The Diary, 1754–1765
…My sister and niece dined with me on a leg of Mutton roasted, a piece of pork and bacon boiled, a plain rice pudding, some garden beans and carrots. Miss French, Miss Gibbs, Mr Elless and my sister and niece drank tea with me…
This day Charles Cooper entered with my bill of sale upon the premises of Thomas Darby and made a distress (distraint], but I am afraid it will come out that I shall lose the whole debt, which is about 18.18.0.
After breakfast I rode to Lewes about Darby’s affair, but it still wears a gloomy aspect and I make no doubt I shall lose the whole sum. I dined at the White Hart on a knuckle of veal boiled, a piece of bacon, a breast of veal roasted and French beans and greens. My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Came home about 9:20, but not quite sober. My sister and niece went home in the evening…
Lent Thomas Overing in cash two guineas and he accordingly gave me his note of hand… At home all day. In the afternoon one of my servants paid Miss French a visit. In the evening Mr Meadows Neatby called on me and stayed all night.
Mr Neatby breakfasted with me and then went away… I dined on a shoulder of lamb roasted and French beans. No service at our church the whole day, Mr Porter being at Mayfield. One of my servants at Chiddingly Church in the afternoon. Thomas Durrant and Mr Long drank tea with me in the afternoon, to whom I read one of Tillotson’s sermons. In the evening we took a walk, but went to no one house.
…in the evening went down to Jones’s, there being a vestry held there… Came home about 8:20. Afterwards wrote my London letters.
I dined on a piece of bacon boiled and some French beans. In the afternoon posted my day book. In the evening my brother called on me, but did not stay. At home all day and very little to do.
I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some green peas. At home all day and very little to do. In the afternoon James Marchant, coming to take up a frock for Joseph Fuller, drank tea with me.
…At home all the day. In the afternoon wrote out some bills. A melancholy time for trade and sure more so for money. What to do I cannot tell, but this I assuredly will do through the assistance of divine grace; that is, to be a sober and careful person [13 words omitted].
After breakfast rode to Lewes concerning Darby’s affair. Came home about 11:10… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some peas.
In the evening my worthy friend and acquaintance Mr Snelling called on me and stayed with me some time. Very little to do all day and truly a very melancholy time. What, oh, what shall I do, or what will become of me? work I cannot; steal I hope I never shall once think of; therefore let me try and submit with patience to any circumstances it shall be my lot to endure.
In the forenoon an acquaintance of one of my servants came to see her and brought me a present of some mackerel and a fine lobster and dined with me on some boiled mackerel, green peas and a cold sheep’s heart pie. He stayed and drank tea at my house and then went away. My brother came over in the afternoon and stayed with me some time…