Thomas Turner

…We dined off boiled mutton, potatoes and turnips. At home all day. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening.

We dined on some boiled mutton, potatoes and turnips. Rec’d of John Vine Jr the £3 lent him the 5th instant, and gave him his note… At home all day. In the evening Mr Thornton and I played at cribbage; I lost 2d.

…Mr Mason drank tea at our house. At home all day. Though not very busy.

My wife, self and servant at church in the morning. We had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Thomas Hurdis, curate of Laughton (Mr Porter administering the communion at Laughton), from the 24th verse of the 118th Psalm: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

We dined on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding, turnips and potatoes. In the afternoon my wife, self and servant went out for church, but, meeting with Mr George Beard of Chailey, I came back with him and stayed at home to accompany him, who stayed with us till about 4:20. Mr Mason and Joseph Fuller Jr drank tea at our house. In the evening and the day read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the forenoon my cousin Charles Hill came to see me and dined with us on a shoulder of mutton roasted, a light and bread pudding and potatoes. In the afternoon we went out for a walk and called in at Mr French’s, when I paid Mrs French 5/3 in full for the remains of Mr French’s hop-money which Mr Tomlin advises he has [been] paid to Mr Will Margesson on my account (and is in full for the mistake Mr Tomlin made) (see the 5th instant). We called in also at Mr Sam Gibbs’s and stayed some little time. We came back and drank coffee.

Mr Hill and Joseph Fuller Jr spent the evening with us and stayed all night, that is, only Mr Hill. We played at cribbage; I won 2d… Rec’d of John Midmire [10/-] on account, which is all gain and more than I ever thought of having of him. Thank God very busy most part of the day.

My cousin Hill, having been a surgeon on board a man of war, as also a letter of marque to Jamaica, entertained us in the evening with some of the incidents he met with in his voyages, but all in a modest manner, very unlike most modern travellers.

After breakfast my [cousin] Hill and I took a walk and then we came home and dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some potatoes. After dinner Mr Hill went home and I went to bring [him] on the road about 2 miles. Paid Joseph Fuller 19d, which is 1d too much for the leg of mutton received yesterday. Thank God indifferently busy all day.

After breakfast rode over to Framfield and settled accounts with my brother, and there remains due to me on the account of goods from my mother, deceased, the sum of 11.15.2, and then my brother and I balanced our accounts and there remains due to me on the account of goods the sum of 12.10.2. I dined at my brother’s on some part of a loin of veal warmed and some broiled eels… I stayed and drank tea at my brother’s, and came home about 5:30.

We dined on the remains of Monday’s dinner, with the addition of some beefsteaks fried. Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 3d for 1 lb beef suet received by him this evening. At home all day and thank God pretty busy. Joseph Fuller smoked a pipe or 2 with me in the evening. In the evening read part of Pope’s Dunciad. My wife very ill again.

…At home all day and thank God pretty busy. My wife very ill.

Lent John Jones by Winifred Akehurst in cash 1.1.0. Paid Joseph Fuller 12d for a part of a foreloin of pork, weighing 3½ lbs at 3½d per lb received of him today… Paid John Gosling Jr as under:

To 2 cwt 1 qr 26 lbs of rags which he sold for me at Maidstone fair at 31/6 per cwt	3.18.3
In cash today	0.0.6
	3.18.9
Per contra Cr.
To 2 cwt 3 qr 2½ lbs Cheshire cheese rec’d by him today at 27/-	3.14.10½
Carriage of rags	0.3.9
	3.18.7½

I then paid him in cash 0.12.10½ which was for a mistake made the 22^nd June last. I then received of him 1½ hundred of sugar at 50/- instead of 1¼ hundred, which with the carriage is 12/10½. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the afternoon my brother came over and borrowed my horse to go to Lewes upon. In the evening read the extraordinary Gazette for Wednesday, which gives on account of our army in America, under the command of General Wolfe, beating the French army under General Montcalm (near the city of Quebec), wherein both the generals were killed, as also two more of the French generals, and the English General Monckton, who took the command after General Wolfe was killed, was shot through the body, but is like to do very well; as also the surrender of the city of Quebec, with the articles of capitulation.

Oh what pleasure is it to every true Briton to see with what success it pleases Almighty God to bless his Majesty’s arms with, they having success at this time in Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and I think in this affair our generals, officers and common men have behaved with uncommon courage and resolution, having many and great difficulties to encounter before they could bring the city to surrender.