Thomas Turner

…Thomas Fuller Junior made me a present of a fine young hare. Paid William Turley today as under:

To 5 axes	0.10.0
To 4 Handbills	0.6.0
To 1 do.	0.1.8
	0.17.8
Allowed me for selling	0.1.6
	0.16.2

which is in full of all accounts except two handbills which I have left. At home all day. In the evening read part of Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio.

In the morning my wife and self both at church… We had a form of thanksgiving read today on the account of the taking of the harbor of Louisburg and Island of Cape Breton etc. We dined on the remains of Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s dinners with the addition of some garden beans and bacon. My wife and self both at church in the afternoon… In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, In the evening and the day read part of Sherlock on judgment and part of one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…In the evening Mr Richard Sterry and Mr Neatby called on me; they supped with me, and then we went down to Jones’s, where we stayed about an hour. About 11 o’clock we had a severe shower of rain with some claps of thunder and several flashes of lightning. Mr Sterry and Mr Neatby both lodged at our house, and in the evening I settled accounts with Mr Sterry…

Mr Sterry and Mr Neatby breakfasted with us and went away as soon as they had breakfasted… About 10:20 I set out for Lewes where I dined with Mr Thomas Scrase on a shoulder of mutton, French beans and a butter pudding cake. Balanced accounts with Mr Thomas Friend and received of him one bill on Messrs Cue and Rutt… value £60, in full, which bill I sent Messrs Margesson and Collison by Wade the Lewes carrier in a letter of Mr Madgwick’s… Rec’d of Mr Henry Burtenshaw 2.17.0 in full; viz.,

To money he received for me of Mr Isaac Hook in full	6.19.0
To expenses attending arresting Thomas Darby etc.	4.1.0
To writing a letter to Mr Hook	o.1.0
To money received of him today	2.17.0
	6.19.0

I also received of Mr Henry Burtenshaw a bond and a bill of sale from Thomas Darby as a security for his debt. The bond was for £22 and the bill of sale as a collateral security for the same. My bill on Darby [???], and the charges being 4.1.0, the security was given me for £22… I met at Lewes Mr Gadsden, where we stayed tippling so long that I was constrained to stay at the White Horse all night…

Came home in the morning about 6:20… 0h, how do I lament my misconduct! Sure I must be one of the worst of fellows, so often as I have been overtaken in liquor, that I still must remain so silly as I know even the smell of liquor almost makes me drunk–that I should have no more resolution. What shall I do? I am even as it were drove to distraction. It is true my trouble is very great in regard to family misunderstandings, that when I am a-drinking my thoughts are elevated to such a degree that I have no guard upon my actions, But still this is making that which is already too bad worse, and at the same time it is what I so much detest and abhor. Oh, how unhappy am I that I have no more resolution! How much greater is the glory to have a just command of one’s actions than all the knowledge in the world besides. Oh, how frail are mortal beings! How much do we stand in need of the divine assistance of grace, and how do we by our manifold transgressions grieve the Holy Spirit! Oh, the torments of a wounded conscience! How can I expect mercy that have so often broken my resolution of becoming a better Christian, and especially when I think of the goodness of God to me that I have never lost my life in such a condition? Let me ever and incessantly implore the divine grace to guide my weak and frail endeavors that I may overcome sin and that wicked one which too, ah! too plainly dwells in me. Oh, much should my meditation be taken up in meditating on and bewailing my sinful course of life. I hope I may yet with the assistance of divine grace one day conquer my unruly passions, for without that I am sensible I can do no good thing.

Dame Durrant dined with us on a hare roasted… My wife a-picking of hops for Joseph Fuller in the afternoon, and I drank tea at Mrs Weller’s. Oh, the insuperable burden of a wounded conscience!

…After dinner rode to Fielder’s kiln to look upon some tiles. At home all day except going there, and tormented even to despair by my unpardonable folly. Read part of Salmon On Marriage. Very busy all day.

…Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening. How am I tormented with the reflections of my past actions! Oh, sure it is meet to be said if I done amiss, I will do so no more, which God grant I may not. Then shall I once more know peace and quietness in the inward parts.

At home all day. In the afternoon posted my day book. We dined on a hand of pork boiled and some carrots. Oh, my troubled mind feels but little comfort. Dame Watford drank tea at our house in the afternoon.

In the morning my wife and self at church… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some onion sauce. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Chiddingly. My wife and self drank tea at Master Durrant’s. In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

…In the afternoon walked down to Richard Page’s. Lent John Streeter the post in cash 1.1.0… I gave my brother 8d, it being the half of the packing fleece given us by Mr Peckham., My wife drank tea at Mrs Weller’s. In the evening sent down to Jones’s to a public vestry where was Mr Piper, Joseph and Thomas Fuller, Richard Page and myself. We came home about 9:40. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening…