Sunday, April 25 1762

In the morning about 5:15 I set out on foot with Thomas Davy in order to accompany him to Mr Burgess’s at Rotherfield to consult him in some affairs relating to Davy’s wife’s estate. We breakfasted at Mr Burgess’s and came home about 12:40.

No churching at our church this morning, Mr Porter preaching at Ripe. One of my servants went to Chiddingly Church in the morning. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a knuckle of veal boiled, a piece of pork and some turnip greens. Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon… After churchtime I walked up to James Fuller’s, where I went to read over some writings. I drank tea there and after tea I, in company with Mr Thornton, took a walk. In the evening lent Thomas Davy in cash 3.3.0.

Saturday, April 24 1762

…At home all day and pretty busy. balanced accounts. with Sarah Prall and paid her 15½d in full. Oh, how intolerable is the heavy burthen of an unpleasant mind!

In the evening balanced accounts with Joseph Fuller Jr. Paid him 10/- for a year’s interest due on a note of hand of mine about the beginning of March last. In the above account I paid Joseph Fuller Jr for all the meat I have received of his father to this day.

Tuesday, April 20 1762

After breakfast my brother and Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Halland to see the gardens… My brother, Thomas Durrant and Mr Long dined with me today… My brother went away soon after dinner.

Oh, how I blush to mention what I would for ever wish to conceal; that is, from going about from house to house today with my brother I got really very drunk. Oh, that hateful and to me truly odious name–that I can ever be so foolish! Sure I am the most irresoluteless creature breathing, a thing I am sure I sincerely detest and yet have been so foolish as to be guilty of it… [58 words omitted].

Monday, April 19 1762

Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day, and she together with my brother Sam Slater dined with me… In the afternoon all Halland servants and Thomas Emery and his wife drank tea with me and stayed and spent the evening. My brother Slater stayed all night. Very busy all day.

A very remarkable fine day. In the evening wrote my London letters. In the morning Mr Stone’s apprentice bleeded me.

Sunday, April 18 1762

Myself and both servants at church in the morning… We had a brief read for the rebuilding of the parish church of Coverton in Nottinghamshire, the expense of which amounts to the sum of £1646 and upwards, to which collection I gave 2d.

After dinner my old acquaintance Mr Tucker came to see me and dined with me on half a calf’s head boiled and a piece of pork boiled and some turnip greens. He stayed till we went to church and then went home. Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon…

In the evening my brother Moses came over, and he together with Sam Jenner drank tea with me. In the evening read 3 of Sterne’s sermons…

In the afternoon put out Anne Thomas Vinal to her mother Mary, the wife of Richard Parkes, to keep at 9d a week, her husband beings present and agreed thereto.

Friday, April 16 1762

Rec’d of Robert Hook in cash 8/-, which is in full for 1 year’s land tax for the manor [of Foxhunt][probably Heighton St Clere] in this parish belonging to the Lord Viscount Gage, due at Lady Day last, and which Master Hook received of the steward for me…

My late servant Mary Martin and her sister came to see me in the forenoon and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some mutton steaks broiled. They stayed and drank tea with me and then went away…

At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening Thomas Davy sat chatting with me until near 11 o’clock… We had today a great many claps of thunder, though not very near, it thundering almost the whole afternoon.