Thomas Turner

…In the evening wrote my London letters, after which I went down to Mr Porter’s, where I stayed and supped and spent the evening, and stayed until 9:20, but came home not thoroughly sober …Rec’d of the Rev Mr Richard Porter, per order of Mr Benge, and by the payment of Mrs Porter, 4.10.0 in full for one year’s interest due on a note of hand the 15th instant on account of Mr Will Piper deceased.

…Mrs French and Molly dined with me on a goose roasted, a piece of beef boiled, a raisin butter pond pudding, cabbage, turnips and applesauce. They both stayed and drank tea with me. At home all day and very little to do. In the evening read part of a volume of The Spectator. Oh, melancholy, melancholy time. What way to pursue I know not! Let me, oh, let me rest contented and think that whatever is by the appointment of heaven is right, is best… [26 words omitted].

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day; wrote out some bills. A very dull time indeed for trade. In the evening read part of the 2nd volume of The Tatler.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Dame Cornwell drank tea with me. Balanced accounts with John Watford Jr and received of him in cash 1.12.6 in full. In the evening went down to Whyly in order to balance accounts with Mr French, but did not.

I stayed smoking a pipe with Mr French till near 10:20. Mr Porter informed me today that Burrage, who some years ago absconded and left his wife and 6 small children to this parish, was heard of again, and advised the parish officers to send and get him home.

After breakfast Joseph Fuller and I walked down to Halland in order to consult Mr Coates in regard to Burrage’s affair, from whence I went to Bentley and came back and dined with Mr Coates on part of a neck of mutton stewed, and piece of beef dressed a la mode (my servants at home dining on a piece of bacon boiled, a plain suet pudding and turnips)…

Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening, as did Mr French, who poor creature is I think quite stupid through drinking.

Rec’d of Ben Shelley in cash 12/8; viz.,

	Shelley Dr.
	To money delivered to him the 1st instant	50. 0.0
	To money received of Mr Ben Treacher in full for rabbit skins	1.19.8
		51.19.8
	Per Contra Cr.
Dec. 2:	To cash paid Mr Will Margesson on my account	50.0.0
2nd.	To Mr Joseph Goodchild on account of Thomas Overing in lieu of the money received of him the 30th ult	1.7.0
	To cash received today	0.12.8
		51.19.8

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner… At home all day.

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter being ill. One of my servants went to Chiddingly Church. Sam Jenner coming to church, and there being no service, he came in and sat with me, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. I dined on a piece of bacon and pork boiled, a plain pudding and turnips. Myself and servants at church in the afternoon, where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Jones, curate of Waldron, from John 5:39: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

Mr Thornton and Thomas Durrant drank tea with me, to whom I. read two of Tillotson’s sermons… This morning died Ricard Page, after a few days’ illness.

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Pretty busy all day. Oh, how pleasant is a busy, active life!

Sent Ben Shelley, by his servant… £19 in order for him to pay the same in London for me… Mrs Vine the younger drank tea with me and in the evening Mr Sam Gibbs and his wife sat with me an hour or two. At home all day and pretty busy. No getting in any book debts, money being so scarce…

Paid Joseph Fuller in cash 0.4.4, in full for the following meat bought of him today:

1 bullock’s cheek	0.0.10
6 lbs beef	0.1.5½
1 leg of mutton 8 1/4 lbs	0.2.0½

I dined on a piece of beef boiled, a piece of pork and turnips. In the evening went down to Joseph Fuller’s, where I stayed and supped and came home about 10:10. At home all day, and pretty busy; but yet it is a most melancholy time: the pleasure I used to find in the company of that most valuable creature is now all heavy upon my mind.