Saturday, July 23 1763

In the morning walked down to Halland. I dined on a cold beef pie and green salad. About 12:20 we had a very severe shower of rain with some distant claps of thunder and several flashes of lightning. My brother came over in the afternoon, and he and Mr Bannister drank tea with me. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle came to Halland and stayed all night, as did the Earl of Ashburnham and several gentlemen. Very busy all day.

Sunday, July 24 1763

Walked down to Halland twice this morning. Myself nor servant at church in the morning. Sam Jenner dined with me on a shoulder of venison and a plain rice pudding. Myself and servant both at church in the afternoon…

After churchtime Sam Jenner, Joseph Fuller, Thomas Durrant and myself walked down to Halland (there being a public day) at which was the two judges on the circuit; viz., Lord Chief Justice Pratt and Justice Bathurst; Lord Gage; the Earl of Ashburnham; Mr Pelham of Stanmer; Rose Fuller Esq; Sir John Bridger Kt; Thomas Chowne Esq; William Plumer Esq and a great many gentlemen of all ranks. We neither ate nor drank, but took a survey of the company and saw most of the gentlemen take their coaches and horses and then came home about 7:20.

After we came home T. Durrant and myself walked up to Joseph Fuller’s and smoked a pipe or two and then came home about 8:50 and went to bed very sober about 9:30.

Monday, July 25 1763

Went to Halland in the morning twice, and last time I received of Mr James Fallowfield in cash 4.4.6 in full for, my bill of goods delivered to Halland during the time the family has been there. I then gave him cash for the following bill, value £10:

N69
1763London July 18
I promise to pay Mr James Fallowfield or order, Ten days after date Ten pounds for Messrs. Henry, Richard, and Richard Hoare.
£10.00Will Atkinson

I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. In the afternoon attended the funeral of Mrs Weller and served the same. We carried her to church for interment about 5:40. There was a sermon preached suitable to the occasion from I Corinthians: 15:19; “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I gave away the following gloves and hatbands:

Crape hatbands to:
1 Mr Francis Weller4. Mr Norton
2. Mr Thomas Bennett5. Mr Porter
3. Mr George Bennett6. Richard Hope
Women’s black ribbon-bound gloves:
1. Mrs Bennett Sr6. Fanny Weller
2. Mrs Bennett, wife of T. Bennett7. Dame Watford
3. Mrs Bennett, wife of G. Bennett8. Dame Fitness
4. Mrs Hope9. Dame Cornwell
5. Elizabeth Weller10. Sal Bridger
Men’s ribbon-bound gloves:
1. Mr Francis Weller7. Thomas Dalloway
2. Mr Thomas Bennett8. Thomas Corwell
3. Mr George Bennett9. Thomas Davy
4. Mr Norton10. Robert Hook
5. Mr Porter11. Joesph Durrant
6. Richard Hope12. John Watford
13. Thomas Turner, or my own dear self.
Maids’ black ribbon-bound gloves:
1. Sally Hope
Total6 crape hatbands, 10 pairs women’s gloves, 13 pairs men’s do., 1 pair maids’ do.

Gave Mr Thomas Bennett cash for a bill value 26.17.8 drawn on Mr John Corke at The Noah’s Ark in Rotherhithe by Edward Budger…

In the evening wrote my London letters; but little to do in shop all day. The assizes for this county were held at Lewes today.

Tuesday, July 26 1763

Sent Mr Thomas Calverley enclosed in a letter by Shelley the bill I received of Mr Thomas Bennett yesterday…  John Watford at work for me part of the day. He and Mr Long dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a piece of bacon boiled and some garden beans.

In the evening walked down to Halland having an invitation from Mr Coates. I supped there on a piece of cold roast beef and a cold venison pasty in company with Mr Coates and his brother and another of his acquaintance, Mr Turner; Mr Thomas Parker, Joseph Fuller Jr and Sr, Roger Perry, James Fuller, Thomas Carman, Mr Bannister, the Rev Mr Herring, Mr Holman, Mr Hicks, John Saxby, Will Shoesmith Jr, Edward Shoesmith, Francis Turner Jr and Sr, Henry Godley, James Hutson, Joseph Durrant, Thomas Braizer, Master Roffe, Richard Goad, Mr Jeremiah French and Mr John French and several more. We stayed and spent the evening there till about 12 o’clock and then came home, but not one of us thoroughly sober. Mr Francis Weller took part of my bed.

Wednesday, July 27 1763

…In the morning Robert Hook and James Marchant, coming to take up some clothes, breakfasted with me. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of some French beans. At home all day and pretty busy. In the evening Sam Jenner, coming in, took part of my bed.
 

Thursday, July 28 1763

…At home all day and pretty busy: This day the King’s Plate was run for on Lewes Downs when the following horses started: the Duke of Grafton’s bay horse Havanna, who won the two first heat; Mr Beaver’s bay horse Young Blank, distanced the first heat; Mr Osbaldestone’s bay mare Dismal, who came in 2nd both heats. In the evening read part of the 3rd volume of The Tatler.

Friday, September 2 1763

…I dined on a piece of bacon, an apple pudding and carrots. Paid Mr Scale 11/6 in full for the following goods bought of him today; viz.,

1½ m needles0.4.6
1 m do.0.4.0
3 gross shirt buttons0.3.0

At home all day and but very little to do in the shop. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr sat with me a while. In the afternoon marked up part of a parcel of haberdashery that came in by the carrier.

Saturday, September 3 1763

Rec’d of John Braizer 10/6 on account. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with some cucumbers. At home all day and pretty busy. Paid Thomas Martin 10/8 in full for a coat, waistcoat and 2 hatbands.

Sunday, September 4 1763

Myself and servant at church in the morning… My brother Richard and his companion Henry Holt called on me just as I was sitting down to dinner and dined with me on a piece of beef boiled, a light [i.e., lung] pudding (heavy) and carrots.

After dinner Joseph Fuller Jr and I rode to Lewes where we went to Southover Church and heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Rideout from II Corinthians 4:17: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

After churchtime I called on Mr Madgwick, with whom I had some business, but he was out from home. I went with Joseph Fuller to his brother’s, where we drank tea and stayed and smoked a pipe or two. Came home about 8:50, thank God was very sober. Spent today 2d for the turnpike.

Lent James Fuller in cash 3 guineas. My servant in my absence today received of Stephen Fox in cash £3, which is in full for a parcel of goods sent to me for him from Mr David Guy at Rye.