On the first day of this year my son & grandsons came, as usual, but did not stay to tea, the boys being engaged to a little dance at Mrs. Daniels & my son returning to sit with Sophia who during the then severe season, did not quit her room…

… – In the even’g [of 5 January] I went to Mad’m Bellgor's vocal concert at the council chamber, at which were above 100. people & the concert, particularly the glees sung by Palmer, Luffe, Browne & Triggs, went off very well.

On Friday [7 January] even’g I looked in about 9. at a musical party at Mr. Webber’s, where some glees &c. were sung by Mrs. Pilkington, Miss Webber & 2 Miss Millers, Mess’rs Miller Bennett Watkins Luffe, Brown & 2 boys…

On Monday the 10th. I had a concert at home…

… – On Saturday the 15th. the frost was so intense that the thermometer without doors was as low as 15. at 8 in the morning & did not rise higher than 22. all day, & at 6. in the evening was down to 17. again. – The thermometer in the hall was also at 26. which was lower than I remember ever to have seen it. The ink in the bottles was also frozen, as was in the course of the night the salt water in the bottle in my room window. There being a new moon on this day I now began to look for a change of weather which, in some degree appeared the next day, when the outer glass rose to 31… In a letter I at this time received from Mr. Tournay he said the snow in Romney Marsh was deeper than had been known for many years & the poor sheep were suffering greatly.

On Monday the 31st. news arrived at Chich’r of the King's death in the even’g of the 29th. on which the shops were immediately half shut & the Godmans put off a ball & supper intended to have been at their house that evening, & I found it right to postpone a concert at my home the follow’g evening at which the Miss Godmans were to have sung.