William Goodwin of Street Farm, Earl Soham.

Diaries dated from 1785-1810. Vol. 2.. HD 365/2.

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 1793

Jan 17^th 1793 Trial of the King of France …

Jan 1793 A large quantity of carp were lately taken near London, one of which weigh’d eighteen pounds.

Hope’s House the celebrated Bankers & Merch’ts at Amsterdam clear’d last year the enormous sum of one hundred and thirty seven thousand pounds

The City of Geneva has changed its Constitution into one similar to the French Republic.

Two Sheep killed in Northamptonshire - one carcase weigh’d 28 stone - skin 3 st 5 lb - rough fat 3 st 7 lb. - The other weigh’d 24 st. 6 lb - All 8 lb to the stone - 25 Guineas were refus’d for the Two Sheep alive - They were a mix’d breed between the Leicester and Lincolnshire stocks.

Jan. 21^st 1793 Thursd’y Louis the XVI King of France was Beheaded at Paris…

Jan’y 1793 A famous Ox was kill’d at Abingdon weighing alive 5 cwt 2 14lb - four quarters

Wet days in 1792 were 263 out of 366

The French Convention have voted five hundred thousand men as soldiers for 1793…

Feb 1^st An embargo was laid on all English and Dutch Ships in the ports of France…

This was undertaken to please the King, has the most ruinous consequences to be dreaded, respecting our Trade, manufactories, national Debt and Taxes.

Feb 12^th 1793 Twenty Thousand more seamen voted for the service/against the Liberties of France/ and a great many Thousand additional Land forces…

This winter has been very wet, but remarkably mild and even warm. Primroses and some Cowslips have contin’d blowing from Xmas last.

14^th Feb Smithfield

Feb 20^th 1793 Ten Millions of the national Debt have been paid off since Mr. Pitt’s Administration, by falling in of Annuities & an increas’d Revenue, by an enlarg’d & immense trade…

March 10^th The Budget announc’d the borrowing Six Millions exclusive of 3 millions to be receiv’d from the East India Company for the renewal of Their Charter & half a million surplus from our Asiatic & E. Indian affairs, …

Feb. 23^rd 1793 France is now actually at War with almost all the Powere in Europe viz. England, Holland, Spain, Portugal, the Emperor of Germany King of Prussia –)Sardinia, Russia – most of the German States etc etc & must apparently be soon overwhelm’d by Internalk Dissentions & External Enemies…(1/2 page)

Mar 1^st 1793 The Dutch are in great Consternation. Many of the Principal Families have left Holland….

The French Armys in Brabant and Holland…

The war has put an immediate check to the cotton, woollen and hard-ware manufactories - The spinners of wool have to allow 8d out of 14 wh. reduces our poor to great distress - Credit likewise suffers sh. Has occasion’d the failure of many great Houses in London, Bristol - Colchester and other places. One House in London that of Burton Forbes and Gregory stops for 1.700-000£ - Yeldham a Russian Merchant and Bank Director fails for a large sum.

Under the commercial treaty with France, England exported in three years manufactured goods to the amount of 7.479-167£. France in the same time ….

Mar. 1793 The Bread Fruit Tree was this year first carried to our West India Islands….(cooking instructions)

Mar 1793 A Female child born at Langham in Suf’k with two distink Heads - necks and back bones was showen here in a large glass of spirits - the features of its faces were very similar. It was a full grown foetus and alive at the Birth but died at that period - It was the woman’s first child who now travels the Country with it - All the vicera were single - The heart laid immediately under the bases of its necks in the middle and at the top of the thorax. All the other parts as legs, hands, arms etc were well form’d and in number only as belonging to one Child.

A Hog was kill’d at Lewes, measuring from his snout to ye setting on of his tail 8 feet and a half -….

27^th Mar. 1793 Loan. Mr Pitt announc’d having borrow’d six millions of Messrs. Drummonds & Co at eight per cent - ….

Apr. 12^th The King has sent another messuage to the two Houses of Parliament for leave to borrow one million and a half more towards the expenses of 1793 -

Several Regiments of Horse…

30^th Apr Wind N.E Frost very hardand air keen.

