“I went to the audit and came home drunk.  But I think never to exceed the bounds of moderation more. * * * “Sunday, 28th, went down to Jones’, where we drank one bowl of punch and two muggs of bumboo; and I came home again in liquor.  Oh, with what horrors does it fill my heart, to think I should be guilty of doing so, and on a Sunday, too!  Let me once more endeavour, never, no never, to be guilty of the same again. * * * I read part of the fourth volume of the Tatler; the oftener I read it, the better I like it.  I think I never found the vice of drinking so well exploded in my life, as in one of the numbers.”  In January, 1751, “Mr. Elless (the schoolmaster), Marchant, myself, and wife sat down to whist about seven o’clock, and played all night; very pleasant, and I think I may say innocent mirth, there being no oaths nor imprecations sounding from side to side, as is too often the case at cards.”  February 2, “we supped at Mr. Fuller’s, and spent the evening with a great deal of mirth, till between one and two.  Tho, Fuller brought my wife home on his back, I cannot say I came home sober, though I was far from being bad company.  I think we spent the evening with a great deal of pleasure.”  March 7th, a party met at Mr. Joseph Fuller’s, “drinking,” records our diarist, “like horses, as the vulgar phrase is, and singing, till many of us were very drunk, and then we went to dancing, and pulling of wigs, caps, and hats; and thus we continued in this frantic manner, behaving more like mad people than they that profess the name of Christians.”  Three days after, the same amusements are enjoyed at the house of Mr. Porter, the clergyman of the parish, except “there was no swearing and ill words, by reason of which Mr. Porter calls it innocent mirth, but I in opinion differ much therefrom.”  Mr. Turner had no great reason to respect the opinion of clergymen on such matters.  Soon after, “Mr. ——­, the curate of Laughton, came to the shop in the forenoon, and he having bought some things of me (and I could wish he had paid for them), dined with me, and also staid in the afternoon till he got in liquor, and being so complaisant as to keep him company, I was quite drunk.  How do I detest myself for being so foolish!” A little later, Mr, Turner attended a vestry meeting, at which “we had several warm arguments, and several vollies of execrable oaths oftentime redounded from almost all parts of the room.

“About 4 P.M.  I walked down to Whyly.  We played at bragg the first part of the even.  After ten we went to supper, on four broiled chicken, four boiled ducks, minced veal, cold roast goose, chicken pastry, and ham.  Our company, Mr. and Mrs. Porter, Mr. and Mrs. Coates, Mrs. Atkins, Mrs. Hicks, Mr. Piper and wife, Joseph Fuller and wife, Tho.  Fuller and wife, Dame Durrant, myself and wife, and Mr. French’s family.  After supper our behaviour was far from that of serious, harmless mirth; it was downright obstreperious, mixed with a great deal of folly and stupidity.  Our diversion