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After breakfast I went down to Master Trill’s with Thomas Overing the glazier in order for to give him directions for glazing of Trill’s house. Came home about 12:10… At home all day except as above and going down to Mr Porter’s, to whom I paid in cash 10.14.9½ in part of the bill I received the 29th of November, for which I gave him my note of hand. There now remains due on it £6.

In the evening read to Thomas Davy an appeal to the public in behalf of Admiral Byng wherein he is clearly proved to be no ways guilty of what has been laid to his charge, nay, even so far from it that he behaved like a prudent and courageous commander in the Mediterranean. His bad luck proceeded from an inferior fleet, and one which our treacherous or simple ministers, or the Lords of the Admiralty, or whoever the planners of the voyage were, could never expect to have success, having but few men, not one hospital, nor fire-ship, nor never a tender sent with them. Every time they received a letter from him wherein he mentioned the want of fresh succor, or anything that might inform the public of the faults of the ministry, it never was published in the gazette, [but] only such parts of his letters as might, for want of the whole, make him look odious to the world.

Thomas Davy supped with us and stayed near 3 hours with us. I also read Bally’s poem on the wisdom of the Supreme Being, which I think is a very sublime piece of poetry and almost too much so for my mean capacity. But as I find the author’s views are good, I do, as I am bound in duty, like it very much.

In the morning went down to see the widow Pilfold, and from thence I went up to Joseph Fuller’s, where I bought a sheep’s head and bell and sent [them] to Master Trill. Came home and breakfasted, and after breakfast walked over to Framfield where I balanced accounts with my mother; there remains due to me 64.16.5 on our account current, for £60 of which I received her note of hand, dated the 25th of this instant, with interest for the same to commence from that day at £4 percent per annum, and the remaining £4.16.5 still remains on my book. In the time I was at my mother’s there came in Mr Will Francis, Messrs Barlow and Wigginton’s rider, who also dined at my mother’s on some boiled beef broiled up… Mr Francis went away immediately after dinner. My mother and I both gave him a small order. I drank tea at my mother’s and came riding home about 6 o’clock. My brother came home with me to have the mare back again, which he had directly so soon as we came home. Mr Francis Elless sat an hour or 2 in the evening with us, and he and I read four of Tillotson’s sermons.

After breakfast my brother Sam Slater went away. I gave him in cash 24/- for him to pay Mr Percival Hart of Uckfield in full on my account… At home all day except for going down to see Dame Pilfold. In the evening posted my day book and wrote out Mr Piper’s bill and read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. This day the child of Mr Will Piper was baptized; the sponsors were Mrs Tealing, Mrs French and Mr Diplock. They made the poor old man’s pocket suffer by the company’s emptying as many of his old rusty bottles as they possibly could, and more than their behavior could give sanction to (as I hear), supposing decency to be the standard for good behavior.

At home all day. My brother Sam Slater stayed all day… Mrs Diggens called at our house (after she had delivered the wife of Thomas Daw), but did not stay. Thomas Davy spent the evening with us, and he and I played at cribbage; I won 1d. This day I was sent for down to the widow Pilfold, whom I found very ill. I ordered her to be watched with, and proper care taken of her. This day a meeting at Jones’s of the gentlemen of Laughton and some of the principal gentlemen of this parish.

My brother Moses came over in the forenoon to bring me some white linsey, but did not stay. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some onion sauce. Just as we had dined my brother Sam Slater came in. He dined on some rashers of bacon and eggs. After dinner I went up to Mr Piper’s with some goods. I sent Francis Smith (by Joseph Page) in cash 5.5.0… Sam Slater and we spent the evening together at my house.

At home all day… In the evening wrote my London letters and sent Mr John Crouch a bill… value £10. I this day received of Mr Porter one bill on Messrs Swainstone and Hedges… value: 16.14.9½, for which I gave him my note of hand… I enclosed the above bill in a letter which I sent to Messrs Margesson and Collison (on account). In the evening Thomas Davy sat with us an hour or two, to whom I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons.

Our whole family at church in the morning… We dined on a piece of boiled beef, bacon, apple pudding and turnips. My wife, self, nephew and maid at church again in the afternoon… After churchtime Robert called on us and smoked a pipe. Thomas Davy drank tea with us and stayed with us till near 11 o’clock. Read 4 of Tillotson’s sermons.

Paid Clymson the glover at Jevington in cash 11/8 in full for goods received from him today… In the afternoon my brother came over with a waistcoat for Charles Vine and drank tea with us. I gave him a bill…payable to my mother…value 13.3.9, which…is in full for her wool which I sent to London the 31^st August by Smith, which sum was paid to Messrs Margesson and Collison on my account. At home all day; in the day read part of Locke’s Essay on Human Understanding, and in the evening read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons. Received of Will Eldridge 4/1½ on account.

In the morning walked up to Mr John Vine Jr’s to beg of his wife (he not being at home) to stop 5/11½ of his servant Joseph Fitness for me, which Mrs Vine assured me her husband should secure for me… At home all day except as before mentioned. In the evening read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. This day there was a thaw of the frost which had continued about 10 days.

…At home all day. In the evening read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. The frost continues very hard.