This week in 1777

27th July

Notwithstanding the disadvantageous season for hatching, some considerable coveys of partridges have been seen.

28th July

A pair of martins, which began their nest June 21 have now young. Lime-trees in full bloom: on these the bees gather much honey.

29th July

The bricklayers are much interrupted by the rains. Much hay quite rotten. This morning more than 50 swifts sailed slowly over the village towards the S: there were almost double the number that belong to this place; & were probably actuated by some tendencies towards their retreat, which is now near at hand. On July 29 such vast rains fell about Iping, Bramshot, Haselmere, &c that they tore vast holes in the turnpike roads, covered several meadows with sand, & silt, blowed-up the heads of several ponds, carryed away part of the country-bridge at Iping, & the garden-walls of the paper mill, & endangered the mill & house. A paper-mill hear Haselmere was ruined, & many £100 damage sustained. Much hay was swept away down the rivers, & some lives were lost. A post-boy was drowned near Haselmere; & an other as he was passing from Alton to Farnham: the Gent: in the chaise saved himself by swimming. These torrents were local; for at Lewes, which lies about the middle of the county of Sussex, they had a very wet time, but experienced none of these devastations. After ewes & lambs are shorn there is great confusion & bleating, neither the dams nor the young being able to distinguish each other as before. This embarrassment seems to arise not so much from the loss of the fleece, which may occasion an alteration in their appearance; as from the defect of that notus odor, discriminating each individual personally; which also is confounded by the strong scent of the pitch & tar wherewith they are newly marked. For the brute creation recognize each other more from the smell than the sight; & in matters of Identity & Diversity appeal much more to their noses than to their eyes.

30th July

Great flood at Gracious street. Several mills are damaged. Hay drowned. Pond-heads are blown-up; & roads torn up by the torrents. Great flood at Gracious street. Several mills are damaged. Hay drowned. Finished the walls of my new parlor.

31st July

Garden much torn by the wind. Only two or three swifts to be seen.

1st August

Reared the roof of my new building. Several swifts.

2nd August

Young swallows & martins abound. Many swifts.