Apr Dumorier’s and the general success of the French Arms is rep98dly on the Decline…

April 1793 Bankrupcies are perpetually taking place all over England, particularly in the great Manufactorying and Trading cities. Several Country Bankers have stop’d at Liverpool - Bath - Lewes etc etc. wh. have greatly depressed the credit of paper currency wh. had become so general, that almost every little market Town had its Bank or even Banker - they chiefly issues £5.5s and ten pound notes payable at Home and in London. This was become so immense a trade, as to lessen the Bank of England seven millions sterling in their return of Bills in ye 3 last years, and occasion’d even a still greater defect to it, in its receipt of gold.. A universal stand is put to credit for the present (sense?). 47 Bankruptcies were announced last week, besides more than 80 Dockets struck ag. others.

25^th The minister proposed borrowing four or 5 millions to assist the Merchants and prop the generally tottering Credit of ye nation.

National Debt…

The East India Company…

Prince Edward, our King’s son…

The Bank of England has issued 5£ notes for the first time.

Mr Matthew Riches on board the Duke of Buccleugh E. Indiaman writes his having taken frmale sharks, when a single fish has contain’d sixty young ones each a foot long.

April 25^th The whole of this month has been unusually Cold - very sharp frosts and frequently snows, more than have occurr’d in all the Past winter - wind chiefly N.E. and very sharp wh’ makes the Spring very backward.

Prince de Cobourgh Commander of ye Austrians…

May 1793 A Commercial Credit Bill is passed for five millions… Immense failures happen daily here and in Ireland… thousands of workmen in the silk and cotton and woollen manufactories are turned off weekly…

May 1793 Trade is so very much diminished in consequence of the war…Twenty Houses have stopt, each of the firms worth 2000.000£…

A Spanish Galleon ye St Jago was captured…

May 1793 Our Troops on the borders of France under the Duke of York…

Ten thousands Guineas are every week sent to the Continent to pay our soldiers.

Poland…

May 1793 Seventy Ships of War now in commission, about half ye Navy of Gt Britain…..

20^th May The Combined Armies…

Sweden & Denmark…

May 27^th 1793 Bloody engagements are perpetually taking place between the Allied Armies and the French…20 thousand tons of Hay was this week ship’d for Them from the Thames - Hay is risen 20/s a ton.

Regiments of Horse and Foot…

The King of England has three of his sons fighting against France and assisting the Tyrannical King whilst his finances and his own subjects are ruining by this fatal war.

A National Agricultural Society is forming under the Auspices of Parliament, a Bill having pass’d for that purpose - Sr. Jno Sinclair was the mover of it, and declar’d to the House there were sixty millions of acres fit for cultivation - 25 million of which were in grass - five m in tilth for corn only, and thirty millions uncultivated. He stated our sheep at 25 millions. Bishops Lords and Dukes are ye first members - no good symptom.

31^st May The season continues remarkably cold and dry. A smart frost this morning and the woodland barleys that were late sowen, are unable to vegetate - Great Coats, and good fires still continue necessary.

13^th June We are yet without rain here, wh. now is very much wanted.

The Revenue in consequence of the war is reduc’d from 10 millions to 12 do. Pr Annum…

June 13 ^th 1793 Botany Bay…

13^th June The Measles have been very general and of the confluent, malignant kind - I expected the Death of my wife on Sunday Past, and have great fears for my son’s recovery now, in consequence of Them.

Died at Hopetown House, near Edinburgh…

20^th June 28 Thousand Austrians…

An Oak was fell’d at Morley in Cheshire…

A Pollard Oak belonging to Jno Ayton Esq now in this parish measures round the Trunk 12 yards and one foot - is hollow and capable of containing a small Family -Its branches are chiefly dead, a drawing of this Tree is in my possession.

The expence of this unnecessary abominable war is calculated as…

June 24^th 1793 Wind N. Very cold and dry. Only a few light showers having fallen (barely suff’t to lay the dust) since sowing our Spring Corns. Coal fires and great coats are still necessary.

