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My father Slater and Sam came back from Lewes about 2 o’clock and dined with us. After dinner I went home with them on a horse I borrowed of Francis Smith. We arrived at Hartfield about 7 o’clock. I spent the evening at my father Slater’s in company with Mr Kelton. We had for dinner a piece of bacon, light pudding and greens. Paid Mr Calverly for Mr Samuel Virgoe the 7/- I stopped for Mr Virgoe when I balanced with F. Smith on the 24th Feb.

At home all day. At church in the morning. My father Slater and Samuel came about 11:45. Sam had lamed his horse in coming; Thomas Daw oiled him. They both dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner they smoked one pipe and went to Lewes. In the evening my wife and I papered up about 80 papers of tobacco. I this day received from Mr Ralph Hale of Calne the piece of blanketing which I sent him a bill for some time past. After supper I read the 8th book of Homer’s Odyssey.

After dinner I borrowed John Vine the younger’s horse and went over to Uckfield in order to look at some buckskin breeches. But Mr Hart was not at home; so I was again disappointed. I went by Framfield. My mother was not at home, she being gone to Master Elphick’s. My brother went with me to Uckfield, and I came back by Framfield, but did not stay. I came home about 5:15. Charles Diggens was at our house in my absence to take up a pair of breeches for Mr Burgess’s son, but was gone before I came home. We dined on a piece of boiled beef, suet pudding, pea pudding and potatoes. In the evening Thomas Davy was here and supped with us. We played at cribbage; I lost ½d. I read three books of Homer’s Odyssey.

This day I appointed to go to Lewes to meet Mr Stephen Fletcher, but did not go. I wanted by a small parcel, and the roads were very bad; so my trouble and expense would have been more than the profit arising from what I should have bought. At home all day. Dined on a piece of pickled pork, light pudding and greens.

In the evening I was sent for down to Halland. Accordingly about 7 o’clock I called on Thomas Davy, and we went down. When I came, I found that it was Ann Smith had sent for me to ask my advice in the following affair (as she tells it): About 8 years ago she kept the house of Thomas Baker in the parish of Waldron, who was an elderly man. At the same time in all probability he might have a feeble insurrection of an unruly member, which might prompt him to make his addresses to her, as she says he did. As he found his affections slighted, and understanding she was indebted to Mr Venner of the same parish the sum of 2.7.0, and as a means, as he simply imagined, to ingratiate himself in her favor, he (as she solemnly avers) went and paid the same without her knowledge or orders. When he had so done, he never offered to make any drawback in her wages when she left him, though (she says) he often told her he had paid it. When she went away, she went and asked Mr Venner whether she owed him anything. He answered, “No!” So it is plain Baker had paid the money. But as Baker is now in low circumstances (though still a single person), he has lately made a demand or the same, notwithstanding it has been near 8 years since, and (as she says) [he] never pretended to have any demand on her before, and she always looked upon it as a free gift. Now my advice was as this; to wit, if what she repeated to me was true and that he actually paid it without her knowledge and designed it as a free gift to her without any proviso to the contrary, I thought she was not obliged to pay it. Only change in circumstances and gratitude should always oblige everyone to return favors where they have received any. But if it were any ways by her order he paid it, or if she was to outset it in her wages or to make him any other gratuity, and did not, I thought in justice she ought to pay him. Came home about 8:10. Read part of Homer’s Odyssey. At church in the morning.

This day was Shrove Tuesday. At home all day. Carried up to Mrs Day’s 1 cwt raisins; drank tea there. Rec’d of Mr Samuel Gibbs 8/9 in full except for the boy’s schooling and 1 lb gunpowder. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. We played at cribbage; I won 3d. We dined today on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of 3 sausages. Paid for sweeping my chimney 6d. Heard this day that the Duke of Cumberland is a-coming into Sussex to view the seacoast.

At home all day. My brother Moses was here in the forenoon. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Mrs Rice drank tea with us. I sent Frank Smith by his boy John Westgate in cash £13, which he is to pay for me in London; see the next time we balance. I sent Mr John Crouch…£10. Paid the post for bringing a parcel from Lewes 6d. Returned to Mr Richard Sterry 2 lbs best smelts, 0.2.8, and also to Messrs Margesson and Collison:

3 lbs 3 oz worsted 2/8        0.8.6

4 Culgee hand. [?] 2/7        0.10.4

In the evening Mrs Virgoe sat with us about 1 hour.

Paid John Streeter the postman 0.6.11, which with 9d that I paid Mr Beal the postmaster the 22nd January last (which was for 1 pair of creepers I received the 13th December, and which I did pay the postboy for the day he brought them), makes together 0.7.8 and is in full for pattens and clogs that I received by him today from Thomas Freeman, and likewise of all demands due to the said Thomas Freeman.

After dinner I went down to Halland with a pack of salt and received of Mr Coates 2.10.0… After dinner sent my maid to several places to collect in some small debts, but could get none. This day my father Slater sent us a sparerib for a present, and also the volume of plays I lent him the 24th of January. Rec’d a letter from Mr George Verral concerning buying some tallow of Thomas Fuller for him… In the evening, my wife finished reading of Clarissa Harlowe, which I look upon as a very well-written thing though it must be allowed it is too prolix. I think the author keeps up the character of every person in all places, and as to the manner of its ending, I like it better than if it had terminated in more happy consequences.

At home all day. After dinner sent my maid to Framfield to acquaint my mother with Mr Fletcher’s coming to Lewes the 2nd of March and also [sent her] to Uckfield to put a letter in the post to acquaint my father Slater with the same. Paid 3d for the same. Rec’d of William Sinden ½ bushel wheat. Paid Peter Belton 3/- for 3 dozen of brooms. Ann Smith drank tea with us. In the evening my wife read part of Clarissa Harlowe… In the evening Mrs Virgoe sat with us about 45 minutes.

About 11 o’clock Mr John Withington, Messrs Bancroft and Nixon’s man, called on me. I gave him a small order; he stayed and dined with me. After dinner Master Hook and I walked to Uckfield. We got to Framfield before Mr Withington. I gave him a bill at Framfield, which I drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison…for payments as under:

In full for Thomas Fuller, chandler     5.1.0

On my mother’s account                 1.3.6

Rec’d of Mr John Withington             0.0.6

6.5.0, equal to the draft as above.

My mother paid me the 1.3.6 and also paid me for some Manchester goods which she had on the 27th of July last, 2.3.5. Master Hook, my brother Moses and myself went to Uckfield and accidentally met with Mr William Rushton there, who treated us with a bottle of wine. I gave him orders for a piece of white calamanco and 1 black anterloon [woolen clothing material?], I spent 6d. We came back and called at Framfield and came home about 8:10.

My business at Uckfield was to look on some leather breeches, but Mr Hart was not at home; so my journey was all void. I left the gun, my late father’s, at Fowle the clocksmith’s to be new-stocked. I came home a little merry. This day Mr John Clinch’s daughter was baptized. The sponsors: T. Fuller, F. Gibbs, Mrs Vine Jr, Dame Durrant. I received a letter from Mr Fletcher to advise me he shall be at Lewes on Tuesday the 2nd of March next (and open on the next morning) with Mr Samuel Ridings’s horses.