Thomas Turner

This day received of John Browne 8.5.10 in full on account of Mr James Hutson; viz.,

Mr James Hutson Dr.
To a bill of sundry goods delivered	12.10.10¼
Per Contra Cr.
Rec’d by 31 weeks’ horse-keeping	2.11.0
Do. by wood and faggots	1.14.0
Do. By cash today	8.5.0
	12.10.10

A journeyman carpenter at work for me today a-jobbing; he dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. This day we had a very fine shower, which appears to be very seasonable, there having been almost a continual drought for near 10 weeks past. Paid James Marchant the 5/- borrowed of him on Saturday last. Paid the carpenter 2/-.

At home all day, and my wife very ill. A melancholy time; trade very dull, and my wife very ill. But this, is the hand of God; therefore I hope to bear it patiently, knowing that our manifold wickednesses deserve many and great afflictions. Oh, may those misfortunes have that effect upon us which they should have upon all mankind and that they may rouse us from a supine and lethargic state of life unto a state of holiness and that we may have a just sense of our past follies and say with holy David that it is good for us that we have been afflicted; that we may learn thy statutes. The gardener at Halland made my wife a present of some garden beans.

Paid John Seaman 1.0.11 for 33½ lbs wool received from him today. We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some garden beans. Mr Mason of Eastbourne called on me [according to a previous] letter sent him some time since in order to treat with Mr Elless and myself about instructing us in the art of land-measuring. Now it is very probable the busy world may be greatly concerned to know what I can want to learn to measure land for, and I myself can give no other reason than as my trade is very bad and misfortunes attend me, and I have at present no other prospect than that of an approaching state of poverty, therefore I humbly hope this may one time or other be of some service to me. And should it so happen that it is not, I hope it will never be of any disservice but only the small expense of learning the same.

My wife continues very ill. In the evening read part of the 11th book of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

In the morning Mr Mason called on me again; I gave him 2/6 for his journey of coming. And whenever he has a farm to measure and map, or if we can get one, he will then instruct us. If it is a farm that he has to measure, then we are to give him 10/6 per week each, but if we can get one, then he is to instruct us gratis; that is, for only the expenses of measuring the said land.

We dined on the remains of Sunday and yesterday’s dinners. Mr Stone paid my wife another visit today. This day a match of cricket was played on our common between this parish and Waldron; our parish were victors, they having 8 wickets to go down. At home all day. In the afternoon at work in my garden. In the evening read the 12th and last book of Milton’s Paradise Lost, which I have now read twice through and in any opinion it exceeds anything I ever read for sublimity of language and beauty of similes. And I think the depravity of human nature entailed upon us by our first parent is finely drawn.

My brother came over in the forenoon to see us and stayed… till near 6 o’clock. Paid John Streeter the post 10d for 2 lemons, 1 oz sago and 1 mackerel which he bought in Lewes for me today. At home all day and but very little to do. In the day read Thomson’s “Spring”. My wife continues very ill. This day the boys of Chiddingly and our parish played at cricket on our common, when the boys of our parish came off victors; having 5 wickets to go down.

In the forenoon tolerable busy. We dined on a boiled mackerel, a piece of bacon and green salad. At home all day. Sawed some wood. In the-evening read part of Thomson’s Seasons and in the day read part of The Peerage of England. My wife continues very ill though thank God much better.

We dined on a light pudding and the remains of, yesterday’s dinner. Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Thomas 21d for part of a loin of veal received by him today, weighing 6 lbs. At home all day; very little to do. In the day read part of The Peerage of England, and in the evening part of Thomson’s “Summer”. My wife much better.

Myself at church in the morning (my wife and girl staying at home)… We dined on a veal pudding, a raisin suet pudding and gooseberry pie. Myself and girl at church in the afternoon… In the afternoon Richard Trill of this parish was buried, aged 70 years, a person who has lain bed-rid with the palsy these three years past. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read part of Sherlock on judgment. At home all day except being at church.

Sent Mr Sam Durrant in Lewes (by John Streeter the post) in cash £28 in order for him to send me a bill in the lieu thereof… Paid the widow Carter (by John Seaman) in cash 14/10 for wool received by him today. Paid him also 18d in full for some wool of his own… Rec’d back by the post from Mr Sam Durrant one bill on Sir Joseph Hankey and Partners… Paid the post 3d for some prawns. At home all day, but very little to do. In the afternoon posted my day book whereby I find I have entered in my book since I posted last, which was the 25th ult., between 11 and 12 pounds. Oh, melancholy work! The long credit that I am obliged to give must greatly hurt my trade.

This day I saw in the Lewes Journal, which was an extract from the Gazette, that our troops under the command of the Duke of Marlborough had landed at St Malo in the province of Brittany (in France) and had burnt and otherwise destroyed 137 vessels of all denominations; that is, one man-of-war of 50 guns, about 30 privateers from 30 to 14 guns, a great number of merchants and some small craft. And that after destroying the above vessels, he reembarked his men without any loss (in the reembarkation) in order to proceed according to his instructions. It is conjectured that they are to proceed to attack Brest or Rochefort. This success of our army must doubtless greatly weaken and distress the French (who I believe are already in a very poor state), but yet should there be nothing more done, I do not imagine this to be a loss to the French nation adequate to the charge which our nation are at in fitting out and equipping such a fleet as went upon this expedition, though still I think it is acting the more humane part than burning and destroying of a town and thereby destroy, ruin and take away the lives of thousands of poor innocent wretches that perhaps never did or thought of any hurt to the British nation.

Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read part of Thomson’s “Summer”.

This is my birthday and the day on which I enter into the thirtieth year of my age. How many were they have arrived at this age have been cut off and taken out of this world, probably in the midst of their sins; therefore as it has pleased the almighty Disposer of all events to give me my health and life. How careful should I be that I live not in vain. As I daily increase in age, so may I also improve and increase in all virtue and godliness of life, for if we only look back and reflect upon the time that is past, we shall find he that lives to the greatest age will have room to say with holy psalmist that our days are passed as it were a tale that is told. Therefore my sincere wish is that I may ever endeavor to lay hold on the present minute, that when my exit shall be, I may evermore live a life of happiness and bliss.

Borrowed of the widow Virgoe in cash today 1.1.0. Mr Sam Beckett the carrier made me a present of three mackerel. We dined on some veal boiled, with green salad. After dinner my brother came over, and I rode behind him to Eason’s Green (where there was a cricket match a-playing between Framfield and Isfield). I left my brother there and walked to Framfield where I stayed and drank tea with my mother and came back again to Eason’s Green, where I stayed to see the end of the match. Framfield beat their antagonists at one innings (though there were two played). I came home about 8:40. My wife in my absence paid Mr Daniel Beard 2.1.0 in full; that is, 1.15.0 on account for Mr Joseph Burgess and 6/- on my own account.

About 10:10 my brother came over upon the mare and immediately my wife set out for Hartfield (Daniel Wicker carrying her) to see her sister, who is like to live but a very little time… So soon as I had dined, I set out for Lewes on a horse of Mr Burgess’s in order to let Mr Lee the house of Mrs Virgoe’s, which I accordingly did for 5 years at £16 per year, and for him to enter upon it at St Michael next… I called on Mr Madgwick, Mrs Roase and Mr Will Bennett. I came home sober about 8:20…