William Goodwin of Street Farm, Earl Soham.

Diaries dated from 1785-1810. Vol. I.. HD 365/1.

Transcribed by Mrs. J. Rothery of Earl Soham, August 2001

The following Miscellany of Occurrences Persons and Curiosities was began in the Year 1785 by Wm. Goodwin of Earl Soham Surgeon and is intended as an Universal repository and Chronology.

Extract for 1785

Jan’y 1^st 1785

This year has set in with Foggy ‘tho mild weather, but the last was a remarkable wet and Cold one; the Summer and Autumn particularly - Much Hay was spoilt by the Rain and most of the Wheats grown and damag’d even as They stood before Cutting but were a good Crop as likewise was Barley, of this latter we had from 10 to 15 Combs pr Acre -

Prices from Grain from Oct 10. 1784 to Xmas following were

Stocks The Three pr. Cents Consol. have chiefly stood at 54 and 56 since the Peace (made in 1783) and the loss of the American Colonies - Their low state is occasion’d by the immense National Debt wh. is now allow’d to be no less than 3000..000..000 of pounds Sterling the Interest of which and a Peace Establishment swallows up 15..000..000 Anualy, nearly the whole Income of Great Britain by all Her Ways and Means -

National Debt in

1785 the American War which brought on That with France Spain and Holland increas’d it to nearly - 300 millions

January 1785 The Fatal American War was began during the administration of Lord North who wanted to lay Taxes upon the Colonies against the fundamental principles of Their Charters; They Remonstrated and Petition’d in the Humblest manner, but in Van ‘till They at length uphel’d Force by Force, and threw Themselves into the Arms and protection of France, who brought Spain and Holland into the League against us and thus separated Great Brittain and Her darling Colonies, to Her unspeakable and perhaps irretrievable Loss - Lord North was Prime Minister 12 years, was confessedly a Man of great Abilities Honor and Integrity but by a fatal indolence and negligence permitted Contractors and Others to plunder ye Public

Jan’y 25^th 1785

Mr Wm. Pitt Son of the late Lord Chatham Pen’d the finest Speech for the King’s opening the Session of Parliament on this Day that was ever - This Young Man last Year, in ye lst Parliament He ever sat and at ye Age of 26 overturn’d the United Interests of Ld. North Charles Fox the Devonshire Portland and Rockingham Families who had form’d a most powerfull Coalition that obtain’d a majority in the house of Commons against the Will of ye King and the Sense of the People - Mr Pitt atcheiv’d this, partly by the patronage of his Majesty (G. ye IIId) but more by his own uncommon Eloquence, Temper, and address, by his wonderfull Abilities and uncorrupted Virtue

Jan’y 1785 Mr Wm. Pitt last Year was made Chancellor of the Exchequer… (1 page)

Jan’y 1785 Prices of Provisions

Beef, Mutton Veal and Pork average 4 1/2d pr lb -

Fat Turkeys from 5d to 6d pr lb - good fat Ducks and chickens from 10d to 1/ each Pinted Butter at Ipswich from 10d to `1/ pr Pint

Suff’k Dairys sold to next May Day, Frkns from 32 to 34

flet Cheese 32 to 35 pr Wey -

N.B. the Scarcity of Butter last May occasion’d our Prices during that month to be as high as 37 to 38 pr Frkn
Malt from 21 to 22 pr Comb
Hops from 15 to 18 pr lb.
Apples were very good, and a fine Crop and sold from 2/ to 5/ pr Sack - Last Year for ye enormous price of from 24/ to £8-8s-0d pr Sack

Jan’y 1785 Now Living in this Parish

Rev.d Fran. Capper Rector both here and Monk-Soham, a Gentleman, who consider’d as a Divine a Magistrate a neighbour and a Friend stands unimpeach’d after 26 Years residence amongst us -
Mrs Cap’r one Son six Daughters N.B. Frank ye Eldest in ye East Ind.
Jno. And Mrs Girling - no family
Wm & Mrs Henchman Surgeon
Thos. & Mrs Goodwin - 2 Children
Sam’l & Mrs Barber; no family
Ed. & Mrs Barber - one Son Ed.
Benj. & Mrs Baldry; no family
Phil. & Mrs Crowe 3 children
Martin & Mrs Harsant 2 Sons and 3 Drs
Robt. Ashford - Benedict
Wm. Goodwin Do
Th’s Harsant Do
Joe. Barker Thos. Downing etc etc
(Margin note) Jno. Lambert at ye Falcon
Th’s Orems at ye Greyhound
Jno. Scotchmer Sen’r
Do. Jun’r
Rob’t Howard at ye Lodge

Feb 1^st 1785 Wind west - very sharp Frost and some Snow -

3^rdMet Mr Brand at Wickham to settle a dispute between Mr Sparrowe of Worlingham and Mr Henchman of Soham relative to the sale of a Horse, but without the desir’d success -

Feb’y 1785 Smugling since Mr Pit’s Bill of last Sessions for lessning the Duties on Teas is very materially reduced and seems nearly at an End - previous to wh. the Contraband Trade sold two parts out of three of ye Teas consum’d in the Kingdom besides immense quantity of Spirits, insomuch that the Liquor and Tea Merchants totally declin’d Traveling for orders - It was a common thing almost daily to see Horses loaded with Tea and Carts with Spirits pass through this village unmolested; for almost all the People from the highest to the lowest were either directly or indirectly concern’d and of course abettors of the practice - private Gin and Tea shops were in every Parish to the great prejudice of the fair Trader and the morals of the common People; but now by the operation of the Smugling Bill and the vigilance of the King’s Cutters this shamefull Business is nearly at an End, most of ye Star-Light Traders being ruin’d by the continual loss of Their Cutters many of wh. are worth from five to Thirty Thousand Pounds - The number of Horses on the Beach at Sizewell was frequently from 100 to 300 and of Waggons and Carts from 40 to 100 at a time; notwithstanding so many thousands of People, in this County having been so largely concern’d in this contraband Trade. They are all Poor not one having acquir’d any thing like independency, wh. arose from Their want of Aeconomy and the profligacy of Their Manners

