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I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some cucumbers. Paid Dame Vinal and her daughter in goods 1.1.0 in full for work done at Mr John Vine’s and she and her daughter drank tea at my house. Paid Mr Henry Pocock at Ringmer in cash 0.16.0 in full. Rec’d of Henry at Laughton in cash 1.6.0 and by receipts for 2 years land tax due at Lady Day last mak[ing] together the sum of 2.10.0, which is in full for half a year’s rent due from him to Mr John Vine for a house in Laughton at Lady Day last.

At home all day and thank God very busy. Paid Will Sinden 5/- on account of Mr John Vine.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Paid Benjamin Shelley in cash 0.12.2 in full… At home all day but sadly out of order with my folly. Oh, may the grace of God for the future direct my steps, that I may never more sin in so great a measure, and that my crimes may be those of the frailty of human nature only, and not those of the will.

Lent Mr George Bannister in cash 3 guineas, for which he gave me his note of hand payable to me or order on demand. Paid Mr Edward Heaver in cash 9/9. Today Mr Thomas Calverley called on me and I balanced accounts with him and paid him one bill on Mr William Margesson…value 53.9.0, which bill when paid is in full on my account with Mr Thomas Calverley.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My late servant Ellen Pierce and Ann Goldsmith, who bought some things in the shop, drank tea with me. At home all day, and pretty busy. But oh, the effect of intemperance — my head, my conscience!

After breakfast I set out for home, but after drinking too much elderberry wine I rode several miles out of my road, and my surcingle breaking I lost my bags from under me, but however thank God I arrived at home about 6:30, and in the evening after I came home my brother went home.

My brother and servant dined today on a shoulder of lamb roasted and cucumbers. Gave our tenant’s servant 12d and his son a silk handkerchief. Oh, my unhappy temper, that a few glasses of liquor intoxicates me, and yet I am so stupidly foolish as not to absolutely refrain from drinking anything.

After breakfast Master Knight and myself walked to Chiddingstone Town, where there was a court [-baron] held for the manor of Chiddingstone Burghurst, a manor in which part of our lands are situated.

We dined at Mr Whapham’s at the Castle, where the court was adjourned to, on a buttock of beef boiled, a quarter of lamb roasted, carrots, cabbage, a currant pond pudding and a currant bread pudding. After dinner we proceeded to business, when myself and several more were sworn upon the homage [a jury of men with local knowledge], and I was admitted to a fourth part of the land, and paid the steward all quitrents etc. up to St Michael last.

We came back to Mr Knight’s about 7:20, where I supped on a piece of bacon, a piece of beef and plum puddings, carrots and cabbage. I stayed and took another night at Master Knight’s. As this supper was my friend James Knight’s harvest supper we drank rather too much cider.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner I rode to Chiddingstone (my brother in my absence came over to stand the shop for me). I arrived at Chiddingstone parish about 7:30 and lodged at James Knight’s, the person who uses the farm belonging to my brothers and myself.

Myself at church in the morning…My brother and Mr Tipper dined with me on a loin of mutton. My brother went away immediately after dinner, and Thomas Durrant and myself took a ride with our friend Tipper to bring him on his Road, and in coming back we called in at Mr Shoesmith’s, where we stayed and drank tea and supped and came home about 11:50, our horses having got away, or we should have been at home sooner.

Joseph Fuller Jr took part of my bed, they having company at home. A very fine pleasant day, but oh, the disquietude of my mind! What would I gave (were it possible to buy it) for the same serene, tranquil and regular course of life as in my dear Peggy’s time!

Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 loin of mutton weighing 5½ lbs at 3½ d a pound. My brother-in-law Sam Slater called on me in his road to Lewes Races, dined with me on some mutton chops broiled, a cold lamb’s heart and cucumbers, and at his desire after dinner I went with him to Lewes Races.

The give-and-take plate of fifty pounds was run for on Lewes Downs. The 5 following started for the same: Mr Wildman’s horse Gift, Mr Sparrow’s horse Venture, Lord Grosvenor’s mare Slammerkin, Mr Adams’s horse Cleveland and Mr Smith’s mare a Smiling Molly, which was won by Gift, he winning the 2nd and 3rd heats. Venture won the first, therefore was entitled to the stakes. Smiling Molly drew after the first heat, as did Cleveland and Slammerkin after the second, so that the third in heat was contested only by Venture and Gift, which was run nine minutes, and won very easily by Gift.

Meeting with my friend Mr Tipper on the hill, he and my brother Slater came home with me about 9:30, very sober. Spent today under:

Turnpike	0.0.2
Myself	0.0.2

My brother and Mr Tipper stayed all night. Rec’d of John Nutley the four guineas I lent him the 18th instant.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some cucumbers. Paid John Shelley in cash £10 in full for the same sum he paid Mr John Crouch the 22nd instant on my account. In the evening took a walk to the Chequer at Terrible Down in order to get some money of the man who keeps the house there, but could obtain none. Spent only 6d and came home very sober about 7:20.

This day the five-year-old plate of £50 was run for on Lewes Downs, when Mr Scott’s horse Alphonso, Messrs Scrase and Verral’s mare Swishabout, Mr Smith’s horse Jack o’ the Green and Mr Bickham’s mare Venus started for the same, which was won by the former, he winning the 2 first heats (easily). The stakes were strongly contested in a third heat between Swishabout and Jack of the Green, and after the strictest scrutiny by the gentlemen on the stand it was given in favor of Swishabout by the length of her nose only.

N.B.: The last three belong to gentlemen etc. in and about Lewes.

Mr Nicholas Wake of Winton called on me, to whom I paid in cash 7.5.6 in full on my account to this day. Mr John Robinson, rider to Mr William Margesson, called on me, to whom I gave an order, and paid him one bill on his master, Mr William Margesson…value £30. Rec’d of Thomas Overing the two guineas I lent him the 18th instant.

Mr Bannister dined with me on some hashed venison and after dinner we set out together for Lewes Races, where his Majesty’s purse of £100 was run for on Lewes Downs, when Sir John Moore’s grey horse Cyclops and Mr Bowles’s horse Cyrus started for it, which was won by Cyclops, he winning the first heat (after which Cyrus draw [withdrew?]) so that we had what may be called bad sport, though I don’t know I ever remember the King’s Plate being run in less time, they performing it in 8 minutes and 15 seconds. Cyrus won the King’s Plate at Salisbury, and Cyclops at Canterbury and Winton. At the latter he beat Cyrus before.

Came home about 9:30, but happy should I be could I say sober. Oh, my unhappy nay, I may say unfortunate disposition, that I am so irresolute and cannot refrain from what my soul detests. Spent today as under:

Turnpike	0.0.2
Horse and ostler	0.0.6
Self	0.0.7
	0.1.3

Called at Messrs Richards and Comber’s, where I stayed and smoked several pipes. Saw several London riders upon the Downs, with whom I drank a glass or two punch.