Thomas Turner

Myself and both servants at church in the morning… We had a brief read for rebuilding the parish church of Packington, alias Lackington, in the county of Leicester, the expenses of which amounted to the sum of £1013 and upwards, to which collection I gave 3d. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Mayfield. My servants both walked to Waldron Church, and in the afternoon I took a walk out, but to no one particular place. In the afternoon I read part of Young’s Night Thoughts…

In the forenoon Mr Joseph Fuller Jr and I rode to the fair at Horsebridge, in order to sell my horse and he to buy stock. We dined at a public house on some roast beef… Came home about 8:50, sober. In the evening I wrote my London letters. A very fine pleasant day as is common for the season of the year. My servant very busy in my absence.

In the forenoon rode out a little way, but did not stay. I dined on a piece of beef roasted and some horse radish. Sam Jenner and Charles Diggens drank tea with me. Pretty busy all day.

John Watford at work for me part of the day; he dined with me… Paid Mr Jacob Bell in cash 2.15.0, which is in full on my account with Messrs John and Jacob Bell. At home all day and thank God very busy

…In the afternoon Mr Porter’s children drank tea with me. This day was played at the common belonging to this parish a match of cricket between 11 boys of this parish and 11 boys of Laughton parish, which was won by our youth with great ease. In the evening Thomas Durrant and I walked out a little way for a walk, it being a very fine evening…

Thomas Durrant breakfasted with me. In the morning my brother came over… Mr Terry, rider to Messrs Kendall and Rushton, called on me, to whom I gave a small order.

In the forenoon my father Slater came to see me in his road to. Lewes, and I rode with him to Lewes where I paid Mrs Roase in cash 6.4.6 in full… My father Slater being in a hurry, I dined nowhere… I borrowed of my father Slater in cash 1 guinea…

Came home about 10:10 (my father staying at Lewes), but I wish I were so happy as to have in my power to say I came home sober. For what with going without victuals and calling with my father at so many places, the liquor soon crept into my poor shallow brains. Oh, how do I lament my want of resolution in this particular! It is not, I am sure, the love of liquor that entices me to be guilty of this folly; no, it is not, but an easy and foolish modesty that occasions it. But however once more I will try and see if I cannot get the better of it, for I will drink nothing strong.

My worthy friend Mr John Breeden called and breakfasted with me, and I received of him 2.18.0 in full. He being a-going to London, he borrowed my horse and left me his. My father Slater called on me about 11:10 and stayed and dined with me…as did also Thomas Durrant. I paid my father Slater the guinea I borrowed of him yesterday.

After dinner I rode with him for company to Framfield. I stayed and drank tea with my brother and sister and came home about 7:05, sober… Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant smoked a pipe with me in the evening. Thank God pretty busy all day. Oh, how pleasant is the season of the year. All nature wears the livery, as it were, of gaiety.

Myself and both servants at church in the morning where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Ferrall, curate of Chailey (Mr Porter preaching at Mayfield) from part Luke 23:34: “Then said Jesus, father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

I dined on a piece of beef boiled and green salad. ‘No service at our church in the afternoon. One of my servants went to Chiddingly Church, and myself and the other walked to Little Horsted Church in company with Joseph Fuller Jr, Sam Jenner and Joseph Durrant. We had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Philips, curate of that parish and Maresfield, from the 1Oth, 11th, 12th and l3th verses of. the 2^nd chapter of The Song of Solomon: “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” From which words we had, I think, as good if-not the best sermon I ever heard, both for elegance of language and soundness of divinity, the gentleman discoursing on the words in a very spiritual manner; so I really think it quite a masterly performance.

After churchtime we went into Mr Lewer’s, where we smoked a pipe or two and came home about 8:10. After I came home, I read part of Locke On Education. A very fine pleasant day for the season of the year. Oh, how severely do I, as it were, every moment find the loss I have sustained in that of my dear Peggy, and not only find the loss but severely feel it too.
 

…Rec’d of John Piper in cash 11.14.0 and by a receipt for 1 year’s land tax 2.4.0, which together makes the sum of 15.18.0, which I am to send to Mr Allen Chatfield, distiller at Croydon, for Mrs Mary Wills and will be in full for 1 year’s rent due to her from five executors and devisees of Mr William Piper deceased the 5th day of April last. Paid Mrs Weller £4 in full for 1 year’s interest due the 5th April last. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner sat with me a while in the evening.

Delivered to Benjamin Shelley by my servant in cash 51.14.0 in order for him to pay…

Thomas Cornwell made me a present of a fine carp. At home all day busy in my garden, but not very busy in the shop. In the evening read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.