Feb’y 1785 Teas now sell at about half the price They did previous to the Commutation Act -

Epigram My Heart still hovering round about you
I thought I could not Live Without you
Now we have liv’d three months asunder
How I Liv’d with you, is a wonder

2500 Gallons of Smugled Spirits were carried thro’ this village in 20 carts within the last six Days

16^thFive Smugling Carts past through this Village at 8 this Morning loaded with 150 Tubs of Spirits containing 600 Gallons -

20^thWind W.S.W very intense Frost without snow

Newspaper cutting The question was lately debated at Coachmaker’s Hall, Whether Ladies wearing Boots was not an Innovation in Dress? Which after abundant ingenuity of argument, was fully prove to the satisfaction of the audience:- That the Ladies wearing boots was an encroachment on the rights of Mankind, derogatory to female delicacy, andat a lote to the sweet passion of Love, a custom that has increased, was increasing, and ought to be diminished, and that the same be made public Signed SLYBOOTS, Sec

Feb’y 22^nd 1785 A Pinch of Snuff or of Tobacco powder is a certain Vomit on an Emergency

23^rdFive Smugling Carts pass’d thro Soham this morning loaded with at least 600 Gallons of Spirits - N. The Soldiers took Six Carts loaded with Spirits -

Newspaper Cutting dated Feb’y 1785 Gives comparison of old and new prices for tea (reads as if it is part of an advert)

Newspaper Cutting dated Paris, Feb 24^th The principles of peace and quietness which characterize the society of Quakers…

Feb’y 23^rd 1785 Balloons were first Invented in France by Mongolfier in 1783 - Mons’r Pilater de Rosier was the first man that ever assended above the Clouds in one; since which more than Thirty have gone up in different parts of Europe - Lunardi an Italian was the first Hero that assended in England - his Balloon was compos’d of variegated Silk and was fill’d with Gas in the Artilery ground in London from whence It went up in Sep’tr 1784 and continued in the Atmosphere near three hours; He alighted in Hertfordshire without any damage to Himself or Vehicle - Mons. Blanchard a Frenchman and Mr Jeffries an American took Their flight from Dover last Month and cross’d the Sea to Calais in a Balloon - The King of France settled a pension on the former

March 1^st 1785 Wind N.E. very sharp Frost and excessively Cold

2^nd 15 Carts, 40 Horses and 600 Tubs of Spirits were seiz’d this day at Sizewell by a party of Dragoons together with some Tea and bale goods, notwithstanding which ye Smuglers work’d another Cutter at ye same place the ensuing night -

3^rd An old Man died in London who sold Quils in the streets (as suppos’d for Bread) ,worth 12.000£s

In the Year 1783 - 17-635,283 pounds of Tobacco were imported into England alone, the Duty upon wh. was £1,101,286, 16S. 2d -

10^th Wind N.E. and very high with sharp Frost - The winter and Spring have been so severe we cannot plow our Lands

March 13^th 1785 Wind W. very sharp frost - Ther’r in a Room shut close, hung on the North side, was eight Degrees below freezing at 9 this Morning -

16^th 800 Gal’s of smuggled Spirits carried thro’ here

18^th Weather milder, began planting Beans - Still Snow and Ice remain in particular Ditches

From Oct. 18^th there has been 117 Days of Frost in wh. ye Thermometer was from one to 18 degrees below the freezing point wh. is a more constant succession of Cold than has been known in this Climate. There has been 12 Days more Frost this, than in the celebrated Winter of 1739

March 20^th 1785 A Miser died this Month in London grasping in one hand Bank notes for 60.000£ in the other Securities to a great amount - He had 150.000£ in the Funds and Liv’d in great Penury This wretche’s name was Scott

Margin note in another hand in pencil: Sir Robert Peel’s father

Mr Peele a Cotton Manufacturer at Manchester prov’d before the House of Commons, his employing 7650 persons Daily and paying to Government upwards of 20.000£ a year -

A Gentleman at Eye in this County had nine Bushels of nonpareils for which He refus’d nine chaldron of Coals (then worth 30/ pr Ch.) in the Year 1783 -

24^th The Frost has been very severe for 3 days, freezing the Pumps up within Doors and prevents our plowing

March 28^th 1785 Wind W. very Cold; Frost sharp within doors, Therm’tr in Parlour 3 deg. Below Freesing - The ground cover’d with Snow

April 1^st Wind S. sharp Frost with sleet and Ther’r 2 Deg below Frez. In a close room

4^th Wind S. sharp Frost, with Snow every Day for 10 last past - Ther’r 4 Deg. Below fresing -

The new mode of carrying the Mail according to Palmer’s plan, in a light Coach for 4 passengers, began to run last week into Suff’k - It travels 8 miles an hour including stopping to change Horses and deliver Letters

7^th Began Sowing Barley - weather much milder -

Stocks 3 pr. Cents Consol 55-1-8^th

April 1785 A Poem of 8 lines…

An example of Toleration and Brotherly Love was set in Russia by the Empress’s Confessor, by his inviting to a grand Entertainment all Ecclesiastics of every Denomination and Religion then at St. Petersburgh

