1780 GREAT PARLOUR ACCOUNTS 51 



his wages were 25. a day, his assistant receiving 

 Is. 6d. "Building bricks" cost 165. lOJo?. a thou- 

 sand. "Eubling bricks from Harting comb" were 

 35. a hundred. The carpenters employed were paid 

 l5. Sd. a day, and some of the nails they used, 

 presumably made by hand, cost no less than l5. 8c^. 

 a pound. Most of the timber used was brought over 

 from Winchester. A chimney-piece, described in the 

 bill as "23 foot 7 in. of superfishal white and vained 

 Italian marble" (£5 175. lid.), was set up in July, 

 1778 ; and a " large fine bath stove grate" and fender 

 (£4 95. Od.) were added a little later. 



Hanging the great parlour with "a flock sattin 

 paper" cost a good deal more than would now be 

 paid, viz. £9 155. Od. A looking-glass, no doubt a 

 pier-glass, was bought in London for £9 195. Od., 

 a price which, unless it was a very large one indeed, 

 may seem high to those who suppose (erroneously) 

 that what is now called "antique" furniture was 

 cheap when new. On the other hand, Mr. Luck, of 

 " the original carpet warehouse," Cheapside, provided 

 "a fine stout large Turkey carpet" for £11 11 5. Od.; 

 a sum which, regard being had to quality, compares 

 favourably with present prices. 



Thomas White, who was suffering still from ague, 

 contracted probably when visiting his Essex property, 

 and his daughter visited her uncle in the summer 

 of this year. Writing to her brother at Fyfield, Miss 

 White remarks — 



