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At home all day. For dinner we had the remains of Sunday’s and yesterday’s dinners. Paid Francis Smith in cash £10…which he is to pay in London for me; see the next time we balance. In the evening posted my day book to this day. Trade I find to be very dull. Not that I want to get an estate; no, if it will please the Supreme Being to bless me with only enough to pay every one their own and to maintain my family in an indifferent manner, I am satisfied. A very sharp wind these 3 or 4 days past, which has dried the roads prodigiously, even to make the dust steam. After supper read Homer’s Odyssey. Sent Messrs Bancroft and Nixon 3 yds hair shag at 7/-.

…We had for dinner a piece of bacon, light and rice pudding, greens and potatoes. Dame Burfield drank tea with us. After tea I went with Sally to Framfield, as did Robert Hook, who went forward to Uckfield. I went to talk with my mother concerning her leaving off trading. Robert Hook called me at Framfield about 9:15 and came home about 10:45. As we came by Whyly, we met with Thomas Fuller the chandler who was then in his road home; but considering the coldness of the weather, he thought it better to come back home by the Street on proviso I would give him a dram of gin. Oh! that baneful liquor; that mankind should be so infatuated as to give way to anything for an opportunity to drench themselves with such a slow and lingering poison! While I was gone to Framfield, George Richardson called in his road from Dallington to Lewes, but did not stay.

In the morning George Richardson called and breakfasted with me. He stayed and dined with us, as did my brother William and George Martin, who both came in after breakfast. We had for dinner a hog’s cheek, light pudding, plum suet pudding, greens and potatoes. About 2 o’clock my brother Moses and sister Sally came to see us. George Richardson went for Dallington about 2:30. After churchtime Master Diggens came in and smoked a pipe or 2 with us. George Martin went away as soon as he came from church. My brother Moses and Master Diggens went away about 6:10, as did my brother William about 9:25; my sister Sally stayed all night. In the evening I drew up the form of a will to send to Thomas Mepham on board H.M.S. TORBAY in order for him to write over again. I wrote it at the desire of Robert Hook, who was desired to get it written by Thomas Mepham. In it he gives all the moneys that may be due to him at the time of his death, either as prize money or pay, to be equally divided between his brother Joseph and sisters Elizabeth, Martha and Lucy, share and share alike, and also makes them all joint executor and executrices… At home all day but not at church all day. A very sharp wind all day, and in the morning a frost.

At home all day. Rec’d a horse from Mr Bachelor of Hartfield, which, if I like, I am to give him £3 for, or, if not, to return him before 24 June next. Dined on a piece of pickled pork, light pudding and greens. In the afternoon went down to Mr Porter’s to show him a piece of shag. In the evening read Smart’s poem On the Goodness of the Supreme Being. Rec’d of John Hicks in full for his father Francis Hicks, 8/8 in full.

At home all day. My brother Moses dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a small butter pudding and potatoes. After dinner John Kenward from Westham called on me and stayed about 30 minutes. Thomas Davy here in the evening. We played at cribbage; I lost 2d. At church in the morning.

After dinner I carried Mrs Virgoe to Mrs Edwards’s (on a horse of Thomas Fuller’s) where she gave Mrs Edwards a bond for £153 as a collateral security for the same sum due from Mr Isaac Virgoe deceased, with the addition of about £6 for interest, the original debt being no more than 147.6.3. The bond was filled up by Mr Dungate and witnessed by himself and Mr Richard Comber of Wadhurst. There were at Mrs Edwards’s: Mr Comber, Mr Dungate, Mrs Virgoe and a stranger out [of] Kent, and myself. We drank tea there and came as far as Thomas Fuller’s about 7:30, where meeting with Mr French and Joseph Burgess we stayed till about 10 o’clock. We dined today on a piece of bacon, light pudding and greens. Paid Streeter 3d for bringing a parcel for my mother from Lewes.

At home all day. At church in the morning. Paid for 5 doz brooms 5/-. Charles Nebuchar called on me in his way from Burwash to Lewes and stayed from about 3 to 4 o’clock… Dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner and a few rashers of bacon and eggs. My wife very lame. Mrs Virgoe sat with us a little while in the evening. Read the 9th book of Homer’s Odyssey.

At home all day. In the afternoon I was sent for over to Mrs Virgoe’s to talk with Mr Dungate concerning her giving Mrs Edwards security for the money due from Mrs Virgoe to Mrs Edwards, and we appointed to meet Mr Dungate at Mrs Edwards’s on Thursday next at 3 o’clock. John Watford a-gardening for me. For dinner we had pork, light pudding and greens. Mrs Virgoe drank tea with us. In the evening read the writings of a farm called Chillys in Mayfield, which was entailed to Mrs Virgoe’s father and his heirs forever, but he cut the said entailment off and entailed it again to Mrs Virgoe and her heirs forever, after the death of her mother.

At home all day. About 11 o’clock Mr Francis, Messrs Barlow and Wigginton’s rider, called on me. I gave him a bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison, value £18… Charles Nebuchar came in here just as we were going to dinner. He and my brother Moses dined with us on some rashers of bacon. Sent Francis Smith by his man Thomas Hemsley in cash £10…which he is to pay in London for me; see the next time we balance.

Went to Hartfield Church in the morning; heard a sermon preached by their minister, the Rev Mr Davis; the text, Isaiah 57:21: “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” I dined at my father Slater’s. After dinner I went and saw my uncle Woodgate. Called on Mr Bachelor; talked to him about a horse. Stayed till about 4 o’clock. Came home about 8 o’clock. Called at Framfield. My wife and maid dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Spent 18d.