Page images
PDF
EPUB

Law Charges, I mean the Lawyer's, I left the Place and came to my own Home, about Sunset, and found all well.

Thursday, 12th. I was all the Day wth. my affaires.

Marl-Men and about my other

Friday, 13th. The former part of ye Day was privately at Home, and in the Afternoon went to visit Mrs Panton, at Jaggards, who has been Ill, and was an Hour wth, the Mastr. of ye House, and Mr. Shorthose the Apothecary.

Saturday, 14th. Mr. Fox, who designs for London, Munday next, was here to rec.ve his half Years Tithe, and take his Leave, just after we had din'd, but did not tarry above half an Hour. My Tenant Little was also with me in ye Evening in Business.

Sunday, 15th. One Mr. Thomson preach'd the Sermon this Afternoon, on the latter Part of the 41 V. of the 26th Chapt. of St. Matthew's Gospel. My Daughter Betsy was grieved wth, the Head-Ach and Cold, so could not attend the Service at Church.

Munday, 16th. In the Afternoon, Bro. Selfe and Mr. Long, my Tenant, were with me some Hours, when our chief Discourse was of the sad Apprehensions (as our News Papers give us an Account) the People in London are in that the violent Contagion that rages now in France, will reach them, and the Precautions our Governmt. is taking to prevent the same."

Tuesday, 17th. At half an Hour after twelve Mr. Seymour, his Lady, and Bro. came to dine wth, us, and they tarry'd till near five, aud immediately after they went hence, Mr. Guppy, of Pickwick, and Mrs. Houlton's youngest Bro. call'd here in their Way from Seend, to have had Miss Houlton wth, them, but the Weather being bad, they tarry'd till ten, and then went without her.

Wednesday 18th. After Dinner I made a Visit to my Neighbour Mr. Kington who has lately been ill, and tarri'd with him about two Hours.

Thursday 19. I call'd at Mr. Seymour's door at Seend in my Way to the Devizes, where I din'd with my Coz. Nicholas and his Family, and after Dinner Mr. Child, Mr. Sadlier, and Mr. Brookes of Heddington came to us. So having done my Business with the two last mention'd Gent. I came Home in the Evening very gravely by my Self, not daring to have a Servt. wth, me neither of mine having ever had the Small Pox. Neighbour Poulsom was with me in the Evening.

Friday 25th. I had no Company and was out with the setting Dog about an Hour after Dinner.

Sunday 22nd. About 9 this Morning Mr. Paradice of the Devizes Green call'd at my Door, and told me my Tenant Palmer's Stock was seiz'd at Badminton, and that all my Arrears at Norwood were likely to be lost unless immediate care was taken. So I thought my Selfe oblig'd to be as quick as possible altho' on Sunday, and immediately took Horse for Badminton where I spoke wth, my Tenant and found to be true what was related, only that his Stock was not remov'd from my Estate. So proceeded that Night to Bath and lodg'd at my Mother's.

Munday 23rd. Early in the Morning I again went forward for Norwood,

* Oct. 2nd, 1721. A Proclamation was issued requiring all persons coming from any port or place on the Coast of France, northward of the Bay of Biscay, to bring with them Bills or Certificates of health. British Chronologist, vol. ii., p. 68.

and arriv'd about one, and seeing all things quiet there, went to the Rose & Crown in Glaston to Bed.

Tuesday 24th. Mr. Martin the Lawyer was with me betimes in the Morning, and after breaking fast we went together to Norwood, and after a long Stay in Expectation of my Tenant (according to Promise), we in the Evening made Seizure of twenty Oxen, and after having finish'd, the Lawyer left me, and I return'd to my Lodging at Glaston.

Wednesday 25th. I had with me several Persons to take my Estate but did not agree with either, and again went to Norwood where was my Tenant's Son and others, and after an Hour or two set out for Home, and came well (to the Highest be my Praises) about Six.

Friday 27th. After Dinner I went to Bro. Selfe's and stay'd there 'till after ten, it raining so very much that I could not come away well before. Mr, Jacob Selfe was the only Companion besides the Family.

Sunday 29th. Mr. Rogers of Bradford preach'd this Afternoon on

Munday 30th. Early again this Morning I took Horse for Norwood and got thither about One, where I stay'd till Night; and then walk'd to Glaston to my Quarters. I had with me Mr. Martin ye Lawyer, Mr. Walter, Bro. in Law to my Tenant Palmer, his Son, and Palmer's son and some others 'till about Nine talking with me of redeeming the Oxen I have seiz'd for Rent.

