Thomas Turner

In the morning about 8:10 Thomas Davy, and I set out for Lewes on foot, I in order to let part of the widow Virgoe’s house, and he for company. I called at Luke Spence Esq’s and got a summons to oblige Henry Osborne and John Browne to appear before him or some other justice to be examined touching their last legal settlement. I treated with the widow Beard for part of Mrs Virgoe’s house, which part I offered her for £8 per year, and she agreed to take time to deliberate upon it and give Mrs Virgoe a further answer.

I dined at the White Horse on a neck of mutton stewed, some sausages, hog’s tongue, some cheek, apple pudding and turnips… I called on Mr Madgwick, Mrs Roase and Mr T. Scrase. I received of Mr Scrase 1.13.6. We came home thank God very safe and sober about 5:50, but I think never more fatigued. Mr Withington, Messrs Bancroft and Nixon’s rider, and my brother Moses called on me in my absence. I spent this day as under on the parish account:

The summons	0.1.0
Spent	0.0.4
	0.1.4

On Mrs Virgoe’s account spent 0.1.0.

Rec’d of Stephen Weller Sr by his wife 13/7 in full. My brother came over in the forenoon and dined with us on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some gooseberry pie. At home all day except going down to Mr Porter’s in the evening, where I sat chatting near two hours. I came home and wrote my London letters. In the day read 3 Monitors.

Myself, two boys and servant at church in the morning… We dined on the remains of Wednesday’s soup and a piece of boiled beef and Savoy greens. Myself, two boys and servant at church in the afternoon… After churchtime Mr Hook and I went and took a walk round Mrs Virgoe’s wood, where we found she has sustained damages, in my opinion, to the amount of 20/- at the least, either by her brother’s ignorance or covetousness.

In the day read part of the New Whole Duty of Man. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house. I completed reading the second time Sherlock on death, which I think an extreme good book; the more I read of it, the better I like it.

Paid for 2 lbs tripe bought today 4d. We dined on a sheep’s heart pudding and boiled tripe. At home all day. Read part of the 6th volume Medical Essays. Sadly indisposed.

This morning about 6 o’clock, just as my wife was gladly got to bed and had laid herself down to rest, we were awakened by Mrs Porter, who pretended she wanted some cream of tartar. But as soon as my wife got out of bed, she vowed she should come down, which she complied with and found her, Mr Porter, Mr Fuller and his wife with a lighted candle, part of a bottle of wine and a glass.

Then the next thing in course we must be to have me downstairs, which I being apprized of, fastened my door. But, however, upstairs they came, and threatened and also attempted to break open my door, which I found they would do; so I therefore ordered the boys to open it. But as soon as ever it was open, they poured-into my room, and as modesty forbid me not to get out of my bed in the presence of the women, so I refrained. But their immodesty permitted them to draw me out of bed (as the common phrase is) tipsy turvy. However, at the intercession of Mr Porter, they permitted me to put on my breeches (though it was no more than to cast a veil over what undoubtedly they had before that time discovered). And also, instead of my clothes, they gave me time to put on my wife’s petticoat. In this manner they made me dance with them without shoes or stockings until they had emptied their bottle of wine and also a bottle of my beer. They then contented themselves with sitting down to breakfast on a dish of coffee etc.

They then obliged my wife to accompany them to Joseph Durrant’s, where they again breakfasted on tea etc. They then all adjourned to Mr Fuller’s, where they again breakfasted on tea. There they also stayed, and dined, and about 3:30 they all found their ways to their respective homes, beginning by that time to be a little serious, and in my opinion ashamed of their stupid enterprise, or drunken perambulation. Now let anyone but call in reason to his assistance and seriously reflect on what I have before recited, and they must I think join with me in thinking that the precepts delivered from the pulpit on Sundays by Mr Porter, though delivered with the greatest ardor, must lose a great deal of their efficacy by such examples.

Myself and family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Mr Jordan called on me but did not stay. Mr Elless and Joseph Fuller in the evening called in to ask me how I did after my fatigue and stayed and smoked a pipe with me. And so this ends the silliest frolic I think I ever knew, and one that must cast an odium on Mr and Mrs P—– and Mrs F—– so long as it shall be remembered.

Paid Joseph Fuller by his son Richard 6d for one sheep’s head and bell received by him today. Paid Mrs Cayley 2/- in full for one year’s rent for the use of Mrs Browne’s seat in the church. We dined on a sheep’s head and bell boiled and turnips. At home all day. In the day read part of the Medical Essays. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening in order for me to instruct him in gauging and the use of the sliding rule.

Mr Jeremiah French gave my wife and me an invitation to come and dine at their house on Wednesday next, as did also Mrs French some time afterward. Paid Dame Trill by Anne Braizer 2/- on account of the parish for Mr Joseph Burgess. We dined on the remains of Wednesday night’s supper with the addition of a light pudding and turnips. Sent by John Streeter 3/9 for my club arrears, Thursday next being quarter night. Mr Elless and Joseph Fuller at our house in the evening. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters.

My whole family at church in the morning… We had a brief read for losses sustained by fire, which amounted to the sum of £1012 and upwards. The poor unhappy sufferers were Thomas Fuller of Wick in the county of Berkshire and John Spencer of Long Sherborne in the county of Southampton. I collected on the said brief 0.3.3½, and 1½d I gave myself makes 3/5 collected in the whole.

We dined on the remains of Friday, and yesterday’s dinners, with the addition of some potatoes and turnips. My whole family at church in the afternoon. …After churchtime I went into Mr Porter’s and signed the brief read today. In the day read part of the New Whole Duty of Man. In the evening, Thomas Davy being at our house, I read part of Sherlock on death to him. A very cold day.