Item 615 - Diary and account book belonging to Thomas Hebbes

1 vol. [52 leaves]

Add. MS a 615A, notes on the diary by the antiquarian Frederick Maitland Underhill made in Sept. 1965, suggests that it may have been in his possession at that time.

Purchased from Quaritch, February 2020.

Diary entries and accounts kept by a student in his last year at Trinity College, Cambridge in a printed diary for 1753 altered to the later date the diary started in February 1755 and continuing on through the beginning of February 1756 when Hebbes left Trinity for Kensington. Hebbes records academic activities: declaiming in Chapel, presenting an epistle to the Master of Trinity Dr Smith, and paying the Moderator's man for huddling before being examined by Mr Howkins, and then by two moderators, and four fathers in the 'theatre'. His accounts record purchases of food, a subscription to Dockrell's Coffee House, and a variety of miscellaneous items: a new wig, repairs to his watch, Christmas boxes, as well as expenses relating to trips to London, Saffron Walden, Royston, Chesterton, and Stourbridge Fair. He records money won and lost at cards and bowls, and money given to the poor. He mentions selling books, makes payments to the Junior Proctor, Beadle, Head Lecturer and Senior Bursar, and buys a bachelor's gown, and wine and port for the 'Batchelor's table' before taking his degree. The diary also appears to have been used for handwriting practice by Ellen Hebbes and possibly other Hebbes children.

The diary has been altered to the dates 1755-1756 with the last entries appearing at the front for January 1756, followed by the entries for February and the rest of 1755. Several leaves are missing, affecting appointments for the weeks indicated and accounts for the week before: March 26 - April 1, May 7-20, July 23 - August 5, September 3-9. The bottom of one leaf is missing, taking the entry for June 24 with it. The printed matter at the front and back of the volume appear to be incomplete.