…My wife went down to Halland to dinner… About 7:30 I went down to Halland, where I supped on a cold roast turkey, a breast of veal roasted and hot, part of a cold chicken pasty, some ducks roasted and hot, cold neat’s tongue, tarte etc. in company with Mr and Mrs Porter, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley, Mrs Atkins, Thomas Fuller and Joseph Fuller and his wife. We played at brag in the evening and according to custom my wife and I lost 2/10½. We came home about 2:20, sober. We gave among the servant 12d. 0 cruel fortune!
Wednesday, January 30 1760
After breakfast rode over to Framfield where I dined with my brother on a piece of pork boiled, an apple pudding, turnips and cabbage (my family at home dining on some sausages). After dinner my brother and I went over to Uckfield, he on foot and I on horseback, to consult Mr Thornton what could be the best method to pursue in regard to Elphick’s affair. He was not at home; from thence we went to my uncle Hill’s in order to settle the accounts between him and my brother William, but it not suiting him now, he appointed to come to my house and settle it the 15th day of February. We stayed and spent the evening with my uncle and the doctor till 7:10. I came home thank God very sober about 8:45. Mr John Long and Thomas Davy spent the evening with my wife…
Thursday, January 31 1760
At home all day, and but very little to do… Rec’d of Robert Hook in cash 0.7.6 to send by the post to Mayfield for his and Thomas Davy’s club arrears, tonight being quarterly night, which I accordingly did, as also 3/9 for my own club arrears. I also gave the post 2 brass or bad shillings for things, as under:
For 1 pack cards | 0.1.0 |
1 letter & in cash | 0.0.9 |
0.1.9 |
Posted part of mv day book, and in the evening Charles Diggens came over and he, my wife, myself and Mr Thornton played at whist till 3:40. Hy wife and I not playing together, we lost nothing. Charles Diggens stayed all night.
Friday, February 1 1760
…In the evening my wife went down to Mrs Atkinson’s to drink tea, and about 8:05 I went down. We stayed and supped on some roast chicken, a cold ham, a hot boiled green tongue, a boiled leg of mutton, fried chaps, tarts, cold fine baked puddings etc., in company with Mr Coates, Mr and Mrs Porter, Joseph Fuller and his wife, Mr and Mrs French, Mr Calverley and Thomas Fuller. We played at brag in the evening and according to custom my wife and I lost 2/2½. We came home about 2:20, very sober. My wife and I gave Mrs Atkins’s servant 6d each.
How tired am I of those more-than-midnight revels; how inconsistent is it with the duty of a tradesmen, for how is it possible for him to care for or pursue his business with vigor, industry and pleasure when the body must be disordered by the loss of sleep and perhaps the brain too by the too-great a quantity of liquor which is often drunk at those times, and then can a tradesman gaming have any palliation? No! It is impossible, though it’s true we game more for to pass away time then for thirst of gain, but what a way is it of spending that which is so valuable to mankind? Well may our great poet Mr Young say “When time turns a torment, then man turns a fool.”
Suppose a game of cards innocent in itself, yet the consequences cannot be so if what is commonly called fortune should run against any one at play, that he lose more than his income will allow of, but supposing the person to lose can afford it without any ways in the least incommoding or straitening his circumstances. I say, suppose this case, it cannot be innocent because that sum which anyone can afford to lose he can at the same time afford to dispose of in any other way; then that sum given away in charity must have been a better away in disposing of it. Therefore, if there is a better way to dispose of the money lost, losing it is not right, and then how often are the passions moved in such a manner by a bad run of play, that the more warm of us many times increase at that quality so much as to use oaths and execrations not fit to be heard among Christians.
Saturday, February 2 1760
In the forenoon my brother Will came to see me who dined with us… Paid Sarah Prall 4/- in full for a turkey received of her today. Paid Ben Shelley in cash 8/6 in full for the same sum he paid Mr Russell a fishmonger in full on my account this week. Paid the post 21d in full for 14 oranges and lemons. At home all day. Very little to do. My brother stayed all night.
Sunday, February 3 1760
No service at our church this morning, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Took physic today. We dined on a hog’s clad piece roasted, a plain butter pond pudding and applesauce. Our maid only at church in the afternoon. My brother Will went away about 7:10. My brother Moses and Charles Diggens came over in the evening. They drank tea at our house and stayed till near eleven o’clock.
Monday, February 4 1760
We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… Lent John Cayley in cash 1 guinea. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Charles Diggens called on me in his way from Laughton. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening.
Tuesday, February 5 1760
…Mr and Mrs Porter, Mr Coates, Mr and hires French, Joseph Fuller and his wife, Mr Calverley and John and Will Piper drank tea and supped with us on a turkey roasted, some salt fish, cold dried tongue, potted pigeon, potted beef, cold chicken pasty, cheese cakes, rice pudding, grape tarts, puff etc. We played at brag in the evening; my wife lost 6d.
They stayed till 2:20, and not a person in company sober, and I am sure to my own shame I was as bad as anyone. Oh, I that have been so fortunate as to keep sober everywhere else to be so foolish or at least unfortunate as to be drunk at home, but the company seemed to be wondrously pleased with their entertainment, which exhilarated my spirits that I was transported beyond the natural bounds of my temper, and by that means was left destitute of reflection and caution. Oh, may the God of all goodness give me grace never to be guilty of the same again.
Wednesday, February 6 1760
Paid Richard Braizer by his daughter Mary 7/6 on account of the parish. Mr Charles Hill came to see us in the forenoon, and dined with us on the remains of last night’s supper. He stayed all night. We played at cribbage in the evening; I lost 2d.
Thursday, February 7 1760
Rec’d of Mr Charles Hill one bill on Mr John Bromwich at Gosport, 20 days’ date, dated today, payable to me or order, value 4.13.0 and for which I gave him my note to pay him the same when the bill is paid… After breakfast Mr Hill walked down to Henry Osborne’s with me, where I went to collect in a debt. Mr Hill dined with us on the remains of Tuesday night’s supper, and then went away. Dame Seaman at Framfield, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with my wife.