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We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day, and but little to do. Joseph Fuller Jr and Mr Thornton smoked a pipe with me in the evening. Oh how pleasant has this Christmas been kept as yet, no revelling nor tumultuous meetings where there too often is little else but light and trifling discourse, no ways calculated for improvement; and it’s well if it’s not intermixed with some obscene talk and too often with vile and execrable oaths. Not that I am anyways an enemy to innocent mirth, but what I protest against is that which is not so.

Sent Mr Will Margesson enclosed in a letter by Beckett and Shelley (delivered to Shelley) the bill I received yesterday of my brother from Mr Sem Durrant, value £105. Also sent Mr John Crouch enclosed in a letter by Beckett and Shelley (delivered to Shelley) one bill on Mr William Margesson, dated today, 30 days’ date, No. 421, value £10. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of a light pudding, turnips and potatoes. Charles Diggens drank tea with us. Gave Master Darby’s apprentice 4d to his Xtmas Box. In the evening wrote out Mr Coates’s bill…

In the morning my brothers Moses and Richard came to see me, and breakfasted with me… my brothers went away as soon as they had breakfasted… In the evening balanced accounts with Mr Whitfield, and received of him 14/1 in full, having outset 0.1.10½ for Philip’s schooling.

In the morning John Durrant Jr bleeded my wife, for performing of which I gave him 6d. No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. We dined on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner with the addition of a raisin suet pudding. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read 4 of Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Francis Elless lodged at our house. about 11:50 at night we had a violent storm of wind and rain etc., and according to the report of some a good deal of thunder and lightning.

My brother came over in the morning to borrow my horse to go to Lewes upon. I gave [him] in cash £105 to get of Mr Sam Durrant a bill for me of the same value… Gave John Streeter the post 2/- for his Christmas box; that is, 12d which I gave him last year and which he returned again, thinking it not enough, and 12d for this year. Gave 12d to the carrier’s servant for his Christmas box. At home all day, but far from being busy. A thorough wet day.

After breakfast I set out for Lewes where I dined with Mr Faulkner Bristow on some roast beef, broiled sausage and cold spare-rib (my family at home dining on the remains of Tuesday’s dinner, as did James Awcock and Thomas Durrant and my brother). My brother stayed and kept my wife company till nearly 4 o’clock…

Paid Mr Faulkner Bristow 19/- in full and then paid him 12/- in full for ¼ cwt of currants bought of him today… Rec’d of Mr Plumer 3/- in full for 2 lbs of Battle powder charged in my last account more than I had. Rec’d of Mr Will Lee in cash 9.10 0 which with taxes etc. outset is in full for one year’s rent due at St Michael last to Mrs Virgoe; viz.,

Mr Lee Dr.
for 1 year’s rent	16.0.0
Per contra Cr,
To one year’s land tax due Lady Day 1758	3.0.0
To 1 year’s do. due Lady Day 1759	2.12.0
To 2 year’s insurance due Xtmas, 1760	0.18.0
Rec’d in cash	9.10.0
	16.0.0

Paid Robert Rice on account of his father Will Rice in cash £5 for Mrs Virgoe and gave him a bill on Mr William Lee, 10 days after date, for 3.7.0 in full for a quarter’s rent (when the 13/- for a quarter’s land tax is outset) due at Christmas just past… Spent 2d only on my own account for the turnpike. Came home very sober about 6:20.

After I came home, went down to Mr Porter’s and balanced accounts with him and received of him in cash 69.15.6 in full to this day. Stayed and supped there and came home about 10:50. Gave Winifred Akehurst 6d to her Christmas box.

Mr Elless breakfasted with us. My brother Will came over in the forenoon and dined with us… At home all day, but not very busy. My brother stayed all night.

Balanced accounts with Mr Will Piper and paid him in cash 15/3½ and by a book debt 6/8½, which together makes the sum of 1.2.0, and is in full for 2 sacks of oats… In the forenoon my brother came over and borrowed my horse. He came back and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.

In the evening I went into Joseph Durrant’s to smoke a pipe with Mr Thornton, where were Joseph Fuller Jr and Mr Elless. We stayed until near 3:20 when I came home sober. Mr Elless came and lodged at our house. I think I never spent an evening with less pleasure in my life, most of the company being in liquor, and very indifferent company, some before they were in liquor and some afterward, though if I speak truly I think universal good nature did not abound.

Gave the following boys as under for box money:

Stephen Starnes	0.0.6
Richard Fuller	0.0.6
Robert Hook	0.0.3
Henry Vine	0.0.6
Isaac Turner	0.0.6
	0.2.3

Paid Joseph Fuller 4/- for highway tax.

My wife and self at church in the morning, the text in the latter part of the 26th verse of the 9th chapter, Epistle of Hebrews: “…But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” My wife and I both stayed the communion; we gave 6d each. The widow Marchant, James Marchant and Elizabeth Mepham dined with us on a buttock of beef, a raisin suet pudding, turnips and potatoes. They stayed and drank tea with us.

…At home all day, but not very busy. Mr Elless at our house a while in the evening… Gave Dame Horsecraft’s girl, whom I serve in spirituous liquors, 12d in goods to her Christmas box.