Thomas Turner

No service at our church in the morning, Mr Porter preaching at Mayfield. Myself and both servants walked to Little Horsted Church where we heard a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Philips, curate of that parish and Maresfield, from Isaiah 32:17: “and the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

I dined on part of a cold roast breast of veal, green salad and the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Myself and both servants at church in the afternoon… After churchtime Sam Jenner and the gardener at Halland and Mr Coates’s servant drank tea with me. In the evening went to bring Sam Jenner going on his road home. After I came back read one of Tillotson’s sermons.

In the morning my brother called on me and breakfasted with me, and then we rode to Mr Crowhurst’s at Bayley’s Lane where we bought some earthenware.

Came back about 11:10. I dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of a green salad… In the evening read part of King Henry VIII’s reign.

Peter Adams a-gardening for me part of the day and dined with me on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. I also paid him 18d for his work yesterday and today.

In the afternoon rode to Mr Carmen’s and Mr Vine’s to view their windows. My old servant and her sister came to see me and stayed and drank tea with me…

Rec’d of Mr Crowhurst 17/6 in full for poor tax due to Mr French for the widow Rich’s house, which money I sent to Mr French by my servant. Rec’d of Mr Crowhurst 3/- in full for 1 year’s window tax for the same house.

…Mr John Breeden called on me in his road from London, and he together with Peter Adams, who was a-gardening for me all day, dined with me…

After dinner Mr Breeden, myself and Joseph Fuller Jr rode to a fair at the Dicker. I spent upon myself, horse 8½d. Came home about 9:20, very sober.

In the evening we had a pretty severe tempest of lightning and thunder with some rain. The lighting was very severe and many very loud claps of thunder. Sam Jenner coming into my house in the evening, and the weather being so bad, he stayed all night.

…At home all day. In the afternoon busy a-writing. Filled up my land tax receipts and made a bond from Mr Porter to the parish for £100 at £4 percent per annum.

In the evening read part of Young’s Night Thoughts. But very little to do all day, and I think there never see a more duller time for trade and money them at this present time…

Delivered to Benjamin Shelley by my servant in cash 51.14.0 in order for him to pay…

Thomas Cornwell made me a present of a fine carp. At home all day busy in my garden, but not very busy in the shop. In the evening read part of Young’s Night Thoughts.

…Rec’d of John Piper in cash 11.14.0 and by a receipt for 1 year’s land tax 2.4.0, which together makes the sum of 15.18.0, which I am to send to Mr Allen Chatfield, distiller at Croydon, for Mrs Mary Wills and will be in full for 1 year’s rent due to her from five executors and devisees of Mr William Piper deceased the 5th day of April last. Paid Mrs Weller £4 in full for 1 year’s interest due the 5th April last. At home all day. In the evening wrote my London letters. Sam Jenner sat with me a while in the evening.

Myself and both servants at church in the morning where we had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Ferrall, curate of Chailey (Mr Porter preaching at Mayfield) from part Luke 23:34: “Then said Jesus, father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

I dined on a piece of beef boiled and green salad. ‘No service at our church in the afternoon. One of my servants went to Chiddingly Church, and myself and the other walked to Little Horsted Church in company with Joseph Fuller Jr, Sam Jenner and Joseph Durrant. We had a sermon preached by the Rev Mr Philips, curate of that parish and Maresfield, from the 1Oth, 11th, 12th and l3th verses of. the 2^nd chapter of The Song of Solomon: “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” From which words we had, I think, as good if-not the best sermon I ever heard, both for elegance of language and soundness of divinity, the gentleman discoursing on the words in a very spiritual manner; so I really think it quite a masterly performance.

After churchtime we went into Mr Lewer’s, where we smoked a pipe or two and came home about 8:10. After I came home, I read part of Locke On Education. A very fine pleasant day for the season of the year. Oh, how severely do I, as it were, every moment find the loss I have sustained in that of my dear Peggy, and not only find the loss but severely feel it too.
 

My worthy friend Mr John Breeden called and breakfasted with me, and I received of him 2.18.0 in full. He being a-going to London, he borrowed my horse and left me his. My father Slater called on me about 11:10 and stayed and dined with me…as did also Thomas Durrant. I paid my father Slater the guinea I borrowed of him yesterday.

After dinner I rode with him for company to Framfield. I stayed and drank tea with my brother and sister and came home about 7:05, sober… Joseph Fuller and Thomas Durrant smoked a pipe with me in the evening. Thank God pretty busy all day. Oh, how pleasant is the season of the year. All nature wears the livery, as it were, of gaiety.

Thomas Durrant breakfasted with me. In the morning my brother came over… Mr Terry, rider to Messrs Kendall and Rushton, called on me, to whom I gave a small order.

In the forenoon my father Slater came to see me in his road to. Lewes, and I rode with him to Lewes where I paid Mrs Roase in cash 6.4.6 in full… My father Slater being in a hurry, I dined nowhere… I borrowed of my father Slater in cash 1 guinea…

Came home about 10:10 (my father staying at Lewes), but I wish I were so happy as to have in my power to say I came home sober. For what with going without victuals and calling with my father at so many places, the liquor soon crept into my poor shallow brains. Oh, how do I lament my want of resolution in this particular! It is not, I am sure, the love of liquor that entices me to be guilty of this folly; no, it is not, but an easy and foolish modesty that occasions it. But however once more I will try and see if I cannot get the better of it, for I will drink nothing strong.