Partition of Poland…

July 1793 Treaties are made with the Empress of Russia…with the King of Sardinia…with Hannover…with Austria

13^th July Saturday, Sunday and Monday ye 6^th, 7^th and 8^th were the hottest days that have been for years, wind S.E. Therm’r in the shade on ye north side of Sat. 82 deg on Sund’y. 86 ½ deg on Mond’y 81 Do.

Finished getting up all my clover and Hay - 32 large jags (?) of ye former and 16 of the latter, at both farms all without rain and in the finest condition - The grass was mowen, one Day and loaded the next and in some instances on ye same Day.

14^th June no Rain - Summerlands very coarse and in bad order, with a poor prospect for Turnips.

The Troops…united states…

The whole line of encampment before Vallencennes…

Valencennes. The bombardment of this place…

July 12^th This City still holds out, making frequent sorties …

20^th July The combined army before Valencennes is now said to consist of 170-000 men,….

July 12^th 1793 Fifteen hundred more Troops both Horse and Foot, were ship’d at black wall for the Continent…

The Convention of France having completed the Constitution have dissolv’d itself, forming a committee to conduct ye war

Conde after a close Blockade of eleven weeks has surrender. Prisoners of war to the Austrians…

July 20^th 1793 Lord Howe has sail’d…

20-000 men have been enlisted..The stockholders of this Kingdom are estimated at 130-000

The therm’tr in the shade on the north side at Edmonton was on Tuesday ye 16^th at 93 deg. A degree of Heat esteem’d uncommon at Jamaica.

Marat. One of the most powerfull advocates in the Convention for a Republic Governm’t was stab’d into the Heart by a woman 25 years of age…

July 27^th A ground rain fell this evening the only one we have had since sowing Barly - In consequence of the long drought and excessive heat thousands of acres of Peas and Barly on very light Lands, or were late sowen on heavy, will come to nothing but stover (?) - Still the general crops of Corn will be handsome.

31^st July More rain wh. gives us hopes of a Turnip crop.

Mowing Oats and Peas and shearing wheat is began.

Valencennes surrender’d after 44 days siege to the Duke of York, on an honourable Capitulation…

1793 Ninety Thousand hard Guineas are sent Weekly to the Continent to pay the King of Sardinia - Prince, of Hesse-Hanover & the Troops at Valencennes etc.

At Thetford Wool Fair only 3 flocks sold, & those at 25 & 6 pr. Todd, (?) instead of 40, last year’s price - was numerously Attended but the stagnation of the Manufactory in consequence of the War etc. prevented business being done -

Margin Note: This was the first Fair held here for Wool.

The French are said to have now in Arms 900-000 men

The Prussians have taken Mentz (after destroying great part of the City by Capitulation

1793 Aug. 18^th A very fine Rain fell yesterday & last night, the most we have had since sowing Barly; we now hopes to obtain Turnips wh. hitherto have been taken off by the Fly, 3 & 4 different times of sowing; never so general a complaint known of their destructive influence, as not a single field with Turnips is to be seen from Woodbridge to Diss or in the ground to Hoxne, Fressingfield Harleston Beccles Halesworth Stowmarket at Bacton Mendlesham etc, or the intermediate parishes, excepting one near Wickham - on the Sea Coast & light lands They have a tolerable crop

Began Harvest ye 12th & find the wheats in fine Condition & hard enough to carry after the Scikle - They are generally a good Crop - Barly & Oats very light & poor as likewise ar3e Beans, the two latter only half the usual quantity -

Aug 10^th 1793Lord Howe and his grand Fleet, have met the French with 18 Sail…

A woman came here beging that was only 3 ft 2 inches high - She was 45 years old, had been married and the mother of 5 children apear’d strait made, and weigh’d 10 stones.

At the Seige of Mentz which lasted 4 months…

Aug’st 1793 The Queen of France has been put on her Tryal,…

10^th Aug’st Another Fete (?) took place near Paris…

22^nd Aug’st Finish’d carrying wheat, oats and tares at Soham, all in the finest condition - The Wheats superior in quality to any I ever grew.

