Extracts from the Diary of William Bray — John Shaqi
Extracts from the Diary of William BrayBray, William
History
Extracts from the Diary of William Bray
Bray, William
Bray, William, 1736-1832 -- Biography; Great Britain -- Court and courtiers; Great Britain -- History -- Stuarts, 1603-1714
‘We hired from friend Bryant a very good chaise,
Intending thus travelling quite at our ease.
James was mounted behind on a fine prancing steed,
To take care of the baggage and help us if need.’
Mr. Bray wrote a particular description of Fonthill, Stourton, and other
houses visited.
{33b} Some of his intimate friends dined with him every week. The
dinner was over at 5 or 6, and he often went afterwards to a
coffee-house. He also went frequently to the theatres, and sometimes in
the summer to Vauxhall. His mornings were spent at the Board of Green
Cloth or in New Inn.
{33c} The house which Mr. Jacobson built, called ‘Lonesome,’ has been
pulled down.
{33d} Mr. Bray went to many different coffee-houses, but most frequently
to the Percy and Mundy’s. On Sundays he went for an hour to the Buffalo.
{34a} He had a house at Shere, which his mother lived in, and made a
home for him during his frequent visits, and at little expense, for
riding round in the neighbourhood he got his dinner at one house and tea
at another. To general information he could now add the gossip of St.
James’s, and he was welcome wherever he went.
{34b} He kept what he called a chaise or whisky, and two horses.
{34c} Mr. Penneck was Keeper of the Reading-room at the British Museum
and Rector of Abinger.
{35a} Betchworth Castle.
{35b} He had become acquainted with Dr. Osborn and Dr. Price on the
institution of the Equitable Assurance Office, of which he was a
director. He frequently rode with his friends, sometimes a party of six.
{35c} He wrote a most particular description of it.
{36a} Mr. Planta, Principal Librarian at the British Museum.
{36b} This was the tour that he published an account of. He rode on
horseback 1,800 miles this year.
{36c} This was a society which met at St. Paul’s Coffee House. The
subscription was five guineas a year.
{36d} This plantation sowed all the fir trees between the Windmill and
Pislake. Another plantation adjoining to the West Churt, sowed all the
ground west of the road to Cranley.
{36e} This was for his father.
{36f} For a piece of land at the top of the plantation of beeches above
Picket’s Hole.
{36g} Dr. Parr.
{37a} Distinguished Antiquaries.
{37b} Formerly Jacky.
{38} The Rev. Mr. Manning, who began the ‘History of Surrey.’
{39a} Mr. Page had bought the Manor of Cobham, and lived at Pointers.
{39b} When he was in the country he seldom dined at home unless he had
friends with him.
{39c} His partnership with Mr. Jenkins was dissolved in 1774, but
without any interruption of their friendship.
{39d} To near the end of his life he would often stop to dine, and
sometimes to sleep, at the inn at Dorking, or Guildford, instead of going
home to Shere.
{39e} His only surviving son Edward was at Harrow.
{40a} These were all eminent antiquaries.
{40b} He was one of the Trustees of the British Museum.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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