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In the forenoon we had several very long strokes of thunder. My father and mother Slater dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a piece of pork and some greens. After dinner my father went home, and I rode to several houses to collect in the land and window taxes. Rec’d of Edward Hope 1.11.0 in full for window and land taxes due at Lady Day last; rec’d of Mrs Weller 3/- in full for window tax due at Lady Day last.

Charles Diggens came over in the morning to take up some clothes for Mr Porter and breakfasted with us. A pretty wet day. Rec’d of Mr Peter Morris 2/- by the payment of Samuel Jenner in full for land tax due at Lady Day last. My wife thank God something better.

…My father and mother Slater stayed with us all day and dined with us… This day sent Thomas Davy with a letter to my friend John Breeden with full power for him to bargain with Miss Sally Waller upon such terms as if it were his own affair… A good deal of rain and thunder in the evening, with some flashes of lightning. My father and mother Slater stayed with us all night.

In the forenoon my father and mother Slater came to see us and dined with us… Rec’d of John Cayley 2.6.9 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last. Rec’d of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle (from Mr Will Michell by the payment of Thomas Fuller) 24.15.0 in full for land and window taxes due at Lady Day last.

In the evening my brother came over and supped with us, and I received of him in cash 6.1.0 in full for a parcel of serges. At home all day; my wife thank God something better. Mr George Beard called on me… Pretty busy all day. My father and mother Slater stayed all night.

In the mornings rode to Pevensey, breakfasted with Mr Breeden and went with him to Westham Church, where I heard an excellent sermon preached by the Rev Mr Nicols, rector of Westham. I dined with my esteemed friend John Breeden on a breast of veal roasted and a gooseberry pudding (my family at home dining on a piece of beef boiled, a gooseberry pudding and greens). After dinner we rode to the Kings Arms at Ninfield in order to meet Miss Sally Waller to bargain with her for [i.e., to be] a servant, but we not agreeing, Mr Breeden and I came back to his house and drank tea there. I came home about 8:10. The text at Westham Church (where I heard the sermon) was in the latter part of the 14th verse of the 4th chapter of the Prophet Jeremiah: “How long shall thy vein thoughts lodge within thee?”…I found my wife when I came home something better. A most prodigious fine day.

…My wife, poor creature, very ill again. I, who yesterday was all joy and pleasure at the prospect of my wife’s being better, am now all trouble and affliction, so vain and uncertain is all worldly happiness! But, alas! why do I so afflict myself at the will of Providence, whose all-seeing eye directs all things by the power of unerring wisdom. Let me rather with an humble and truly contrite heart adore that ineffable goodness for the many blessings daily poured upon me. Oh, may I above all things live in such a manner as not to fear death whenever it comes.

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a piece of pork boiled, a raisin suet pudding and greens. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 3.14.5 in full for the same sum he paid in London for me this week… At home all day. Thank God my wife somewhat better. Pretty busy.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a green salad. In the afternoon down at Mr Porter’s a-writing of letters to the creditors of Mr Piper to meet us at his dwelling-house on Tuesday the 9th day of June next by 2 o’clock in the afternoon, in order to settle and balance accounts… My wife extremely ill. In the evening, read part of Young’s Night Thoughts. Pretty busy today.

After breakfast rode over to Framfield in order to consult Mr Rideout about Mrs Browne’s apprentice, his time being out upon the death of her husband. Met with Mr Terry, rider to Messrs Kendall and Rushton, at my brother’s and we came home together; I gave him an order… Rec’d of Mr John Gosling, trustee [???] will of Mr Sam Virgoe deceased, by the payment of Mr Jeremiah French, the sum of 10.5.0 in full for the use of the widow Browne.

In the afternoon Mr Porter and myself went up to the dwelling-house of the late Mr Piper and took a rough kind of inventory of the stock on the ground, household furniture and husbandry tackle of the deceased. Came home about 7:20. Pretty busy in the shop all day. My wife very ill, poor creature. A prodigious windy day. In the evening read part of Sharp’s sermons.

Mary heath a-washing for us all day and dined with us… At home all day and but very little to do. Paid Mary Heath 18d for 2 days’ washing. My wife very ill.

Mary Heath a-washing for us all day and dined with us… In the afternoon walked up to Mr Vine’s to the audit, where I paid Mr Thomas Francis, the steward, the money I received of Mrs Browne yesterday in full for her half-year’s rent due at St Michael last. I came home about 7:30, not staying at all. In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife, poor creature, very ill. Mary Heath lodged at our house.