Mark Lane

April 1785 A Balloon assended from London with Mons. Zembecarri and Admiral Vernon which continued in the Air only one hour and Travel’d 40 Miles -

The celebrated Neckar says France contains 26-000,000 - of Souls upon Twenty seven Thousand square miles and Two Billions of Gold and Silver Coin and has an Annual encrease of Forty Millions -

Dr. Lind says a Teaspoonfull of vitriolic aether removes the Gout from the stomach when given in Camphorated Julep and Pepper-mint Water, sooner than Ilsquebaugh (Usquebaugh?) Brandy, opium etc -

A Letter from Lynn in Norfolk dated ye 2d. of April says, the Snow then laid 3 feet deep, and block’d up all the cross Roads -

April 9^th 1785 Finish’d giving Cows Turnips

It appears that 40-000 hands are employ’d in the Ribbon Manufacture in ye City of Coventry

The winter Season to date It, from the first fall of Snow on Oct’r 7^th to that wh. fell on the 4^th of April has lasted 178 Days - Excepting about 12 Days in January the whole of this period has been frosty and Severe -

For the Rheumatism Take a Teaspoonfull of Aether in a glass of water 3 or 4 times a Day - sometimes add a few Drops of Laudanum - The above is thought infallible -

18^th Finish’d Sowing Barley N.B. There has no Rain fallen since January -

Newspaper cutting: Epilogue to Fashionable Levities (whole page) by Thomas Morris Esq

April 1785 Mr Pitts declaration in the House of Commons of his being able to save a Million Anully if Peace continues, and of His Intention to fund the same to lessen or pay off the national Debt, has raised the Stocks and the Spirit of the Empire - This He has atcheiv’d by aeconomy and management of the Finances -

April 18^th 1785 The first swallow this Season seen here and the first Nightingale heard -

The grand Total receiv’d by Government from Lady Day 1784 to Do. 1785 from the Customs Excise Stamps and Incidents was 12.000.000£s

26^th Seven Carts loaded with Contraband Spirits carried through here, containing 280 Tubs or 1120 Gallons

27^th Ten Sacks of Apples carried to Woodbridge from Saxstead and sold at 6/ pr Sack

Mr Wentworth sold his famous Horse Cambden to H.R.H. ye Prince of Wales for 2000 Gs and was thought a cheap Bargain

An Accurate State of the Navies of Gr. Brittain, France, Spain and Holland in Commission at ye end of 1782… (1/2 page)

The number of Prisoners of War in England, French, Dutch, American and Spoaniards to be exchang’d amounted to 4160 men -

The number of Newspapers printed in the whole Kingdom in the years 1775 were 12-600-000 1782 (were) 15-272-519

May 1785 On an Average the Amount of our Taxes is 30-000£s a Day… (1/2 page)

86-000£ was produc’d by the Duty on Muslins in the last quarter, wh. was equal to a whole year’s income on that Article previous to Mr. Pitts Smugling Bill -

There were 240£ in Drury Lane at Mrs Siddon’s benefit and twice that amount eager for admission and could not get in - ?What a Symptom of our Poverty!

An Ox was killd at Sawtry in Lincolnshire that weigh’d 224 Stones nine pounds (14 lb to the Stone) - This Extraordinary Creature measured near 19 hands high, and was only 4 years old -

13^th Wind N.E. and very Cold which with the Drought that still continues alarms the Farmers for Their new sowen Corns, as many of Them come up very badly and are work meatn - In France the Drought is more severe and distressing, Many of the Provinces being oblig’d to kill Their Cattel for want of Grass and water -

Six Carts deeply Loaded with Contraband Spirits pass’d thro’ Soham containing 250 half Ancer or 1000 Gallons -

May 1785 Horses of all sorts are Dearer in France than England from 30 to 50 pr. Cent on ye Average

There are imported into this Kingdom Annually 60-000 Acres of Oats allowing eight Combs to ye Acre -

A Cure for Cancers has lately been found out by chance, which is nothing more than the application of Pitch and has been prov’d a radical Cure -

17^th A fine Shower fell to Day and was repeated moderately every Day for 4 or 5 Days but was not in sufficient quantity for ye Grass and Clover Lands -

May 17^th 1785 Wind W. a fine Rain fell to Day and continues to promise great relief from a Drought that has lasted since January and became truly alarming -. Still very cold the people going in great Coats and keeping fires to sit by

20^th Eight Carts loaded with Spirits containing 160 half Ancers, and Six Horses loaded with Tea etc pass’d through here -

23^rd Five Carts Loaded with Contraband Spirits pass’d through at 9 in the Morning containing 200 half Ancers

24^th The nights till this last have generally been Frosty and Cold and was so sharp on the 21^st of this instant as to damage the Vines and fruits and cut off the french Beans

June 1st1785 Wind W. Weather very Cold and nights Frosty - dri\ling Rains almost every Day - People continue Their winter Clothes and coal Fires -

3^rd Seven Carts loaded with Spirits pass’d by at 8 this morning containing 280 half Ankers

4^th a very fine Rain and an appearance for Showers -

8^th A hot smoak or Fog that has prevail’d all over Europe for the two last Summers began to Day - In looking at the Sun through It, that great Luminary appears like Blood -

10^th Wind S.W. very Hot and Smoaky Air -

Newspaper Cutting: Epigram

What tax poor Maidens! - Fye for shame!
Commons, ye are much to blame.
Now hear me - I devoutly pray
That on his luckless wedding-day,
Be he rich or be he poor,
Every man among you may
For a Maiden grasp a Whore.

