Category: Uncategorised

Sunday, June 13 1756

My wife at church in the forenoon, but I was not, and only our maid in the afternoon. I was not out of doors all the day. We dined on the scrag end of the neck of veal (bought yesterday) boiled, a piece of pork, bread pudding and spinach. Mr French called in the morning to beg some lettuces and informed me there would be a brief read; so I gave him 2d to it. Read the 24th and 25th of Tillotson’s sermons.

Saturday, June 12 1756

At home all the forenoon. We dined on the remains of Thursday’s dinner with the addition of ½ hundred asparagus. Paid Thomas Fuller Jr 23d for 1 neck of veal, 9¼ lbs.

After dinner Robert Hook and I went down to see Peter Adams. After we had stayed there awhile, he went to Waldron and I went to see one John Baker (at Mr Adams’s request), whom the same people that abused Mr Adams have in a manner abused; to wit, as he was a-coming home from the fair, they overtook him and whipped his horse and made him throw him off, and many more such-like actions. Came home about 8 o’clock not very well with being so continually haunted with my conscience, it has thrown me into a slight fever…

Friday, June 11 1756

At home all day. Dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of ¼ hundred asparagus. Posted my day book and wrote out several bills. In the afternoon our maid went over to Framfield. I went over to Mrs Virgoe’s about 1 hour. In the evening my wife walked down to Peter Adam’s. Oh, what a shamed face does a troubled conscience make!

Tuesday, June 8 1756

This day at the request of Mrs Virgoe I went with her brother to Lewes on foot to know the result of counsellor Humphrey’s opinion on her late husband’s will, which was that by that will’s being badly made she had no power to make one. And he also said Mr Tourle’s mortgage, or as he expressed it, “Tourle was damned bad security.” My brother and I dined at Mr T. Scrase’s on a cold quarter of lamb and green salad. Paid Mr George Verral 8/8 in full for 2 doz soap.

Now what I am a-going to mention makes me shudder with horror at the thought of it. It is I got very much in liquor. But let me not give it so easy a name, but say I was very drunk, and then I must of consequence be no better than a beast. And what is still more terrifying, by committing this enormous crime I plunged myself into still greater; that is, of quarrelling, which was this: my walking yesterday and again today, my feet were very sore; so, meeting with Peter Adams I asked him to carry me home, which he agreed to. I accordingly got on horseback at the Cats after first having some words with a person for no other reason I can think but because he was sober, at least I know it was because I was drunk. We then proceeded on the road home and, as I am since informed, oftentimes finding an opportunity to have words with somebody, and, doubtless as often, giving somebody the opportunity to sneer and ridicule myself, as well in justice they might. And, I suppose to gratify Mr Adams for his trouble, I told him if he would go around by William Dicker’s, I would treat him with a mug of 6d, which he readily accepted of (though he, I understand, was very sober). There we met Mr Laugham and several more, but who I cannot remember, and I suppose also in liquor. Now there was formerly a dispute between Mr Laugham and me about a bill wherein I was used ill. I imagine I must have told him of that. Or whether they, seeing me more in liquor than themselves, put upon me, I do not remember, but Mr Laugham pulled me by the nose and struck at me with his horse-whip and used me very ill, upon which Mr Adams told them he thought there was enough for a joke, upon which they used him very ill and have abused him very much. Then while they were a-fighting, I, free from any hurt, like a true friend and bold hearty fellow, rode away upon poor Peter’s horse leaving him to shift for himself, glad enough I got away with a whole skin. I got home about 10 o’clock. But what can I say in my own behalf for getting drunk? Sure I am a direct fool–so many resolutions as I have made to the contrary, and so much as I am desirous of living a sober life–that I should suffer myself to be so easily deluded away when I know almost the sight of a bottle of wine will make me drunk. But, oh, may the Supreme Director of all events give me grace to be wiser for the future; and as I have in so miraculous, a manner several times been preserved from danger, I hope I shall never more be so weak, but have resolution enough to make this the last time!

My wife in my absence sent Francis Smith by his man 1.12.0… My brother William went away tonight about 9 o’clock… Paid for a coffee-pot 18d. Paid for ½ hundred asparagus 5d.

Monday, June 7 1756

This day my brother having affixed to go to Brighthelmstone [now the famous Brighton, whose reputation as a bathing-place dates from Dr Richard Russell’s Oeconomia (1755)] in order to bathe in the sea, I dissuaded him from doing it, thinking he would get into bad company and get in liquor, but upon these conditions: that I would accompany him to some other part of the seacoast. So accordingly about 8 o’clock he and I set out from Hoathly on foot for Seaford where we arrived about 11:30.

My brother and I went down to the sea; he bathed and came back and dined at the Tree at Seaford on veal steaks (not deserving the name of cutlets), for which dinner we paid 9d apiece; though I think it as badly dressed as ever I saw a dinner, and nothing set at table but salt. After dinner Samuel Winter came and sat with us about an hour. We stayed at Seaford until 3:45, staying near an hour for some company, but finding them not disposed to come away, we came without them and came home exactly at 6:45; so we were exactly 3 hours a-coming home.

Seaford is a small town with many good buildings in and near it, but it does not stand compact, for the houses are very much separated. It lies about ½ mile from the sea. Upon the cliff near the sea is built a sort of fort, but no guns in it, nor in reality is it of any service, because it lies so much higher than the sea that I think they could not point the guns to do any great execution. And the walls, being built of flint, are so very thin that if a cannon of any large weight were fired against it, I think the flints must of consequence destroy all the men in the fort. Between the town and fort there are 18-pounders laid, which, I think, if rightly ordered, might be of signal service in war-time to protect their fishery from the insults of privateers. My wife and maid dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Spent 22d.

Whitsunday, June 6 1756

My brother William came over about 6 o’clock in the morning. He, my wife and myself and maid stayed the communion. I gave 18d; that is, for my wife, self and maid. The text in Luke 24:49: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” We dined on a piece of bacon, spinach and a bread plum pudding. My brother, wife and self and maid at church in the afternoon; the text Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

After tea my wife, self and brother took a walk. Called in to see Master Joseph Fuller, whom we found, in my opinion, in a very bad way. In the evening Thomas Davy came in and sat with us about 2 hours, to whom I read Tillotson’s 34th sermon, preached before the King and Queen at Hampton Court the l4th April, 1689. The text, Luke 10:42: “But one thing is needful.” I read also several passages out of many others. N.B.: Yesterday morning paid Mr Jeremiah French the 2.2.0 borrowed of him the 3rd instant.

Saturday, June 5 1756

At home all the forenoon. Dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner. After dinner I was sent for over to Mrs Virgoe’s, who desired I would go to Lewes that afternoon in order to get her will made, which I did accordingly on Mr Burgess’s mare. But when I came there, I went to Mr George Verral’s to consult him in the affair, who recommended me to Mr Wheeler the attorney and sent for him up to his house. But on Mr Wheeler’s seeing the will of Mrs Virgoe’s husband, he said it was his opinion that Mrs Virgoe could have no right to make a will; so he declined making it. We both stayed and smoked two pipes with Mr Verral. I came home about 12 o’clock. It was about 5 when I went for Lewes. Spent 10d, which I can think but just for Mrs Virgoe to pay me again. This day wrote a letter to my brother William after I had asked Mr Porter’s advice whether he might receive the communion here tomorrow; his answer was in the affirmative if he had been confirmed. Left Mr Virgoe’s will to have counsel on.