Account book

Highly detailed accounts of both receipts and expenses (written from opposite ends of the volume) kept by the London merchant Abraham Chitty, brother of Alderman Thomas Chitty. Receipts include records for rents on his properties in London, Westminster and Surrey, as well as income from an interest in a brewhouse and insurance records for warehoused goods such as wine. The record of Chitty’s personal expenses is particularly complete and includes 6s. "for Pamila. 2 Vollums;" "about L1.4s.6d to see The Conscious Lovers" at Covent Garden Playhouse in 1739; and 14s. for "Chockolate, Mackoroons, carraways and oysters." Also included are regular payments for housekeeping expenses "For Mrs. Chitty;" purchases at auctions and sales, such as "a barometer;" and frequent carriage repairs.