The Diary, 1754–1765
Dame Akehurst a-washing for me all day, and she together with my brother Sam Slater dined with me… In the afternoon all Halland servants and Thomas Emery and his wife drank tea with me and stayed and spent the evening. My brother Slater stayed all night. Very busy all day.
A very remarkable fine day. In the evening wrote my London letters. In the morning Mr Stone’s apprentice bleeded me.
After breakfast my brother and Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Halland to see the gardens… My brother, Thomas Durrant and Mr Long dined with me today… My brother went away soon after dinner.
Oh, how I blush to mention what I would for ever wish to conceal; that is, from going about from house to house today with my brother I got really very drunk. Oh, that hateful and to me truly odious name–that I can ever be so foolish! Sure I am the most irresoluteless creature breathing, a thing I am sure I sincerely detest and yet have been so foolish as to be guilty of it… [58 words omitted].
At home all day. Dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. My brother, Mrs Funnell. and Elizabeth Henly drank tea with me. In the evening my brother, Joseph Fuller and myself drank some cider in at Joseph Durrant’s, where we smoked a pipe or two.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe with me in the evening. Oh, the intolerable burthen of a heavy and guilty conscience!
…after dinner rode to Lewes. Paid Messrs Richards and Comber 2.8.0 in full and smoked a pipe or two with them… Came home about 8:20, sober…
…At home all day and pretty busy. balanced accounts. with Sarah Prall and paid her 15½d in full. Oh, how intolerable is the heavy burthen of an unpleasant mind!
In the evening balanced accounts with Joseph Fuller Jr. Paid him 10/- for a year’s interest due on a note of hand of mine about the beginning of March last. In the above account I paid Joseph Fuller Jr for all the meat I have received of his father to this day.
In the morning about 5:15 I set out on foot with Thomas Davy in order to accompany him to Mr Burgess’s at Rotherfield to consult him in some affairs relating to Davy’s wife’s estate. We breakfasted at Mr Burgess’s and came home about 12:40.
No churching at our church this morning, Mr Porter preaching at Ripe. One of my servants went to Chiddingly Church in the morning. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a knuckle of veal boiled, a piece of pork and some turnip greens. Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon… After churchtime I walked up to James Fuller’s, where I went to read over some writings. I drank tea there and after tea I, in company with Mr Thornton, took a walk. In the evening lent Thomas Davy in cash 3.3.0.
In the forenoon Mr Will Francis called on me; I paid him… 35.12.0 in full on my account with Messrs Barlow, Wigginton and Francis. My brother came over in the forenoon and dined with me on a shoulder of veal roasted and stuffed.
After dinner my brother and I set out for Seaford where we went with the view of being at a sale advertised today, but when we came there, the gentleman (Mr Samuel Winter) his affairs were made up. We came home round by Lewes where we spent the evening at the Star and supped in company with Mr Francis and my old friend George Richardson. I came home very sober about 11:50…
Delivered to Benjamin Shelley by my servant in cash £20 in order for him to pay in London for me. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some green salad. At home all day. Thomas Durrant, being a-gardening for me, drank tea with me.
In the forenoon rode over to Framfield, but did not stay. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of pork boiled and some turnip greens.