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…In the evening my wife went down to Mrs Atkinson’s to drink tea, and about 8:05 I went down. We stayed and supped on some roast chicken, a cold ham, a hot boiled green tongue, a boiled leg of mutton, fried chaps, tarts, cold fine baked puddings etc., in company with Mr Coates, Mr and Mrs Porter, Joseph Fuller and his wife, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley and Thomas Fuller. We played at brag in the evening and according to custom my wife and I lost 2/2½. We came home about 2:20, very sober. My wife and I gave Mrs Atkins’s servant 6d each.

How tired am I of those more-than-midnight revels; how inconsistent is it with the duty of a tradesmen, for how is it possible for him to care for or pursue his business with vigor, industry and pleasure when the body must be disordered by the loss of sleep and perhaps the brain too by the too-great a quantity of liquor which is often drunk at those times, and then can a tradesman gaming have any palliation? No! It is impossible, though it’s true we game more for to pass away time then for thirst of gain, but what a way is it of spending that which is so valuable to mankind? Well may our great poet Mr Young say “When time turns a torment, then man turns a fool.”

Suppose a game of cards innocent in itself, yet the consequences cannot be so if what is commonly called fortune should run against any one at play, that he lose more than his income will allow of, but supposing the person to lose can afford it without any ways in the least incommoding or straitening his circumstances. I say, suppose this case, it cannot be innocent because that sum which anyone can afford to lose he can at the same time afford to dispose of in any other way; then that sum given away in charity must have been a better away in disposing of it. Therefore, if there is a better way to dispose of the money lost, losing it is not right, and then how often are the passions moved in such a manner by a bad run of play, that the more warm of us many times increase at that quality so much as to use oaths and execrations not fit to be heard among Christians.

At home all day, and but very little to do… Rec’d of Robert Hook in cash 0.7.6 to send by the post to Mayfield for his and Thomas Davy’s club arrears, tonight being quarterly night, which I accordingly did, as also 3/9 for my own club arrears. I also gave the post 2 brass or bad shillings for things, as under:

For 1 pack cards	0.1.0
1 letter & in cash	0.0.9
	0.1.9

Posted part of mv day book, and in the evening Charles Diggens came over and he, my wife, myself and Mr Thornton played at whist till 3:40. Hy wife and I not playing together, we lost nothing. Charles Diggens stayed all night.

After breakfast rode over to Framfield where I dined with my brother on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding, turnips and cabbage (my family at home dining on some sausages). After dinner my brother and I went over to Uckfield, he on foot and I on horseback, to consult Mr Thornton what could be the best method to pursue in regard to Elphick’s affair. He was not at home; from thence we went to my uncle Hill’s in order to settle the accounts between him and my brother William, but it not suiting him now, he appointed to come to my house and settle it the 15th day of February. We stayed and spent the evening with my uncle and the doctor till 7:10. I came home thank God very sober about 8:45. Mr John Long and Thomas Davy spent the evening with my wife…

…My wife went down to Halland to dinner… About 7:30 I went down to Halland, where I supped on a cold roast turkey, a breast of veal roasted and hot, part of a cold chicken pasty, some ducks roasted and hot, cold neat’s tongue, tarte etc. in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley, Mrs Atkins, Thomas Fuller and Joseph Fuller and his wife. We played at brag in the evening and according to custom my wife and I lost 2/10½. We came home about 2:20, sober. We gave among the servant 12d. 0 cruel fortune!

We dined on the remains of yesterday’s [dinner] with the addition of a plain suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. After dinner rode to Henry Osborne’s to talk with him about my debt, but he was not at home. Bett Mepham drank tea with my wife.

In the evening I heard that Edmund Elphick was absconded, who is about £5 in my debt, and myself and Master Hook walked down to talk with John Browne about it, and we found the report to be true, for my advantage. We came home about 9:20. Master Hook supped with us. In the evening wrote my London letters…

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Thomas Davy, myself and Mr Long set out with an intent to go to Chiddingly Church, but when we got almost there we found there was no teaching. We came back again immediately. Mr Long dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of some boiled mutton and turnips. My wife, self and servant at church in the afternoon… In the evening read three of Tillotson’s sermons.

…After dinner I went to Lewes. I paid Messrs Richards and Comber… Mr Faulkner Bristow… and Mr John Madgwick… Paid Mrs Mary Roase one bill on Mr William Margesson… value 11.18.0 in full on my account to the 1st instant. Came home about 6:20…

After breakfast I rode over to Framfield, but finding my brother was came to Hoathly, I immediately came home. My brother dined with us on some pork bones boiled, some mutton boiled, and the broth, with turnips and potatoes. Rec’d of my brother in cash 1.14.1½ for

19 lbs pepper at 14½	1.2.11½
2 gallons brandy	0.11.2

Paid Mr Sam Beckett in cash 2.8.0, it being in full for the same sum paid the 23rd instant to James Baird Esq on account of Lieut Alexander Whitfield. At home all day and very little to do. Our servant sat up with William Vine.

Rec’d of Mr Porter 4/9 in full on account of Mr Alexander Whitfield. Richard Fuller carried my wife down to Mr French’s to dinner… About 7:40 Master Durrant and I walked down to Mr French’s, where I played at brag till suppertime. My wife and I lost 3/7. I supped there on some roast ducks and roast chickens, part of a cold boiled buttock of beef, cold ham, a cold chicken pasty, tarts, puffs etc., in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Joseph Durrant and his wife, Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Ms Virgoe and Mrs Atkins, William and John Piper.

We came home about 3:20 and thank God very sober, as was all the company (except Dame Durrant). But I must own it grieves me to lose so much money, and especially as I think it wrong, nor would I ever play, were it not upon the account of being sneered at by the company; not that I think it a crime to play at cards, no farther than the consequences accruing therefrom. As for tradesmen to lose anything considerable, it is a-lessening the stock-in-trade and perhaps injuring the creditors. My wife and I gave Mr French’s maid 6d each.

…Rec’d of John Stapley by the payment of his servant boy 19/6 in full on account of the widow Virgoe, and which I am to give her account credit for between her and me… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of same boiled mutton and turnips.

This day balanced accounts with the widow Virgoe and outset all the money I have received upon her account, as also the guinea I borrowed of her the 20th June, 1758, and there remains due to me the sum of 7/6… Rec’d 2/4 for more of Mr Whitfield’s goods which I sold today. At home all day, and but very little to do.