June 11^th 1785

Mr Francis Capper Jr. gave an elegant Dinner at the Falcon to his E. Soham Friends. He conducted himself with the greatest propriety and conviviality - 16 sat down to Dinner at 3 o’Clock - Drank 21 bottles of Wine and Punch in proportion all all departed home before Ten after spending a very happy and Jolly Day - N. Bill for Liquor only 4.14.0 - There was to ye amount of 40 Bottles of wind drank in 7 hours -

The above Treat was given in consequence of his return from India where He had been during the War in a military Line almost 8 years

14^thSaw the first young Partridges

16^thA very fine Rain fell to Day the most we have had this year

June 24^th 1785 Wind N.E.N. very cold Air and frosty nights for several last past -

Newspaper Cutting: Royal Society of Musicians Under the Patronage…

Will be performed, in WESTMINSTER ABBEY the following Selections of SACRED MUSIC from Handel’s Works… includes Messiah.. band… Profits applied to "The Fund for Decayed Musicians, the Westminster Hospital and St. George’s Hospital. Tickets One Guinea…

The first grand Musical Meeting in Commemoration of Handel was held last Year in Westminster Abbey under the Patronage of the King - The Music was chiefly selected from Handels Words and was conducted by Lds. Sandwich and Uxbridge, Sr. W. W. Wynne and others; the Time was repeated by Dr. Bates. The Instrumental Performers amounted to 585 besides a great number of Vocal. This and other Kingdoms were search’d for the most Capital Singers and Players, wh. brought together the nobility Ambassadors and Gentry of many Nations and occasion’d such a brilliancy of Dress and Company as had seldom if ever been seen. The variety of Instruments Excellency of Singing and Harmony of the whole surpass’d all imagination and was universally allow’d never to have been equall’d or attempted since the dedication of the Temple of Solomon - It was repeated 3 or 4 Days and produc’d near 20-000 pounds wh. was chiefly dispos’d of in public Charities - The Commemoration was repeated this month 3 different Days and produc’d near 10-000£s - 610 Compos’d the Band, the King and all the Royal Family with the Principal nobility and Gentry ambassadors etc attended as before -

June 24^th 1785 Thanks to Mr Henchman for a dozen of Port -

Mons’r Pilater de Rosier the first adventurer beyond the clouds in a Balloon, fell from one in consequence of its taking fire when at an immense height and was dash’d to pieces with another Gentleman a few Days since -

25^th Began Sowing Turnips and Planting Cabbages in ye fields

27^th Mow’d Six Acres of Clover - a tolerable Crop as the Season goes. The Drought and Cold nights having hurt the grass Lands and made a very light Hay sale - New Hay out of the Field being sold as high as 55/ pr Ton at Ipswich

The Manners of the Antients respecting Their Meals and Seals were as opposite to the Moderns as Light and Darknes. Louis 12^th of France chang’d His Manners upon his 3d marriage to a Young Wife, for instead of Dining at eight in the morning, He now din’d at Twelve, instead of going to Bed at Six in ye Evening He now frequently sat up till twelve - The Spainards keep to antient Customs. Their King now Dines at noon precisely. Manners seldom change where somen are So?d’d (?) - - In Henry ye 8^th Fashionable People breakfasted at 7 and Din’d at 10 in the forenoon - In Elizabeth’s Time ye Nobility, Gentry and Students Din’d at Elevin forenoon - The King of Yeman the greatest Prince in Arqbia Felix, dines at nine. A.M. AND sups at 5. P.M. - The People of Fashion in France, England etc now seldom rise till after mid-day Dine at Six attend Public Diversions ‘till 4 or 6 in the Morning and retire to Sleep for the Day. Even Tradesmen and People of Professions and Business ape Them in Their Hours, by laying in Bed late of Morning Dining at 3 or 4 and going to Bed at midnight. ‘Tis the present Ettiquete to call it Morning till You have Din’d, and you’ll often hear the Puppies biding you a good morning, of a winter’s Day afternoon, when ‘tis just Dark -

July 1^st 1785 The Water-course down the Road past my Horse-yard was chang’d and turn’d into my garden Ditch, and a brick’d Bridge thrown across for Carriages. It cost building near 30 pounds and was done at the parish charge but will be kept up by the County -

Catharina Alexowna Empress of Russia promoted Assemblies of Men and Women… (1/2 page)

A fine Shower and very Warm Day

Three Pr. Cents Consol. 58 and a fraction

July 1785 Mark Lane

The Goodness of God is seen in all His wondrous works and in none more than His kind Providence for preserving all the Species by dictating the principal or Pairing to all Creatures, the rearing whose young requires It, such as all wold Birds….(2/3rds page)

The Luxury of the Antients excell’d us in quantity, we Them in quality - The Arch-bishop of York in ye reign of Edward the 4^th…(1/2 page)

July 1785 But altho’ we do not load our Tables with so great a weight of Viands, our Expence for Entertainments is no less, as foreign Climes are search’d for Delicacies both of Eating and drinking and are too often set on the Tables of ye Merchant Manufactorer and even Tradesmen and ‘tis now a hard question to determine whither we exceed most in ye luxury of Dress Table or Equipage. All Banks are endeavouring to excel or imitate one another in Expense Indolence and Delicacy -

• A servant to Dress his Master’s Hair and lay his Clothes out, has often 40 or 50 £s pr. Annum. Ladies have hirelings to pare Their Nails, and others with soft hands to take Them out of Bed in the morning. O’;Tempora. O’Mores.

