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We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… In the evening Mr Long and I walked over to Framfield, but did not stay. This day has been my birthday, and that on which I enter into the 32^nd year of my age. And may the God of all mercy and goodness pour into my heart the grace of His holy spirit, that as I grow in years so may I increase in goodness and daily be renewed in the inner man, and so number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom, through the merits and intercession of my blessed Savior and only Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

In the forenoon my brother came over and stayed and dined with us on a broiled mackerel, a piece of pork and a piece of bacon boiled, a raisin suet pudding and greens… Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening. Pretty busy all day, but sure a most melancholy time for money, the greatest part of trade being trust, and doubtless in so many small articles we forget a great many, which makes it so much the worse trading.

Mr Thomas Carman dined with us on some boiled mackerel and rashers of bacon… In the afternoon wrote out some bills; at home all day.

Mr Sam Beckett made my wife a present of 3 fine mackerel. James Bull dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner. In the afternoon kept the school for Mr Long, he going to a cricket match at Chiddingly.

Mrs Atkins, Mrs Hicks, Mrs Brook and Miss Suky Verral drank tea at our house. In the forenoon walked down to Whyly, as I did again in the afternoon. Not very busy all day.

In the forenoon walked down to Whyly. My brother came over in the forenoon, but did not stay. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon wrote out some bills. In the evening wrote my London letters. Delivered to John Gosling Jr 4 bags of rags, weighing 6 cwt 3 qr 14 lbs net, which he is to sell for me at Maidstone Fair the 20th instant. At home all day and not very busy.

No service at our church, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton, to which place Thomas Davy and I walked to church… We dined on a shoulder of mutton roasted, carrots, cauliflower and a plain rice pudding. Myself, wife and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime my wife, self and Thomas Davy took a walk. In the evening and the day read two of Tillotson’s sermons.

…Paid 3d for 1½ lbs of crabs bought today. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the evening went to cricket a little while with several more out before my door. In the day read part of the 1st volume of The Guardian.

We dined on a piece of bacon boiled, a light pudding and spinach… In the evening played at cricket some little time. At home all day, and but very little to do. In the forenoon John Baker assisted me in packing up my rags to go to Maidstone Fair. We packed them up in 5 bags containing 6 cwt 2 qr 18 lbs.

…In the evening went down to Jones’s, in company with Joseph Fuller, Mr Long, Mr Thornton and James Marchant, to take part of a forfeit which Joseph Fuller paid to be off a bet which he had made with Mr Thornton. The bet was for a guinea that Mr Saxby had either a horse or mare that would go (one pace) from the park gate on the leigh of Laughton to the Cat in Cats Street [now Cade St., Heathfield] within the hour (being between 9 and 10 miles and very uneven ground), but Mr Thornton laid he had not.

We stayed and spent 7½d apiece besides Joseph Fuller’s forfeit and I came home about 10:20 sober. But little to do all day. My uncle Hill called on me in the morning, but did not stay.

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a light pudding and some spinach. In the evening walked down to Richard Page’s, but did not stay…