Thomas Turner

…About 5:40 my father Slater came in and stayed with us all night. This day read part of The New View of London and Westminster, whereby I find the river of Thames is about 1500 feet over at London Bridge. In the perusal of Martin’s Magazine for February I find that Westminster Bridge is 1223 feet over and cost in building £389500. I also find that in the River Thames from Battle Bridge on the Southwark side and the Hermitage Bridge on the city side, reckoning Blackwall inclusive, are as under: 3 wet docks for laying up; 22 dry docks for repairing; and 33 yards for building merchant ships. From Limehouse Reach to the custom-house quays there have been enumerated at anchor at one time 1000 vessels, exclusive of barges, lighters, pleasure-boats and yachts, they being all vessels which go to sea.

…Very little to do; a very melancholy time. Read part of the New View of London and Westminster, wherein I find the Royal Exchange stands on ¼ of an acre and 8 rods of ground, and the shops over it rent for very near £4000; viz., 190 at £20 a year, each which I believe to let for more than any one piece of ground of the same size in the known world.

In the morning hired of John Jones his house (now in the occupation of Will Bristow). I agreed for the rent at 10/- per year and have hired it for John Durrant on the parish account. After breakfast I set out for Burwash on Thomas Daw’s mare in order to inquire after a blacksmith’s shop for him and which the pariah had been informed there was one to let. But when I came to Burwash, I found the mistake, there being none to let. I put up at Mr Foster’s at the sign of the Rose and Crown. I spent 2/2 on the parish account. I came home about 5:25.

After I came back, I dined on some bullock’s heart fried. My brother Moses came over today and he stayed and dined with my family on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a sheep’s heart pudding. Mr Vine came in the evening and stayed about 2 hours and by so doing prevented my going to bed sober… I found the roads extremely bad, at some places almost impassable, I heard at Burwash today that Admiral Byng was shot at Portsmouth on Monday last, pursuant to the sentence of the court-martial held on him from the 27th December to the 27th January, though in my own private opinion I think him not that guilty person as many represent him, neither do I think it a prudent thing for him to be executed; but I suppose there was no calming a clamorous and enraged populace without taking away the life of this man, though if he is an innocent person, I think innocence should more than balance popular clamor.

At home all day; finished posting my day-book… A very remarkable high wind today. In the [afternoon?] went down to Jones’s in order to hire his house for John Durrant (but Jones could not let it till he had seen Mr Vine), Robert Hook going along with me. I spent [4½]d on the parish account, Gave Thomas Cornwell 2/- for his trouble with Hyland the time he was in hold. In the evening read part of The New View of London and Westminster. Paid John Jones 1½ d for 1 gallon turnips had some time since.

This day paid Francis Smith his carriage bill in full to the 11th February; viz., 1.2.9½, and afterwards gave him 3/- for a brace of woodcocks he gave Messrs Margesson and Collison on my account… In the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a public vestry, the result of which was that the parish should hire a blacksmith’s shop for Thomas Daw as soon as they can.

My maid and the two boys at church in the morning; myself and wife not at church on account that Dr Stone came in and bleeded me at churchtime. We dined on a dried hog’s cheek boiled, turnips, Jerusalem artichokes and a light and plain batter pudding. Our maid and the two boys at church in the afternoon, but neither myself nor wife. Thomas Fuller drank tea with us. Thomas Davy sat with us some time in the evening, to whom, and in the day, I read four of Tillotson’s sermons. This day the clerk gave notice of a poor rate’s being made at 3/6 in the pound, and allowed by George Courthope and John Bridger Esqrs, and also gave notice of a vestry to be held tomorrow at Jones’s about 5 o’clock.

At home all day and busy in marking up a parcel from Bancroft and Nixon…In the evening read part of the New View of London and Westminster. This week and last took in cash £16.

After breakfast the two men went away. The person who wants to hire the shop, his name is Streton, about 22 years of age, and I conject never in this trade nor any other, one who has seen most parts of England and read a great deal and is extremely gay; but I believe he is in reality a very indifferent scholar; though to do him justice, I believe him to have a fine genius and an extensive capacity to attain to learning, had he but an opportunity. I doubt he has drawn in some of the Romanish principles by being intimate with a Jesuit.

The proposals I made him were that after my mother and I had taken about 14 days to consult of it, I would inform him which of the shops we were fixed on to part with, but be it which it would, I would part with it on no other terms but by his taking the goods all at prime cost, and all the fixtures, and the money to be paid down. We dined on some batter pancakes.

In the afternoon Mr Rice and Mr Trench sent for me down to Jones’s, where I stayed an hour and a half. Spent 2d but did not drink once. Joseph Fuller sat with us some time in the evening, as did Thomas Davy, to whom I read 4 of The Monitors or British Freeholder, which I think to be a very good paper if we consider it as a political composition. My wife at church in the morning. This day received of Mr Thomas Smith a receipt for £1O from Messrs Margesson and Collison, which is for the money I gave him the 8th instant.

In the morning two men from Willingdon came to my house in order to take mine or my mother’s shop. After breakfasting at my house they and my brother and myself went over to my mother’s, where we stayed and dined on some beef-steaks (my family at home dined on a piece of pork and parsnips). After drinking tea at my mother’s, the two men and I came home. They stayed at our house all night.

In the morning bought of Mr Fletcher a parcel of goods, and breakfasted at the White Horse in company with Mr Atree, Mr Fletcher, George Richardson, my brother and self. I called on Mr Madgwick, Mrs Roase, Mr Hook and Will Bennett. We dined at the White Horse on a leg of mutton boiled with caper sauce, potatoes, turnips and a plum bread pudding… After smoking a pipe or two after dinner my brother and I set off home where we arrived about 6:30, very sober. I paid Mrs Roase 11d for 1 m. [of] 2d hobs. Bought today as under:

1 pr muffitees	0.0.4½
1 lamp	0.1.0
Expenses this journey:
Gave the maid	0.0.3
Spent on liquor etc.	0.0.3¾
Paid reading a book	0.0.3
	0.2.2¼

My brother stayed at my house all night. Gave a soldier 12d on the parish account.