July 16^th 1785 Finish’d sowing Turnips, with a fine Shower of Rain -

The new Arch by my House took ll.000 Bricks and 90 Bushels of Lime to compose It -

17^th A fine Shower attended with some Thunder and Lightning

21^st More Lightning Thunder and Rain

23^rd Earl Soham Fair was very gay and pretty full - Lambs sold from 6 to 11£s pr. Score and were not so good as last year - The Two public Houses took about 70£ and 33 private Houses upon an average not less than 2 pounds each wh. together amounts to 136£ spent for Eating and Drinking, to wh. add ye loss of time of Servants and Labourers and the money spent for shows, fruit and trash and the Evil of Fairs will be conspicuous

July 31^st 1785 More Rain attended with Thunder and Hail - Rain has fallen moderately every Day for ye 10 last -

An Uncommon Malignant Fever rages at Cretingham - It was brought there by a Pauper from ye parish of Gosbec, She gave It Her Husband and 4 Persons, five out of ye Six are Dead - Seven are now Infected and two lay at ye Point of Death - The Patients are seized with a prostration of Strength, Sickness and Languor, They continue several Days without very alarming Symptoms; till the Malignancy shows itself in Petechiae (?), horid Countenance, Mortification and Death - Some have gone3 weeks from receiving ye Infection before any Simptoms have showen Themselves, others in a few Days. They have Died in ye 16^th Day of the Disease and at ye 27^th - The alarm is so great the Poor wretches are diserted by all but Their Physician, Apothecary and one Girl as a Nurse - The Parish procures Them all necessarys but attendants, and Them they cannot, several having Died, others are terrified - The general Rotine of Bark - Acids, fumigations, Emetics, Antimonials Synapisms etc etc. have been fought up as closely as possible without any visible good effect -

Quere, ought we to rest satisfied with this Practice, without making fresh efforts to establish some other, more effectual? N.B. Oil, as a general Antidote was thought of by Mr Henchman, and given to 6 people as a preventitive and who did not receive ye Infection

July 1785 A Banditty of house breakers consisting of 18 are lately detected in London, who are shopkeepers and middling Traders…(1/2 page)

Mr Darby of Monk- soham lost a favourite Daughter by Enoculation - He catch’d the Disease of Her and Died also - What made this remarkable was His having been Inoculated 23 Years before. And pronounced safe by the Surgeon from the Inflammation that attended ye Incision, but had no Exception. At that time the operation was perform’d by a large wound and Lint pressed in, wh. might well Inflame -

July 1785

The great Drought has shorten our Hay to such a degree that the price of new, amounts to three pounds ten at Ipswich, but the Continent is much worse off, particularly France, were some Provinces suffer so severely as to give 14 Louis per Ton and have imported Hay from us at that enormous price - Governments have put a Stop to that Trade by an Act of Parliament -

The Ladies Dress in enormous large Hats, like umbrellas, Their Hairs hanging very low down Their backs, and pasted forward upon their cheeks and very low, that It resembles a wig being frizzed on ye sides and Top - The Men’s Hair imitates ye Ladies in ye Front, but is doubled up behind in very large braided clubs. Their Hats are of moderate size, undress loop’d up the side

July 1785 For ye Bite of a Mad Dog

Imprimis - Wash with Hungary water ye wound or Contusion - Dip a rag in ye same water, set It on fire, and let ye flame touch the wound - repeat this 3 or 4 times - 2ndly prepare a Plaister with Venice-Treacle and a large pinch of Viper powder and an equal quantity of calcin’d powder’d oyster-shell. Apply It every 2 Days for a week - 3rdlyt Let the Patient take a Dose of Venus-Treacle as large as a Bean in Wine with a large pinch of Viper powder and calcin’d oyster shell - repeat this every Day for 4 or 5 fasting -

For the bite of a Viper apply a tight bandage above the part immediately to prevent the progress of the Venoms, make several small incisions on the wounded part then burn the part as above directed and apply the same Plaister observing to repeat it 2 or 3 times in a Day - Give the Patient the same Medicine as is there mention’d

Aug’st 1^st 1785 Two Thousand eight Hund’d Gallons of contraband Spirits were carried through here in Carts within ye last 4 Days -

3^rd Wind N.E. very High and Stormy attended with cold and Rain

Major Money assended last Week in a Balloon from Norwich wh. descended into the Ocean off Loestoff, where He remain’d 7 Hours and was taken up by the Argus Cutter of Harwich nearly drown’d -

Aug’st 4^th 1785 Din’d with Mr Kilderbee and visited Mr Tovel of Parham who had ye misfortune of breaking ye Fibula of his left Leg - N. more rain, Thunder and Lightning

9^th Rain continues falling more or less in gentle Showers every Day and has continu’d so to do with very few exceptions since July 1^st

The Plague rages in Cairo… (1/2 page)

On Scandal "Where may we Live securely free, keeping our Honor safe? Not with the Living; They feed upon opinions, Errors, Dreams, and make Them truths; They draw a nourishment, out of Defamings, grow upon disgraces: and when They see a Virtue fortified, strongly above the battery of Their tongues, oh, how They cast to Sink It, and defeated (the Soul sick with Poison) strike ye Monuments where noble names lie Sleeping, till They Sweat, and the Cold marble melts" -

The Heart of a Woman is so susceptible of Tenderness, that She must fall in Love. The preference is generally given to a Red Coat and Cockade…(1/2 page)

