Category: Uncategorised

At home all day. Paid James Fuller 4d for a comb he bought for me at Lewes on Saturday last, which I gave to Samuel French. This day I bought of Dame Mott the younger of Laughton 1 gold ring, for which I gave her 8/-, and 1 silver bosom buckle, for which I gave her 6d. Paid for ½ gallon of flour 3½d. In the evening I posted my day book whilst my wife read that moving scene of the funeral of Miss Clarissa Harlowe to me. Oh, may the Supreme Being give me grace to lead my life in such a manner as my exit may in some respect be like that divine creature’s! Oh, how happy must that life be which is spent in virtue!

Rec’d of the wife of John Jones of Waldron 3/- on account. Paid Mrs Virgoe £7 on account. She stayed with us about 1 hour in the evening. I wrote for her to Mr John Dicker and Mr Henry Tapsfield Jr for the balance of their accounts due to her late husband.

At home all day. My brother drank tea with us. This day I paid Francis Smith in cash 2.3.0, which is in full to the 12th of Feb. 1756… In the evening posted part of my day book. Sent the skins and hair I sold yesterday by Smith as agreed.

At home all day. In the morning Master Durrant’s man, buying a great many things, came in and breakfasted with us. After dinner a man called at the door, who says his name is Matthews, with a horse loaded with horse-hair hats, corks and glovetops. I sold him 20 ½ lbs short horse-hair at 4½d per lb and 1½ lbs long ditto at 10d, and 17 skins for 4/4, all which he paid me for in ready money except 9 pairs of glovetops which I took of him at 5d per pair. What he bought of me I am to pay the carriage of to London. In the evening I wrote my London letters and sent a bill, value 15.12.0, to Mr Matthew Blake in full to this day… Also read the newspaper. I received a letter from Mr John Collison wherein he says he has paid Bristow the 2.0.5 I mentioned the 21st instant (see the others on Saturday next). As I was a-writing all the evening, my wife read Clarissa Harlowe to me.

At church in the morning; the text in Matthew 7:14: “Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” An excellent sermon. Halland gardener came home with me and dined with us. I gave John Cayley a susi handkerchief, value 2/-, as a present for his sister for a twelve-month’s use of Mrs Browne’s seat in the church for my wife and me, they refusing to receive the rent (as I may call it) that I agreed with them for.

After dinner the gardener and I set out for to see Buxted Place and gardens [property of George Medley Esq]. We called at my mother’s as we went and stayed there about 25 minutes. I found there Miss Fanny Smith (which, I think, seems to be the lady my brother Moses’ affections are settled on, or settling upon). Whether just or imaginary I cannot, no, I will not say, but I think I was received very coldly, not only by my mother but all the family, Miss Smith only excepted. After a stay of about 25 minutes as before mentioned, we set out for Buxted. My brother and Ed Rowles went with us.

We saw the gardens and the out-side of the place, neither of which is any ways near completed, but I think when they are both finished they will both be very curious in their kind. Gave Ed Rowles 6d for going with us and showing us the gardens. We came back to Framfield about 4 o’clock. Found Miss Smith there, and she and we drank tea there. After tea Mr Edward Rowles sent for us over to his house, and the gardener and I went; we stayed and drank 1 mug of beer and smoked 1 pipe, then went again to my mother’s; Miss Smith and my brother not there. My mother and I had a great many words, or at least my mother had with me. What my friends would have with me I know not; I have always done to the utmost of my power to serve them. I can with justice to myself and all mankind say I have their interest entirely at heart and never think myself more happy than in serving them. Were I assured I was to blame, I should even despise myself, and even think myself not worthy to be ranked among the rest of mankind were I to be cruel and undutiful to a mother, and one who is a widow, though doubtless I am not exempt from faults. No, I am mortal, but still how happy I could be, would my friends let but a free and sincere communication of friendship once more be opened between us, which has of late been shut up, but upon what account I cannot tell. I am, I think, quite uneasy, driven almost to distress for want of money, and my mother has at this time £40 of mine on book debts which I never did ask for, no, nor hope I ever shall. Only do I sincerely wish I could spare them £500 were it to serve them, but still why should they estrange themselves from me? But oh, let me stop my pen and say, “May they all be ever happy, and may the Supreme Being crown them all with his blessings in this transitory state and forever make them happy in the divine regions of eternal bliss.” We came home about 8 o’clock.

No frost tonight; a great deal of the snow melted. In reading The Odyssey last night, among many curious passages these two lines I think applicable to the present times; viz.,

“Why cease ye then the wrath of Heaven to stay;

Be humbled all, and lead ye great the way.”

