1756, _Jan._ 1_st_.—Called on Miss Stevens {7a} this morning. With Mr.
Boughton and Shotter to Mr. Shrubb’s at Shalford, to spend the evening.
We played at loo, came home a little after 11.
7_th_.—Drank tea at Mrs. Westbrook’s. Mr. and Mrs. Fortery there: they
played at quadrille. I went home for an hour, and went again, played and
supped there. Home a little before 12.
9_th_.—Carried Mr. Haydon his appointment as a Trustee of the Turnpike;
he gave me 5_s._ After the meeting the trustees went to Mr. P.
Flutter’s; {7b} they sent for me about 8, to play at cards. {7c} I
played at whisk with Mr. Flutter, Mr. J. Martyr, and Mrs. Flutter: won
every game. Home about one; won 3_s._ 6_d._
10_th_.—Mr. Duncumb {7d} dined here. He and I went to Mrs. Wilpley’s,
{8a} but she not being at home, we went to the ‘White Hart’ and spent the
evening, and supped there.
12_th_.—With Mr. Martyr in his postchaise to London, to Clare, and drank
tea with him. To Drury Lane playhouse, but could not get in, so we went
to the Robin Hood Society, and stayed till after 10. The question was,
whether the increase of unmarried people was owing to the men’s greater
bashfulness, or women’s greater coyness, than formerly.
13_th_.—Went to Drury Lane house: ‘Tancred and Sigismunda.’ Garrick,
Tancred; Mrs. Cibber, Sigismunda.
14_th_.—To Covent Garden, ‘Orpheus and Euridice.’
15_th_.—Drank tea at Mrs. Emily’s {8b}; played at cards. Home at 11.
16_th_.—Came home with Mr. Martyr in his new chaise by 6.
18_th_.—Dined at Mr. P. Flutter’s; walked up Berry Field with Miss
Flutter’s, Miss Nancy Steere, and Miss Parson.
22_nd_.—To Mr. Bullen’s to dinner, played at quadrille. Came home about
1.
24_th_.—Between 6 and 7 with Mr. Duncumb and Mr. Wakeford, to the ‘Tuns’
to drink a glass of wine. Mr. Punter, came in afterwards, Mr. Hallamby,
Mr. Stovold and Harry Stovold. Home at 10.
29_th_.—To the Assembly, but there not being enough to dance, Miss Sally
Flutter, Miss Parson, Mr. Ford and I sat down to loo, till between 11 and
12.
31_st_.—A man having taken a shop in Stoke, sometime ago, and selling
goods vastly under the usual price, Mr. Haydon set up a shop against him,
of whom I bought this morning four pair of gloves, at 7_d._ a pair;
riding gloves, 9_d._; and a pair of other gloves, 8_d._
_Feb._ 2_nd_.—An hour after dinner, Miss Stevens came in.
6_th_.—This day being appointed for a public Fast on account of the great
earthquake at Lisbon, to Middle Church.
9_th_.—I was bled this morning for the first time. Mrs. Martyr being
about to inoculate Master Jacky, {9a} and I intended to be inoculated at
the same time. Drank tea with Mrs. Wilpley, and read the new farce of
‘The Apprentice’ to her. Gave Mr. Haydon for three pair of white silk
stockings, 7_s._ 6_d._ a pair, being 4_s._ a pair cheaper than common.
12_th_.—Turnpike meeting. We all dined and spent the evening at Mr.
Flutter’s. Played at Pope Joan till 12.
27_th_.—This is evening, I, Master Jacky, and the maid were inoculated.
{9b}
_March_ 5_th_.—Master Jacky was taken with the symptoms, and did not come
out of his chamber for a week.
7_th_.—I was quite easy this morning, when the smallpox began appearing;
a restless night, a slight fever.
12_th_.—I was blind to-day, and continued so till the 16th.
_April_ 2_nd_.—Master Jacky and I went for an airing round the course, in
the chaise, to-day.
17_th_.—To Bramley, breakfasted at the ‘Jolly Farmer,’ paid for
breakfast, 6_d._
21_st_.—Walked with Miss Molly Flutter and Miss Parson, beyond Cross
Lanes.
29_th_.—Drank tea at Mrs. Leeves’, with Miss Lavant and Miss More.
Walked with them and Miss Leeves up Warwick’s Bench and part of Velvet
Walk; then played at quadrille. Home 11.
_May_ 1_st_.—Drank tea there again. Quadrille.
20_th_.—Richard the man went for a week to the Peasemarch to be aired; he
catched the smallpox coming to us. Paid for a cheesecake for Jacky,
1_d._
22_nd_.—War with France proclaimed at Guildford; the soldiers drawn up in
arms, and with music went before the Mayor, &c. Went to see the
wire-dancer; he tossed the straw very well, he laid a board on the wire
and sat on it himself with three children and a dog in full swing; on the
whole quite silly.
23_rd_, _Sunday_.—To Stoke Church, afterwards to the Bowling-green, and
had a syllabub with Rawlins, Ford, Mellersh, Mersing, W. Parson,
Hallomby, and Elkins. Walked up the Velvet Walk with them.
25_th_.—Sir Charles Howard reviewed his regiment in the Artillery Ground.
With Parvish to the ‘White Hart,’ and gave him a bottle of wine, which I
owed him for teaching me on the flute.
_June_ 6_th_, _Sunday_.—To Lower Church; to the ‘White Hart,’ with
Stares, Harbroe and Mellersh, had some cold tankard. Mellersh and I
walked up Warwick Bench; and in the hop-ground at the bottom of Velvet
Walk, met Rawlins and Ford, who went with us.