Tuesday 31st. After I had discours'd with some Persons about letting my Estate, I went to Norwood and had the Oxen apprais'd, but upon Mr. Walter's Intreatys, and Palmer's Sons, did not sell them; but put them into the Hands of the former, he giving me a Note to deliver them on Demand: in y Evening I was with some of the Town at my Quarters, the Rose & Crown: and also had a Tenant offer.

Wednesday, Nov. 1st. About Eight I set out from Glaston and call'd at Norwood, but did not alight and tarried some little Time with one King that offers to be my Tenant at his House, and also went to Mr. Walters where I stay'd near an Hour, and from thence directly Home, at which Place I came very much tired at Six, and found my Tenant Gibbs there in some Business. Friday 3rd. I had no Company, only Glass the Maltster was with me some little Time, and in the Evening Peggy return'd being sent for from Bath.

Sunday 5th. In the Morning my late Tenant Palmer and his Son were with (me), he not daring to appear on any other Day; after Dinner they left me and repair'd wth. my Family to Church, where Mr. Thomson, Curate at Steeple Ashton, preach'd on ye 26 V. of 6 Chapt. of St. Matthew's Gospel.

[ocr errors]

Munday 6th. I again early this Morning took my journy towards Norwood, and call'd at Mr. Walters of West Pennard's, he being Bro. in Law to Palmer, but my Stay was not long there, but I proceeded to Norwood and after some Stay there also, went to Glaston to Bed.

Tuesday, 7th. About ten I went to Norwood to have sold the Oxen, but my Dealers not coming, I did nothing in that Matter, but had Discourse wth, some of letting the Estate.

Wednesday, 8th. Mr. Martin the Lawyer came to me this Morning to Glaston, and one Brookman and his Son in Law Fussel, to buy the Oxen, and take the

Avery Thompson, who married a daughter of Bartholomew Martyn, Vicar of Steeple Ashton, succeeded him in the Vicarage, which he held from 1738-1747.

Estate, both wch. they did before we parted from Norwood, and having finished my Business, I came again to my Quarters at Glaston in the Evening.

Thursday, 9th. Just as Day appear'd I took Horse for Home, where at my coming, I found Bro. Selfe and his Family to visit us, who stay'd till the Evening, and pretty early I repair'd to Bed, much tir'd with my journy, but well pleas'd that I have, I hope, well finish'd this troublesome Busineɛs.

Friday, 10th. In the Morning I was seeing my Affaires, and Afternoon for about 2 Hours, I walk'd wth, my Gun.

Saturday, 11th.

a Tax gatherer. Sunday, 12th.

All the Day I was about my Home without Company, saving

Mr. Fox, who returned from London, Saturday last was Se'night, preach'd to us this Morning on these words, viz ;-Be content wth, such Things as ye have: in the last Chapt. to the Hebrews.

Munday 13th. In the Morning early, I took Horse to have met wth. Mr. Seymour a hunting, but going the wrong Way fail'd in my design, but in my Absence, a Messenger came from him, so at my Return, I went into Atford Field to him and several others, there being by Accident several Packs of Dogs met together. We had but little Sport, and I soon repair'd Home.

Tuesday, 14th, After Dinner I went to my Tenant, Mr. Long, to have the Lease sign'd yt. I've granted him for 3 Yrs. fro. Lady-day last.

Wednesday, 15th. In the Evening I was with Bro. Selfe three or four Hours, having only Thos. Gale with us some part of the Time, besides the Family.

Thursday, 16th. In the Afternoon I went to Daniel's Wood, and was made wet in my Walk, and so return'd, my two Girles went to Jaggards this Morn. and return'd in ye Evening.

Friday, 17th. All the Day I was at Home, and diligently attended my Men, carrying Marle.

Sunday 19th. Only my Self and Servants were at Church, it raining much and the Waters being high. Mr. Fox preach'd on the same Text as last mentioned. Munday 20th. I was all the Day about my own Home, and in the afternoon had Mr. Fox with me an Hour or two.

Tuesday 21st. After Dinner 1 walked to Daniel's Wood now the Weather being fine. The former part of the Day was spent at Home.

Wednesday 22nd. I went to dine wth. Mr. Seymour at Seend, where was also by Accident Mr. Smith of Alton,* and Mr. Seymour's Bro. Francis. So by many Persuasions and vast Intreaties we stay'd till 'twas too late to come away or at least we not in a Condition, for the other Smith pretended he would not Stay but be at Melkesham in some Business that he must of necessity attend this Evening: but in Truth I was so overcome with Liquor and in so bad a State that I knew not what I did and too bad to be mention'd; only I make my sincere Acknowledgement to my Creator and Preserver, and stedfastly promise never to commit the like beastly Wickedness.