All that I have read of it yet

I think is one entire lesson of morality. Then I think the speech of Jupiter extremely good:

“Perverse mankind, whose will’s created free,

Charge all their woes on absolute decree.

All to the dooming gods their guilt translate

And follies are miscalled the crimes of fate.”

Paid for 6 brooms 6d. Mr James Jordan drank tea with us. I paid him 16.14.0…in full to the 28th January, 1756. Paid Master Hope for a sparerib, 8 lbs, 2/-. Paid for baking of a piece of beef for Sunday’s dinner 1d. Paid Clymson the glover 12/2 for goods I received from him this day: that 1s, he brought the goods himself… Afterward I took of him 20d for a bridle and 21d for a susi handkerchief. In the evening Robert Hook brought me home 1 pair boots, value 18/-, and my wife 1 pair pumps, value 3/9, both to be entered to account. Thomas Davy and he both came together; they stayed till near 11 o’clock. Paid for butter 2¾d. See Monday for something relating to this day.

At home all day. A very sharp frost last night and a great deal of snow remains on the ground. This day Mr Sam Gibbs’s daughter was christened. In the evening John Chesham and Thomas Reeve were both at my house concerning their late brother [in-law] Thomas Thompsett’s affairs, and Reeve sold to Chesham at my house, in the presence of myself, wife, Robert Hook and my servant-maid, all his moiety and claim of that money due from Mr William Rabson of Ticehurst to their late brother Thomas Thompsett at the time of his decease, which they said was in all £5, for the sum of 30/-. Chesham gave to Reeve a note… witnessed by myself and Robert Hook. Reeve at the same time gave to Chesham a receipt for the said note, wherein he acknowledges that the said note when paid is in full for his share of the above debt. The receipt was witnessed both by myself and Robert Hook. Reeve also gave his brother Chesham an order to Mr Rabson for him to receive the same of Mr Rabson, and to acquaint him that Chesham’s receipt shall be his sufficient discharge, dated today and from this place. Lastly Reeve gave his brother Chesham a note to pay to him, or his order on demand, the full value of the ½ part of the watch of the late Mr Thompsett, which Reeve has in possession, and has had ever since the 9th of May last. This note Master Hook and I also attested. At home all day. In the evening read 2 books of Homer’s Odyssey, translated by Pope.

At home all day. A very great frost last night; a great deal of snow on the ground. Continued freezing all day. Wrote a letter to Ned Smith in order to send next week by Francis Smith. Paid Joseph Fuller 4/- in full for 2 stone beef received today. In the evening Thomas Davy brought me a new boot to try on, being 1 of a pair I have bespoke near 12 months of Robert Hook. He stayed and supped with us, and he and I played at cribbage; I lost 4d. He stayed till near 11 o’clock. John Streeter, who went post from Mayfield today, says that Arundel post was lost in the snow, and, when found, almost dead.

This morning about 6:25 it began snowing very hard and continued snowing all day, and that very hard, but as it was open weather it did not lie on the ground above 6 inches deep; but, I believe, had there been a frost, it would not have been less than 2 foot deep. At home all day. The gardener at Halland drank tea with us. I lent him The Whole Duty of Man. In the evening Thomas Fuller the younger smoked one pipe with me…

At home all day. Paid Francis Smith in cash 1.5.0 in part for carriage [and other items, including payment]… to Ashmore on the 12th instant for 2 gallons of gin, one only for myself, O.5.4. I this day sent Messrs Margesson and Collison the bank bill I received yesterday of Mr Porter in a letter by Francis Smith and ordered them to pay Mr Theodore Pigg — in full; Mr Turner Bristow, confectioner, 2.0.5 in full; and Mr Charles Browne, cork-cutter and fruiterer, in full, [for] which see Saturday next if I have received advice that they have done it accordingly. Robert Diggens dined with us… busy a-writing all the evening. A dance in the evening at Dallaway’s.

At home all day; in the morning went down to Mr Porter’s; he was not up. After schooltime I went again to get him to write a letter to Mr Dungate for to beg of Mr Edwards for a longer respite for Mrs Virgoe, which he accordingly did, and we sent the letter by the post. Borrowed of Mrs Virgoe in cash 20.15.0 and gave her my note of hand for the same. In the evening my wife went down to Mr Porter’s with 29.0.8, which…is in full for a banknote…which he gave to my wife. In the evening Thomas Davy here; we played at cribbage; I lost 2½d. I gave him ¾ yards of shalloon for keeping school for me the 27^th of January last and for going to Dr Stone’s for me the 10th December last.