The Diary, 1754–1765
…Received of [John Morris] 18d in full for poor tax assessed on him by a rate made the 9th August last. I dined on a piece of beef boiled, an apple pudding and potatoes. At home all day and pretty busy. A very cold day.
Thomas Durrant, being lame, sat with me in the afternoon and drank tea with me. In the afternoon read part of Butler’s Posthumous Works.
Myself and servant both at church in the morning… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some sausages broiled. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon…
Sam Jenner drank tea with me, and he, Mr Tipper and Thomas Durrant spent the evening with me, to whom I read 1 of Torriano’s as also one of Bishop Beveridge’s sermons. Sam Jenner, being to go to Lewes for me tomorrow, lodged with me. A very cold frosty day.
Sam Jenner and Pat, Mr Coates’s servant, dined with me on a piece of pork and bacon boiled, turnips, potatoes and an apple pudding. At home all day. One of Mr Porter’s servant drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters.
Sam Jenner went to Lewes for me today and, coming home in the evening, lodged at my house. Not very well in the evening, but very little to do all day.
Sam Jenner went to Lewes for me again today… No time to eat any dinner. Mrs Carman drank tea with me. At home all day and very busy. Samuel Jenner, coming home in the evening, lodged at my house. In the evening played a few games of cribbage; neither won or lost.
I dined on a bullock’s heart stuffed and baked in the oven with a batter pudding under it. At home all day and not but little to do. Not at all well in the evening. Mr Tipper and I played few games of cribbage; I lost 2d.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon Mr Will Bennett of Lewes came to see me to ask me to appraise a stock of shop goods for [him]. He drank tea with me and stayed and smoked a pipe or two with me. At home all day but not at all busy
Elizabeth Vallow, at work for me part of the day, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled sausages. At home all day and really very little to do. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me.
Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 3.12.0 in full for the same sum he paid in London for me this week; viz.,
| To cash paid the 24th instant to Mr Thomas White in full on my account | 3.10.0 |
| To money paid for a cask of yeast he bought for me this week | 0.2.0 |
I dined on a piece of pork boiled and some turnips. Paid Joseph Fuller Jr 2/6 for a leg of pork bought of him today. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening Sam Jenner sat with me little while. Quite low-spirited all day.
Mr Tipper breakfasted with me, and then we set out for Lewes where we arrived about 9:20. I dined at Mrs Roase’s in company with herself and others on two chicken roasted, a piece, of boiled ham, a butter pudding cake and greens (my servant at home dining at her brother’s). Paid Mrs Roase… 18.4.6…in full on my account.
Mr Tipper; my brother and myself drank tea with Mr Joseph Hartley. We went to the Cliffe Church in the evening, but not in church in the fore or afternoon. We spent some part of the day with Mr Pepper, Mr Bennett, Mr john Hartley and my brother. Came home about 11:40–very near sober, but not thoroughly so…
I dined on part of a leg of pork roasted and apple sauce. Dame Watford buying many things in the shop, drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner coming in the evening, and I wanting him to go a journey for me tomorrow, he lodged at my house. At home all day and pretty busy. But oh, how gloomy, melancholy and heavy is my anxious mind!