Thomas Turner

After breakfast my brother went home… Gave Daniel Wicker 12d for carrying my wife yesterday. Thomas Cornwell a-gardening for me about 2 hours; he dined with us on the remains of Tuesday and yesterday’s dinners. Rec’d of John Jenner of Hailsham 3 hats at 15d, 20d, 24d, 30d and 36/-, which amounts to 1.11.3 [?]. I paid him by a book debt and goods 2.7.9, which is 16/6 more than the hats came to, for which sum he is to send me 3 hats at 3/6 and 3 at 2/-…

In the evening about 10:10 my brother came over again; he supped and stayed with us all night. A very lonely time, having nobody all the day but a poor, wild girl to take care of the household affairs. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. In the day read part of Wiseman’s Chyrurgery.

As soon as we arose, my brother went away home. I paid him the 9/6 borrowed of him the 21st instant. We dined on a piece of bacon boiled… In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. I gave him one pair hose value 0.3.8 for the many journeys he has been for me and many other jobs and kind offices be has done for me, for which he would never take no money.

…Prodigious uneasy to think my wife did not come home according to her appointment, which was last night, neither for my brother to come over as he promised. It quite astonishes me to see how I am as it were deserted by all my friends, though it is no other than what I have seen approaching those 5 years past (and better). But, however, what to attribute the coldness and indifference with which I am treated by my friends and relations I am at a loss to guess. Sometimes I think I must be a prodigy that all my relations in general seem to be so indifferent to me, but when I come to take a more nearer view, I can find among the greatest part of their behavior something of self-interest intermixed with it, to which if we add that easy temper of mine; that is, easy to be imposed upon, I believe it will easily solve the appearing oddity; so that I shall find I have nought to trust to except the divine Providence and my own industry…

About 1:20 my brother Sam Slater brought home my wife and dined with us on some veal and bacon fried… At home all day. John Hesman supped with us.

My wife and self at church in the morning… We dined on a piece of bacon and some veal boiled and a light pudding and gooseberry pie. Myself, wife and girl at church in the afternoon… After churchtime myself and wife took a walk. In the evening and the day read part of Sherlock on judgment.

In the morning Mr Will Piper brought me in cash 9.12.0 and by sundry bills of repairs and land tax receipt 4.6.0, which makes together the sum 13.18.0, which he desired I would send by the carrier tomorrow to Mr Allen Chatfield, distiller in Croydon, it being in full for 1 year’s rent due at Lady Day last to Mrs Mary Mills at Carshalton; Viz.,

James Fielder’s bill	0.4.4
John Vine’s do.	0.10.0
John Potter’s do.	0.8.9
Mr Piper’s do.	0.11.11
Joseph Durrant’s do.	0.3.0
1 year’s land tax	2.8.0
3 thirty-six shilling pieces	5.8.0
2 twenty-seven [shilling] pieces	2.14.0
1 guinea	1..1.0
9 shillings	0.9.0

I gave Mr Piper my note for the money until he has his receipt. In the forenoon I was sent for down to Mr Porter’s, where I got myself pretty well huffed for only my looks, which I think verifies the old proverb that a man’s looks will hang him; though if mine was deserving of blame, it was innocently. The case was this: Some time ago Mr Porter desired I would send for a Suffolk cheese for him, which I accordingly did. After he had had it some time, he sent for me and desired I would take half of it again and he would allow me, for he did no ways desire I should be a loser by it. Now I readily took it without any the least reluctance, no-ways thinking, as he asked me to take but half, that I must offer to take the whole (which I believe was his quarrel against me). So if my looks deserved blame, it was contrary to my inclination and therefore of consequence innocently; though I believe if I had understood Mr Porter’s language; that is, the tongue to speak a different language from what the intentions of the heart are, and had offered to take the whole, all had been well. But however after he had vented his passion, he gave me orders for a coat…

After dinner I set out for Lewes on my mare, where I bought 2 3/8 yds of superfine cloth of Mr Madgwick (for Mr Porter), for which I paid him 38/-. Came home by Mr Goad’s at Laughton where I looked upon his and Mr Sam Gibbs’s wool, and I am to have Goad’s at 7½d if I buy Mr Gibbs’s. I called on Mr Gibbs’s, but he was not at home. I came home about 7:50 and had never eaten nor drunk the time I was gone. In the evening wrote my London letter. My brother came over in the morning, but did not stay.

…Sent the money and receipts etc. to Mr Allen Chatfield by Mr Shelley which Mr Piper gave me yesterday. I tied it up all together in a paper and gave it the carrier, telling him what it was… In the evening Mr Elless and I walked down to John Cayley’s to buy some butter of him, but he was not at home. Came home sbout 8:05. In the evening read part of Thomson’s “Summer” and “Autumn”.