9_th_.—To the Assembly. Danced with Miss Fanny Yalden, who dances very
well. Paid Assembly 2_s._ 6_d._; negus, 1_s._
10_th_.—Lost at bowls, 6_d._ Called on Miss Yalden, at Miss Roker’s.
Paid for a lobster for my supper, 3_d._
21_st_.—Went a fishing, with Mr. Adderley and Mr. Mellersh; Miss Sally
Flutter went with us; little sport. I got none out of the water.
26_th_.—Drank tea and supper at Mrs. Leeves’. Played at whisk; I won
every game.
28_th_.—To the Bowling-green. Played seven games. Paid for a scarlet
waistcoat, £1. 1_s._
_July_ 11_th_.—To Shalford Church. Afterwards a syllabub. Miss Flutter,
Miss Gardner and I walked to Woodbridge.
_Aug._ 2_nd_.—After dinner, asked Miss Jeale and Miss Westbrooks to come
and drink a syllabub with me, (Mr. and Mrs. Martyr were gone to
Chichester{11}), but afterwards Miss Jeale sent me word they could not
come, and I must go thither; I did and played at quadrille.
15_th_, _Sunday_.—To the Lower Church. Afterwards walked with Mellersh
and Ford, Miss Molly and Sally Flutter, and Miss Parson, up Catherine
Hill, opposite Mr. Arnold’s; then came back, went up town, Mr. Mersing
met us, and walked with us as far as Ganghill Common.
_Aug._ 29_th_, _Sunday_.—To Middle Church. Afterwards to Mr. Weston’s,
at West Horsley, to dinner. Gave Mr. Weston’s servants, 2_s._
_Sept._ 3_rd_.—Mr. Martyr set out at 8 this morning for London. Walked
with Miss Molly Flutter and Miss Parson to Chilworth, and fished there.
Mrs. Street made us a syllabub.
22_nd_.—To Mr. Street’s at Chilworth, with Miss Molly and Sally Flutter
to dinner. They finished their hopping to-day. About six we began
dancing, two Miss Grenville’s, Miss Betsey Smallpeice, Miss Hall, two
Stovolds’s, and young Hall, Mr. Street and us; there being one woman too
many, we changed our partners, and one woman always sat down. We danced
till 3 or 4. All lay there.
23_rd_.—Went to see the paper-mills. Dined at Mr. Flutter’s. Between 3
and 4 to Mrs. Wilpley’s; played at cards till 12.
28_th_.—A Turnpike meeting. Dined there with Mr. Edwards, Mr. Skrine,
Mr. Fullerton, Mr. John Vincent, Mr. Henry Flutter and Mr. Pinkney.
29_th_.—Dined at Mr. Mabanke’s. Played at Pope Joan till 12.
_Oct._ 8_th_.—Miss Flutters, Miss Parson, Ford and Mellersh supped with
me. Very merry till 11, had punch, Miss Molly brought rum.
13_th_.—Drank tea at Mr. Jeale’s (the Rector), and Mr. and Mrs. Sibthorp
there. Played at whist till 11.
19_th_.—Went to see Farnham Castle, which is very badly furnished, the
Bishop never being there.
29_th_.—Walked, with Miss Sally and Fanny Whitehead, to Ganghill Common.
22_nd_.—At 7, went with Ford, Mellersh and H. Parson to the Mayor’s
(Savage’s) to drink the King’s health. We were too late for any place,
but by the door. Paid 1_s._
_Nov._ 14_th_, _Sunday_.—To Middle Church. Then to the coffee-house for
half an hour. Paid at coffee-house, 1_d._
21_st_.—General Blakeney landed yesterday at Portsmouth, and came this
evening to the ‘White Hart.’ A bonfire and illuminations. The mayor and
magistrates went to pay their respects to him. I went into the room with
them, and had two glasses of claret. Afterwards sat in the next room
with Mellersh, Harbroe, Shotter, Horsenell, Elkins, Clifton, H. Parson,
and Buckle, to drink his health, from 8 to half-past 10. Paid reckoning,
1_s._ 6_d._ Bonfire, 1_d._
23_rd_.—To London with Mr. Martyr. To Covent Garden Theatre; in the pit,
paid 3_s._
24_th_.—To Covent Garden Theatre: ‘Henry IV.’—Falstaff, Mr. Shuter;
Hotspur, Barry.
26_th_.—Set out at 6 in the Guildford Machine. Breakfasted at Cobham; in
about 2. Breakfast, 1_s._ 1_d._ Gave the coachman, 6d,
_Dec._ 22_nd_.—Byng went through the town this morning on his way to
Portsmouth to take his trial. They tolled the bell, and burnt his effigy
on the churchyard-steps.
1757, _Jan._ 27_th_.—Rode the black horse to London. Covent Garden
Theatre: ‘Richard the Third,’ Barry. Could not get in at Drury Lane.
_Feb._ 11_th_.—A Fast: no breakfast. To Middle Church.
17_th_.—Mr. Ford and Miss Sally Flutter were married this morning.
18_th_.—Mr. and Mrs. Ford dined here.
24_th_.—Dined at Mr. Ford’s with all the Flutters.
27_th_.—To Middle Church. Mrs. Ford made her appearance.
28_th_.—To the Artillery Ground, to see the Hessians {14a} exercise, and
one of them run the gauntlet.
_May_ 7_th_.—Some people got together at Petworth and thereabouts, and
seized some corn belonging to engrossers.
11_th_.—Wheat £20. 15_s._ a load.
_June_ 21_st_.—Paid for half-a-pint of strawberries for Master Jacky and
myself, 1½_d._
_Aug._ 6_th_.—Wheat, under £10.
_Sept._ 11_th_, _Sunday_.—A brief for the repair of the groins at
Brighthelmstone; paid 6_d._