The French Armies amount to the astonishing number of 600-000 Men (beside Their Sailors…

The Duke of York at the head of 60-000 English – Hanoverians Dutch and Hessians has laid Seige to Dunkirk…

Sep’tr 9^th The French have attack’d the Duke of York & Hanoverians, made a great Slaughter…

Sep’tr 1793 The Population of America…

16^th The Duke of York after loosing all his heavy Cannon & Bagage continues to retreat from Dunkirk towards Holland - It is expected He is in great danger of being Cut off -

Last week The Hanoverians (only) had 5000 of Their men kill’d…

Toulon, disapproving of the Convention has invited our Admiral Lord Hood to take & hold possession of that City, Forts, arsenal & 18 Men of War, in the name of Louis ye 17th. To be Garrison’d with half French & half English till a Peace is made.

22^nd September 1793 A plenty of rain has fallen within a few days - no turnips to be found in any of our heavy or good lands - Live stock now sells at half the price it did last year. Cows and sheep particularly low - Fresh young Horses may be had for 10£ - A good cow for 3 or 4£ Sheep and Lambs in proportion, dead stock very low, from the great scarcity of money and the general depression in consequence of ye War.

The French took 7000 of the Dutch Prisoners last week…

Growth of Hops

Consumption of 5 years at 90-000 bags pr. Ann’m 450-000

65-500 bags only remain for the year 1793 and untill the picking in 1794, to wh. must be added the growth of 1793 wh. is only 18-000 bags making together 83-500 Bags - The mildew - July etc, were the causes of the failure of this year’s Crop. Duty last year upwards of 160-000. This year about 18-000.

Friday ye 20^th of Sept’r 1793 Died Mrs Sarah Goodwin, my dear mother, aged 81 years and 9 months - She vomited many gallons of bile in the Course of the 8 days she laid ill - suffer’d little or no pain, and went off without a groan

Jamaica Fleet now arrived is valu’d at…

The Oporto Fleet arriv’d…

At Ipswich Butter Fair Firkins sold as high as 39 - 41 - 45

Halfs 20 - 22 - 24

The Pilgrim Privateer belonging to Mr Birch of Liverpool has taken and carried into Barbadoes a French .e. Indiaman call’d L’Liberte worth 2000-000£s.

The French are said now to possess more Cannon than all the nations in Europe…

Oats at Lisle are two guineas and a half a Bushel and straw six shillings a small bundle.

Oct 1793 The City of Lyons that Rebell’d…

All the English resident in France are arrested,…

4000 Christian Slaves are now confin’d in Barbary.

20^th Oct 1793 Mark Lane

Kent Hops £11.11s to £13.13 Pock’ts

Stocks 3 pr Cent Cons 74

A Mr Champeny died at Yarmouth at the great age of 111 - Came over with King William in 1688.

An Old man and his daughter were cruelly murdered at Cratfield, by some person at present unknown - Their money was not taken from their pockets -

25^th Uninterupted fine warm weather has continu’d thus far - The Cloverlands too dry to mow -

Marie Antoinette late Queen of France, was brought from the Prison…

10^th Nov. 1793 Fighting, killing and burning, continue on the Continent with the Ferocity of Savages…

The French having threrated’d to invade England…

It is calculated that half a million of Souls have perish’d…

Forty five Thousand more Troops are order’d to be enlisted for the land service to be sent to the French - Shambles

Nov. 1793 John Hunter Surgeon to the King and the Army and allow’d the first in Europe, died suddenly from a spasm of he Heart. His brother Doc’t Hunter died about 3 years since; he was the first anatomist of His age…

Various tumults are continually taking place in different parts of England at Bristol; on acc’t of a Toll-gates, wh. lasted several days, many of the Citizens were kill’d by the military and 45 wounded -… At Birmingham… At Liverpool…

4^th Nove. 1793 Smithfield

This day contain’d 2800 Beasts wh.. was more than has been known for 20 years - Many were unsold and others at a low price - The general want of Turnips in Suffolk and Norfolk the general cause. (Margin note) NB 3000 Beasts were in Smithfield ye Monday following.

