The Diary, 1754–1765
Sent Mr Thomas Neatby & son…£15… Paid Stephen Fielder 34/- in full on account of the parish. I dined on a hog’s tongue and tail boiled and some greens. At home all day and pretty busy, but not in my shop any other than in marking up of goods.
A good deal out of order with my cold. Sam Jenner sat with me some time in the evening. The spring now begins to show its approach, but to me it seems all winter; that is, in my clouded mind.
Rec’d of Sam Washer 48/9 in full of all demands to this day. Sent Mr Thomas Dyke & Son at New Sarum enclosed in a letter by the post 1 bill on Mr William Margesson…value 7.17.0.
We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. In the afternoon my brother came over and drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. Pretty busy all day. But no money to be took or anyways got at. Most melancholy time indeed.
Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… Samuel Jenner drank tea with me, to whom and Joseph Fuller Jr and Thomas Durrant I read one of Tillotson’s sermons.
In the evening a good deal disordered with a cold. Sam Washer and Martha Pollard, both of Halland, were asked in the forenoon the second time.
…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with Dame Sturt and her daughter, buying some things in the shop, drank tea at my house. At home all day and pretty busy. A very cold day and quite ill with a cold. Sam Jenner sat with me some time in the evening. Lucy Mepham assisting my servant part of the day about her work…
I dined on some hog’s feet and ears boiled. Paid Thomas Burfield by a book debt and pods 14/- for 2 dozen beehives received of him today. Dame Seaman and her daughter and Mrs Vine’s maid drank tea with me. At home all day and thank God pretty busy, but quite ill with a cold.
Jarvis Bexhill dined with me on some hog’s liver and kidneys fried. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening went down to Jones’s in order to make a poor rate (there being a vestry held for the same intent at which there was Mr Porter, Joseph and James Fuller, Edward Foord, Richard Hope, Joseph Durrant and Mr Carman). We stayed till near 1 o’clock quarrelling and bickering about nothing; and in the end hardly did any business.
The design of our meeting was to have made a poor rate in which every one that was taxed was intended to be assessed to the revised rent, that everyone might pay his just quota (in proportion to his rent) of the money expended in maintaining and keeping the poor. But how do I blush to say what artifice and deceit, cunning and knavery there was used by some (who would think it cruel and unjust to be called dishonest) to conceal their rents, and who yet would pretend the justness of an equal taxation was their desire.
But however greet their outward zeal for justice appeared, that cankerworm of self interest lay so corroding in their hearts that it sullied the outward beauties of their would-be honesty. I say “would-be” honest because I look upon that man, be he who will, that endeavors to evade the payment of his just share of taxes to be a-robbing every other member of the community that contributes his quota, and also withholding from the poor what is their just right, and above all sinning against a positive command of our Savior of doing to others as we would be done unto.
How should such instances of frailty in mankind teach us to pray in the words of the psalmist, “Try me O God, and seek the ground of my heart: prove me and examine my thoughts. Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. For who can tell how often he offendeth? O cleanse thou me from my secret faults.”
I dined on some hog’s liver and rashers of pork fried. In the afternoon Joseph Fuller Jr cut out my hog which weighed 25 stone 5 lbs, and which I am to give Master Hook per stone for.
Paid Joseph Fuller in cash 59.15.10 in full accordingly delivered to me tie notes I gave him when I received the said bills. Fanny Hicks drank tea with me. At home all day, but oh! hardly anything to do.
Sent Mr John Crouch enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley…£10. Sam Jenner breakfasted with me and stayed and assisted me in the killing of my hog.
Mary Durrant, buying some things in the shop, dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some hog’s liver fried. At home all day, but very little to do.
What shall I do? Which way to act, or what course to pursue I cannot think; my prudence is not sufficient to direct me in a proper method. Oh, may I have the virtue of fortitude to pursue that which shall be most agreeable to sedate and calm reason!
…I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. At home all day. Mr Long, assisting me in marking some sacks in the afternoon, drank tea with me. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner coming in the evening, I persuaded him to stay all night in order to help kill a hog for me tomorrow, which I am to have of Robert Hook.
Paid Mr Gilbert in Waldron 9/- for:
| l dozen wooden hand dishes | 0.6.6 |
| 1 dozen porridge do. | 0.1.6 |
| ½ dozen flitting do. | 1.0.0 |
received of him today.
Paid Richard Fuller 21d for a shoulder of mutton bought of him today weighing 6 lbs at 3½d. Mr Tipper and myself not at church in the morning. Rec’d of Mr Tipper 23/6 in full to this day. Mr Tipper and Sam Jenner dined with me on a shoulder of mutton rousted.
After dinner I and Mr Tipper set out for Lewes, he on his journey home and I partly to accompany him and partly on business. We parted on horseback without once drinking together. I did my business and came home about 7:10…
I left with my brother Richard in cash £8 for him to pay Messrs Comber and Richards in part on my account. Sam Jenner, going to Framfield for me in the afternoon, sat with me some time in the evening, but neither ate nor drank with me.
Not at church all day, which I must own I think wrong, and I may almost with Shakespeare say it is my necessity and not my will consents to my being absent from church. And I think my present irregular way of living gives me a great deal of uneasiness.