Aug’st 5^th 1785

The most Extraordinary Case perhaps ever seen in this or any Country I have been an Eye witness of to Day - It is of a poor Labouring Man’s wife in the parish of Dalinghoe near Wickham- Market in Suff’lk Whose name is Bradcock and from whom I receiv’d the following surprising relation - In the severe winter of 1783 She was taken with Pains in most of her Limbs, wh. She attributed to the Cold and Rheumatism when walking one Day across the House She trip’d Her foot against a Brick and was much surpris’d to find her Leg broken near ye Ancle. Before She was perfectly well from this accident She fell with Child and growing inform and weak, was assisted by her Husband in getting out of Bed, when Her left Thigh Bone snap’d in pieces without any other force than Its own weight falling against her Husband’s back - she was safely Deliver’d by an experience’d Gentle of the faculty, and after wh. her left Arm was fractur’d near ye Shoulder by reaching It over an assistants neck to get up - This likewise form’d a Callus and got well, after which Her right Thigh Bone broke as She laid in Bed very high up, as It did a 2’d time lower down near the knee - The collar Bone has likewise separated. Her right Arm has met with the same misfortune by lifting a pint Bason of a Table - She now lies with the 3’d Fracture of the right Thigh, wh. happen’d last Sunday, from being gently rais’d in Her Bed, at or near the same part of It, close to her kneem wh. was before broken and Callus’d - The Bones are permitted to grow together in an irregular manner, with the assistance of Bathing and bandage only as an extension of the Limbs would endanger breaking ‘em into twenty pieces - This woman is 32 Years old, of a Delicate Lax fibre, fair complection and pale brown hair - has been towards eight Children, and always liv’d a Sober temperate Life and never took Medicines of the mercurial or any kind, but has injoy’d in general a good state of Health. There does not appear any evident cause of this singular Phenomenon Before the Bones break she always has a very considerable pain on the very spot several weeks, wh. increases ‘till They snap and then cheiftly goes off a few Days after the Bones unite by forming a Callus in 5 6 or 7 weeks - This unhappy woman has had Eight Fractures within a year and half 7 of wh. happen’d within the last 12 months and all without a sufficient or indeed any external Cause or accident. She now complains of a Pain above her Elbow that She expects will cause a fresh Fracture. W. Goodwin (See also page 68 Vol. 3 re Ipswich Journal)

Three Young Women near Skipton in Yorkshire undertook to Spin fine worsted Yarn for a wager - The winner Spun 18.400 yards…(1/3^rd page)

Aug’st 13^th 1785 Barometer continues very low and Rain generally falls (tho in very small quantity) every Day, but as our Corns get Dry very frequently and harvest is but just beginning we are in hopes still of getting Them up in good order - Wind S.S.W. blows hard

17^th Still Rain every Day - N. Began mowing Barley yesterday.

Newspaper cutting: Richard Chaplin, Sudbourn, Suffolk, near Orford, begs leave to acquaint his friends and the public in general That he has, some time back, declined the branch of Smuggling, and returns thanks for all their past favours. - Also To be SOLD, on MONDAY, August 8 1785, at the dwelling- house of Samuel Bathers, Sudbourn, the peoperty of Richard Chaplin aforesaid, A very useful Cart, fit for a maltster, ashman, or a smuggler -: it will carry 80 half-ankers, or tubs; one small ditto that will carry 40 tubs; also two very good loaden Saddles, three Pads, Straps, Bridles, Girths, Horse-cloth, Corn-bin, very good Vault, and many articles that are very useful to a smuggler.

Aug’st 21^st 1785 The last seven weeks have been remarkable for heavy Storms of Thunder Lightning and Raiun in many parts of England and ye Continent - Bury and several places in Norfolk the Lightning has been fatal to Human as well as ye Qnimal species; whole fields of Turnips wash’d up by the roots and much damage done - we in this Spot have escap’d these disasters but have had Rain every Day excepting 2 or 3 during the 7 weeks -

26^th It Rain’d on St. Swithins and promises to fulfil the vulgar expectation of its so doing 40 Days successively - (margin note: Rain every Day)

27^th The finest Day we have had for 7 or 8 weeks - much Corn that laid in the wet 2 or 3 Weeks was gotten up and Those repent who did not wait for this sun-shine - Day N. a white frost in ye morning -

Aug’st 29^th 1785 Carried Six Acres of Barley. N. a fine Day but wet night

30^th Began Shearing Wheat and find It, less damag’d by the Rainy season than was expected, owing to the high winds and Cold that accompanied the Wet - more Rain

Yesterday attended with Mr. Henchman upon the Examination of Mr. Cordee of Worlingworth, who was charg’d by his wife before 3 Magistrates at Ipswich with committing the Act of S-y upon Her Body - They accepted Her oath and committed Him to prison to take His Tryal for ye said offence

N.B. Contrary to Law - or President!

Sep’tr 2^nd From July ye 1^st to this Day (being 64 Days) we have had not more than 3 or 4 Days but Rain has fallen in this Parish

Sep’tr 6^th 1785 Wind S.W. (attended with Rain) and so very high as to blow down Trees and large branches, and most of the Fruit off, such as unripe Apples, Pears, Nuts and Walnuts - Tis computed that at least one Comb per Acre of the standing Wheats were blowen out, besides Oats and barley, that the loss has been very considerable

A Man of War of 74 Guns takes about 2000 Oak Trees that amount to 3000 Loads of Timber to build Her.

