Saturday, 7 September 1782

... From Salisbury The Road continues very open, Steep, and unpleasant, without any Object to amuse the Attention: In the way I met Mr C. and saw a party of Shooters; then the Thought of Hunting employ'd me till my Arrival in at Andover, (White Hart, and Star) where I made a long Stay, and dined very uncomfortably. In all this Road the Stables are very bad, from the Universal Fashion to go post; The higher that is taxed the better, and then good Road Horses again may be had, and good Stabling again may be found. I prolonged my Stay here till the latest, in hopes of getting a Return Chaise for Jock, and to avoid the Heat. I never dined worse, or was in a crosser humour about it; A little miserable Stale Trout, some raw, rank, Mutton Chops and some cold, hard Potatoes. For the sake of hasty Gain, innkeepers hire horrid Servants, buy bad Provisions, and poisonous Liquor; Wou'd any Man dare, with a large Capital, to set up A good Inn, with the best Beds, and Wine, He would get a fortune, let him charge ever so highly. I am more and more convinc'd that Fowls are the only thing to bespeak at an Inn, as every other dish is either ill'dress'd, or the leavings of other Companies.

/ at Andover was a Cell, belonging to St Florence of Saumurs.

My first Intention was to have bedded at Overton, but hoping to find better Accommodation at Basingstoke, I push'd forward: My Horse went well, and my poor dog with difficulty crawld along. The Road from Andover is, in many places, not unpleasant. Ld Portsmouth has lately built, in Hurstbourne park, a large new House, instead of the old one that stood near the Road: The new House seems to be neither well-placed, nor of a good Model; for I am not of the present taste of clapping Houses upon Hill-tops, looking around them, in vain, for Wood and any Water. Whitchurch is a mean Borough Town, where I saw many Dutch Prisoners. Two Miles from Whitchurch is the cool looking Village of Laverstock; and further on, the little dirty Town of Overton, where Silk Mills have been lately erected, that seem to bring benefit to the Place ...

I allways pass with Regret a House at a small distance from the Road, whose late owner (Mr B.) I much esteemed, and where I have been well received; But now I ride by - tho' I am as zealous of Relationships as can be, and wou'd go as far as cou'd to serve one: But the present Dowager Possessor, an artful wordly Woman, of a notable self-sufficient Capacity, is not selon mon gout; and her Son is little better than a blockhead.

I arriv'd at Basingstoke at 7 o' clock, where I found an Inn of good Fare, and had a Sole and a Rabbet for Supper. The Wheat is all housed, but the Barley is not yet ripe enough for cutting; which is a great preservative of The Game. As usual I took a short evening Walk.