Thursday 23rd. I got from my bed this Morning by eight, to the Almighty be the Praises that I ever came from thence, but not in scarce a sensible Condition; however I rode out into the Field with the Beagles, the Mast'. of the

The Suniths of Alton Priors were Lessees of the house and estate formerly held by the Button family. There are monuments to their memory in the church of Alton Priors: quite a distinct family from the Smiths of Frome.

House and his Bro. being with us, and we stay'd till One; the Air I believe doing me much Service, and so came to my Home about two but not capable to eat or drink but very little all this Day.

Friday 24th. I all the day was at Home in a very Melancholy Condition. Saturday 25th. Also this whole day I was at Home in privacy.

Sunday 26th. Mr. Fox this Morning continu'd his Text as last is mention'd; and had but a very small Congregation on Act. of the wet Weather.

Munday 27th. Just in the Evening I went to Bro. Selfe's and tarry'd there 'till Nine, his Son Capt. Jacob being just come from London and so we had much Talk of his Affaires and what publick News was stirring.

Wednesday 29th. My two Daughters went to Nonsuch this Morning, and having no Company I walk'd with my Gun after Dinner till Night: and had for an Hour the Company of my Tenant Little and another Person in the Evening the rest of the Time alone.

[ocr errors]

Thursday 30th. Early this Morning I went to Bath to see my Mother, and in ye Evening was at Doct. Cheyne's, where was some little time after I came in, one Gourdon, the writer as 'tis sd. of the Independent Whig, and London Journ"., both bad Papers.*

Friday, Dec. 1st. Between 7 and 8 I came from Bath, (leaving my Mother in as good Condition or better than expected, tho' I think but bad in the Main) tarry'd at home only half an Hour and went to Nonsuch where I tarry'd all Night. There were none others then their own Family.

Saturday 2nd. At two or after I and my two Girles left Nonsuch and found very bad Roads by Reason of a very hard frost; however we came safely to our Habitation by Night.

Sunday 3rd. The same Text was yet continu'd by Mr. Fox this Morning, as is before mentioned.

Munday, 4th. I was all the Day at Home with my Workmen very busie in carrying out Marle now, being Frosty Weather.

Tuesday, 5th. By Agreem1. with Bro. Selfe, I went to Beanacre, and from thence with him and his Son Jacob, to Mr. Methuen's, of Bradford, where we din'd, and also took our Night's Quarters, having wth. us in the Evening, Harris the Apothecary, besides ye Family.

Wednesday, 6th. There din'd with us at Bradford, Mr. Rogers the Minister of the Parish, and Mr. Thresher, but immediately after Dinner, I left them and came home to my own Family in the Evening, through very bad Frosty Ways.

Thursday, 7th I was wthout any Company (saving my Neighbour Poulsom, whom I sent to in Business) all the Day.

Friday, 8th. This being, by the Government, appointed a Day for a General Fast and Humiliation throughout Great Britain, to implore God's Mercy towards us, in preserving us from the Plague now violently raging in ye S. part of France, I attended the Church Service, and Mr. Fox preach'd on 3rd Verse of the 13th of St. Luke.

(To be continued.)

⚫John Trenchard, Esq., of Cutteridge, parish of North Bradley, Wilts, was the writer of the Independent Whig; he died 1723, and his widow married Mr. Gordon, probably the person named in the diary.

NOTES ON SOME

Worked Flints found at St. Mary Bourne.

By JOSEPH STEVENS, ESQ.

the recent discoveries of flint implements in various parts of England are, at the present time, attracting considerable attention among scientific men, perhaps a few notes respecting some wrought flints lately found in a new locality, in the neighbouring county of Hampshire, might not merely be found interesting but of some importance as furnishing an additional link to the topography of the rude tribes who formerly inhabited Britain. The implements to which I would advert are known as surface implements, from the fact that they occur scattered over the surface of the fields, and not met with in "drift-beds." Humanly-shaped flints are, however, found in the drift, and are consequently known as drift-implements. These differ in some essential particulars from those of the surface, and are of greater antiquity. Our leading archæologists have thought that the Stone Age, or period when the earlier inhabitants of Europe used stone implements principally, naturally falls into two great divisions. To the earlier Stone

Period, the period of the drift, the term Archæolithic has been assigned; while Neolithic, signifying Newer Stone Period, has been given to the time of the surface implements. To this latter period the whole of the worked flints hitherto found at St. Mary Bourne may be attributed. There are minor differences between the implements of the two periods; the axes from the drift are perhaps more pointed, and their surface colour is commonly yellowishbrown, probably from long contact with ferruginous gravels. These distinctions are, however, by no means constant, the chief one being that, while the drift implements are all formed by flaking, those from the surface are often polished; man having learned to grind his stone implements, although chipped ones were in use at the same time. Implements of the surface type are, besides, better formed, and more diversified in character.

« PreviousContinue »