Hay in London from 3.10.00 to 5.10.0. pe. Ton

12^th Finish’d Barley Harvest - 7 Acres of Revet (?) wheat and 8 Do Beans still standing -

Sep’tr 14^th 1785 Wind S. a very fine Day and no Rain for 24 hours, wh. has not happen’d since the 1^st of July now 76 Days -

18^th A fine Day - finish’d Wheat Harvest - N. The new Corn upon Tryal proves very good and only that damag’d that was to hastily and badly harvested -

Mr Cordee apply’d to the Court of King’s bench for Bail for the suppos’d crime of S-y upon his wife, but in vain He therefore must remain in Goal till the Spring assises - very great Bail was tender’d

22^nd and 23^rd Very heavy Rain with a Sultry hot Air

25^th very heavy Rain and much Water out

Sep’tr 27^th and 28^th Wind W. Fine Days and cold Frosty nights -

Oct. 6^th Finish’d Hoeing Turnips

10^th Mark Lane

Stocks 3 pr. Cent 60 to 61

Dairys sold at Ipswich from 32 to 35 pr Fkn. Cheese 26 to 31 pr Wey

11^th Began Sowing Wheat

Upon 8 Acres I had 96 Combs of Tick Beans wh. sold for 14/6 pr Comb

Oct 15^th 1785 A Balloon assended from Bury-Angel Hill in which Capt. Pool of ye Navy took his flight and desended in this Parish - He was only one hour and ten minutes on his passage and was 3 miles in height when at the highest Elevation - It was compos’d of 300 yards of yard wide Silk and cost 200 Guineas at going off the ground

The Russian Empire upon an actual survey in 1783 contain’d 25-000-000 of Souls…(1/2 page)

Oct 1785 Died this month at Thetford in Norfolk Rob’t Battley (or Battey) in the 66^th year of his - He had frequently walk’d from thence to London being 81 miles, in a Day, and back again the next -

A Balloon assended this Month from Beccles with Two Gentlemen and a Lady and was carried off to Sea, into wh. It desended near the coast of Holland and was taken up by a Dutch Vessel after floating a considerable. Time on the water and preserving the Lives of the adventurers. this has been contradicted

26^th Very Cold Wind at W.S.W. with Snow and a smart frost at night

Began planting Wheat

Nov. 2^nd Finish’d setting Do. -

Nov. 1^st 1785 An out-lying Buck was taken by a Farmer and a single Greyhound and turn’d out before Mr. Simpson’s Hounds at Kettleburgh, when after a fine chase of 3 hours and upwards He was taken and kill’d having showen excellent Diversion to 40 or 50 Horsemen -

Mr Cordee upon a second application to the King’s bench obtain’d Bail for the Action brought against Him by his wife - Bail only 200£

Miss Braddock a young Lady of great Beauty Wit and Fashion committed Suicide in consequence of loosing Twelve Thousand pounds at Cards, in the course of one month, at Bath

O Cards! Ye vain diverters of our Woe
Ye waste of Life! Ye greatest curse below
May Beauty never fall again y’r Have
Nor your delusion thus destroy’d ye Brave (check this poem)

Nov’r 20^th 1785 very fine mild and dry weather which has continued upwards of a month and given us one of the finest oportunity’s of sowing wheat ever known

Newspaper cuttings: From: Charles Bryant of Norwich, Author of Flora Diaebetica etc dedicated to James Crowe Esq, Tucks Wood regarding the amount of seed wheat sown per acre and relevant yields.

To the Printers of the Ipswich Journal

Gentlemen, Mary Bradcock of Dallinghoe, near Wickham-market, returns her humble and sincere thanks to you and a generous public for the charitable contributions she has received, which have relieved her from the most pressing want and wretchedness she laboured under. - To prevent any doubts of the authenticity of the above unhappy sufferer’s case, we, the underwritten, having often visited the said Mary Bradcock, assure the public of the perfect truth of her singular and unfortunate situation, having had eight fractures within a year and a half (as set forth more at large in the Ipswich Journal of August 13) to which may be added her now lying-in of the ninth child, a fine boy, and likely to live. As witness our hands,

Samuel Kilderbee, Rector of Dallinghoe
William Salmon, Surgeon, Wickham-market
James Motum, Overseer
John Cooper, Churchwarden
Isaac Baker
Samuel Thompson
Edward Mann

Contributions continue to be received by the printers, Mr. S. Thompson, Charsfield and W. Goodwin, Earl-Soham

(on the same cutting) Harwich, Nov. 4 Saturday failed the Dolphin. Wednesday arrived the Prince of Wales, and Besborough, with Lord Cornwallis, who had been detained a week by distress of weather, on the coast of Holland. Thursday failed the Prince of Wales. Same day arrived the Prince of Orange.

It appears by calculations now making with all possible accuracy that the Lands of this Kingdom amount to about 40-000-000 of Acres; the Annual Rent of Them about 10-000-000£ nett produce of ye Corn-Lands 9-000-000£s - Rent of the Meadows, Commons Pastures, Woods, Forests etc, about 7-000-000£s -

A very high Wind yesterday W.S.W

25^th The Saxmundham Soldiers etc took from the Smuglers near 1800 Galls of Brandy and Geneva besides several bags of Tea and Tobacco Carts and Horses -

29 30 31^st Smart frosts - clear and pleasant weather -

Dec 2^nd 1785 Wind S - very high attended with Rain

An Old Man Died last week at Liverpool, who liv’d in Six King’s reigns and pool’d for Members of Parliament in 1784 - He was born in James ye 2d -

5^th Saw a Bullock at Framlingham with only one Horn or large bony excrefunce(?) growing from the middle of his forehead, it was about a foot and half long, ahd had considerable part broken off by his feeding - He was bred at or near Beccles and is six years old -

6^th W.S. blows hard with some Rain

Remarkable Instances of Longevity

Thomas Parre - Shropshire. Died Nov’r 1635 aged 152 years …(1 page)

