The Diary, 1754–1765
I dined on a veal pie and green salad. In the afternoon Mr Josias Smith, attorney at law in Lewes, called on me and drank tea with me. Received of him in cash 1.7.3 in full for the same sum as a debt he got for me due from Will Funnell.
At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening read part of The London Magazine for May, in which I think I found nothing curious.
…At home all day and very busy… After the fatigue of the day was over, I read part of Shakespeare’s Works. What can equal the pleasure of half an hour’s study after the fatigue of a busy day is over! How does it unbend the mind and make it suitable for business again with a fresh alacrity!
In the morning Henry Dobson, servant to Mr John Madgwick, called on me for a bait, but did not stay. Myself and servant at church in the morning… I dined at Joseph Fuller’s on a very fine large turbot boiled, a coast of lamb roasted, a gooseberry pudding and green salad, lobster sauce, gravy sauce etc…
After dinner Thomas Durrant and myself walked to Little Horsted Church where we had an excellent sermon preached by the Rev Mr Fulthorpe, curate of Isfield, from part of Job 2:10: “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil?” After churchtime, I having a little business with my uncle Hill, we walked with him to his house, where we stayed and smoked a pipe and came home about 6:10.
Thomas Durrant drank tea with me, and then we walked up to Joseph Fuller’s, where we stayed and smoked a pipe. Came home about 8:20 and read one of Tillotson’s sermons.
…Dame Thompsett, buying some things in the shop, drank tea with me. Mr Terry, servant to Messrs Kendall and Rushton, called on me and I paid him one bill… value 6.2.6…
At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner, being at my house in the evening, took a part of my bed.
Sent Messrs Barlow, Wigginton and Francis… 29.7.0… Rec’d of Lord Gage from Mr Langridge per Robert Hook 4/- in full for ½ a year’s land tax due at Lady Day last…
Mrs Atkins, Mrs Hicks, Mrs Curtis and Miss (I know not who) drank tea with me. At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening read part of Shakespeare’s Works.
My late servant Mary Martin came to see me in the morning. She breakfasted with me and also dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of bacon boiled and green salad. My late servant and Dame Trill drank tea with me.
At home all day and really very busy. In the evening my late servant went home. In the evening read part of Shakespeare’s Works, which I think extreme good in their kind. Oh, what pleasure is an active busy life–far preferable to an indolent, lazy and useless life.
My brother came over in the forenoon to take up some cloths and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with a green salad… At home all day. In the afternoon posted part of my day book.
In the forenoon posted my day book. I dined on a beef pudding and a green salad… At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening very much fatigued; quite very tired. In the afternoon Thomas Durrant went to Lewes for me.
Master Bull, buying some things in the shop, dined with me on a beef pudding and green salad… At home all day and thank God very busy. In the evening read something of a political pamphlet.
Myself and servant at church in the morning… Thomas Durrant dined with me on a piece of bacon boiled, a cold beef pie, a gooseberry pudding and green salad. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… Mr and Mrs Carman drank tea with me. Sam Jenner sat with me in the evening, to whom I read two of Tillotson’s sermons, and it being something late, he took part of my bed.