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In the morning Mr Will Francis called on me and breakfasted with me. I gave him one bill on Mr Will Margesson…value 30.12.0… in full… In the forenoon my brother Sam Slater came to see us, as did our late servant Mary Martin, who came to stand the shop for me while I went to serve Mr Piper’s funeral. They both dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner I went to the house of the late Mr Piper, where I served his funeral, giving away 39 pairs gloves and 6 hatbands.

We came to church about 5:50, when we had a sermon preached for him, the text in Matthew 25:46: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Mrs Browne drank tea with my wife. My brother Slater went away about 4:30. Our late servant went home in the evening. In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. How does her illness afflict me to see as it were my own flesh and blood, my sincere and bosom friend, afflicted in so miserable a manner.

Myself only at church in the morning… We dined on a shoulder of veal roasted and stuffed, an apple pudding and green salad. After dinner I rode to Horsted and my uncle Hill signed the note of hand I received from my cousin Charles Hill the 4th instant, whereby they promise for themselves jointly and severally to pay me or order £20 on demand with interest for the same after the rate of £5 percent per annum, which is as security for the bill I sent my cousin Charles Hill the 10th ult.

I called on Mrs Browne to advise her in regard to her affairs, and called on Mr Will Lewer and settled accounts with him for her. Came home about 4:40. My niece only at church in the afternoon. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom, and in the day, I read three of Sharp’s sermons. My wife, poor creature, most extreme ill. Ah, melancholy repetition; but why should I repine or think myself afflicted, as it is the hand of Almighty God who knows what is better for us than we ourselves and through whose unbounded goodness it is that we live, move and have our being.

…We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some sausages broiled. Sent Mr Coates by Thomas Emery the 16/- I received over his bill the 21st instant… At home all day; wrote out a great many bills for Mrs Browne and sent her books

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a plain rice pudding. Mrs and Mr Porter drank tea at our house… Wrote out a great many bills for Mrs Browne. My wife somewhat easier today, but really very ill…

…In the afternoon Mr Porter and myself went up to Mrs Piper’s and broke up her late husband’s will, wherein Mr Porter, myself and John Piper are left joint trustees to the same. We sealed up his writings and came home about 6:20. Mrs French drank tea with my wife, who is, poor creature, most extreme ill.

In the evening Sam Jenner brought me Mrs Browne’s books and I put some things in them to rights and kept the books in order to write out some bills for her.

This morning about 7:30 died Mr Will Piper. We dined on some hog’s chine-bones boiled and turnip greens. In the afternoon walked up to Mrs Piper’s to consult her about the burying her husband. In the afternoon our late servant Mary Martin came over to see us and stayed and drank tea with us and then went home. At home all day except as before. My wife, poor creature, very ill indeed. In the forenoon my brother came over…

Delivered to Ben Shelley (by my servant) in cash £10 in order for him to pay in London for me… We dined on a batter pudding and sausages baked in it. In the afternoon walked down to Halland where I received of Mr Coates in cash 12.12.0, which is in full for a bill delivered to the 23rd ult. of 11.16.3½ and sixteen shillings over, which I had not silver (or money enough with me) to give him in change, so that I owe him the said sum of 16/-. Thomas Durrant drank tea at our house. In the evening read part of Sharp’s sermons. My wife somewhat easier today, though still very bad and dangerous. Went up to Master Piper’s in the morning to assist him with my advice about making his will, there being an attorney come to do it.

Mr John Long dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon wrote my London letters. In the evening went up to Mr Will Piper’s, in order to make his will, but finding it required some person of more knowledge then myself to make it according to form and the testator’s meaning, I declined making it, for fear I should make some mistake that might bring trouble into the family, and [cause] the effects of the testator to be thrown away amongst the lawyers, or the testator’s intentions frustrated; though I believe I was rather over-timorous.

Came home about 12:10 and left Mr Piper very ill. My wife, poor creature, very ill indeed. Mr Porter and myself gave Mr Piper the liberty to put us in as trustees and guardians to his children, as he could not prevail on anyone else.

My niece only at church in the morning. Mr Stone came and bleeded myself and my wife during churchtime. We dined on a sparerib roasted and applesauce. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime I walked down to Mrs Browne’s and posted her day book, and set some more of her accounts to rights, and stayed and drank tea with her, in company with Sam Jenner. Came home about 8:20. In the evening and the day read 3 of Archbishop Sharp’s sermons. My wife somewhat easier today.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day and very busy. My wife, poor creature, extremely ill. Paid Ed Foord 2/6 for a bottle of tincture of valerian root bought in Lewes for me today.