoon. In the evening read part of Tillotson’s sermons.

…In the afternoon I rode to Josias Bonwick’s and weighed up his hops, which together weighed 10 cwt 2 qr 22 lbs… and I paid him 26.14.0 in full for the same.

In the evening; Joseph Fuller smoked a pipe with me and I received of him by a bank bill and cash 27.4.0 in full for his half part of the money I have paid for Reeve’s, Cayley’s, Hope’s and Bonwick’s hops… I also exchanged a bank bill of £25 for him, giving him cash for it. Pretty busy all day.

N.B.: All the hops which Joseph Fuller and I have now between us are paid for and he has also paid me his part.

In the morning rode up to Mr Reeve’s and weighed his hops; viz.,

3 bags “T.R.”
1. 261	2.2.14
2. 254	2.2.4
3. 286	2.3.12
	8.0.2

which at 46/- per cwt, the two pounds excluded, amounts to 18.1.0, which I paid him. I also weighed up a pocket of Richard Hope’s, marked “R.H.”…for which I also paid Master Reeve.

I stayed and breakfasted at Mr Reeve’s. In the forenoon walked down to Halland. I dined on a piece of bacon, French beans and potatoes. In the afternoon went to Lewes, there being a fair there today… Paid John Cayley in cash 5.13.6 in full for his hops… My servant in my absence today paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 1.0.6 for the same sum paid this week in London for me… Came home about 8:20 and sober.

N.B.: the 10/- I paid John Cayley when I bought his hops the 25th ult. was included in the 5.13.6 paid him today. In the evening read part of the London Magazine for September.

…In the afternoon Mr Thornton and I walked up to weigh Mr Reeve’s hops, but he was not home. We went from thence to George Cornwell’s, where Mr Thornton weighed his hops and I attempted to buy them, but in vain. We Stayed and drank tea here, from whence we walked to Thomas Starr’s, where Mr Thornton weighed his hops and I again attempted to buy them, but in vain. We called at Mr Reeve’s as we came home, and the old man would not weigh them, pretending it was too late.

Came home about 6:30, where I found my brother, who came over in my absence, and stayed with me till near 8 o’clock… I paid Halland gardener 10d for 2 gallons onions and one of potatoes received by him today. Pretty busy all day.

…In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me. Thoroughly melancholy all day. My loss, my loss, how great; but yet I am thoroughly sensible and doubt not but the unerring ways of Providence direct and govern all the affairs of man with infinite goodness and undoubtedly know what is better for us than we poor short-sighted creatures of a day can for ourselves. Therefore I humbly submit I hope with as much cheerfulness as possible to the divine will, and I am sure I desire nothing so much as to improve in virtue, knowing (were my wife alive, whose memory I hope will ever be dear to me) nothing could equal the satisfaction she would enjoy in the sight of it. I am truly certain by daily experience that frail and fallen man stands as it were surrounded with temptations, but still we have the promise of infinite goodness (if we are not wanting to ourselves) that we shall never be tempted above what we are able to bear. Therefore, may the pangs and agonies of that dear creature (my wife) be always fresh in my memory and act as an encitement to spur me on to prepare for that awful minute when death shall separate the soul from this mortal body. This I am sure should be the true use I ought to make of her death, and which through the assistance of divine grace I hope to do… [59 words omitted].

…My sister and niece dined with me on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a plain rice pudding and French beans. My sister and niece stayed and drank tea with me, and then went home. I walked with them a little way. Paid Thomas Fuller by Will Burrage 3/4 in full for half a dozen of candles received by him today. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me and informed me he had bought Joseph Bonwick’s hops in joint partnership between us at 50/- per cwt.

In the morning rode to Edward Russell’s and weighed up his hops, which was 6 pockets, weighing together 8 cwt 1 qr 18 lbs, which at 47/6 per cwt amounted to 19.19.5¼ . I paid him…in full for the said hops.

From thence I rode to Alfriston where I breakfasted with Mr Sanders and in the day I and Mr Ben Hudson appraised his stock to Mr Vincent, who had bought the same, myself in behalf of Mr Sanders and Mr Hudson in behalf of Mr Vincent. The said stock amounted to about £32. We all dined at Mr Sanders’s on a shoulder of lamb roasted, a baked rice pudding and cucumbers. (My family at home and my sister and niece Nanny Turner, who came to see me in my absence, dined on some boiled pork and French beans). We all drank tea at Mr Sanders’s. I called at Mr Snelling’s, and came home about 8:25, having spent nothing.

I received of Joseph Fuller Jr 9 guineas and half in full for his part of Edward Russell’s hops which I weighed today. In the evening smoked a pipe at Master Fuller’s. My sister and niece stayed with me all night.

In the morning my servant went to Alfriston to see her friends. No churchings at our church in the morning, Mr Porter being indisposed. I dined at Joseph Fuller’s on a piece of beef roasted, an apple pudding, potatoes and French beans.

Myself and servants at church in the afternoon… The banns of marriage (for the first time) were published between John Jones and Mary Heath, both of this parish. Mr Chalice, curate of Ripe, preached in the afternoon. I drank tea at Joseph Fuller’s. In the evening read 1 of Tillotson’s sermons. All, all is pensive melancholy sadness.

Sent to my brother Richard (enclosed in a letter by Joseph Durrant’s apprentice) 1 bill on Mr William Margesson payable to Mr Sam Ridings or order…value £14. The bill was enclosed in a letter to Mr Stephen Fletcher…now at Lewes, to whom my brother was to deliver the bill and letter.

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield; from thence my brother and I rode down to Savage’s to look upon their hops, but did not buy them. I came back to my brother’s… Joseph Fuller acquainted me that he had bought of Thomas Reeve all his hops at 46/- per cwt, which we are to be joint partners in.

After breakfast walked up to Mrs Piper’s; from thence John Piper and I walked down to John Cayley’s, where I bought his hops at 2 guineas per cwt and I gave him 10/6 in hand. Those hops are in joint partnership between Joseph Fuller and myself… In the afternoon I walked around Mrs Virgoe’s wood to examine the fences. I drank tea at Joseph Fuller’s… In the evening Mr Thornton smoked a pipe with me.

Pretty busy all day. But who can imagine my inward anguish of mind? How do I daily and hourly find the loss of the most valuablest of wives.