The Diary, 1754–1765
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a cauliflower and some carrots boiled. Sent Mr Richard Waite at the Devizes… 4.7.0. in full on an account with Mr Richard Waite.
At home all day. In the afternoon Bett Mepham drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. We had a fine moderate shower of rain for about 6 hours.
Delivered to Pen Shelley by my servant in cash £42 in order for him to pay the same in London for me… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some garden beans.
At home all day. In the afternoon posted my day book and really very little to do all day. A melancholier time I never knew in my life. Oh, my unfortunate person?
A person, buying a great many things in the shop, breakfasted with me and also dined with me… At home all day. In the afternoon wrote out some bills. But really trade is very dull. Thomas Cornwell made me a present of some eels.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some broiled eels and some garden beans. At home all day. In the afternoon wrote out some bills, but really a melancholy time for trade.
…In the evening Mr Buller and I ran a race of 20 rods for a bottle of cider, and I had the good fortune to beat him. He, myself and Joseph Fuller Jr went to Jones’s in the evening where I spent 4d and came home sober. Oh, sure there never was so dull a time for trade or money. I think I shall be quite distracted for money and cannot anyways get any in.
…In the evening Mr Long and I walked to Whitesmith Fair where I stayed about 50 minutes and then came home, having not spent any money or drunk anything except 2 glasses cider; so of consequence I could not help being sober.
In my absence Fanny Weller drank tea with my servants…
No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Ripe. I dined on a breast of mutton boiled and broiled, a plain bread pudding, a cherry pudding, French beans, carrots and cucumbers.
After dinner my brother called on me, and we rode to Lewes together. I went to consult an attorney about a bill of sale I have of Master Darty’s effects, but had not the opportunity of seeing the gentleman I wanted to see. My brother and myself, in company with Mr Tucker, Mr Dodson and my brother Richard, drank tea at Mr Bennett’s. Came home about 11:15, sober…
Not at church in the afternoon, but for this simple reason only, its being wet weather.
In the morning rode to Lewes where I met the attorney I went to see yesterday. Came home about 1:50. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner.
In the evening played a game of cricket. In the evening my brother came over, and I balanced an account with him for flannels etc. and outset the money; I received for his rags the 26th instant. I lent my brother my horse to go to Chiddingstone upon tomorrow. In the evening wrote my London letters.
…At home all day. In the evening my brother brought my horse again… Sam Jenner, calling on me in the evening, and it being late, lodged with me all night. One of my servants sat up with Mrs Burgess.
Who can think the anxiety of my mind at the thought of distressing [correctly, distraining, i.e., seizing certain goods belonging to) poor Darby! But what can I do? This seems the only chance I have for recovering a debt justly due to me of about £16.
The first law of nature I think will tell me I am doing no injustice. And should I neglect this opportunity, it appears as if I should never have such another. Therefore I think if I do not do it now, I am doing a piece of injustice both to myself and creditors. So I am constrained by near necessity to put my bill of sale in execution. Notwithstanding which, there is something in the thought of distressing a fellow creature that my mind as it were recoils at.
Sam Jenner at work for me all the forenoon and dined with me on a piece of pork and bacon boiled and some garden beans. In the afternoon my sister and niece Nanny Turner came to see me. They drank tea with me. In the evening we walked up to Joseph Fuller’s where we spent the evening. At home all day except as follows [as above?]. Pretty busy all day, but I think there never was such a time for scarceness of money as now…