Thomas Turner

Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 2/11½ for 1 shoulder veal, weight 9½ lbs at 3d, and 1 loin of lamb, 2 lbs at 3½d, both which I received today. We dined on the loin of lamb roasted in the oven with a batter pudding under it. In the afternoon my brother went to Lewes, and I paid him, in cash 2/3½ for money he paid there for me; viz.,

To 1 pair stirrup irons	0.1.6
To 6 mustard pot	0.0.7
To turnpike	0.0.2½

Down at Halland today 6 times. This day the Duke of Newcastle came to Halland. In the day read part of the supplement to The Universal Magazine. Mrs Roase sent us by my brother 2 fine plaice.

In the morning my wife, self, nephew Mr and Mrs Beard, Dame Weller and Master Weller and their daughter went down to Halland to see some turtles. We saw 2, one of which weighed 367 lbs. My brother rode over to Framfield in the morning. Myself and Ann Slater at church in the morning, and while we were at church, my brother and mother came to our house, and both of them came to church… My mother and brother dined with us on the best end of a shoulder of veal roasted, the knuckle boiled and a piece of bacon, a currant. rice pudding, 2 plaice fried and carrots, pickles etc.

This being a public day at Halland, I spent about 3 hours there in the afternoon from about 5 to 8 in company with several of our neighbors. There was a great company of people of all denominations from a duke to a beggar. Among the rest of the nobility were his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, the Hon Lord Cholmondely, Lord Gage, the Earl of Ashburnham, Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, Mr Justice Denison and a great number of gentlemen.

My cousin Potter drank tea with my wife, as did my mother. My mother and brother went home about 7:30. I was down at Halland three times today. What a small pleasure it is to be in such a concourse of people, 1 hour spent in solitude being worth more, in my private opinion, than a whole day in such tumult, there being nothing but vanity and tumult in such public assemblies, and their mirth being rather obstreperous, than serious and agreeable! 0, how silly is mankind to delight so much in vanity and transitory joys, which, instead of leaving a lasting joy behind, must only leave a sting to continually gnaw the consciences of us poor deluded mortals.

…Down at Halland once. This day the assizes held at Lewes before the Rt Hon Lord Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench, and Mr Justice Denison. 8 prisoners were tried; viz., Thomas Sheather and Robert Rutley for violently assaulting, beating and abusing Robert Dunk and Anthony Goddard on the King’s highway, and taking from them 25 sacks of wheat, value £40; Sheather was acquitted and Rutley found guilty—death; the judge reprieved him before he left the town; Henry Boxall, concerned in a riot–to be transported for 7 years; John Smith, Richard Hopkins and John Hawkins, concerned in riots–acquitted, nobody appearing against them; Jonathan Evans for stealing a bed-tick, bolster etc. was discharged by proclamation; John Ayling, attained at the assizes before, was ordered to be transported for 14years.

At home all day. My brother came over… and mended a frock for me and went home about 6:30. This day I lent my mare to Mr Coates for some of the Duke’s servants to ride to Bishopstone upon. Read part of Martin’s Theological Library of Literary Arts and Sciences. Very busy all day.

…Myself, wife and maid down Halland five times today. At home all day. Read part of The Universal Magazine for July. Posted my day book and wrote out several bills.

In the morning my brother came riding over on my colt and dined with us on kidney and heart pudding, a plain butter pudding cake and carrots. After dinner my brother on my mare and myself on my colt rode to Bayley’s Lane, where we bought some earthenware. From thence we went by Wilmington to Alfriston in order for my brother to have Mr Snelling’s further advice on his eyes, but he being not home, we went to the Star where we baited our horses and drank a half pint of wine. We spent 12d, but I having no money, my brother paid all. We came home about 9:10. My brother had both the horses home with him in order for him and my sister to go to the races upon (but I pay for keeping them).

In the morning went down to Halland with my, bill and delivered to Mr John Greening one bill from the 8 September, 1755 to [this day, amounting to] 60.1.6, for which sum I received of Mr John Greening in silver 18d and a bill… in full of all demands due to me from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle to this day.

We dined on a bullock’s heart pudding, a piece of pork and carrots This day being the first race-day at Lewes, about 4:25 my sister Ann Slater and I (upon a horse borrowed of Mr French) rode to Lewes where we arrived just as the people came from the hill. We went in to see the ball, which, in my opinion, was an extreme pretty sight. I went down and smoked one pipe with Mr George Verral in company with my brother Moses and Will Bennett. My sister and I came home about 2 o’clock… This day the King’s Plate of £100 was run for on Lewes Hill by Mr Warren’s horse Careless and Mr Rogers’s horse Newcastle Jack. It was won by Careless, the other being drawn after the first heat. ‘Tis said there were £100 laid by the grooms that Careless beat the other six-score yards, which he did. My wife in my absence today paid Mr Sam Beckett, carrier, 12/6…

At home all day… At work in my garden and sawing of wood part of the day. In the evening read part of The Universal Magazine for July. This day the Subscription Plate of £50 was run for on Lewes Downs when 4 horses started; viz., Lord Eglinton’s bay horse Nothing, Robert Smith’s black mare Frolic, Mr Dye’s bay horse Looby, and George Rogers Esq’s grey mare (or hermaphrodite) Chastity. It was won by Chastity, she winning the two first heats. The two first were distanced and the heats were very good between the other two.

My whole family at church in the morning… We dined on a piece of bacon boiled, a plain batter pudding, an apple pudding and carrots. After dinner our servant went to Framfield in order to go to that church. Myself, wife and my wife’s sister with the 2 boys at church in the afternoon… At home all day. In the evening and in the day read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning my brother came over and breakfasted with us, and after that we packed up my wool, with the assistance of James Marchant’s man… My brother and James Marchant’s man dined with us on a loin of mutton roasted in the oven with a plain batter pudding under it, with the remains of yesterday’s dinner. After dinner my brother and I rode over to Framfield, and, with the help of Charles Diggens, packed up my mother’s wool… I received of my mother in cash 14.2.0, with which (after I had stayed and drunk tea at my mother’s) I called at Mr Peckham’s as I came home and paid him… Mrs Browne drank tea with my wife. This evening we had as violent a tempest of thunder, lightning and rain as almost I ever knew. It began about 6:20 and continued till about 10 o’clock, though I believe the most sharpest part of it was about 9 o’clock. I got home about 5 minutes before it was so severe.