By order of ye King of Spain the inhabitants of Madrid have been numbered and are stated as follows:… (ages given also friars, nuns, residents of convents, colleges and hospitals)

Nov. 1793 The Yellow Fever alias the Plague has broken out with great violence in Jamaica… (Margin note gives figures).

Philadelphia has unfortunately receive’d ye Contaigion more than 100 have died…

Brissot, Vergenaux - Duke of Orleans and 20 other late members of the Convention were Guillotin’d…

30-000 Duth were engag’d this Campaign…

At Mr Paget’s Sale in Leicestershire His bull Shakespear, sold for 400 Guineas, a 2 yr old Heifer for 84 Do. - Another Do. For 60 Do - a 3 yr Do for 70 Do - 311 Sheep for 3515£ - 5 particular Do for 310£ The above are the highest prices yet obtain’d and proves an exalted superiority.

Trompona Matantur. Gobet late Archbishop of Paris with the red cap of Liberty…

26^th Nov The Season hitherto so remarkably mild, that grass grows, Shrubs are buding - young rooks are found and a fine full blown Cowslip is now in my House.

Dec. 1793A Corn Market was began at Debenham - Merchants from Ipswich and Woodbridge meeting the Farmers at eleven o’clock on Tuesdays - It promises to be establish’d

Planted an Orchard, next the Hempland with King Pipins - pear mains - nonpareils etc - Likewise planted my Banks here, at Ashfield and the Town Field, with Oaks, Rushes - Dutch Elms, Firs and Poplars - my wish and desire is, all the above Trees may grow up to Timbers and that none be permitted to be headed - about 4 years since I planted the (? Three) Cherry Trees on bowling green - garden and opposite my House. (Margin Note) The whole No. planted at the two farms is upwards of 400.

2^nd Dec’r The French on the Rhine have had 4 bloody battles on the last 4 days with the Prussian…

21^st The weather continues very mild and even hot - much Rain has fallen this week, wh. has made us dirty.

Wm. Lewis Esq., a Welch Gentleman died in the Act of drinking a Flagon of Ale - His custom for many years was to read 8 Chapters of the Bible…

Dec. 1793 Men of War in Commission of ye Line from…

Mark Lane

Hops 2/ per lb - Kent

Stocks 3 pr Cent con. 74

Suff’k Butter and flat Cheese 40/ pr. Firkin and wey Pinted but’r 10d here

Dec 1793 A Grazier near Aylesbury had 20 of his fat bullocks at Smithfield on Monday ye 16 Instant - One of wh. sold for 563 and 19 for 443 each.

27^th The weather has continu’d very mild till this Day, when much Rain with Sleet have fallen.

Toulon. The French are Bombarding this City and the Shiping in the Harbour…

25^th Dec. 1793 Births and Burials in London for this year…

Foreign Monies in British Value. A Crusade (Portugal) 2£3s…

The whole of our Militia, by the last return amounts to 33-000 men…

The number of Prisoners for Debt in England, is nearly 28-000 - and of Paupers in the different workhouses is greater than given before known - The Poor are now said to cost the nation nearly Five Million a year to maintain, and their expences rapidly increasing. Their rate is some places amounts to 16/ 17/6 and even 20/ in ye pound.

Dec. 1793 Toulon was taken possession of by the English and Spanyards in August - General O’Hara… (3 pages)

The Allies compos’d of Austrians - Bohemians, Hungarians … (2 pages)

Landau. This City was Beseig’d and blockaded several months by the Prussians and Austrians in wh. time they…

Newspapers in 1724 there were only 3 Daily, 6 weekly and 10 evening papers 3 times a week, published in London and all England

In 1753 the No. was 7-411-737

In 1760 9-464-790

1790 14-035-639

1792 15-005-760

In 1792 In London was publish 13 daily - 20 Evening and 9 Weekly papers in the Country 70 - in Scotland 24 Do.

30^th Dec. 1793 It is calculated that Europe in this, and last Year, lost 600-000 Lives and one Hundred Million Sterling by the war, and are not one step nearer conquering, either France, or Liberty.