Dec’r 9^th 1785 N. Six Gallons of Coniac Brandy and Two of Geneva in the chest

By the most accurate Bills of Mortality it appears that of 1238 Birth 348 Die in the first Year and one half of the whole are Dead in 17 Years; how unjustly therefore do we often complain of an early and untimely Death, when we ought rather to rejoice and return thanks for having surviv’d that Period perhaps many Years -

14 & 15^th Remarkable fine warm Days as pleasant and agreeable as most in ye Summer season -

Smuglers work’d Two Cutters at and near Sizewell and lost most of the Goods belonging to one and great part of the rest, besides Carts and Horses -

Henry Jenkins died Decem’r 8 1670 at Ellerton in Yorkshire aged 169 years; He was 12 years old at the Battle of Flowdenfield(?) and lived 16 years longer than old Parr - In the last Century of his Life was a Fisherman and frequently Swam the Rivers after He was 100 - Towards the latter end of his Days He begged up and down for bread -

"The late Lord Chatham was Tall and dignified in his Person - His Face was the face of an Eagle. …(1 page)

The above Character of Eloquence perhaps as much belongs to his Son Wm Pitt, now prime minister and confessedly the first and best Speaker in the House of Commons -

22^nd Dec’r 1785The Weather still continues warm and pleasant -

23^rd Wind N.E. blows hard and Cold

24^th Very Sharp Frost attended with Sleet -

London contains 100 Alms-houses - 20 Hospitals - 3 Colleges - 10 public Prisons - 15 flesh-Markets - one Do. For Live Cattle - 2 for Herbs and 23 for Corn, Coals, Hay etc 15 Inns of Court - 27 Public Squares 49 Halls for Companies - 8 Public or free Schools - 131 Charity Do wh. provide education for 5054 poor Children - 207 Inns - 447 Taverns - 551 Coffee-Houses - 5975 Ale-houses - 1000 hackney Coaches, 400 Do. Chairs - 7000 Streets Lanes Courts and Alleys and 130-000 Dwelling houses, containing 1,000,000 of Inhabitants -

Dec’r 25^th 1785 ‘Till yesterday we have had the most favourable mild and dry Season imaginable which reduc’d the price of Hay from 4 to 3 Guineas, pr. Ton. To Day we have a deep Snow and It still continues falling -

Dec’r 1785 Earthquakes ... (2pages)

Dec’r 1785 One girl of 16 years old, remained eleven Days without food under the Ruins, she had a Child in her arms six months old wh. died ye 4^th Day - Another Girl of 11 was under the Ruins six Days. They were both dug out alive and are now in good Health…The Beauty and fertility of this part of Italy where the Earthquakes happen’d, exceeded all imagination…. (mention of lemons, oranges and bergamots)…N. Sir Wm. Hamilton had not only ocular demonstration of ye Ruin that follow’d these Earthquakes, but the most authentic and undoubted proofs of the above Truths (Transcribers note: is this any relation to the Dukes of Hamilton who lived at Easton?)

Dec’r 1785 Saturday the 17^th last paid the first shilling for my Waggon, passing the Toll-gate at Melton, upon the new Turnpike Road, now making, from Beccles to Ipswich - The promoters of this Road, were Sir Gerrard Vanneck - Sir Jno Rous - the Mr Longs, Mr Adair and the principal Gentlemen, in the neighbourhood of Beccles and Saxmundham - The opponents were Sir Jno Blois Mr Revett of Brandeston - F Brook of Ufford - Brand of Bredfield The Town of Woodbridge and all the principal Farmers in its neighbourbood, together with Framlignahm and its vicinity - It was a long Contest and carried on with virulence., Ill manners and Committees, but the Strength of Money laid with its well wishers, not to say the Wit of wh. the following Lampoon is a proof,

O’, Jno Rivett, Jno. Rivett
Who can believe It
You’d the Baronets leave to publish or Not
But in your housekeeper’s Arms
You hid your Alarms
& was handsomely Can’d by Jno Scott

O’ Jefferson! Jefferson
Three Trades in one
Preacher, Farmer and Poacher etc

Little Blois, little Blois
With your feeble Voice
Go pray with your wife and get drunk with yr. Son

O Kilderbee, tis not understood
That an Evil Extended
Is a general good

O’ Frank Brooke, frank Brooke
With your meagre Look etc

Many more Gentlemen were mention’d in the above Satire and these 3 last more fully, but having only heard It once read, could remember no more.

Margin note: Rev’d Messrs Frank and Carthew - Sparrowe of Worlingham and Kilderbee of Ipswich were likewise Satirized -

1785 Dec’r It is a vulgar and unphylosophical Idea that any Animals are ever ever engender’d by filth and corruption - That admirable instrument the Microscope has prov’d to Demonstration, that the Myriads of beings too small for the human Eye without Glasses are produc’d by parent Animals as much so, as Horses and Sheep.

Mr Pitt’s India Bill "compelling the English-Asiatics to give in a compleat inventory of Their ill gotten Wealth" meets with great opposition at Calcutta etc where They are forming, Committees, remonstrances, amongst the Plunders of Asia -

Bought good Hops by the Pocket at 1/ pr pound -

Saltpetre or Nitre is a neutral saline concrete, form’d by a combination of a peculiar acid, with a fix’d vegetable alkaline Salt - This acid is found in such Earths only as are impregnated with the Juices of vegetable and animal substances,… (1 page)

Dec’r 31^st 1785 Wind W. and a very intense Frost with the ground cover’d with Snow as It has been this week past

To make Saltpetre… (almost 1 page)

Darius King of Persia invaded Greece… (1 page)