Sunday, July 11 1762

Mr Neatby breakfasted with me and then went away… I dined on a shoulder of lamb roasted and French beans. No service at our church the whole day, Mr Porter being at Mayfield. One of my servants at Chiddingly Church in the afternoon. Thomas Durrant and Mr Long drank tea with me in the afternoon, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. In the evening we took a walk, but went to no one house.

Friday, July 9 1762

After breakfast I rode to Lewes about Darby’s affair, but it still wears a gloomy aspect and I make no doubt I shall lose the whole sum. I dined at the White Hart on a knuckle of veal boiled, a piece of bacon, a breast of veal roasted and French beans and greens. My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Came home about 9:20, but not quite sober. My sister and niece went home in the evening…

Thursday, July 8 1762

…My sister and niece dined with me on a leg of Mutton roasted, a piece of pork and bacon boiled, a plain rice pudding, some garden beans and carrots. Miss French, Miss Gibbs, Mr Elless and my sister and niece drank tea with me…

This day Charles Cooper entered with my bill of sale upon the premises of Thomas Darby and made a distress (distraint], but I am afraid it will come out that I shall lose the whole debt, which is about 18.18.0.

Wednesday, July 7 1762

Sam Jenner at work for me all the forenoon and dined with me on a piece of pork and bacon boiled and some garden beans. In the afternoon my sister and niece Nanny Turner came to see me. They drank tea with me. In the evening we walked up to Joseph Fuller’s where we spent the evening. At home all day except as follows [as above?]. Pretty busy all day, but I think there never was such a time for scarceness of money as now…

Tuesday, July 6 1762

…At home all day. In the evening my brother brought my horse again… Sam Jenner, calling on me in the evening, and it being late, lodged with me all night. One of my servants sat up with Mrs Burgess.

Who can think the anxiety of my mind at the thought of distressing [correctly, distraining, i.e., seizing certain goods belonging to) poor Darby! But what can I do? This seems the only chance I have for recovering a debt justly due to me of about £16.

The first law of nature I think will tell me I am doing no injustice. And should I neglect this opportunity, it appears as if I should never have such another. Therefore I think if I do not do it now, I am doing a piece of injustice both to myself and creditors. So I am constrained by near necessity to put my bill of sale in execution. Notwithstanding which, there is something in the thought of distressing a fellow creature that my mind as it were recoils at.

Monday, July 5 1762

In the morning rode to Lewes where I met the attorney I went to see yesterday. Came home about 1:50. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

In the evening played a game of cricket. In the evening my brother came over, and I balanced an account with him for flannels etc. and outset the money; I received for his rags the 26th instant. I lent my brother my horse to go to Chiddingstone upon tomorrow. In the evening wrote my London letters.