In the forenoon went down and looked at Mr French’s wool and agreed to give him 21/- per tod. Came home about 11:05… My brother came over in the afternoon and brought my colt and took home the mare. At home all day, but very little to do. In the evening read part of Thomson’s “Autumn” and part of his “Winter”. In the day read part of The Peerage of England. Paid a glover that lodges at Prall’s 2/6 for mending a pair breeches.

…In the forenoon I wrote out Mr Coates’s bill. We dined on some beans and bacon and a raisin suet pudding. In the afternoon my wife went down to see Mrs French. This day we had a rejoicing by ringing the bells etc. for a victory gained over the French by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick near the lower Rhine, the particulars of which are not yet arrived, and Mr Coates this day gave me an invitation to come down tomorrow night to see him in order to rejoice there on this occasion. I think this is not the proper way of rejoicing on such occasions, for I doubt there is little thought of returning thanks to Him that gives success in war. But I think it is more probable to be guilty of what we know not to be right by getting in liquor and being guilty of indecencies thereby.

In the forenoon rode down to John Cayley’s to buy a tub of butter, but be could not assure me to put one up for me. I called at Mr John Vine’s and looked at his wool and left word with Mrs Vine I would give 7d per 1b for it.

I think I have a very great dread upon my spirits about tonight’s entertainment, for as I drink anything strong so seldom, I am thoroughly sensible a very little will make me drunk. Oh, a melancholy thing to deprive oneself of reason and even to render ourselves beasts! But what can I do in this affair? If I stay at home, I shall be stigmatized with the name of being a poor proud ill-natured wretch, and perhaps disoblige Mr Coates. And if I go, I must drink just as they please, or otherwise I shall be called a poor singular fellow; so I must be guilty of an indecency to please the multitude…

Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 1.14.5, it being for the same sum which he paid in London for me this week… In the afternoon my wife went up to Mr Piper’s with a gown for Mrs Piper, and about 5:20 I went down to Halland where, after casting up a large account of wood, faggots etc. for Mr Coates, I entered the list of drinkers. Our company were Mr Coates, the Rev Mr Porter, the Rev Mr Fletcher, Mr Robert Turner, Mr Will Shoesmith, Mr James Shoesmith, Mr Sam Gibbs, Mr John Goldsmith, Mr Robert Saxby, Mr Jeremiah French, Mr Joseph Fuller, Mr Thomas Fuller, Mr Will Piper, Mr Joseph Burgess, Mr John Clinch, Mr Calverley, Mr Francis Elless, Mr Richard Bridgman, Joseph Durrant and myself. We supped with Mr Coates on two pieces of cold roast beef, a cold roast [rib] of lamb, a cold chicken pasty and green salad. We drank health and success to his Majesty and the royal family, the King of Prussia, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, Lord Anson, his Grace the Duke of Newcastle and his duchess, Lord Abergavenny, Admiral Boscawen, Mr Pelham of Stanmer, the Earl of Ancram, the Earl of Ashburnham, Lord Gage, Marshal Keith and several more loyal healths. But about 10:10, finding myself to begin to be in liquor, and finding it impossible to sit there without drinking off bumpers as fast as could well be poured out, I deserted and came safe home, but, to my shame do I mention it, very much in liquor; though I have this to extenuate my crime, that it was with greatest reluctance I entered the list, and nothing but the fear of disobliging could ever have prevailed on me to have gone. And I think I made all the efforts I could to evade drinking, though all proved ineffectual. Before I came away I think I my say there was not one sober person in company, though some more so than others, for I was the fifth that deserted.

Now let us seriously reflect upon this transaction and look upon things in their proper light. I doubt not but we shall find it a very improper way of rejoicing, for instead of rejoicing in spirit and giving thanks and praises to Him that has given our armies success in battle, we have, as it must appear to any considerate person, been endeavoring to draw down vengeance and misfortunes from heaven upon our armies. For if there is a God (as undoubtedly there is), and one who delights in that which is good, then the crime of drunkenness and the many oaths and execrations that often resounded from all sides of the table could never be pleasing in his sight. Oh, the depravity of human nature! When will poor mortal man learn to be wise and think justly of his latter end? Sure the degeneracy of this present age must almost startle anyone that would but make a stop and consider duly the eternal torments which are pronounced against wickedness and impiety.

Rec’d back by the carrier a receipt from Mr Allen Chatfield in lieu of the money sent him the 27^th on account of Mrs Mills for Mr Piper. Sent Mr Piper the receipt, but have not had my note.

Terrible bad with the headache. In the morning John Watford a-mowing my court and orchard; he breakfasted with us. In the forenoon rode over to Framfield. I dined at my mother’s on a hot veal pie… Thomas Cornwell made my wife a present of 2 fine carp, for which she gave him 12d. Mr Blackwell, a paper-maker, called on me today, to whom I gave an order. Very bad all day, though no more than I deserve…