I called on old Mr. Morgan, the stationer, to tell him I must insist on having his bill. This poor man, now 82, was long Postmaster and that office, together with an indolent disposition, led him to neglect his books, while his business increased by so many persons going to his shop. The result was that he had sales but no receipts, except for ready money.

Most honest people, as soon as they found him out and [realised] that they could not get their bills, deserted him or paid ready money. I gave him up altogether, except for an occasional trifle.

I insisted today on his saying what he would take in full of all demands and paid him double. The last bill he sent to Teddesley was 34 years ago, when the late Sir Edward Littleton died.

Last year there was a collection for him in Stafford because he had ruined himself by always selling and never keeping accounts. But the odd thing is that to the last, even now, he will send anything out of his shop without money.