814 Diary of Thomas Smith, Esq. 



"Wednesday 5th. We went out a hunting this Morning, but had but little sport. 



Thursday 6th. I din'd at J°°. Beavens with six other Gent., and stay'd 'till 

 a late hour, as well as drank to much. Our Discourse of publick Matters was 

 not much; what was of Councillor Layer's Tryal and Behaviour who now is 

 under Sentence of Death for treasonable Practices against the Government, and 

 of the Proceedings of the Parliament, &c. 



Friday 7th. I met Mr. Seymour a hunting this Morn., where we tarri'd 'till 

 about one, having had a very pretty Chace : the remainder of the Day privately 

 at Home. 



Munday 10th. I din'd at Mr. Seymour's by Invitation with Mr. Talbot, Mr. 

 Horton and Capt. Selfe, beside their own Family, and tarri'd till near Nine but 

 without any great Excess of Drinking. "We had not much Talk of publick 

 Matters. At my coming Home I found Mrs. Jenkens, the Sister of the "Vicar 

 of Frome, here, and Watty from School. 



Friday 14th. I din'd with Mr. Methuen where my Daug''. is, and in the 

 Evening had Mr. Thresher and Mr. Rogers the Clergy-man with us; however 

 I came home between ten and eleven. 



Munday 17th. Peggy return'd from Bradford ; her Sister went in the Morn- 

 ing to fetch her, and both escap'd of Danger very narrowly, the Coach-man 

 being drunk. 



Friday 21st. The poor people were with us for the small Dole we usually 

 give on this Day, they are indeed veiy Numerous in this Parish and much 

 increas'd in Numbers since my time, and much Misery I fear is among them, 

 the Greatest part of it thro (it is to be doubted) their own Laziness and vicious 

 Lives, which truely in many of them seem to be not far remov'd from what is 

 natural and unavoidable to the dumb Creatures. The Consideration of which 

 and of the yet Gentile part of the World is what is not by me to be compre- 

 hended, and must therefore be left, with true Acknowledgement that God is 

 "Wise, just and Merciful. 



Saturday 22nd. Young Scot of the Ivey came this Day for Mrs. Jenkins, 

 w"'. whom She went before Dinner, and indeed Ben Scot's Son, of Chippenham 

 was on ye same Errand Yesterday. 



Tuesday 25th. Xtmas-Day. Mr. Hunter preach'd on the 10th & 11th 

 Yerses of 2nd Chap", of St. Luke's Gospel. Mr. Fox also was at Church, and 

 assisted at the Communion Table : he came from Bath the Day before, I think 

 not much better'd in his Health. 



"Wednesday 26th. "We had according to Custom some of our Neighbours and 

 Tenants wth us at Dinner : about 3 I went to y' Vestry to see the Ac*', of the 

 Surveyors of the high-"Ways w'^''. appear'd to be very confused and unfair. So 

 did not tarry long there, but return'd to my Neighbours at Home, who all left 

 me between Nine and ten without any Disorder. 



Saturday 29th. I was at Home all the Day w'^'out Company save Edward 

 Lewis of Broughton that was a Coursing with my Sons. 



Munday 31st. My Daugh'^ Bet. went in the Coach to Bath and return'd in 

 the Evening with my Mother, who seems yet to be in no good Disposition 

 towards me, and the first Evening past but ruggedly. I wish the rest may be 

 more smooth, or my Comfort will be but small. Deline (?) my Mother's 

 Tenant was here in ye Morning. 



